whoever has a CPL nowdays surely can pick up some work somewhere :ok:

I strongly think that the poor person who took that office job..... well, it won't be long before some other operator will take them on and start them flying :ok:

Soon on the AFAP website.... "Golden Shower looking for CPL pilot to fill fultime office position" :ok:

Hmm, they rang my office to ask if there would be any potential applicants interested. If they had so many responses, why did they have to ring around the flying schools?

My ops manager gave them the sort of reply we give other unsolicited telemarketers.

..... and surely, the approved safety management system would include monitoring of exit interviews of all those departed?

:}

Got it in one my friend. Got it in one...:ok:

Exit interviews with safety management outcomes?

BWAAAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

The best way to manage safety would be to put a pen to the MR at the end of a flight while CASA are there. Because for that week and that week alone you will be supported.

Audit, GOOD.
 

So I'm wondering whether they have fixed all the issues that were brought up in the last 6 audits over the last 5yrs or so??? Still indicating a little bit like a kettle with the plug pulled out the socket in those over-engineered, under maintained British box kites? Thats been going on for long long time...

WOMBAT.

In their defence.
 

Big thread! Im new to this forum, but worked for Keith and Mary a few years back.

It sounds like many of you have had some bad experiences with GEA. Whilst the company is obviously nothing like it was when I was there, I thought I had better make my first post in Keith and Mary's defence, as I found it not too bad.

I hated living in Hedland - sure, but looking back GEA was one of the best places I have ever worked. Things certainly weren't all roses - but nothing like what I have read here! The team I worked with then were very friendly (best working environment I have experienced in all the years since I left school!), we all got on well and Mary often organised social work functions. In the couple of years I was there Keith never asked me to do anything I didn't agree with, in fact other than handing out charters - he rarely asked me to anything. I was generally always given the freedom to find something to do myself (Clean, fix, office duties etc), and then left in peace to complete it. I made my own duty times work - by turning up to work at 10am, knocking off mid arvo, or simply taking a day off if my hours were up. Keith NEVER complained, NEVER even raised an eyebrow for all I know. How many other GA operators would allow that??? I would say virtually none.

I worked hard for them when I was on duty, and tried to take the initiative to make the place better to work in. Keith and Mary were obviously very religous, and had strong opinions on all sorts of things (Although I never heard them talk about people the way many people on this thread are talking about them - It sounds like pure mallace). Either way they NEVER tried to push any agenda on me (or anyone else that I saw/heard). They didn't offer much flying back then - I think I only got about 300 to 500 twin hours a year, but eventually it was enough to move to better equipment in anyother company. As for pay, well, GA wages!!!! Keith and Mary did pay me above award though (10% extra I think), they paid super and they always paid me on time. I was paid full time, and given oportunities to earn extra money on the side too thru AAE and later with the Qantaslink contract for ground handling. Some weeks I could nearly double my pay. At other places I have worked as a GA pilot, I would have probably been given those duties to do as part of my 'job description'! - And then have been expected to fudge my duty times to do it!!!!

As far as references go - Keith (and Mary?) made it clear to me that they did not wish to give any pilot a reference. I can't remember why, but I was able to use other staff for references, and Mary had sent me a thank you letter, for something I had done around place, which I could use. On more than one occasion I had seen/heard Keith and Mary upset/angry about some odd pilot who had left (and who had done something wrong??) I am not certain, but think that they may have contacted some other companies to warn them. I didn't and still don't agree with this but....aviation is a small industry - and I'm sure we have all heard about bad stuff getting around. For the record I now that they are not the only bosses that have kept a little 'black book' and shared with others news of bad staff.

Anyway - make whatever you want of my post here. I thought I might try to level things a little. It certainly was far from perfect, but I am very glad for my experience in Port Hedland with them.

It is a shame that things seem so bad up there now. Stick with it though guys - There are jobs-a-plenty all over the place these days. So get your hours up (safely if you can), and then when the time is right - make your move to greener pastures. Remember most pilots have horror stories from their days in GA.

PS. I think you're correct re AAE - I think I was only paid extra at the start when I was part-time.

Is the QantasLink stuff still going? That was pretty good money from memory.

So what is the out come?

I have heard that there is a couple of operators ready to pounce on some contracts

Bwaaahahaha...... careful. that could be a touchy subject that one. :}
Your not aloud to mention the aerostar. :ugh:

how many seats does the dornier have? not sure it would beat the influx of caravans around that area in and out of CTI..

wiz it might work ftx to yakka and nooka!

wiggidy whack!

Hahaha. Drilled......

aerostar? who said using an aerostar?

Hahaha....good one.

Is that low operating costs of the new engines or the replacement of the old ones???

WOMBAT.

any piston engine is cheap to run when the plane sits on the ground broken

mate, use what you like, hell you should use your ego, that's plenty big enough!

made me laugh the other day when i noticed on their website they were looking for a derby based safety manager and they were offering $50,000. who in their right mind would move to derby for that sort of money??? rent would chew up half of that...
:ok:

so how did the audit go? anyone in the know?

Yeah well they've already got a sensational safety manager who is set to go to DBY. You'd want to hope he's not on $50k while the other C206 drivers are on $32k and having to deal with high rental! That would Sh:mad:t me off if I knew that was the case.

Hey Wiz, why did they kick skippy out the Broome hangar? any ideas?

WOMBAT.

Ah the Aerostar
 

great jetfuls of hot-air in anticipation but how it has pal(l)ed into insignificance.

Well back to original thread and gea, heard someone the other day say the low standards of old are about to be fixed by more competent c&t-ing person.

Any truth to this? What's the story?