Few Quickies
 

Hey Guys
Being relatively new to the aviation industry, I was at first very pleasantly surprised at the amount of people (Total Strangers) that are willing to offer their advice and lend you a helping hand when it comes to questions (many of them probably seem stupid / obvious )that a newbie has. ;)

I think that sometimes good advice can be more valuable then any qualification you can attain at newbie Flight School in Bankstown.

Anyway, Considering heading up north in march 08.
When I have asked, many people recommend getting the ATPLs and MECIR out of the way before you go. (read lots on that in previous posts)

So, I have made arrangements to get the MECIR done before I Go.
However, considering the current job climate within the industry would you consider getting out there and getting your foot in the door and gaining some experience more valuable then sitting at home for a few more months and getting the ATPLs out of the way?
Will not having them put you at disadvantage to others who do once your up there??

Was also wondering If anyone who has gone up recently has left the car at home and flown up to BME / KNX?? Did it make things more difficult?

Thanks guys and gals!! :ok:not too worried about the Where / How many hours /which companies etc. don’t mind doing my own dirty work for that one haha (Half the fun :})
Its just funny that the small things can play on your mind more then the big things sometimes.

I reckon a car will be more useful to you up there than MECIR or ATPLs... useful for popping over to the other side of the Kimberley to scratch up a job there, if you need to.

Scabbing lifts wears very thin on you and everyone else.

Good luck.

Mate,

speaking from personal experience...

1) you need a car, I remember at least three people who flew back to SYD/MEL/BNE and picked up their cars a few months later

2) MECIR and ATPLS are a must, ATPLs can be done in seven weeks at Nathan Higgins if you stay away from the grog... I did my ATPLs before I went on the job hunt - at the couse about 90% of the people had to give up their annual leave or quit a (good) job to do their ATPLs

AB

Heading North?
 

Mate,

not having ATPL's or MECIR has absolutley no importance when looking for your first job.
Get the job, then you can write off MECIR on tax. Thats what I did and got all my tax back this year. Not a requirement in order to get the job and you might as well save as much money as you can, because your chances of flying multi IFR in your first 2 years are slim to none.
From personal experience also, found it difficult to complete ATPL'S with no practical experience in the industry whatsoever. Go north and get the experience that you need. You will no doubt have a lot of time to study ATPL's whilst wasting away the day at places like the Bungles.
KNX and Broome both great places to go, and there will be alot of work next year. Don't know where we are going to get newbies from next year. The current climate could not be better for those willing to get off their a$#e and leave sydney, bne and mel in order to get that first job.
:ugh:

GET YOUR ATPL's :ok:
It's simple really...;)

Definitely definitely take your car.

First of all, its a fantastic drive from SE Australia to the Kimberley.

You will go crazy not being able to drive. Broome is do-able on a bike, or a scooter, but the wet season makes life difficult. And the ability to just pack the car and drive with everything you have, to Kununurra, or Exmouth, or Darwin for that new job - that ability is priceless.

Also, I'd highly recommend getting your MECIR.

That's a qualification you can immediately use. If you're working for a company that has a few piston singles, well and good - but if they have twins, you'll be out of the running for promotion onto the twins unless you've already got a multi rating. Taking time off to go and get one of those is likely to mean taking time off when you really could be flying a twin.

The ATPL is a qualification you won't be able to use for a while anyway - so take it easy on them, and if you want to do the course, do it next time you're 'between jobs'.

Do your ATPL subjects and get them out of the way. I have worked with heaps of people that have tried doing the exams after they are already employed up north. Potential pitfalls that repeat themselves over and over again are:

· Not having enough time to study while you are working full time which generally leads to failing one or more of the exams
· Not being able to get annual leave to do the exams (who wants to spend their entire holidays studying aeroplanes anyway?)
· Having to leave a job in order to do the exams (see above) and subsequently being in the unemployment que until you can jag a new job (you’ve also lost all your recency for when you have to do a check flight, and it’s usually easier to get a new job when you are currently employed IMHO)
· Having to travel interstate to do a course unless you try and self study
· Being overlooked for promotion onto larger aircraft in your current job

Gmac115,
firstly i would like to say good luck. you sound like you have the right attitude which is very important.
now.... how can i put this??
oh i got it:
DO YOUR MECIR & YOUR ATPLS
end of discussion. people that are telling you not to do them until a later date are clueless. MRCIR is required for 2 reasons. 1 - as it has already been said, you may not get onto twins when the opportunity is there (a few guys i flew with went onto twins within 6 months and 500hrs total). 2 - some companies required you to have 2-3 renewals min.
As for the ATPL exams, you will not need them for the first job and they will not help you get the job. However, you will need them eventually. The amount of pilots that i have come across that cant upgrade to command positions because they do not have their ATPLs is crazy! I was in your position - i hadnt finished my exams, but i didnt want to miss out on the jobs at the start of the dry and so i moved up north. i did however complete them while i was up there and now all i need is the hours. dont kid yourself, it is very hard to find the time and motivation to do the exams while up north. your up at 0330-0400am for the first flight of the day and your not home until 0600-0630pm. just not enough hours in the day!
good luck!
LeMeL:cool: