Most Desired Regional Job In NZ?
 

Most Desired Regional Job In NZ:

Some recent Sentiment & Opinions I have heard, Lifestyle choice etc. What do you think?

1# Mt Cook Airlines
2# AirFreight NZ
3# Air Nelson
4# AirWork
5# Vincent Aviation
6# Air National
7# Eagle Air

Poll It!

Smack

#8 - any other airline that transits K one W one then returns to Bondi :D

Im currently doing my training in Hamilton Australia with Sharp., and looking at a job over in NZ after i finish my cadetship. Is someone able to list the pros and cons of the above jobs? i have spent a year in NZ before doing outdoor ed in christchurch before changing positions so i know locations etc of all the airlines. I am mainly interested in Eagle as the beech is something i have always been interested in but why is it rated #7?

cheers

Forgot to say but after cadetship, would be looking at having +- 700hrs total time with Metro 23 and III ICUS and Co-pilot time + All Australian ATPL's completed. Not sure on rough hours in the metro as they are dependant on where based, but that is still a year away. What problems do the FO's come across at Eagle?

1# AirFreight
2# Mount Cook
3# Air Nelson (maybe not at the moment but...)
4# Air National/Vincent/Chats
5# Eagle
6# Airwork

Tcross mate, you're Australian ATPL's are no use to you in NZ unless you actually have an ATPL as the exams arent transferable under the TTMRA, you'll have to sit all the NZ ATPLs when you get there, or just sit the NZ ones and dont worry about doing the oz ones....Besides, if you're only going to have 700 hours TT you might as well go fly a 208 or something for awhile, Broome Av are putting the boys in their Grand's with about that time.

why is air nat so far up the list? they are certainly not the best when it comes to pay, and what about travel benefits. none there either - unless you count easyway stuff.
Airwork definately needs to be higher up the list given their salary.

NZ CAA didn't use to be very fond of ICUS

I know a few who have worked for Eagle, I would def put them above air national and Vincents.Gotta take into account things like rosters, ops control, staff travel etc.
1/ Mount Cook
2/Nelson
3/ Freight
4/Eagle
5/ Chats
6/ Vincents
7/ Air Work
8/Air National

Air National F/Os are about 3 thousand shy of Eaglets but their Captains base Salary starts at 52k I believe plus about 8k per annum non tax's. They Choose bases out of Auckland Wellington and Christchurch and work one weekend a month. I'd say thats why they sit higher up the list than Eagle. And Vincent, that's easy. They are a bunch of good bu#*ers that get paid more than Eagle, especially their contracters. They also don't get shipped out to no-mans land!
The Airwork boys get paid a whole lot more than Eagle, work about 5 shifts a fortnight, have good base options and a life.
And Chats, look at the mongrel they get to drive.
My pick would be Mt Cook followed closely by AirFreight NZ then maybe Air Nelson (maybe not at the mo)

Tunnel vision Cjam.

Air Freight, Great company Best $$$ pay is best of any prop operator in NZ by a looong shot no weekends or stat work.... two or three 5 hour dutys a week sorry guys but the others dont realy compare was best job I ever had F$%#!!!

My pick would be any of the link operators for the staff travel and because its all pax there is no back of the clock flying freight (been there done that: didnt fancy it much myself).
Dont forget to mention that despite similar/better pay you have to pay out the $$$ for ground course and type rating for National and Airwork with no guarantee of a job.
Airwork dont seem to work too hard which is nice but you are flying metros rather than the newer gear on offer with the Link carriers and if you intend to move on at some point that lack of total/command time from not having to work so hard may be a hinderance, you do however get to stay in the main centres.
Chats seem happy although being a fairly closed group can be a difficult circle to get into, not unlike Airfreight.

hey Smacker, no tunnel vision, just tried to quickly list them in some order, doesn't bother me cause I don't fly for any of them, interesting the pay scales you mention tho....

quote"Air National F/Os are about 3 thousand shy of Eaglets but there Captains base Salary starts at 52k I believe plus about 8k per annum non tax's" end quote.

The problem with that argument is that Brand new Eagle captains have both a higher base salary and more allowances. ...So really, Eagle F/O's and Eagle captains get paid more, have staff travel, better engineering facilities, fly newer machinary and don't have to pay for a type rating.....you still haven't convinced me that I should have put National above Eagle, have another try but don't use living in the major cities as a selling point,, a lot of folks would prefer Taupo, Mt Maunganui, Ohope, Blenheim etc, especially on those low salaries we are discussing.
PS...taking all that into account, and the fact that you started the thread with Eagle at the bottom of the list makes me wonder if you've been burned by their silly interview process and come down with tunnel vision?
All in good fun mate, cjam

On the subject of Eagle's pilot basings, do new pilots ever get an Auckland basing, or is that the domain of those who have been with the airline for a while?

TT

Auckland tends to be for those who have been there a while (about a year to get a co-basing there), more like two years in the company for a command there, Having said that turn over continues and the base is apparently expanding so one could expect those time frames to reduce.

Ok here's my reasoning for what I choose. It is my opinion and I fully realise that not all will agree with either my reasoning or choices.

Air Freight: Very good money and reasonable duties (esp for a night freight gig)

Mount Cook: Interesting type and very good conditions. Established, well run operator. I believe they average a 35 hour duty week, with five days off a fortnight?

Air Nelson: Good equipment and an interesting network. Terms and conditions are ok. Would be an even better place to work if they weren't so stretched for staff.

Charter operators: (Nat, Vincent, Chats) Good variety and interesting flying. T's and C's vary quite a bit between these operators so a little unfair to lump them all into one. They do however have similar cultures (within the pilot groups anyway). Not for everyone. Main center basings (AKL{CHATS, NAT}, WLG {VAL, NAT} or CHC {CHATS, NAT}) available for all three operators (Chats do spend a bit of time in the Pacific Islands though). Pilots at all three do also tend to work long hours with a lot of overnights.

Eagle: Only real issue with Eagle for me is potential basings. This is a personal choice. If you don't mind being based in one of the provincial ports then it may rank up the list somewhat. When comparing Conditions as well as pay they are ahead of the likes of National/Vincent.

Airwork: Seem to be somewhat disorganised and old school (are there any female drivers there yet?). Very good money but long back of the clock stuff (even in comparision to Air freight). Not my idea of fun but each to their own.


To be fair, all of the New Zealand regional operators have particular attributes that appeal to different sorts and so much of what is desirable depends on what you want from aviation. While I rank Airwork a definate last, some of the guys I know there love it. A disorganised op's setup and a GA approach to some sides of the operation doesn't detract from the positives as they see them (excellent pay, quiet night skys and the enjoyment of piloting a reasonably demanding aircraft).

Here's my list.

Mt Cook
Air Freight
Air Nelson
Vincent
Air National
Air Work
*Any new turbine operators go here*
Air Chathams
Air Safaris Tekapo
Air Wanganui
Air Hawkes Bay
Mountain Air
Air Gisborne
Great Barrier
Canterbury Aero Club (twin flying)
New Plymouth Aero Club (twin flying)
Ardmore Flying School
*Any new twin operators go here*
Burger King Christchurch City
Eagle

Last I heard Air Freight base was $65K, not sure if thats still correct? If it is Your total package would be well below Mt Cook first year salary.

Key here is total package not the base

A new turbine FO would be silly not to look at Air National or Vincent. Think time to command here. You pay for your rating at National then have it paid back to you over 2 years. Not sure about the Vinnys lads but both camps seem reasonably happy. Do your time then move on.

Mmmm, if the base was that low at Air Freight Hanz I don't think those boys would stay there as long as they do! Not allot is known about these Lads. But I know someone who knows someone who knows someone that seems to think they get paid alot more than they let on.

And Cjam, I never had an interview, never even sent a CV in for that matter!
Any way, come to ANZ the pay is much better!

Smack