Honestly, the award is not that hard to interpret.

Find the weight of your aircraft, find the weight category in the table that corresponds. That's your minimum base salary.
Add allowances for IFR, Instructor, various other things.

That's the legal minimum than an operator can pay you and avoid being sued for underpayment.

(This does not, however, mean it is the going rate, or indeed an appropriate rate - but it is the legal minimum.)

So a casual pilot should be getting paid 1.25 more than the full time wage?

Casual gets a loading above full time to compensate for the lack of annual leave. It's also to discourage employers from only employing casual labour even though there's enough work for full time employment.

Darwin Accomodation
 

A few things happening during the wet.
I may have a room available in a Larrakeyah townhouse. If you have the money then both the Casino and Mitchell St pubs are easy walks. Otherwise it is just a 12 minute drive out to the airport.

The room would be ideal for a female as the flat currently has Asian females there. A bloke or two could probably be accommodated ok though.
Better than a backpackers or the rearseat of the Falcon.
PM me if you are looking for somewhere.
Cheers.

Anyone have any experience with Top End Tandems?

Minimums, a/c, pay (yes I know not much) etc?

TopEnd Tandems.

1 a/c C182, don't know about mins and from what I remember they fly mostly weekends, a few jumps during the week. you'd be doing maybe 5 hours a week.

IIRC their current pilots are also tandem instructors so they don't take a pay for the flying.

Next dry season
 

I know its early but is anyone thinking of moving north and trying their luck for the next dry season? A guy i know recently moved up to Boome and im contemplating following him up but im unsure as to the current situation (oportunities, number of people waiting for jobs). I am aware a number of companies employed some pilots towards the end of last season and this will obviously impact the number of people that get employed this season. Just looking at my options and dont want to move up and be forced to wait over a year when other oportunities might pop up elsewhere.

The_Option

I'll be heading to Broome end of march.
Looking for a room to rent from the 25th onwards
Cheers.

Jay and Option

What are you guys heading up with, hours, endos etc?

Heading up with MECIR, NVFR and tail wheel. 270 hrs

You can never be 'too early' for the dry season! :ok:

keep us updated with how you go guys. good luck!

Cheers Jaybo

Nice to get an idea of where I am before making the trek

Good luck and have fun

Have about 240ish TT with MECIR and about 10 hours 206 time

Can anyone recommend good web sites for flying jobs up north?

@Thrillho thanks for the tip. I was tossing up between Darwin and Cairns but guess Darwin is the better option.

Information regarding the Top End
 

Hi guys just wondering as a kiwi showing up in these areas with around 220 hrs TT and a single pilot multi IFR rating all converted of coarse what sorta chance I would stand of picking up a job?

Information regarding the Top End
 

Just to add not expecting a twin job just anything

In case there's a bit of confusion guys, you'll have to be really lucky, or of course know somebody on the "inside", to score a job in Darwin itself, with a fresh CPL (i.e. < 300 TT). I suppose it's a possibility if you demonstrated or possessed a specific skill they were looking for in addition to ticking all the flying boxes.

With Barrier suspended and Directair gone, there will be a few experienced guys/girls potentially looking for work as well, if they haven't found it already.

If you can get a gig in Cairns with low time, take it. If you head to the NT, be prepared to go some level of remote (if you're lucky, Katherine/Jabiru, if you're less lucky, Ngukurr... But I'd still jump at that for my first job).

Just try and keep a smile on your face, because your GA years will most likely be the most challenging and varied flying work you'll do. Persevere!

I would also say to the younger folk keep your integrity!

With the CASA on the warpath and the usual operational challenges in the topend, you don't want to be the scapegoat for 'operational flexibility'.

Make sure you have your paperwork for every flight including some performance figures! (I used to keep generic worst case scenario figures). I.e 40 degrees, 2000 feet pressure height, tail wind etc and have a copy of the chart with me at all times with a figure for take off and landing. I'd also memorize it for each type I flew.

Stay safe out there folks!