Since I wrote that the other day, a good mate has been killed in a freak vehicle accident and my wife has been diagnosed with a serious cancer.

The concept of "carpe diem" has been brought home with a very large thud.

Can anyone recommend a good RAA school in the Perth area? It seems I'm going to be down there for the next couple of months, helping my wife through this difficult time. (Actually, she'll be helping me deal with it; I'm feeling effing useless.)

Really sorry to hear mate, you must be going through hell. My thoughts are with you for your wifes speedy recovery.

Bunbury Aero Club is the closest place I'm pretty sure for RA.

Make sure you keep us updated and I'm sure the Perth boys will band together for a beer if you put the word out!

Cooda, my thoughts are with you and your wife too. I will be thinking of you both.
She sounds an amazing lady. Look after her, although I'm sure you are.
Keep us informed.

Good luck my friend and fellow aviator

Ahh damn. Sorry to hear about that Cooda. I wish you both well for the coming months.

Another RA school in Wyalkatchem. Sport Aviation Academy

Might be getting a bit far out though it's probably about the same as Bunbury.

Thanks fellas. We've moved from shocked to numb, for the moment.

Sorry for the thread drift.

The point I was trying to get through to young 'uns agonising over whether or not to give it a go is....if your heart is really in it, go for it!

If it doesn't work out, you can move on to something else without forever wondering whether you made the right decision.

If it does work out, then you have nothing to regret either.

But whichever way you go, don't fark about agonising over a decision. You may not have as much time as you think.

Cooda, I think you just answered every trainee/wannabes most often asked question with that very statement.

Bringing back to the top, as it has been a few years since updated and people may have more stories to share.

2011 Update
 

It was 2009 when this thread kicked off , 2010 was our best year ever (we sold 5 Fokker 100's, B200 King Air, C160 transport and 3 light aircraft) resulting in a 100% growth in turnover of the company but the first half of 2011 has been slow partly because of a warehouse move (we have 1,200m2 at Halim airport). Currently trying to buy a jet and 5 helis for parts.

Also helping a company to reactivate a Transall C160 (parked for 3 years) , I could be back in the air soon in the RHS of that aircraft as back up crew.

It seems the aircraft market (sales and parts) is in a deep dark hole again , a bit like 2008. Nobody is buying stock unless they can flip it immediately (myself included)

update? still modifying S70's for the millitary 4 days a week, and still bashing circuits some times when i feel like it, but now flying my own aircraft whenever the weather lets me! :ok: and very fortunate to have a missus that flies as much if not more than i do! if only i could get her out of the left seat occasionally.

As for me, well, back to flying again since 2010. Indonesia seems to be the place to be at the moment. A number of Aussies getting starts at various airlines as F/Os. And no, not all of us paid for type ratings. About 20 years ago, you'd have foreign captains training local Indonesian F/Os in this part of the world. Now it's the other way around. Airlines here are expanding with new equipment and local flight schools still can't produce enough pilots at the moment thus their need for foreigners.

Very true and nobody wants to fly turboprops , one of the cargo operations I'm indirectly involved with (I'm the aircraft owners local rep) is losing 75% of their captains to the airlines.

The arrogance of some of the Indonesian captains is astounding , it won't be a lot of fun being a foreign FO

Training wheels - Merpati MA60 ?

It's a bit freaky to find this thread resurrected.

In the intervening time, I've got back in the air, courtesy of RAA. :cool:

Number 2 son gained a pilot training gig with the RAAF and also soloed with RAA. :D

The other kids are going from strength to strength in their chosen careers. :)

And my wife beat the odds with cancer; or so we thought until last Thursday.

Now we're waiting on further tests.........:ugh::{

Hey Coodashooda, thats not good news about your wife mate. Hope all goes well again for you. Great to hear another I got back in the air story.

I gained my PPL in Feb 89' and had my CPL, MECIR and G3 Instructor by late 90'. Spent 4yrs flying skydivers on and off, for NO pay at all, spent thousands travelling the country looking for work. Finally gave up looking and decided to change carreer path in early 95. After yrs working in sales and then IT plus various other jobs while moving around a bit, I finally settled in one spot running a business for my parents. After 6 yrs of watching planes go over (business is under downwind for either runway at local airport) I decided to get current. I still run the business for my folks and fly for local skydive mob. Right now we have a rocketship of a 182, with a tuned IO550. Can get over 1000fpm through 6-7000 with a full load, typically 18-20min to FL140, not bad for a C182 !!! Had 3 jumpers on board last week to FL120 was 13 min wheels off to door open.
Ive got a great fishing boat and great lifestyle mixed with some fun flying occassionally. Do I regret not getting into the airlines ? Sometimes but then again after flying 20-30 loads in a few days I get bored and figure maybe routine flying would get the same whoever or whatever your flying. Maybe I wasnt cut out for it in the first place then ? ?
Im happy and enjoying life.

Crew bus, 2nd night 4 day trip.

I have been out of aviation for about 8 years now. Currently owner of a restoration business specialising in American muscle cars of the 60's and 70's.
I enjoy what I am doing but I am constantly covered in bruises because everytime an aeroplane flies over I run outside falling over things too busy looking up in the skies. It's in the blood, I can't help it. :{

Building surveyor and structual engineer, with a couple of other degrees on the side, I often look up and think it would nice to be up there again, particularly when I talk to a few of younger pilots in the outback areas. yes I miss the life, but when I look at the bank balance at the end of the pay week it makes it a little easier:ok:

I hope for the best CoodaShooda.

There is a reason why in a down turn most pilots end up slinging beers. Go get a RSA (every state has an online course won't even cost $100 and you can knock it over in a hour or 2) and while hunting up north or out west start working a bar. Even if you have to pick up glasses...small talk with the locals will go a long way, even better if its a watering hole near an airport.

I admire blokes who stick it out and make it to their career goal. I've got a few of those mates, some of them did 10-12 years in GA before the call. These are the blokes I want at the pointy end of any flight I'm on.

For every one of those mates I've got two or three mates who either threw it in due necessity (the arrival of a little one, not able to financially support themselves/family anymore).

It's a pretty sad industry really, you do an Accountancy degree, you'll get a job somewhere. Aviation: Spend a ****load of money and the odds are heavily stacked against you.

Having said that, I've gained opportunities through all the money spent and probably wouldn't change anything I've done. mmmmmm

Well after 8 yrs of being out of the industry, I have decided that the grass is not always greener outside of aviation ( well it hasnt been for me ) and I am working on getting back in to flying. Currently finishing off my ATPL subjects with only one to go and the next step is to get the CIR current again. There hasnt been a day that went by wishing I was up there. After 8yrs of driving on the road and dealing with incompetent drivers, I would rather sit at the pointy end of a plane any day. :) All the best to everyone :)