Float Job in Cairns - Pilot shortage in Australia
 

Posted in canadian forum.

"Looking for somebody to fly DHC-2 Beaver(floats) and Cessna 206(amphibs) in Cairns, Australia. I need somebody who has not reached there 31st birthday so they can get a Working Travel Visa, they must also have an Australian Licence already. I need somebody who can be online for Feb 10. At this time I can't afford to sponser anybody or wait for somebody to convert ther licence due to the time restrictions.

I figure it's a shot in the dark, but if anyone fits the description and would be interested in spending some time in the Tropics this winter send me a resume."

No one here in Australia worth training up

The GA mentality of the bosses is you don't pay for any training if you have any other options !! This guy is just checking the options.

Cannot find it. Please advise where to look.

(Ik978 - better title might be CAIRNS FLOATPLANE JOB OFFER.)

... I suppose it's all you should expect from a boss/recruiter who doesn't know the difference between 'there' and 'their'.

Have not seen any jobs advertised in australia for the position...nice to see that they look locally first.

It's not uncommon for employers to employ backpackers etc for low pay as they often cannot complain to anyone and stay employed.

Cairns is open water ops.

A pilot with little more float experience than an endorsement would need closer to three months than three weeks to check to line in commercial open water ops, and even then would require close supervision to water conditions.

With significant investment in salary and other training costs the quick movement of some pilots onto "bigger and better things" with very little if any return on investment has made it very difficult for those after a start.

Apart from a very temporary position, that last thing you want is turnover in open water float ops - even experienced float pilots take a amount significant time to check to line in a new area.

werbil..


how long do yo think it would it take someone with similar to your experience to check to line in a new place like Cairns..?

This is what was quoted on the Canadian site, any part of this real? Is he living in a parallel universe somewhere or have things changed for the better?

They do know about the 3 month limit on positions held by non-residents on working holiday visas right?......:ok:

What a load of BS ! There are plenty of competent and capable "floaties" in Oz....fly the bloody wings off most Canadians!! grow Up Dick Brain!

hey everyone stop sending me your resume's its not a job with me.... just thought you would all like to know the gig is going:ok:

"I have some one looking for a job have ATP and close to 2000 hrs and even airline experience.
But there is a catch he has black hair,brown eyes and little dark skin and he is am immigrant only living in OZ for 15 years .
Do you give jobs to non whites?????
viking"


Yes - and even asking that question is a bit insulting. Plenty of unemployed "whiteys" out there!

Been round the traps
 

Hello floaters.

I think this is getting a little blown out of proportion. Firstly the comment on the bottom of the first post was not in inverted commas and appears to be the opinion of the author of this topic. Secondly and racial slurs might be tongue in cheak as there is a Japanese guy flying there at the mo. And thirdly a post on a Canadian web site, even if it's written badly, might be bringing an opportunity to an industry that shuts down for the cold season. Australia has hosted and will continue to host float visas to canadians who have experience on floats because we don't have the industry they do. They have a summer season and a winter. The winter guys start looking for the next seasons work. And it can be at home or global. It's their choice. It's transient here. It's a small industry that has it's old school circle of owner operators/check n trainers and the odd lifer floater. Every one else eventually moves on when the cycle shifts to the up turn. I never had the burning urge to fly jets but when the money, lifestyle and security outweighed the next float layoff I took the chance all be it kickin and screening. I have worked with some very capable canadians and with rising insurance premiums in an experience shrinking industry us as Aussies should be grateful for the Canadian intervention if it helps the industry. I flew twin otters in the Maldives after thinking I was bulletproof flying esturies and reefs here only to be very humbled sitting next to some very experienced old school canadians. It's with that experience and I and other floaters who've been there offer this post.

A few things

The Japanese guy is actually the CP, has been for about 18months now. Been with the company 5-6 years. Nice guy, good pilot, good friend.

Sounds like the position is a very temporary one

Quote:

---

if anyone fits the description and would be interested in spending some time in the Tropics this winter send me a resume.

---

. Canadian season starts again in May so guessing whoever takes the job would be back out the door in less than 3 months

From memory there are a few float operators in the North west of Australia who let their pilots go at the end of Oct and want them back at the start of May. Why source from OS if you have people in country? On the avcanada site Phillyfan claims to have exhausted all avenues searching for a local pilot...yet have not seen the add on AFAP yet. Maybe I missed it.

Seem to be a lot of comments on experience and rough water stuff....The add did say 206 amphib as well as the beaver. 206 aint a rough water aircraft so wouldn't any half decent float pilot with 100hrs floats be able to handle a 206 in reasonable conditions? leave the rough open water stuff to the beaver drivers.

80k with a car and fuel sounds pretty bloody good...

Guys the original post was just letting local guys know there was a gig going. Bit of tounge a cheek with the title because I thought surely there was someone out there that was worth training up.

xxgoldxx

Short answer is I don't know enough about their operations to say. How many ports, how difficult they are, and how different they are to my experience.
Other experienced pilots brought into our operation have generally had 2 - 3 weeks ICUS before being let loose on their own (but not into the reef lagoons on their own for while longer).

....

PA29

There may be a few experienced floaties around but how many are looking? Of the pilots that have recently left us less than a third are currently flying seaplanes commercially.