Advice on the Australian way of life
 

Hello everyone,

I am a freshly qualified Commercial pilot trying to pick up the all illusive first job over in Australia (from NZ) and have made the mission up to the NT to try pick up a job doing anything that will put me in a seat, after already doing the rounds of all the flight schools in Melbourne to no avail unfortunately.

I hold a CPL, MCEIR and a Grade 3 with 320TT. I would be happy to use my instructors rating or go charter flying (hence why I am in the north at present) or meat bombing or a combination of all of these, just what ever I can do to get my hands on a yoke and bum in a seat really, which I realise takes a bit of hard work to sometimes achieve and does not frighten me in the slightest doing. In the venture North, I came with the thought there may have been a bit more going by way of hiring on coming into the dry season, but since as I have been round everywhere a couple of times and receive the same foggy replies at most unfortunately, I realise that this is not such the case. Realising that the NT is a boom or bust situation, have since said to myself that I am willing to really go to any state to get a start at almost a days notice.

Any advice or guidance as to plan of attack to do something would be much appreciated and will hopefully help a few of the other young guys in my shoes out there too. It is a bit tricky going on information that is a few years old and as well being on operators that have since fallen over or have changed fleets, so a more recent and accurate thread of the current situation in Aussie would be of much benefit to a few of us I am sure.

Look forward to your responses and thanks for your time!

It's been 20 years since I trod that path. So take this info with that in mind.

320 hours isn't a lot for Darwin, think of Darwin as your step after you have at least 1,000 hours or so. You might have to start at one of the communities that a Darwin operator services. Most "intel" used to be acquired at the "Institute" bar in Darwin. I have no idea if it even exists any more. Probably need an ASIC to get near the place...

Any way, most folks get their first charter gig at Kakadu or Kununurra (WA).

Most folks who are keen are already "there" working in the servo or pubs waiting for a shot. As the peak season isn't until July-September, then the exact numbers required won't be known until maybe May or later. Contacts and getting a "work ethic" is what's required.

You may get more relevant advice over in the Dununda forum.

No worries red any information is good information. From what I here your doing pretty well to get anything with under 400hrs up here that being said it has been done before with less.

Just from doing a bit of networking I think I have left the run a tad late by way of Kununurra as much of the hiring has been done and half of the piston fleet out there have been replaced by turbines so not really getting much of a sniff without your 1000hrs really. In saying that Kakadu Air Service have a reasonably strict 400hr insurance minimum now when I talked to their head office, in Darwin here, but haven't made the haul out to either of these places yet. So could very well be on the cards to see!

That's what I am tossing up about now really just to decide on where to base myself and stick there for the wait, and find the "servo" job.

Have had a look for the Dununda Forum but it appears it's been taken down. Thanks again for your help!

A little OT, but the dunnunder forum was combined/renamed into this forum, and the one directly above it on the menu.

You will never be too late for a season, people come and go just got to dig your toes in and wait your turn. Lots of small operators out there as well just talk to everyone and something will come up sooner or later.

When I did my initial job hunting, a couple of companies in town looked at me with sad eyes and said "We have way too many pilots, I don't think we will recruit in 6 months."

3 weeks later, they were interviewing and recruiting for a spot or two. Dig in. Keep your knowledge and interview skills up. Be ready. Meet some pilots, become their friend, use them for helpful info but do it in that order. Nothing is more annoying than being out at the pub to forget about flying, meeting a new pilot and the first thing they ask is about a job.

Or go back to,NZ!!....and do joy flts around Queenstown.

If only it was that easy.. Queenstown operators require you to have a lot of mountain flying experience unfortunately otherwise I would be there in a heart beat!

I second Solo's comments. There seems to be a misconception that there is a 'season' in Darwin. While this may be true for Kununurra, in Darwin companies tend to hire all year round, or at least the ones that I worked for did. This often means there is an under supply of pilots during the wet.

On another note I know of a pilot getting a start recently with one of the larger companies in Darwin with minimum hours.

Full time job with minimum hours?

Things sure have changed since I was in Darwin! :ok:

Yes the above poster is correct.

Darwin does not run in a busy/quiet season etc, accept for scenics. Your hours while not fresh cpl but definately stll low will make getting a foot in the door difficult. With a somewhat fresh instructors rating I would be pushing to get into instructing in Oz. Youve paid for the rating and obviously have some instructing experience, if I was in your shoes Thats what I would do. This wet has also been a decent one with plenty of moonsoon troughs etc and the chances that a CP would let a low hour Cpl loose would be minimal. I know how hard it is but keep at it and stay positive, doors open for those that persist. Good Luck Mate.