Australia work visas
 

I currently live in Texas, USA. I am trying to get on with Bristow Australia, they said they don't do sponsorships. I've found the type of work visa I need to have to work temporary over there. But I guess I'm wondering does Bristow not employee people from the US to work overseas? If they do what is the process?

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (ANZSCO Codes 323111, 323112 and 323113) is not currently included in the Australian Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

One assumes Bristow are able to meet their Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer requirements from the Australian labour market, without resorting to sponsoring overseas workers with the additional and time consuming task of converting an overseas AME license to an Australian CASA license?

I think you answered your own question?

I thought the real purpose of 457 visas was to pit these workers against high cost Australian workers? There are no real shortages of skilled labour in Australia just workers that the government want to break. I hear loads of foreign workers on the airwaves, I have loads of qualified pilot mates who've left the industry because they can't get a job. Shortage? Don't think so.

Another quality post by Jack Ranga! :*

There is a trade and professional skills shortage in Australia, in certain specific occupations. Those occupations, or the Government's assessment of the skills in demand are listed in the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL).

I suspect the principal reasons Australia has a shortage in certain trades and professions is that Australians generally appear reluctant to take up a trade apprenticeship and complete the qualification or undertake tertiary studies to completion. The national apprentice cancelation rate exceeds 50% and I understand the first year university failure rate is around 30%.

However I digress.

Aeroplane Pilot (ANZSCO Code 231111) and Air Traffic Controller (ANZSCO Code 231112) are not on the Australian Migration Occupations in Demand List. That does not exclude the possibility of overseas pilots working in Australia on temporary Visas, but in listening on the air waves if you were to eliminate international flights, foreign student pilots training in Australia, Australian pilots with English as a second language and possibly some Qantas/Jetstar franchised operations, I really wonder how many foreign pilots are operating in Australia on temporary Visas, depriving your "loads of qualified pilot mates" of a job? :confused:

Quality posts are what I base my (substantial) reputation on :ok:

Statistics can say anything you want them to say, especially when you've got an agenda ;)

Geez mate that's a little harsh. Just because you hear foreign voice on the radio doesn't mean they here on a 457 visa! :rolleyes:

If I look at my own circles, I have at least five mates who you would call 'foreigners' on the radio, but they are all married to Aussies and got here under their own steam, not a 457 visa in sight. :ok:

tw, old mate, perhaps you can explain to me why a certain regional airline had a substantial influx of foreign voices in the past couple of years? Surely there wasn't a massive influx of marriages to Aussie women?

Just for the record, I want as many people in the country as we can cram in, my business relies on it ;)

Richard, there have been a couple of instances where one of the big 2 helicopter operators have done the visa sponsorship that I am aware of, however, this was done for engineers and pilots who had a licence that was able to be converted to Australian with minimal problems. Unfortunately if you don't hold either an EASA or Canadian licence getting CASA recognition is going to be a big problem for you as an engineer. I guess that you hold an FAA A&P licence, unfortunately this licence is not accepted by CASA, in order for you to be employable as a licensed engineer you will need to sit a lot of exams, then demonstrate experience before CASA will issue a licence. To get a better understanding of the Australian system you would be advised to have a look through the CASA website. Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Home
If you want to work outside of the US, Bristow do have some operations in other areas of the world where an FAA licence is recognised, problem with that is, those areas are not overly desirable. Sorry this is probably not what you wanted to hear, but better you know the real deal.
Good luck with your endeavours!

If you're referring to Skywest/Virgin Regional, Jack, they were brought into the country because of their experience on the ATR which was needed to get the type into service in Australia.

I think there may only be about 4-5 of them there.

If you're referring to Rex, I haven't heard any foreign pilots yet. But I also don't keep an ear out or care too much.

morno

4-5 only?

I see/hear more than that on the S Bus at BNE each day! :E

Morno,

Not talking about Skywest/Virgin. More emminent moderators obviously listen to scanners more often than I plug in ;)

Important to note, I'm not bothered who comes in, it was obviously done 'legally' (Australian Government Legal). Just making a point. I'll be converting my licence to FAA and seeking work so I haven't a problem welcoming people here.

But you obviously can't make a point on pprune about government fiddling without princesses jumping to false conclusions about what I think :D

TW, I can send my mates logbook in if you want to check it out?

Perhaps tailwheel could read the link he posted that says the government are not accepting visa applications in this category. Doesn't sound like a shortage to me :O

Too busy listening to scanners ;) got the wrong frequencies tuned I think?

The idea that Virgin needed experienced ATR guys to get the operation going is a load of nonsense verifiable by current Virgin flight crew. The beauty of the 457 visa is you don't have to prove a shortage like many other visas. Virgin simply thought it would save them money by not having to type rate and train dozens of guys at the start. This came back to bite them as many had difficulty converting licences and were unfamiliar with flying in Australia. Visual approaches proved challenging for some!

DC 9, 727 and many other types entered service in large numbers in Oz without the need to get "foreign" crews to help out.

Wash your mouth out for making such a relevant point.

Sub Class 457 Visa: Training benchmarks and Labour market testing.