Time to get back into the industry
 

Hi All,

So I think I have some what of a unique situation. I should probably start at the beginning. I started my flight training while I was at school. Then went into full time training in 2008 after graduating from high school. I did this through a cadetship program and finished up with about 800 hours total time in 2010. On the completion of my cadetship I had to step back from the industry to look after my father who was very ill. He passed away last year and i have spent the last 18 months taking care of his affairs including winding up his business. I have been completely out of the aviation industry for about 5 years now.

What I am looking for is so advice on where i should start and who i should talk to about getting myself "re-trained" and current. When i finished up i held a CPL and MECIR (this expired in 2011). I am located in Sydney so if anyone can point me in the right direction of who I can talk to to gather some information and try and plan my way back into the Industry.

Thanks in advance, if any one needs any more info please feel free to ask.

Firstly a big compliment for looking after your dad

Now I'll start with the easy bit, the industry or whats left of it isn't what it was in 2010, much worse and absolutely no signs of improvement but maybe you already know that

The Aus dollar was quite strong and aircraft were coming to Aus, now there going back

In 2010 you could progress through to gaining your ATPL or frozen ATPL, not anymore though because

Now who wants to continue with Part 61 and all the other bits .....

Thanks for the quick replies.

I'm under no illusions i know that its not going to be easy to get back into the industry and I'm certainly expecting to have to spend a bit of cash to get my self back to standard.

I guess what I'm really looking for is some contacts that i can talk to, to point me in the right direction.

Annon,

A couple of things, I've been employed in the aviation industry for 25 odd years. It has always worked in cycles, those cycles are unpredictable. A hiring cycle may last 3 years, it may last 5. Qantas hasn't hired for what? 7 years? Another thing I've noticed is at the beginning of those hiring cycles there is a mad rush of students eager to get their CPL training done, their instrument ratings etc.

If you are ready for it, you're in a box seat. Another thing I've noticed is that the ones that really want it, get there in the end.

Thanks Porter

I think my time away from the industry has really reminded me of just how much i want to be back

I recently passed an AFR easily after not having flown for 13 years (was just shy of 400 hours when I stopped flying in 2002).

If you prepare for it properly I think you'll find you won't need any re-training as such.

What I did was:
1. Bought a scanner and listened to radio calls at every opportunity (living right next to Jandakot helped).
2. Read through all theory materials up to CPL level.
3. Read through flying training notes and aircraft handling notes.
4. Contacted my old flying school and booked one refresher flight, followed by an AFR test on the following day.
5. Planned the flight review test NAVEX according to the telephone discussion.

The refresher flight went much better than expected, as soon as I took off everything came flooding back. Flight consisted of forced landings, stalling, and circuits including strip inspection, flapless and glide approach. Every landing was damn near perfect. The flight test was easy as I'd been preparing for it for days before hand.

I'm following a similar plan to get my CIR current, reading through all the theory, training materials, laws etc and practicing IFR procedures and approaches on the PC (Elite). Then I'll book some instructional sim time, a couple of flight refreshers and then the IPC.

In the mean time I'm building C182 time so I can do a JPA and secure a casual jump pilot position. With 800 hours you could do the same but fly a Caravan instead of the C182 :)

Go for it!

edit: BTW, under Part 61 your instrument rating didn't expire, you still have it - just need to pass an IPC to exercise the privileges. Make sure you show proof of your instrument rating on the Part 61 licence conversion form.

Good effort Bubba!

This shouldn't be necessary at all, CASA will have a record of it. Even though mine expired eons ago it is on my new 61 licence.

Thanks for the Info guys i do truly appreciate it.

Bubba, You have made me feel significantly more confident in my ability to get back in the air so thank you.... now to spend the weekend looking through part 61.... and meeting up with some flying schools...