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-   -   Job hunting- Where to spend that extra money? (https://www.pprune.org/pacific-general-aviation-questions/608502-job-hunting-where-spend-extra-money.html)

IFlyPlanesSometimes 5th May 2018 06:22

Job hunting- Where to spend that extra money?
 
About to head off on the classical job hunt up north within a few months, I have found myself with roughly $5K to burn outside of the expected relocation costs.

I'm wanting to use this to gain something to boost my stock standard 250 hour resume. Any recommendation on what would help me stand out the most? i.e one of many GA starter courses to build a bit of C200 series time and learning basic pilot maintenance? or even gaining a NFVR on top of my instrument rating.

key ones I'm looking at is Flight Standards in Darwin, 5hrs C210, LAHSO approval, pilot maintenance, and obviously Darwin familiarisation. Price $4K

There is also Pearson Aviation Mildura, 10hrs command C206 + 2hrs dual, pilot maintenance. Price 5K (best value personally)

Also, in Melbourne, the AJPA, offering Turbine Endorsements for $4K or a JPA for $2.5K

I apologise if this topic has been beaten to a pulp before, but couldn't personally find anything on this particular topic, any help will be appreciated, thanks!

DeltaT 5th May 2018 07:09

"classical" is exactly right. The place of historical significance. I am sure all the oldies will tell you that WAS the place to be in their time.
The up to date place to go for the job hunt is to the West.

Bend alot 5th May 2018 07:24

Is this "pilot maintenance" practical or theory?

IFlyPlanesSometimes 5th May 2018 07:27

From what I understand its practical taught by a LAME.

Duck Pilot 5th May 2018 07:34

Forget your instrument rating or turbine training. Best bang for the buck would be to do the training with the school in Darwin that you have mentioned.

lo_lyf 5th May 2018 08:09

Stay clear of AJPA. Awful training and if you do get a look in afterwards you'll be paid below minimum wage. All whilst they expect the world from you. It's a real pity that such a lucrative company treats its pilots in such a way.

What sort of flying is your end goal? That's pretty relevant information for people giving you advise on the topic.

IFlyPlanesSometimes 5th May 2018 09:54


Originally Posted by lo_lyf (Post 10138569)
Stay clear of AJPA. Awful training and if you do get a look in afterwards you'll be paid below minimum wage. All whilst they expect the world from you. It's a real pity that such a lucrative company treats its pilots in such a way.

What sort of flying is your end goal? That's pretty relevant information for people giving you advise on the topic.

Definetly more the GA route, RFDS in the long term. And thanks for confirming what I’d heard of AJPA

Ixixly 5th May 2018 12:29

I'd go with Flight Standards in Darwin, still plenty of work to be had up North and Cameron has been in amongst it for a while now, getting familiar with Darwin and how to avoid its pit falls will put you ahead when it comes time to hire and they'll have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to who is hiring around there. If you go at it with the right attitude they'll be sure to help you along and definitely know the area and the industry up there very well. Take the other $1k you have and get yourself an LR Licence, Forklift Licence and H Endorsement will have you ready to go straight away in a bunch of jobs, not just Aviation. You'll still be in a bit of queue as often it comes down to those that have taken the time and gotten to know people but I'd imagine getting amongst the crowd from Flight Standards you'll get to know the players pretty quickly.

outnabout 5th May 2018 18:24

Does GA Ready still offer 5 hour and 10 hour courses - from memory, somewhere near Albury?

Flying Bear 5th May 2018 20:44

GA Ready will refer you to Flight Standards in Darwin nowadays, as Talia is mostly occupied in her own flying business with the Outback Spirit C208EX and C210 - both based in Darwin (no longer in Albury). These aircraft are also crewed by the Flight Standards pilots when Talia and her own team is not available.

The current Outback Spirit C210 pilot is a “graduate” / referral from the Flight Standards GA preparation course.

IFlyPlanesSometimes 6th May 2018 07:46

Thanks guys, has anyone had any experience with Pearson Aviation in Mildura? Their course has 7 more hours of flying for roughly $900 more than the flight standards course (albeit in a 206 vs 210).

The options seem to be down to bang for my buck with 12 hours flying in a 206 for $5K, OR get in with someone knowledgable in the industry up that way, ie Cameron and Flight Standards and gain 5 hours C210 while I'm at it for $4K.

Also seems like northwest is the way to go presently? Alot of movement with CP's especially in the NT from what I've heard.

jamsquat 6th May 2018 21:53

Peninsula Aero Club at Tyabb have a 206 for hire now. $375 solo, $475 dual. Not sure on the minimums for solo hire though.

Brakerider 6th May 2018 22:12


Originally Posted by IFlyPlanesSometimes (Post 10139240)
Thanks guys, has anyone had any experience with Pearson Aviation in Mildura? Their course has 7 more hours of flying for roughly $900 more than the flight standards course (albeit in a 206 vs 210).

The options seem to be down to bang for my buck with 12 hours flying in a 206 for $5K, OR get in with someone knowledgable in the industry up that way, ie Cameron and Flight Standards and gain 5 hours C210 while I'm at it for $4K.

Also seems like northwest is the way to go presently? Alot of movement with CP's especially in the NT from what I've heard.


Whilst you may get more hours at Pearson, with CM @ Flight Standards, you're getting top experience and an excellent contact/starting point in the NT to start your career.

Seagull201 7th May 2018 00:46


Originally Posted by IFlyPlanesSometimes (Post 10138505)
About to head off on the classical job hunt up north within a few months, I have found myself with roughly $5K to burn outside of the expected relocation costs.

I'm wanting to use this to gain something to boost my stock standard 250 hour resume. Any recommendation on what would help me stand out the most? i.e one of many GA starter courses to build a bit of C200 series time and learning basic pilot maintenance? or even gaining a NFVR on top of my instrument rating.

key ones I'm looking at is Flight Standards in Darwin, 5hrs C210, LAHSO approval, pilot maintenance, and obviously Darwin familiarisation. Price $4K

There is also Pearson Aviation Mildura, 10hrs command C206 + 2hrs dual, pilot maintenance. Price 5K (best value personally)

Also, in Melbourne, the AJPA, offering Turbine Endorsements for $4K or a JPA for $2.5K

I apologise if this topic has been beaten to a pulp before, but couldn't personally find anything on this particular topic, any help will be appreciated, thanks!

If you ask me, you should have already been there in March, not wait a few months.

I've seen that website and 4K is ridiculously expensive from a flying school offering 5 hours training in a C 210.
It's important to have some basic aircraft maintenance knowledge, the hanger work will help.
A charter company advertised last week for a for low time applicant with 10 hrs C 210 time and 250 hours total.

Unless you been up there before,the landscape and environment up there (NT), is totally different to flying from a capital city airport (Syd/Mel/Bne etc).
Don't forget ,there's tonnes of other people in your position that are already there and have analysed their chances of getting their first job on a single.

You might have to concentrate on getting any non flying job first and be prepared to stay there (DRW) for a while, until you increase your networking ( contacts),
something could come up sooner or later.
If you had a flight instructor rating, you could even get into the local flying schools as a junior instructor.

My experience with DRW is, a person can walk into most single engine C210 jobs, if they are a LAME or have a couple of hundred hours flight time, or can run the flight department office,
or are at the right place and time for a pilot position opening. I'm sure you'll work it out.

You may need to spend another 4K the longer you stay to keep yourself current.

Power 7th May 2018 01:11

Save that money to do your ATPL exams if you haven't done them already

Flyboy1987 7th May 2018 01:30

If i were you i’d keep that money in your pocket.
very easy to spend money when unemployed and it can dissapear fast. All you need is something to go wrong with your car and you’re on the back foot.
i would get up to Darwin and do the rounds. Most pilots I know all got a start without “200 series time”.
If someone gives you a bite you could save 5k.

111fairchild 7th May 2018 04:18

Agree with the last few posts. $5,000 can buy you a few extra weeks on the road if you decide to venture beyond Darwin. A trip to Broome with stops through the NT will cost about that in fuel and cash flow while waiting for an income.
Presuming you completed the CPL and IR fairly recently? Was it an MECIR? If so, I’m reasonably confident the performance and complexities of your light twin will be comparable to that of a C210 or C206.
I would be using the $5K if after 6 months I hadn’t got a job and needed to get current again. Or if a renewal was due in the next 6 months.
That’s something for you to weigh up. I have every confidence that Flight Standards in Darwin will give you the right guidance and advice regarding when to invest your money. Although I haven’t used the school, I have been put through my paces by Cameron and am all the better for it.

Duck Pilot 7th May 2018 04:41

A Flight Instructors Rating would also be a very valuable rating to have and it certainly should get you an instructing job pretty much anywhere even with a fresh Grade 3 provided that you have the right attitude.

With CASA now driving the requirement for all Check and Trainers in CAR 217 organisations to have instructor ratings, the only way to get into this is to have a FIR. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had done my FIR before heading North 25 years ago.

Don't leave home without all the ATPL subjects passed and an FIR would be my suggestion for anyone heading North, IR can be done anytime quite easily when required.

compressor stall 7th May 2018 08:58

Given the fact that Arnhem Land operators are advertising, I’m staggered you need to fund anything extra.

Duck Pilot 7th May 2018 10:08

Problem is that the standards have dropped over the years due to some schools giving CPL Licences out like lollipops.

It’s pretty bad when a brand new CPL holder shows up at an operator in Darwin dressed in thongs and shorts. Pilots not being able recall basic air leg questions and completely screwing up a simple flight check are quite common occurrences. Let these pilots loose unsupervised out at a remote location is only a recepie for disaster, which we have seen before.


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