Kiwi considering coming home
 

Greetings all, I’m an expat Kiwi living in Los Angeles with fixed wing CPL SEL IR, about 1,000TT. Given COVID and the general chaos from the Ass-Hat in charge here, I’m thinking about moving back to NZ - I think the wheels are about to come off the train here, and NZ seems to have a much better handle on things.

Contemplating getting a CPL helicopter add-on (getting a bit bored flying fixed wing) and I’m curious to know if there are any helo flying jobs I could get down there without a ton of turbine helo PIC time. Really prefer not to instruct, I love flying but teaching isn’t my cup of tea…

Any guidance helpful, I realize there are likely a ton of guys hungry for work right now. Cheers!

Economically, New Zealand has fallen off the rails too, in a big way. There is much carnage to come, and possibly a huge financial downturn (and years if not decades of significant Govt. debt, post Covid-19)....Many, many experienced pilots will be out of work for years. As such, it might not be a good time to give up what you have, in the hope of getting something in NZ....but I understand your sentiment. Good luck to you.

ATPL subjects would be a must; get the ATPL Licence to demonstrate commitment and sincerity

"Ton of guys" - that is a severe understatement. Bear in mind that just about every airline in the world has furloughed pilots. Kiwis are in most of them, more in some than others. Expats were first to go in China, then the rest of SE Asia as Covid ramped up. Now the ME and Europe are feeling the effects. There will literally be thousands in the queue ahead of you for a handful (if any) of jobs when hiring restarts. First in the queue will be the furloughed pilots taken back under binding negotiated agreements. Then it will be the turn of experienced pilots many of which would have started their flying careers in NZ and will have proven track records at their old employers. They will have command experience, heavy jet, medium jet, TP. Pretty much everything an employer could want that unfortunately you don't have. And then you are up against pilots from countries that have work rights in NZ eg: Oz.

Thanks, appreciate you taking the time to reply. Back to the drawing board...

After 1000 hours you are bored with flying fixed wing? After 30 years I still don't get bored!!!

Man, I'm envious. I think if I wasn't hitting the same 20 airports all the time it would be better.

You’re missing the point. SoCal is asking about Heli jobs, 99% of returning expats are unlikely to be qualified.

Yep, been there, I do half chopper and half fixed wing now with a bit of everything on both, no time to get bored!!!

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Yep, been there, I do half chopper and half fixed wing now with a bit of everything on both, no time to get bored!!!

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Ahhh, the perfect aviation career!