Captain Cranky, you b1tch :).

"My thought was to do the 40 odd hours it takes to convert to CPL(A), sit the exam then find the fastest route to flying vans."

Hmm yeah thats a few $$$ your gonna outlay there, be best to find the fastest way into vans BEFORE you outlay to be sure your prepared to make the effort!!

"...although now that you mention airlines it might be quite conducive to my dreams of retiring to the Whitsundays, sitting under a palm tree and drinking Pina Coladas...:} "

Yeah what a great dream but remember you are still gonna need that twin time for an airline.
I do recall a pilot being hired in Hinterland who had a RW background with twin RW experience......apparently that was good enough as far as the insurance company was concerned.......
Certainly be worth a call/visit to them to see if they would do that again, I think they do struggle to find Van drivers with experience though so would appreciate you rocking up with an endo!! Dunno for sure but expect Troppos would only put there more senior (guys who have done time on the rock) drivers on the Van with a CS base??
Dont wanna put you off by any means but if you want the time for that interesting job overseas the whole hour building exercise could be quite time consuming!!
Anyway just food for thought, all the very best with it!!!

Beat me to it, think you will find VH-MOS is now at Kooralbyn (according to ASM). Byron 'Van is still pumping out the tandems to FL140

Before I opened my mouth I should of done my research into it. After looking at the lastest ASM (Australian Skydiver Mag) what you say is correct.

Just looking over the add posted AGAIN in the latest APF newsletter:

Wanted Cresco Pilot for busy NQLD skydive operation

Flying both turbine and piper navajo aircraft, Endorsement available to right applicant. Salary starting at $27k or more for exp pilot. Room to move towards CP of our operation 800hrs PIC min IFR rating, 75hrs twin time. Navajo endorsement, PJE an advantage, but not essential fo position

Contact John (that name does ring a bell from QLD, wonder if he paid around $10k for an endorsement, or should I say "right job offer" :hmm: )

Gives contact details, blah blah blah

Just to wade in here..:} ...Con is spot on in my opinion, I am living proof of it is what you make of it, 3 continents, about 7 jobs, and I don't know how many nights spent in tents, cars, dodgy hotels, B & B's you name it I've stayed there. Not to mention malaria, being shot at, and having a knife pulled on me!
So Maudlin, when I read comments like yours I know exactly where your coming from, the only thing is anyone can do it....if they work hard enough for it. (I am a DECIDEDLY average aviator, yet through hard work and determination I am approaching a command check with a UK legacy carrier)

Van Time
 

Captain Cranky, You kill me! (can't stop laughing)! The arrestor overshoot was a new one. Hmmm.... Townsville?

Cheers

:confused: ........Caloundra?

Hooker Creek Not Taken
 

JetABro, whats your source, Hooker Creek is far from taken just ask the guy currently working there hes a friend of mine. The word is if any of you guys or gals have 1000 TT and 50 hrs or more night and 150 planed IFR and a desire to get some turbine time then call Aboriginal Air Services asap. It would help if you have C208 endorsement already but if not I hear they'll do one for you. According to my source, its not a bad gig, just no hookers like the name suggests, but a heap of C208 time approx 20ish hours a week, you do the sums, helps to be single or have a partner who's a school teacher or a nurse. You will also need to obtain a licence to have alcohol in your quarters as its a dry community.:ok:

Think you'll find the Cresco is back at Byron. Kooralbyn couldnt afford to keep MOS, and Byron got fed up with the van dissappearing on busy days because the owner felt like it. So they bought the Cresco.

How many pax in a Van for private ops.....22! Yes, out of Tyagarah a few years ago on skydiving ops.
The van came from Ramblers, I was one of the 'meat bombs', and when a crowd had piled in someone started counting heads and came up with 22 (Should have been pilot + 16 max). The owner of the van said "She'll be right" and, luckily, she was! Bit of a squeeze inside though!!!!!

[QUOTEThe owner of the van said "She'll be right" and, luckily, she was! Bit of a squeeze inside though!!!!!][/QUOTE]

unfortunately these jokers come under the loose banner of GA....... So what ever happened to 6 people in a private flight?

Flight and duty times?....nah mate..."private ops"
A dozen people over water at night in "a van" ?..."cool mate..private ops"
Second class maintenance..... "cool mate...private ops"

methinks "private ops" needs a little more scrutiny!

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Strecthing the story a bit far aren't you Sailing, I've had the 18th skydiver get out of his own accord because it is too squashy. First I have heard of a van going with 22. Even if that counted pilot I cant believe it. 209 on the other hand.....

Mr Buzzy I could not agree more with you, and I have said it in this forum (after the crash in Jan), the skydiving game does need a little more regulation - from outside that is. But the 6 people in a private aircraft relates to cost sharing not how many you can legally put in an aircraft. For example if I want to fly from A - B I can put as many people in as I want as long as I am paying.

http://www.casa.gov.au/download/act_regs/1988.pdf

I must be reading page 31 ( Para 7A ) incorrectly. I see lots of "and" in these sentences.

So do skydiving schools take "22" punters for free? Or maybe they sell the jump and include the planeride for nothing?
If this is the case, maybe the airlines should be able to sell a t-shirt for 99 dollars and give you a ride to sydney for nothing, ( provided a timetable is not adhered to strictly )

Something that does come to light though.... Our rulebooks are getting worse!

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z

I was in the right hand seat and had a pretty good view of the crowd in the back, there were 20 plus me+pilot. Low fuel light was flashing as we taxied, when i queried it the pilot said there was enough to get to 14,000 and back.:eek: I occasionally flew the 182 for them when the pilot was too drunk from the party the night before, but I gave it and the skydiving away because of the way things were run. There was a classic video from inside the 182, flown by a young ex RAAF cowboy, being barrel rolled in the climb with 6 pob (and pre restraint rules)!
I should point out that this was quite a few years ago and the dropzone has had a complete change of management and was being run well when I left over 2 years ago!
And yes, if only we'd had a 209T!

Standard ops to have both lights flashing on t/o = about 400 lbs total FOB more than enough for one load (0.4)
And agree with Hair of the dogma you won't get 22 in a small van i've had 20 and they can't fit anymore.
Yes sometimes they are dodgy but so are everyone its up to the PIC to decided if its worth the risk. Stand up for yourself and the world will be a better place and if you don't like it shut up and walk!

Ah, sorry if I've offended you, OCTA?
1. I stand corrected on the fuel situation.:ok:
2. I enjoyed the jump, I'm not complaining about anything, certainly not the PIC! When what was happening at the drop zone got out of my comfort zone I did walk (ie. quit jumping). Still used to enjoy flying the odd load in the 182, wasn't paid, never asked to be. Flew jumpers in my Tiger until I sold it.
3. That load was in the middle of a boogie, lots of hyped up jumpers having a good time just kept piling in. Only about 150 witnesses, bit of a talking point for a day or two, but maybe I'm just hallucinating.:ooh:

:):):):):):):):):):):):)

Sailing the shut up and walk wasn't directed at you just at everyone who b*tchs at everything. Still don't think you'd get 22 in but I wasn't there so you could be right. Knowing the operator anything is possible.