Aussie pilots, help!

[Stilllookingup]

Hi all,

So I'm stuck. I want to get my CPL and work as a pilot. I'm 34 and finally in a position to do and afford the training. My problem is - I have a young child and an unsupportive missus. Mostly unsupportive because she, and I, don't know where there money is going to come from in 2 years when I finish the training.
So, what my questions are;
Once one finishes a Diploma in Aviation and IR does anyone know what my options might be for employment ? With only 150-200 hrs total flight time under my belt, flying an A380 for Qantas is out of the question.
If i were young, single or no kid, flying crop duster in the outback might be an ok way to get some hours but I am kind of limited in that way.
What could someone look to for a wage straight out of a flight school? Not super in it for the massive cash but, knowing what I was looking at may help my missus understand.
Say I were to land a scenic flight gig straight up, what do people do to look at a major airline? Do you just keep applying and hope for the best or do you self fund a type rating? Like 20-50k from what I can find out.
And lastly, if one got a crack a the big boys how does a daily/weekly/monthly schedule work? E.g. Bris-Syd-Mel-Bris on a day or more/less. 5 days a week? 6,7,14?

Anyhow, if some one has any info that can help or some helpful hints or warnings it would be greatly appreciated .

Regards,

Actually, one more.
I see all these offerings of big paying jobs overseas, China etc. Are you all applying for these positions? Or, are they a bit of a wank?

[jack11111]

How does your spouse feel about supporting the family for your first three years of "hour building"?

[havoste]

With a bare CPL and mecir, your best bet if you want to stay in a big city is to do an instructor rating.
In the bush, it's not what you know its who you know. There are 200hr Cpl here that go straight onto a turbine gig, while 1000hr guys are being turned down. Keep making connections and talk to everyone.
Don't even think about flying for an airline for the first 5 or so years. The normal progression is single piston, twin piston, regional, then airline and if your lucky it could take a couple years, if the market turns south it could take 10 years+.
Big paying jobs overseas are mainly looking for experienced captains with thousands of hours command time in jets, not fresh CPLs, and rarely even FOs in the case of China. These places have an unlimited supply of local cadets they can pump through sausage factories to sit in their planes. \
It's good that you're considering these things before you start training as opposed to the hundreds who do their training then give up once they realise they can't fly a jet straight away.

[rudestuff]

How does she feel about living in the US? You could do your training there on a J visa, then work as a CFI. Once you've got 1500 hours you can get a work visa and fly for a regional airline. They're desperately short of pilots.

[Piltdown Man]

A sensible question but I think you already know the answer. You have to have a back-up plan; an alternate if if you like. The training is just one of the pots you have to fund, the other is your living costs whilst training and afterwatds but the biggest one is your family’s living costs. When you have enough to “do and afford the training” each one of these pots will be fully funded. The unfortunate fact is you have to be able to travel fast and light once you have your tickets. And then your face has to fit as you will be up against many others who are desperate to earn a crust flying. And how do you tell your better half that you’ll be living in a crash-pad in Port Moresby with four other guys for six months or so and possibly earning just enough to buy beer? You’ll also find that even scenic flying is quite tough with low hours (I have done a fair bit out of Hobart) because flying has to be second nature. So being realistic you will have a spend a year or so after qualifying doing the odd bit of possibly instructing before you can start earning enough to think another your next step.

PM

[rudestuff]

I had an unsupportive missus.

Had.

[Kranz]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

How does she feel about living in the US? You could do your training there on a J visa, then work as a CFI. Once you've got 1500 hours you can get a work visa and fly for a regional airline. They're desperately short of pilots.

Don't want to thread 7500 but very interested to hear more on this - can someone please PM me or point me in the right direction. TIA.

[Stilllookingup]

Sad face

Thanks all. I reckon it might be a bit much for me to risk. If I could do the training and walk into a 90k+ job straight up I'd go for it. (Who wouldn't I suppose)
Does anyone know what an instructor makes?
But, I have to be realistic. The start of a pilot career is better suited for someone without kids. Moving my family around following my work isn't what I had planned for them and it sounds like that's what they'd be doing if I go forward. Thanks all for your advice.

[Stilllookingup]

Originally Posted by jack11111

How does your spouse feel about supporting the family for your first three years of "hour building"?

Not great 😃

[Stilllookingup]

Originally Posted by Piltdown Man

A sensible question but I think you already know the answer. You have to have a back-up plan; an alternate if if you like. The training is just one of the pots you have to fund, the other is your living costs whilst training and afterwatds but the biggest one is your family’s living costs. When you have enough to “do and afford the training” each one of these pots will be fully funded. The unfortunate fact is you have to be able to travel fast and light once you have your tickets. And then your face has to fit as you will be up against many others who are desperate to earn a crust flying. And how do you tell your better half that you’ll be living in a crash-pad in Port Moresby with four other guys for six months or so and possibly earning just enough to buy beer? You’ll also find that even scenic flying is quite tough with low hours (I have done a fair bit out of Hobart) because flying has to be second nature. So being realistic you will have a spend a year or so after qualifying doing the odd bit of possibly instructing before you can start earning enough to think another your next step.

PM

Great honest feedback. Really appreciated. This is something like I envision the start to be but was trying to convince the missus, and myself I guess, that it wouldn't be too bad.