Australia: Training, Licence Conversion, Job Prospects
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: YBCG
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Australia are about to shut the door to pilots getting out there on the points system, they say that there are 14000 out of work pilots , and dont wont anymore at the moment . So look out.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Australia, Is it best to set up your own business or get paid as casual?
I have just been offered a job that will give me 4 days a week work. What is the best thing to do, take the job as is or set up my own contract company, what will give me the most tax breaks etc. I have heard that the mustering pilots are doing this all the time (setting up themselves as a business) can anyone tell me how to go about it. Please post the answers here or PM me.
Thanks in advance
anyone got a spare pie!!!
Thanks in advance
anyone got a spare pie!!!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cant give much advice from the helicopter side of things, but being a tradesman Ive been in and out of this a few times.
The main thing to remember is that to break even as a sole trader/business you need to get around $20/hr more to make it worth your while. As a sole trader you will need to pay you own super, income insurance, workers comp, and public liability. These can add up to a very large amount.
The new setup with BAS statements means that you dont have to file every quater, you can now file yearly if you wish, which means you dont have to spend as much time at home doing accounting. When the GST first came in I was spending near 3hrs per week, just trying to keep in front.
While its true you can write off more as a business, you need to think about how much you will have to write off. For example I could write off materials, tools, travelling, the car, ect...
But you may find that as a pilot you wont have that much to write off.
On the whole, in my opinion, if you arent going to be earning over $60,000 per year, then its just not worth you while.
Im back on wages now, and find it makes my life much simpler. If you have the option I would go with wages.
The main thing to remember is that to break even as a sole trader/business you need to get around $20/hr more to make it worth your while. As a sole trader you will need to pay you own super, income insurance, workers comp, and public liability. These can add up to a very large amount.
The new setup with BAS statements means that you dont have to file every quater, you can now file yearly if you wish, which means you dont have to spend as much time at home doing accounting. When the GST first came in I was spending near 3hrs per week, just trying to keep in front.
While its true you can write off more as a business, you need to think about how much you will have to write off. For example I could write off materials, tools, travelling, the car, ect...
But you may find that as a pilot you wont have that much to write off.
On the whole, in my opinion, if you arent going to be earning over $60,000 per year, then its just not worth you while.
Im back on wages now, and find it makes my life much simpler. If you have the option I would go with wages.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ursa Minor
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jobs in Australia
I'm fishing for advice and would be grateful for any help. I am 45, reasonably bored and looking to inject masses of enthusiasm back into life in general. I have a CAA ATPL(H) with around 6000 hours (mostly twin) and would dearly like to emigrate to Oz but unfortunately, I can only get in with an employers sponsorship - So, back to the advice. Is there any demand for pilots like me? or is Australia bursting at the seams with ex mil types or similar?
I would be grateful for any advice and/or email contacts (please feel free to PM)
I would be grateful for any advice and/or email contacts (please feel free to PM)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aussie Helicopter Schools
Hey everyone
I'm going throught the process of trying to find a helicopter school to get my CPL and make flying a career. Its been hard to find an unbiased opinion about which schools have the better reputation in the industry as flying schools would obvioulsy only give out student contacts which they know love their school.
I was hoping people would be able point me in the right direction in terms of the do's and don'ts for a young player like myself, and suggest any flying schools which have the industries respect and confidence.
ash
I'm going throught the process of trying to find a helicopter school to get my CPL and make flying a career. Its been hard to find an unbiased opinion about which schools have the better reputation in the industry as flying schools would obvioulsy only give out student contacts which they know love their school.
I was hoping people would be able point me in the right direction in terms of the do's and don'ts for a young player like myself, and suggest any flying schools which have the industries respect and confidence.
ash
Better red than ...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: australia
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Becker Helicopters at Maroochydore Airport are maybe worth a look. They use the R22,300 and 47 types and can arrange visa's etc. to overseas students. Apparently they even guarantee you a job at the end, free turbine endorsement on a AS 350D plus a car and 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom beachfront house.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Melbourne
Age: 54
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Try Chopperline at caloundra, they must have some of the most experienced instructors in the industry, good ground school too so you can walk in and get the whole package there.
The Helicopter group in Melbourne have a good name too, so does PHS down there. The advantage you might have with them is that they can sometimes give you work at the end of your training because they both have tourist scenic flights out near the Rock/kings canyon..
I dont think Becker Helicopters has any sort of work programme after your training but I dont think anyone can guarantee you a job when you finish and you certainly dont get a FREE turbine endorsement, Dont know who told you that one John!. I do know his students fly around in Helmets and flying suits for whatever reason, Ok the helmet I can understand but the full flying suit in a H300 is a bit much or is it just me.
Anyway good luck there are not many jobs around for low hour helicopter pilots if I were starting out again I would go Fixed wing there appears to be some movement in that area.
Helibloke
The Helicopter group in Melbourne have a good name too, so does PHS down there. The advantage you might have with them is that they can sometimes give you work at the end of your training because they both have tourist scenic flights out near the Rock/kings canyon..
I dont think Becker Helicopters has any sort of work programme after your training but I dont think anyone can guarantee you a job when you finish and you certainly dont get a FREE turbine endorsement, Dont know who told you that one John!. I do know his students fly around in Helmets and flying suits for whatever reason, Ok the helmet I can understand but the full flying suit in a H300 is a bit much or is it just me.
Anyway good luck there are not many jobs around for low hour helicopter pilots if I were starting out again I would go Fixed wing there appears to be some movement in that area.
Helibloke
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oz
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think John’s comments might have been just a little bit sarcastic.
Don't believe any promises of "work experience" or a job or free stuff. Instead of getting the names of students picked by the school, ask for the names of the last 5 or so students to get a licence and/or a job. (could be a problem with the privacy laws)
You aren’t locked into your choice of school - if you have problems and the school wont/can’t do anything about it, change schools. Don’t pre-pay for the whole course.
Don't believe any promises of "work experience" or a job or free stuff. Instead of getting the names of students picked by the school, ask for the names of the last 5 or so students to get a licence and/or a job. (could be a problem with the privacy laws)
You aren’t locked into your choice of school - if you have problems and the school wont/can’t do anything about it, change schools. Don’t pre-pay for the whole course.
Give The Helicopter Group in Melbourne a call. Great instructors, great machines and unlike many training schools they have a tourist operation that some fresh CPL's get a run at, obviously there is no guarantee of work after a licence. But at least they have an operation for junior pilots to work.
Be very careful at schools that promise you work at the end of your training.
Be very careful at schools that promise you work at the end of your training.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: in swag
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G/DAY ASH
WHY BOTHER WITH CPL(H) GO THE CPL (A) AND THEN ATPL(A). IT EVENTUALLY PAYS MUCH MORE MONEY....
I HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME FOR 20+ YEARS AND IT IS A HARD SLOGG TO THE TOP....
THE ONLY THING I HAVE LEARNT OVER THE YEARS IS......THE BIGGER THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR, THE BIGGER THE BULL S..T YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.
BUT IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON BEING A HELI DRIVER, GIVE CHOPPER LINE A RING IN CALOUNDRA, QLD. GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT KNOW HOW TO INSTRUCT AND HAVE BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND HAVE PLENTY OF HOURS TO BACK THEM UP...
I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT WITH THEM 6/7 YEARS AGO.
GOOD CLIMATE, NEAR THE BEACH, NIGHT LIFE ETC AND THE ACCOMADATION IS GOOD.....
THEY HAVE STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD......THAT HAS TO SAY SOMETHING...
ASK FOR TUB MATHESON OR KEN AMOS(INSTRUCTORS) AND TALK TO THEM
GOOD LUCK
WHY BOTHER WITH CPL(H) GO THE CPL (A) AND THEN ATPL(A). IT EVENTUALLY PAYS MUCH MORE MONEY....
I HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME FOR 20+ YEARS AND IT IS A HARD SLOGG TO THE TOP....
THE ONLY THING I HAVE LEARNT OVER THE YEARS IS......THE BIGGER THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR, THE BIGGER THE BULL S..T YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.
BUT IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON BEING A HELI DRIVER, GIVE CHOPPER LINE A RING IN CALOUNDRA, QLD. GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT KNOW HOW TO INSTRUCT AND HAVE BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND HAVE PLENTY OF HOURS TO BACK THEM UP...
I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT WITH THEM 6/7 YEARS AGO.
GOOD CLIMATE, NEAR THE BEACH, NIGHT LIFE ETC AND THE ACCOMADATION IS GOOD.....
THEY HAVE STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD......THAT HAS TO SAY SOMETHING...
ASK FOR TUB MATHESON OR KEN AMOS(INSTRUCTORS) AND TALK TO THEM
GOOD LUCK
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: in swag
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HIGH NR
THE ABOVE POST WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT SELF PROMOTION....
READ THE POST AGAIN I SAID IN IT " I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT 6/7 YEARS AGO"" I HAVE NO TIES TO ANY SCHOOLS OR ANY COMPANY IN OZ AT ALL........
G/DAY ROBSRICH
ASH WANTED UNBIASED OPINIONS ON SCHOOLS IN OZ... I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW...... I DID NOT STATE IT WAS BETTER OR BEST.. I JUST MENTION IT HAD GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT HAD BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND POSSIBLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING AND HOW TO TEACH IT......
WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR SOME FLYING SCKOOLS THAT ARE JUST PILOT FACTORIES....... KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
HAS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED I THINK THE PILOTS LICENCE SYSTEM IN OZ AND FOR THAT MATTER THE WORLD STINKS.....
IT SHOULD BE MADE INTO AN APPENTICE TYPE SYSTEM WHERE YOU LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF EVERYTHING,,, THE ENGINEERING SIDE, THE NAVIGATION SIDE, THE OPERATIONS SIDE,, CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND SEAT IN THE MACHINE WITH EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND JUST WATCH AND LEARN AND QUESTION, AND ALSO GET THE FEEL OF THE STICKS
ABOUT LIKE WHAT AN OPERATOR IN THE NT USED TO DO......NOW HE HAD A GOOD SYSTEM....
HAVE I OPENED A CAN OF WORMS OR WHAT?????????????
ALL THE BEST
THE ABOVE POST WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT SELF PROMOTION....
READ THE POST AGAIN I SAID IN IT " I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT 6/7 YEARS AGO"" I HAVE NO TIES TO ANY SCHOOLS OR ANY COMPANY IN OZ AT ALL........
G/DAY ROBSRICH
ASH WANTED UNBIASED OPINIONS ON SCHOOLS IN OZ... I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW...... I DID NOT STATE IT WAS BETTER OR BEST.. I JUST MENTION IT HAD GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT HAD BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND POSSIBLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING AND HOW TO TEACH IT......
WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR SOME FLYING SCKOOLS THAT ARE JUST PILOT FACTORIES....... KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
HAS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED I THINK THE PILOTS LICENCE SYSTEM IN OZ AND FOR THAT MATTER THE WORLD STINKS.....
IT SHOULD BE MADE INTO AN APPENTICE TYPE SYSTEM WHERE YOU LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF EVERYTHING,,, THE ENGINEERING SIDE, THE NAVIGATION SIDE, THE OPERATIONS SIDE,, CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND SEAT IN THE MACHINE WITH EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND JUST WATCH AND LEARN AND QUESTION, AND ALSO GET THE FEEL OF THE STICKS
ABOUT LIKE WHAT AN OPERATOR IN THE NT USED TO DO......NOW HE HAD A GOOD SYSTEM....
HAVE I OPENED A CAN OF WORMS OR WHAT?????????????
ALL THE BEST