Australia: Training, Licence Conversion, Job Prospects
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The licence conversion will likely involve a full set of ATPL subjects. You will find them a bit stiffer than the US FAA examinations.
As for demand, you will not find that helicopter pilots are a current "in demand" skilled occupation, better study hairdressing or become a plumber!!
Migration can also be a complicated process, it depends on age and having an in demand skill. Best idea would be to visit first and speak with a migration consultant.
Its not impossible but not simple. Find an Aussie woman and.......oh, I didn't tell you that.
As for demand, you will not find that helicopter pilots are a current "in demand" skilled occupation, better study hairdressing or become a plumber!!
Migration can also be a complicated process, it depends on age and having an in demand skill. Best idea would be to visit first and speak with a migration consultant.
Its not impossible but not simple. Find an Aussie woman and.......oh, I didn't tell you that.
Join Date: Sep 2004
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CPL in Australia
Iam considering doing my helicopter CPL in Australia, I am South African and I have a South African fixed wing CPL with a couple of thousand turbine hours. Can anyone suggest a good flight school downunder to do the helicopter training.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Cenrifugel.
There a number of good schools here in Australia. Depends what you are after. If you like the sun and surf then it is hard to go pass Blue Tongue helicopters on the sunshine coast Queensland.Very experienced Instructors.
Or maybe Jandakot Helicopters in Western Aus have a good rep.
Fleet helicopters in Armidale, Northern new south wales are a good bunch. They are at altittude, 3500ft so training there will sharpen up those limited power skills.
PHL,NewCastle Helicopters to name but a few.
Not to sure on the details of your licence but if you convert your fixedwing over to Aust cpl then you may only need to do a 60hr Helicopter CPL course.
Dont quote me on this but I am sure there are other PPruners out there that could clarify this.
If you require any more info then PM me.
Best of luck
Bomb
There a number of good schools here in Australia. Depends what you are after. If you like the sun and surf then it is hard to go pass Blue Tongue helicopters on the sunshine coast Queensland.Very experienced Instructors.
Or maybe Jandakot Helicopters in Western Aus have a good rep.
Fleet helicopters in Armidale, Northern new south wales are a good bunch. They are at altittude, 3500ft so training there will sharpen up those limited power skills.
PHL,NewCastle Helicopters to name but a few.
Not to sure on the details of your licence but if you convert your fixedwing over to Aust cpl then you may only need to do a 60hr Helicopter CPL course.
Dont quote me on this but I am sure there are other PPruners out there that could clarify this.
If you require any more info then PM me.
Best of luck
Bomb
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Cenrifugel
I am a Australian CPL(A) and CPL(H) in South Africa (Sandton, Jo'burg).
I would concur with Bomb on Blue Tongue and Fleet being excellent places to go. I have hung around at both. Do ask around - there are some really lousy schools around too.
OOW
I would concur with Bomb on Blue Tongue and Fleet being excellent places to go. I have hung around at both. Do ask around - there are some really lousy schools around too.
OOW
Join Date: May 2005
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Are you there for the licence then leaving or are you going to hang around for the work experience?
Which school can give you both? not many, and there are ones that can, which one will serve your purpose. Choose carefuly.
Every body says their school is fantastic and experienced instructors, thats because they know more than you, of coarse they look good, take that comment with a pinch of salt, its not a reason to choose a school.
Which school can give you both? not many, and there are ones that can, which one will serve your purpose. Choose carefuly.
Every body says their school is fantastic and experienced instructors, thats because they know more than you, of coarse they look good, take that comment with a pinch of salt, its not a reason to choose a school.
Join Date: May 2002
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Chopperline on the sunshine coast, just down the road from Blue tongue. They are a good school, Tub, Ian and Kenny are some of the most experienced blokes still teaching students that I know. Dont think you can go wrong training there. Using R22 and H300 types. Good rates too.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Not a bad idea
I think a good idea is to locate students who have trained at more than one school about their experiences and weigh their comments up for yourself.
1. People who trained at one school with one instructor wont have the experience to know what makes a good school AND a bad school. Find someone who's had good and bad experiences!
2. Your instructor and you are the biggest factor in your progress. The school lesser so. You will be in a cockpit with your instructor not your school.
3. Great instructors can work at bad schools [for a long while].
4. Bad instructors dont get work at good schools [for long].
5. Bad instructors get work at bad schools [often for a long time].
6. Bad schools can behave like a good school on first visit.
7. Dont think you have to stick with a school you are uncomfortable with. Vote with your feet. And dont pay up front!
So find out who the good instructors are in the region and find out through which school they are currently instructing (it might be a bad one but it might be worth bearing
I'd wager the instructor will have either thousands of hours and it may not matter if they are a bit grumpy because they have so much to teach or if they are less experienced they are the friendly approachable type who love to teach and like to see a student flourish. Avoid the type that are just being nice because they want to build hours. It might take a few airborne hours to spot that one!
OOW
1. People who trained at one school with one instructor wont have the experience to know what makes a good school AND a bad school. Find someone who's had good and bad experiences!
2. Your instructor and you are the biggest factor in your progress. The school lesser so. You will be in a cockpit with your instructor not your school.
3. Great instructors can work at bad schools [for a long while].
4. Bad instructors dont get work at good schools [for long].
5. Bad instructors get work at bad schools [often for a long time].
6. Bad schools can behave like a good school on first visit.
7. Dont think you have to stick with a school you are uncomfortable with. Vote with your feet. And dont pay up front!
So find out who the good instructors are in the region and find out through which school they are currently instructing (it might be a bad one but it might be worth bearing
I'd wager the instructor will have either thousands of hours and it may not matter if they are a bit grumpy because they have so much to teach or if they are less experienced they are the friendly approachable type who love to teach and like to see a student flourish. Avoid the type that are just being nice because they want to build hours. It might take a few airborne hours to spot that one!
OOW
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Thank you for all the positive feedback, my main aim is to do the training and possibly spend a little time over there when I'm done. I spent some time in Aus last year and I really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere.
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You can't go past Professional Helicopters at The Gold Coast or Melbourne. They have been training guys for a very long time and have a record second to none. Good luck with it.
Last edited by Heliport; 26th Feb 2006 at 00:39.
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I started off with Becker Helicopters who aren't worth a souk and ended up with Kestrel Aviation who were well worth it! If you get a chance they do a run to Kulnine, a 30,000 hectare sheep station where you can do the low level endorsement, sling endorsement and confined areas until they are coming out of your ears! Some of the best flying around.
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Im working with guys from Fleet Helicopters, Kestral and Newcastle Helicopters ( the guy who runs newcastle heli has got a great rep around NSW especially in robbies ) all have great experiences and really enjoyed their training, it is a pleasure to work with guys that have a very professional and safe attitude that i believe it was bred into them by the above training schools.
Tropic
Tropic
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I've visited Kestrel - looks fantastic - but never got the opportunity to fly there. Based on their appearance, however, I would certainly have pursued a line of enquiry with them had I not already had my CPL when I first came across them.
I've flown with Ivor at Newcastle doing quite a bit of sling training. Recommended. Good outfit, personal attention, neat, professional appearance and layout and a range of aircraft. Oh, and they're a pleasant bunch of blokes as well.
GP
I've flown with Ivor at Newcastle doing quite a bit of sling training. Recommended. Good outfit, personal attention, neat, professional appearance and layout and a range of aircraft. Oh, and they're a pleasant bunch of blokes as well.
GP
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Training schools in Victoria
Anyone got any feedback, comments on Helicopter schools in Victoria? I'm probably going to start a CPL(H) course if my ADF application doesn't work out.
CIR in Aus
Has anyone completed a CIR in Oz in recent times? Single or Twin, and what sort of cost are you looking at? Are Kestrel and Mackay Helicopters the only ones offering this training?
Cheers BM
Cheers BM
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Trained at Kestrel a few years ago now, good professional bunch but have heard they have a lack of instructors at the moment so you could have a problem if you want to do it as soon as poss. I may be wrong so give them a call, and make sure you have a few beers with Ray.
Chops
Chops
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Go Kestrel mate... a bit out there in the middle of nowhere but they have adequete accomodation, excellent staff, machines and training.
It provides an excellent environment to get into the studies and will take you all the way through to IFR if that takes your fancy. Not too many schools that can boast that.
PM me if you want anything more specific answered. Ex student BTW, not current staff!
It provides an excellent environment to get into the studies and will take you all the way through to IFR if that takes your fancy. Not too many schools that can boast that.
PM me if you want anything more specific answered. Ex student BTW, not current staff!
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Kestrel is your only option for a cost effective option. Mackay Helicopters doesnt have a training AOC so can only provide a machine for a test once you have completed the training.
Kestrel has a FRASCA which can cover 20 hours of the 40 required... the rest can be done in a R22... I think they might actually be running an IFR panel CBi at the moment. The single engine test has to be done in an IFR machine, Kestrel and Mackay have the only IFR singles in Aus (as far as I know). Kestrel has the 206L and Mackay has a regular 206 so you would need a type rating also. Both good machines but I would suggest that you would be better doing it all in one place.
I assume Rex is still working for Ray on a casual basis for IFR training so there is staff there as required... Rex is a gazillion hour Qantas captain, chopper pilot and good bloke.
Cost... very very ball park... for 20 hours sim, 15 hours R22, 10 hours 206, accomodation and fees... $35,000. Not to be sneezed at but if you peruse the job adds these days Im sure you will see thats its a sound investment.
Kestrel has a FRASCA which can cover 20 hours of the 40 required... the rest can be done in a R22... I think they might actually be running an IFR panel CBi at the moment. The single engine test has to be done in an IFR machine, Kestrel and Mackay have the only IFR singles in Aus (as far as I know). Kestrel has the 206L and Mackay has a regular 206 so you would need a type rating also. Both good machines but I would suggest that you would be better doing it all in one place.
I assume Rex is still working for Ray on a casual basis for IFR training so there is staff there as required... Rex is a gazillion hour Qantas captain, chopper pilot and good bloke.
Cost... very very ball park... for 20 hours sim, 15 hours R22, 10 hours 206, accomodation and fees... $35,000. Not to be sneezed at but if you peruse the job adds these days Im sure you will see thats its a sound investment.
Thanks Kwikenz. I have a 206 endorsement.
Is it possible to cross credit hours from a Fixed-wing CIR towards the Helicopter rating? and if you hold a ME CIR (H), does this cover Single-engine (H) as well?
Have had a look at the CASA site but could not find a reference to this.
Thanks BM
Is it possible to cross credit hours from a Fixed-wing CIR towards the Helicopter rating? and if you hold a ME CIR (H), does this cover Single-engine (H) as well?
Have had a look at the CASA site but could not find a reference to this.
Thanks BM
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The ME definately covers you for SE as well. As far as cross crediting, it might be a sensible way to keep the cost down. I dont think many of the ATO's like it very much though so be aware.
Search around for Mr Selfish on PPRUNE... he did the MEIR via a fixed wing IFR. He had a type rating on a mutli helicopter first though... he should be able to give you a heads up on the details.
I did the whole thing as Kestrel in the heli so I dont know about the fixed wing route sorry.
Good luck with it mate
Search around for Mr Selfish on PPRUNE... he did the MEIR via a fixed wing IFR. He had a type rating on a mutli helicopter first though... he should be able to give you a heads up on the details.
I did the whole thing as Kestrel in the heli so I dont know about the fixed wing route sorry.
Good luck with it mate