Australia: Training, Licence Conversion, Job Prospects
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: australia
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Hmmmm, seems to me like Biggles has a little more against PHS than just first impressions,i have visited PHS for my self and found the guys there fitting the discription as per the name, some people see this as STUCK up, i saw it as professional, every met a really cool!! QC.no?... but hey def. professional !! i could go on but the other replys were all good, Hey Biggle? did you learn that signature from the HELI GROUP?
Join Date: May 2001
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There is a difference to appearing professional and walking around with your head up your ar$e. Thinking professional. I remember pulling into the carpark next to a wreck of a H300. Hmm! Very professional advert there.
Good on ya for sticking up for your training organisation thou. Just remember this moment when you're living in the back of your car in the NT, because the Ayres Rock job carrot was given to someone else...
Keep smiling and enjoy your training.
Oh! and thinking of the Heli. Group you would be hard pressed to go past Mike Meehan for your training. Very experienced bloke.
PS - I didn't get the QC part...can you be a little more specific for an old man.
Good on ya for sticking up for your training organisation thou. Just remember this moment when you're living in the back of your car in the NT, because the Ayres Rock job carrot was given to someone else...
Keep smiling and enjoy your training.
Oh! and thinking of the Heli. Group you would be hard pressed to go past Mike Meehan for your training. Very experienced bloke.
PS - I didn't get the QC part...can you be a little more specific for an old man.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Australia
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Aust Pilot.
I have been following the replies with interest and have some pearls for your consideration.
John's comment and others on fixed wing first has some benefit financially and as you already have a FW then you will get credits for for CPL H. However for someone who is starting out, total helicopter time is what gets the job flying a helicopter and not so much your fixed wing time. Two candidates that present for the same job both with brand new CPL H, the one that has 105 hours as against the the dual rated one with 70 hours H will stand the better chance.
The selection of a flying school is important. Although I believe not primarily for the reputation or percieved quality of training of one school above another. As a new CPL H your first challenge is to find a job. Your best chance is with an organisation that already knows you, your abilities and character. That is the school that you have been flying with to gain your licence.
So it goes logically that your choice of school should be one that offers you the best chance of progression once you have completed your training. Most people can be taught to fly. The makeup of the individual determines if they will turn out to be a pilot that displays good airmanship and common sense. If you display these attributes throughout your training, you will more than likely be on the list for a slot with that training organisations other activities when you obtain your licence.
After all it is more unlikely that you will get your first job with a CHC. Bristow, Esso or EMS type of operator, so be prepared to negoitate the stepping stones on the way. As time goes by the company that did your initial training has less influence on the sucess or otherwise of your job applications. You have the biggest influence on that.
Good luck, its not easy getting a start, but those with the will, will.
I have been following the replies with interest and have some pearls for your consideration.
John's comment and others on fixed wing first has some benefit financially and as you already have a FW then you will get credits for for CPL H. However for someone who is starting out, total helicopter time is what gets the job flying a helicopter and not so much your fixed wing time. Two candidates that present for the same job both with brand new CPL H, the one that has 105 hours as against the the dual rated one with 70 hours H will stand the better chance.
The selection of a flying school is important. Although I believe not primarily for the reputation or percieved quality of training of one school above another. As a new CPL H your first challenge is to find a job. Your best chance is with an organisation that already knows you, your abilities and character. That is the school that you have been flying with to gain your licence.
So it goes logically that your choice of school should be one that offers you the best chance of progression once you have completed your training. Most people can be taught to fly. The makeup of the individual determines if they will turn out to be a pilot that displays good airmanship and common sense. If you display these attributes throughout your training, you will more than likely be on the list for a slot with that training organisations other activities when you obtain your licence.
After all it is more unlikely that you will get your first job with a CHC. Bristow, Esso or EMS type of operator, so be prepared to negoitate the stepping stones on the way. As time goes by the company that did your initial training has less influence on the sucess or otherwise of your job applications. You have the biggest influence on that.
Good luck, its not easy getting a start, but those with the will, will.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: australia
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AHHAA...seemed to hit a soft spot there Biggles...those who get jobs and those who dont.. sorry for my bad spelling in my last reply.. supposed to read." ever met a QC?" you know one of those High up Lawyer dudes...they walk around with their heads up their back sides but they sure know their job and are professional....get my meaning now... 
anyhow didnt mean to use the original posting to end up here but i knew there was more to your reply than just "first impressions"...and couldnt resist.
[ 04 September 2001: Message edited by: those who wish. ]
anyhow didnt mean to use the original posting to end up here but i knew there was more to your reply than just "first impressions"...and couldnt resist.[ 04 September 2001: Message edited by: those who wish. ]
Join Date: May 2001
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Dear 'Those who wish'
Improper to assume I have actually trained at either of those places or that I ever wanted a job flying 200hrs a year in AR. I visited the PRO's to price a 500 rating for the boats (something they found difficult to do)
As it happened I didn't need it so returned to the NT. VERY much involved in flying and NOT training. Enjoy your ground briefs
Having read back it seems that 'CB' also has been given the same impression that I have. Just remember it was only an opinion offered to someone who was after one.
nuff said.
Improper to assume I have actually trained at either of those places or that I ever wanted a job flying 200hrs a year in AR. I visited the PRO's to price a 500 rating for the boats (something they found difficult to do)
As it happened I didn't need it so returned to the NT. VERY much involved in flying and NOT training. Enjoy your ground briefs
Having read back it seems that 'CB' also has been given the same impression that I have. Just remember it was only an opinion offered to someone who was after one.
nuff said.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Australia
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Advice on work in Oz
I am a pom with an FAA commercial and CFI, 340 hours, 50% R22 and 50% 300 CB and C, about 170 instruction given. Family commitments mean that I have just arrived in Melbourne Australia with a 4 year work visa and I’m looking to continue my flying career down here. I’m aware of the requirements to convert to an Oz license but am more concerned about the job prospects for a low time pilot in this country. From what I have been able to discover so far, companies which train pilots here like to hire their graduates in tourist work etc. However, it would seem that not every graduate can get hired, so what happens to newly qualified low time pilots in Oz?-where/how do they build their hours? I’m quite interested in cattle mustering if viable, or anything that can help me build up those elusive hours.
Any advice/contacts/suggestions/job offers! gratefully received!
Many thanks for your time guys (and girls!)
ps-this is my first post, so bear with me if I did something wrong!
Any advice/contacts/suggestions/job offers! gratefully received!
Many thanks for your time guys (and girls!)
ps-this is my first post, so bear with me if I did something wrong!
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Cairns, Qld., Australia
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Chittyhawk,
Just go down to Morabbin Airport and talk to the rotary guys down there. There are several schools, and they should be able to fill you in.
Best of British luck.
Ahhh, another day in paradise!
Just go down to Morabbin Airport and talk to the rotary guys down there. There are several schools, and they should be able to fill you in.
Best of British luck.
Ahhh, another day in paradise!
Join Date: Oct 2001
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You could check with the following schools as they run pretty good operations and I think all have websites:
Blue Tounge Helicopters
Tel: +61 7 5448 8166
Professional Helicopters (As mentioned)
Chopperline
Email: [email protected]
Kestrel Aviation College
[email protected]
(They also operate helos including a BK-117)
Bankstown Helicopters
Tel: 02 9791 0500
One guy that could give you a full rundown and steer you in the right direction is Ian Paull who is an aviation consultant, partner in a training company and a great guy to boot. His number is: +61 418 790026. They also run Bell 47s on ag work.
Hope this helps.
Autorotate
Blue Tounge Helicopters
Tel: +61 7 5448 8166
Professional Helicopters (As mentioned)
Chopperline
Email: [email protected]
Kestrel Aviation College
[email protected]
(They also operate helos including a BK-117)
Bankstown Helicopters
Tel: 02 9791 0500
One guy that could give you a full rundown and steer you in the right direction is Ian Paull who is an aviation consultant, partner in a training company and a great guy to boot. His number is: +61 418 790026. They also run Bell 47s on ag work.
Hope this helps.
Autorotate
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: U.S.
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HELP!!!.... Any Australian Pilots here!
I've got some questions of any Aussie pilots viewing this board. I've got a tentative job offer near Brisbane flying mediums (205's). Rather easy schedule about 250-350 hours per year. What I would like to know is .... What is an average salary for a medium driver in this neck of the woods? What would be considered low-end up throught to high-end range? Considering your $ is worth about .50 cents U.S. $, how is the cost of living in this area? What are your thoughts on the Queensland area? Would you prefer to work in Australia or overseas, if given the choice? What are any other pro's and con's of working in Australia? Taxes? etc... . .I'd sure appreciate some info from any of you guys/gals who work/have worked there and can give me a "heads up" as to what to expect.. .Oh, one last thing. If any of you has both the CASA Commercial/instrument or ATP(H) and say a FAA or Canadian Commercial/Instrument or ATP(H), could you give me an idea of how similar/disimilar the process is? Which is harder to obtain, etc... . .THANKS MUCH. .Helos
Rather than 205's, the mediums in the Brissie area would probably be ex mil UH-1's. The only civvie 205 in Oz is Helicorp's 205-A1, on fire contract in Melbourne. Most 204/205's are worked very hard, fires, mossie spraying, lifting, etc. Are you talking about John McD's aircraft, or Tim Turner? Tim has a 205 equivalent, John's are mostly 204 types. Being 'Restricted' category, they aren't allowed to carry passengers.
Pay: no idea of what is paid in Qld, but expect $A50-65k, is my guess. Cost of living is very cheap cf. what you'll be used to, so the $A goes quite a long way. Cars and some consumer goods are disgustingly expensive, and choice is significantly less (smaller market, less incentive for manufacturers to import and comply with Australian Design Rules), but Quality of life....there's the big attraction. Wild horses wouldn't drag me back to UK, you have to be here to understand
Tax is swingeing, mainly because threshold levels are relatively low for income tax. IIRC, threshold for the highest income tax is $A60k which means that above that you are paying 47% tax. GST (goods and services tax) is a federal tax, 10%, and there is no direct state tax, although lots of little ones, such as state debit tax (on every bank debit transaction), tax on house sales (% of sale price), vehicle registration, petrol, etc etc. Queensland is a relatively low tax state tax regime, due to good financial management and low debt of previous state governments. Weather is warm/hot, often humid, semi tropical.
If you have a genuine offer, take it. Don't wait, it may be gone next week!!
ps Gibbo, what do you mean you have worked in Australia. That's drawing a fine line, isn't it <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Pay: no idea of what is paid in Qld, but expect $A50-65k, is my guess. Cost of living is very cheap cf. what you'll be used to, so the $A goes quite a long way. Cars and some consumer goods are disgustingly expensive, and choice is significantly less (smaller market, less incentive for manufacturers to import and comply with Australian Design Rules), but Quality of life....there's the big attraction. Wild horses wouldn't drag me back to UK, you have to be here to understand
Tax is swingeing, mainly because threshold levels are relatively low for income tax. IIRC, threshold for the highest income tax is $A60k which means that above that you are paying 47% tax. GST (goods and services tax) is a federal tax, 10%, and there is no direct state tax, although lots of little ones, such as state debit tax (on every bank debit transaction), tax on house sales (% of sale price), vehicle registration, petrol, etc etc. Queensland is a relatively low tax state tax regime, due to good financial management and low debt of previous state governments. Weather is warm/hot, often humid, semi tropical.
If you have a genuine offer, take it. Don't wait, it may be gone next week!!
ps Gibbo, what do you mean you have worked in Australia. That's drawing a fine line, isn't it <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Right you are John, caught out again! I was using the common "taking the pay = working, tax office definition.
The floating around at 1500 AGL, RFS traffic cop ruling is a lot more stringent. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Was syd_rapac referring to a possible Helitech (or who ever now contracts AAAvn) MTP slot at OK? If so it is UH-1H again.
Gibbo
The floating around at 1500 AGL, RFS traffic cop ruling is a lot more stringent. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Was syd_rapac referring to a possible Helitech (or who ever now contracts AAAvn) MTP slot at OK? If so it is UH-1H again.
Gibbo
