Cattle Mustering incl Training, Job Prospects (!) etc etc
mustering DVD
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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Graeme,
Again, brilliant DVD. I hadn't heard from you, and wanted to pay you, so....I've sent the money by PayPal, with a bit extra for the hassle of you getting hold of it if you don't have a PayPal account. Er...you might have to get one, since I suspect once I've posted this other people will do the same thing. Anyway, thanks again!!!
Again, brilliant DVD. I hadn't heard from you, and wanted to pay you, so....I've sent the money by PayPal, with a bit extra for the hassle of you getting hold of it if you don't have a PayPal account. Er...you might have to get one, since I suspect once I've posted this other people will do the same thing. Anyway, thanks again!!!
Join Date: Jun 2004
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The land down under
Hi guys and gals of the rotary world.
I need some help. I little birdie told me that they had built up their helicopter hours by heading off to Australia many years back to do cattle mustering.
If your all like me you'll be asking - "What the hell is cattle mustering"? I've certainly never heared of it.
So I went to Ask Jeeves, and I saw a picture of a bloke in an R22 trying his best to round up cattle in the outback.
Now the thing is I've just got my basic Cpl (h) and obviously I need to get a few hours to get to the instructor role.
Just a few questions if I may.....
Has anybody done this before?
Do the CAA recognise the flying hours completed?
Does anybody have a contact to enquire about travelling across to Oz to do this type of work?
If you have experience, was it a safe operation & who did you fly for?
How many hours could be expected?
Am I likely to be sharing a tent with an iguana in the outback, or was the accomodation good?
Hope to hear from you soon guys, cause this is probably my last shot at getting those instructor hours.
I've paid my own way through to the commercial licence, and my girlfriend has been really patient and understanding over theyears. But it's not really fair on her to be spending all mine and her money on flying, when she has waited long enough for a house and the dreadred marriage bit!!
Hour building is required desperatly!!!! I only need 50 for pete's sake!!
Take it easy my pilot friends, and enjoy this summers flying.
Rotorvation.
I need some help. I little birdie told me that they had built up their helicopter hours by heading off to Australia many years back to do cattle mustering.
If your all like me you'll be asking - "What the hell is cattle mustering"? I've certainly never heared of it.
So I went to Ask Jeeves, and I saw a picture of a bloke in an R22 trying his best to round up cattle in the outback.
Now the thing is I've just got my basic Cpl (h) and obviously I need to get a few hours to get to the instructor role.
Just a few questions if I may.....
Has anybody done this before?
Do the CAA recognise the flying hours completed?
Does anybody have a contact to enquire about travelling across to Oz to do this type of work?
If you have experience, was it a safe operation & who did you fly for?
How many hours could be expected?
Am I likely to be sharing a tent with an iguana in the outback, or was the accomodation good?
Hope to hear from you soon guys, cause this is probably my last shot at getting those instructor hours.
I've paid my own way through to the commercial licence, and my girlfriend has been really patient and understanding over theyears. But it's not really fair on her to be spending all mine and her money on flying, when she has waited long enough for a house and the dreadred marriage bit!!
Hour building is required desperatly!!!! I only need 50 for pete's sake!!
Take it easy my pilot friends, and enjoy this summers flying.
Rotorvation.
The Original Whirly
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Rotorvation,
I wish!!!
OK, firstly, helicopter cattle mustering is quite common in Oz. It's like your picture, they use helicopters to round up cattle on those enormous ranches they have over there. I've seen videos, it looks great fun, but is low level and pretty dangerous...they have a lot of accidents. From what I hear - and I'm in the UK and not an expert - you work long hours, sleep where you end up, and the pay is low...but you do get in a lot of hours. And I see no reason why the CAA wouldn't count them, as it's a bona fide job out there.
BUT....I asked about this, and was told that you can't just go over there and get a mustering job. You need to know about cattle, maybe live on a ranch first, and be a cowboy/girl (sorry, jackaroo/jillaroo) first, and a helicopter pilot second. And from what I hear, it's pretty competitive anyway, with far too many pilots out there looking for that elusive first job.
Now, I may be wrong. You may get an answer from an ozzie helo pilot saying go for it, and telling you where to go to get a job. If so, go for it and good luck. Things change, and I may be out of date; who knows. But if you only need 50 hours, Id' say stop messing around, get another parttime job and save the dosh, and then go to the USA or South Africa and fly your little socks off for a few weeks at a half to two-thirds of the cost of flying here. Take the girlfriend and she can have a holiday while you do it. I did 52 hours in three weeks in Southern California back in 2002, and I wasn't even putting in that many hours...I got to go to the beach now and then too.
Good luck whatever you do.
I need some help. I little birdie told me that they had built up their helicopter hours by heading off to Australia many years back to do cattle mustering.
OK, firstly, helicopter cattle mustering is quite common in Oz. It's like your picture, they use helicopters to round up cattle on those enormous ranches they have over there. I've seen videos, it looks great fun, but is low level and pretty dangerous...they have a lot of accidents. From what I hear - and I'm in the UK and not an expert - you work long hours, sleep where you end up, and the pay is low...but you do get in a lot of hours. And I see no reason why the CAA wouldn't count them, as it's a bona fide job out there.
BUT....I asked about this, and was told that you can't just go over there and get a mustering job. You need to know about cattle, maybe live on a ranch first, and be a cowboy/girl (sorry, jackaroo/jillaroo) first, and a helicopter pilot second. And from what I hear, it's pretty competitive anyway, with far too many pilots out there looking for that elusive first job.
Now, I may be wrong. You may get an answer from an ozzie helo pilot saying go for it, and telling you where to go to get a job. If so, go for it and good luck. Things change, and I may be out of date; who knows. But if you only need 50 hours, Id' say stop messing around, get another parttime job and save the dosh, and then go to the USA or South Africa and fly your little socks off for a few weeks at a half to two-thirds of the cost of flying here. Take the girlfriend and she can have a holiday while you do it. I did 52 hours in three weeks in Southern California back in 2002, and I wasn't even putting in that many hours...I got to go to the beach now and then too.
Good luck whatever you do.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Masta_vation.... opps I mean Rotorvation
If your all like me you can tell yourself... and for that matter Jeeves! Don't bother!
You sound like a condesending little Sh!t.
I have never been cattle mustering as a professsional pilot however, I have a lot of mate's who have. Your attitude toward the game is very off-putting. Don't bother with coming out here to get your 50 hours.
You sound like a condesending little Sh!t.
I have never been cattle mustering as a professsional pilot however, I have a lot of mate's who have. Your attitude toward the game is very off-putting. Don't bother with coming out here to get your 50 hours.
I'll get me coat......
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Rotorvation,
Chances are if you need to ask the sorts of questions that you are asking then mustering is not the game for you. It is a specialised role that requires flying skill and knowledge of cattle behaviour etc. I'm not sure it's a job for a new pilot! I have heard of new pilots getting a job mustering but most of these pilots already have some form of background in the cattle or farming industry. You could easily do 50hrs in a little over a week but you'd hardly be considered a 'mustering pilot' by then!
You would obviously spend a lot of time in the bush, though tents aren't used a lot out here unless it's raining. Swags on the ground are the standard and whilst there are no iguanas out here there are plenty of other friendly critters to keep you company!
Good luck in whatever you end up doing but I'd suggest you follow Whirlybirds advice.
Cheers,
Hollywood
Chances are if you need to ask the sorts of questions that you are asking then mustering is not the game for you. It is a specialised role that requires flying skill and knowledge of cattle behaviour etc. I'm not sure it's a job for a new pilot! I have heard of new pilots getting a job mustering but most of these pilots already have some form of background in the cattle or farming industry. You could easily do 50hrs in a little over a week but you'd hardly be considered a 'mustering pilot' by then!
You would obviously spend a lot of time in the bush, though tents aren't used a lot out here unless it's raining. Swags on the ground are the standard and whilst there are no iguanas out here there are plenty of other friendly critters to keep you company!
Good luck in whatever you end up doing but I'd suggest you follow Whirlybirds advice.
Cheers,
Hollywood
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It bugs me that some people think mustering is a hours building steeping stone!
I woked my whole life on cattle properties in outback Australia before i went and got a chopper license and then I flew for about 6 years and 8000hrs of mustering with no accents.
The money is very good if you have the talent, the guys who say its not just didnt have the abilty!
All i can say is if you have no cattle experiance dont even bother.Mustering has become specialized and it's getting harder and harder to get a start even with extensive cattle knowledge.
I woked my whole life on cattle properties in outback Australia before i went and got a chopper license and then I flew for about 6 years and 8000hrs of mustering with no accents.
The money is very good if you have the talent, the guys who say its not just didnt have the abilty!
All i can say is if you have no cattle experiance dont even bother.Mustering has become specialized and it's getting harder and harder to get a start even with extensive cattle knowledge.
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Hmmm
Same place you and the wine(ing)boy come from, "All over the place" and the "Middle East", starting out new in the industry as we all have, but somehow forgotten about the fact that we weren't born with helicopter controls in hand.
Being a qualified helicopter doesn't automatically give you the right to become an ass
ole or rude.
Cattle mustering however, like game catching in Africa, is a highly specialised field and definitely not for the faint hearted and definitely not for hour building. Those guys are experts in their respective fields of helicopter operations!
Listen to Whirlybirds advice, there are plenty of great flying schools in South Africa, and your lady can have a great holiday at the same time.
Later on in your career you will find the better paying jobs in the helicopter industry will eventually separate you from her for extended periods, unless you are very lucky, due to the nature of our operations and the abilities of these fabulous and versatile machines we fly. Enjoy the chance to spend the time together while you still can.
Good luck
Being a qualified helicopter doesn't automatically give you the right to become an ass
ole or rude. Cattle mustering however, like game catching in Africa, is a highly specialised field and definitely not for the faint hearted and definitely not for hour building. Those guys are experts in their respective fields of helicopter operations!
Listen to Whirlybirds advice, there are plenty of great flying schools in South Africa, and your lady can have a great holiday at the same time.
Later on in your career you will find the better paying jobs in the helicopter industry will eventually separate you from her for extended periods, unless you are very lucky, due to the nature of our operations and the abilities of these fabulous and versatile machines we fly. Enjoy the chance to spend the time together while you still can.
Good luck
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ROTORVATION
"If your all like me you'll be asking - "What the hell is cattle mustering"? I've certainly never heared of it."
You could learn about it here while thinking of a better idea.
Cattle mustering is highly skilled work.
"If your all like me you'll be asking - "What the hell is cattle mustering"? I've certainly never heared of it."
You could learn about it here while thinking of a better idea.
Cattle mustering is highly skilled work.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Good Luck
Mate,
Don't take the negative attitudes of some of the other people on this forum to heart. As recuperator said, we're not all born with cyclic's in our hands... or , silver spoons in our mouths for that matter. Most of us have to work hard to get the hours in our log books or spend lots of money or join the military.
I would have to second the advice of others on this thread about trying your hand at other ways of getting your hours up. South Africa or the US/Canada sounds like the way to go. The exchange rate will certainly work in your favour. Even here in Oz, you would probably do better than in the UK by paying for your hours, especially if it's only 50 you need. Besides, working on a cattle station (they're not called ranches here), you would be expected to do a lot of sh*tty jobs as well... and if the boss found out you were there just to get 50 hours, it's unlikely you'd even get a start.
Helo flying when you're struggling to start, is a thankless mistress... but after a while, she starts showing you the stuff that puts a smile on your face.
Good luck, mate.
CB
Don't take the negative attitudes of some of the other people on this forum to heart. As recuperator said, we're not all born with cyclic's in our hands... or , silver spoons in our mouths for that matter. Most of us have to work hard to get the hours in our log books or spend lots of money or join the military.
I would have to second the advice of others on this thread about trying your hand at other ways of getting your hours up. South Africa or the US/Canada sounds like the way to go. The exchange rate will certainly work in your favour. Even here in Oz, you would probably do better than in the UK by paying for your hours, especially if it's only 50 you need. Besides, working on a cattle station (they're not called ranches here), you would be expected to do a lot of sh*tty jobs as well... and if the boss found out you were there just to get 50 hours, it's unlikely you'd even get a start.
Helo flying when you're struggling to start, is a thankless mistress... but after a while, she starts showing you the stuff that puts a smile on your face.
Good luck, mate.
CB
Cool as a moosp
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If you want to see if it is for you, maybe contact Kestrel Aviation in Mangalore and try to get on one of their Kulnine weeks. It's a "road trip" to a station (i.e. farm) for mustering training. A great week of interesting flying, and at the end you will know if you want to go on for a mustering endorsement.
It is highly unlikely that you will get a job even with a mustering endorsement at the end of it unless you have lots of cattle experience on the ground, as stated above by the other posters. What you will get is interesting flying and you will learn a lot.
Better than hours building in and out of your local airport.
http://www.kestrelaviation.com.au/kulnine.html
It is highly unlikely that you will get a job even with a mustering endorsement at the end of it unless you have lots of cattle experience on the ground, as stated above by the other posters. What you will get is interesting flying and you will learn a lot.
Better than hours building in and out of your local airport.
http://www.kestrelaviation.com.au/kulnine.html
The Original Whirly
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If you want to see if it is for you, maybe contact Kestrel Aviation in Mangalore and try to get on one of their Kulnine weeks. It's a "road trip" to a station (i.e. farm) for mustering training. A great week of interesting flying, and at the end you will know if you want to go on for a mustering endorsement.
I know I'd like it! I'm a little too old to think it sensible to move lock stock and barrel to the other side of the world, but I wanted to get a taster anyway. However, the scholarship I won from Whirlygirls I'm now told can't be used for this, and I can't afford to go to Oz and also pay to fly, not any more. 
And I'm having trouble pinning Kestrel down as to dates; there's supposed to be one in June and one in September, but I've still not heard definitely. So I've given up the idea, at least for this year. 
But if you contact them they'll send you a DVD of last year's trip and some details (URL is something obvious; do a search). And if anyone wants to go next year, and my finances are in better shape, I might still be interested in keeping them company.
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Conway... "work hard to get the hours OR join the military"?? I found the two to be the same, but then again I was AFS, not one of you swaners in MLH!! BTW, were AFS to be invited to the re-union or is it just for you two-rotor-bloaters? Drop us a line
Sorry to hijack the thread guys.
Rotorvation (it'll send you blind, you know). Ditto for all the other posts. Ignore the negative stuff, but beware of appearing condescending about operations/places you dont know or understand.
Be cool
Sorry to hijack the thread guys.
Rotorvation (it'll send you blind, you know). Ditto for all the other posts. Ignore the negative stuff, but beware of appearing condescending about operations/places you dont know or understand.
Be cool
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W_ocker:
Nice to see Bushrangers keeping their heads above the parapet these days ...
I was thinking of a new AFS T-shirt - picture of a Tiger with the words 'you B!@#$%Ds owe me' on the front, and 'I told you so' on the front.
Perhaps a 40 year re-union shortly ...
Free the world
Nice to see Bushrangers keeping their heads above the parapet these days ...
I was thinking of a new AFS T-shirt - picture of a Tiger with the words 'you B!@#$%Ds owe me' on the front, and 'I told you so' on the front.
Perhaps a 40 year re-union shortly ...
Free the world
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Mustering
What are peoples views on helicopter mustering for hour building?
I have 80ish hours mainly on the R22, and a little on B206 and Gazelle. I'm trying to build hours towards a CPL(H) or ATPL(H) (I haven't decided which because the 'powers that be' keep moving the goal posts.
Any thoughts? (ie safety v benefit)
I have 80ish hours mainly on the R22, and a little on B206 and Gazelle. I'm trying to build hours towards a CPL(H) or ATPL(H) (I haven't decided which because the 'powers that be' keep moving the goal posts.
Any thoughts? (ie safety v benefit)