Vpaw Contract
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Fair dinkum, you blokes are worse than 5 year olds. The guy met the minimum for interview. He has a wealth of left seat experience. He met the set minimum as a pilot. He was considered a good prospect for the future, with the required training. As has already been pointed out, one quite experienced driver for one position, and a lesser experienced driver for another. Get over it. And as for pay your way to the interview? You may not like it, I don't either, but welcome to the real world guys. At least you don't pay for your type or training there.
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Originally Posted by bellfest
May have been different if they covered the cost of the ornamental interview.
I believe that a short list of 10 or 12 was taken from 75 odd applications, and the subsequent interview is then scored. An independant member of the interview board ensures that the process is impartial, and the successful applicant gets a letter...
My experience is that there are a lot of good pilots, with excellent credentials presenting for interviews, but some are lacking interview skills...It's not always about how many hours you have...it's about communication skills, perceived value to the organisation, potential for development, to name a few aspects...
It's a good place to work....well worth having a few attempts to get in...
Happy Landings....
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[quote=vpaw pilot An independant member of the interview board ensures that the process is impartial[/quote]
C'mon V pilot....you've been around long enough to know that there is no such thing as 'impartial' interviews. I've been around in the game for over 30 years and spent some years at VPAW (many moons ago now though) so don't give me that crap!.....its not what you know but who you know....dib, dib, dob, dob.....you know what I mean
C'mon V pilot....you've been around long enough to know that there is no such thing as 'impartial' interviews. I've been around in the game for over 30 years and spent some years at VPAW (many moons ago now though) so don't give me that crap!.....its not what you know but who you know....dib, dib, dob, dob.....you know what I mean
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I hear what you are saying Shirtless...but times really have changed!
I'll agree....that sort of stuff has gone on in the past......too many checks and balances these days....HRM departments in town tend to run the show now.....
I'll agree....that sort of stuff has gone on in the past......too many checks and balances these days....HRM departments in town tend to run the show now.....
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Oh, really?
Thanks for your thoughts on the VPAW interview process, Mr Selfish...were you at the table?
You are quite correct...many of the questions were basic..then again, I am told that many 'high time' guys did not know:
1. Basic VFR criteria
2. Criteria and responsibilities for visual approach (IFR) night
3. Alternate requirements
4. Vortex ring state
5. 'Wash out'
6. Retreating blade stall
and a host of other basic stuff....
The two guys that came first and second from the short list scored top marks in all these areas....
Out of fifty odd questions, I think the only 'police' rated question was along the lines of 'What do you think police do in the community?' I guess, depending on your home state, you might have answered, 'shoot folk', or 'steal stuff'...but it doesn't seem like a show stopping interview question to my uneducated self...
Lunch time, methinks...
You are quite correct...many of the questions were basic..then again, I am told that many 'high time' guys did not know:
1. Basic VFR criteria
2. Criteria and responsibilities for visual approach (IFR) night
3. Alternate requirements
4. Vortex ring state
5. 'Wash out'
6. Retreating blade stall
and a host of other basic stuff....
The two guys that came first and second from the short list scored top marks in all these areas....
Out of fifty odd questions, I think the only 'police' rated question was along the lines of 'What do you think police do in the community?' I guess, depending on your home state, you might have answered, 'shoot folk', or 'steal stuff'...but it doesn't seem like a show stopping interview question to my uneducated self...
Lunch time, methinks...
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No outing
Please Mr Shirtless, don't out VPAW Pilot, he's a great source of info on the comings and goings of VIC POL AIR.
In a multicrew CRM environment, flying is only one skill. Leadership another, team work another, communication another... All lead to a safer environment than having the worlds best pilot who is hated or feared because of their personality.
There's a bit of down time at YMES and the guys have to get along in the hangar also. Sounds just like aviation anywhere really! Is there a method of appeal for unhappy 3rd or 4th place getters? Otherwise, keep buying the Friday Australian...
Congrates DL.
CYHeli.
In a multicrew CRM environment, flying is only one skill. Leadership another, team work another, communication another... All lead to a safer environment than having the worlds best pilot who is hated or feared because of their personality.
There's a bit of down time at YMES and the guys have to get along in the hangar also. Sounds just like aviation anywhere really! Is there a method of appeal for unhappy 3rd or 4th place getters? Otherwise, keep buying the Friday Australian...
Congrates DL.
CYHeli.
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Shirtless,
I can neither confirm nor deny your assertion, but:
1. You are in the right geographical area +/- 1nm
2. I have made the acquaintance of that strapping young aviator...
Happy landings....
I can neither confirm nor deny your assertion, but:
1. You are in the right geographical area +/- 1nm
2. I have made the acquaintance of that strapping young aviator...
Happy landings....
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Originally Posted by CYHeli
In a multicrew CRM environment, flying is only one skill. Leadership another, team work another, communication another... All lead to a safer environment than having the worlds best pilot who is hated or feared because of their personality.
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Originally Posted by vpaw pilot
Shirtless, I can neither confirm nor deny your assertion, ..
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Everything changes over time Mr Selfish...
I think you will find all modern interviews contain a measure of `touchy feely' questions about the relationships between the organisation in question and the community, or internal/external clients...Those HR folk love them!
A potential interviewee could probably get this info from the organisation's website, or by personal enquiry....so that style of question would be a `no brainer' as the Americans would say...
No more politics at VPAW than anywhere else....just normal style dramas...eg `Who used all the fax paper', `who stole my weather', or `what sort of souvlaki (Melb context) do you want for tea?'
Happy Landings...
I think you will find all modern interviews contain a measure of `touchy feely' questions about the relationships between the organisation in question and the community, or internal/external clients...Those HR folk love them!
A potential interviewee could probably get this info from the organisation's website, or by personal enquiry....so that style of question would be a `no brainer' as the Americans would say...
No more politics at VPAW than anywhere else....just normal style dramas...eg `Who used all the fax paper', `who stole my weather', or `what sort of souvlaki (Melb context) do you want for tea?'
Happy Landings...
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?
"Certainly the person I spoke to after his interview felt a large percentage of the interview questions did not relate to flying. Any first hand experiences out in Pprune land?"
It is important to remember who was employing this person. "Police Air Wing". I would expect that there would have been alot of 'police' questions during the interview.
If any pilot considered themselves a suitable candidate to be employed as a "Police" pilot and backed himself for the job, then they should have done some homework and learnt as much as they can about the potential employer.
I would suggest that any pilot who thought it would be his flying hours alone that would win him the job, was misguided.
Keep in mind that ther have been a large number of police members employed as pilot at PAW over the years, including most of the past CPs'. External recruiting has seen a number of very experienced ex-miliatry and civilian pilots employed also. It has provided a good mix of experience. That's one reason why it is a great place to work and has been so successful.
Also note how the PAW started in the first place over 20 years ago- A bunch of Police that had private pilots licences that flew on weekends as an outside interest!
The goal posts haven't been moved.
Congratulation DL. Well done, about time!
It is important to remember who was employing this person. "Police Air Wing". I would expect that there would have been alot of 'police' questions during the interview.
If any pilot considered themselves a suitable candidate to be employed as a "Police" pilot and backed himself for the job, then they should have done some homework and learnt as much as they can about the potential employer.
I would suggest that any pilot who thought it would be his flying hours alone that would win him the job, was misguided.
Keep in mind that ther have been a large number of police members employed as pilot at PAW over the years, including most of the past CPs'. External recruiting has seen a number of very experienced ex-miliatry and civilian pilots employed also. It has provided a good mix of experience. That's one reason why it is a great place to work and has been so successful.
Also note how the PAW started in the first place over 20 years ago- A bunch of Police that had private pilots licences that flew on weekends as an outside interest!
The goal posts haven't been moved.
Congratulation DL. Well done, about time!
Last edited by Along for the ride; 28th Jun 2006 at 08:33.
I guess the bone of contention may be for some of the more experienced guys who reached into their own pocket to attend the interview and who had confidence in their interview conduct would be that it may have seem pre conceived to award the position to a low houred applicant in the organisation. And to some degree that has to be the case and he did obviously conduct himself well albeit in an environment he is obviously familiar with and interviewed by people he is obviously familiar with. That's a pretty good head start .
He must show some promise though and at the end of the day it is a management decision and the regime for his induction to line standard must have been considered so good luck to the man and I wish him well .
It does seem like a great organisation and a great place to work .
The question is, is it aviators doing police work, police doing aviators work or a good balance of aviating police doing police aviation work
He must show some promise though and at the end of the day it is a management decision and the regime for his induction to line standard must have been considered so good luck to the man and I wish him well .
It does seem like a great organisation and a great place to work .
The question is, is it aviators doing police work, police doing aviators work or a good balance of aviating police doing police aviation work
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I can understand the VPAW not paying for people to attend the interview, considering the restrictions on budgets across the whole force. Although I do not agree with it. But, it would be a small price to pay for the opportunity to work there if successful. It would have to be one of the best jobs in this country for a helo pilot.
But, dont think for a minute that the successfull apllicant got the job without paying a significant price in terms of financial costs and in years of service. From memory he completed 8 years as a gerenal duties police officer on the street before gaining a highly competative postion as an Air Observer. Then spent the next 10 - 12 years working as an Air Observer while he paid for his own pilots licence and built up the minimum hours required to gain the position. All that work paid off, and so it should have. But it would not have been an easy ride.
At the end of the day, this is a Police Air Wing that consists of Police and Aviators doing police work together. It would be the best in the country by far. Keeping that mix of members is extremely important if they want to stay that way.
But, dont think for a minute that the successfull apllicant got the job without paying a significant price in terms of financial costs and in years of service. From memory he completed 8 years as a gerenal duties police officer on the street before gaining a highly competative postion as an Air Observer. Then spent the next 10 - 12 years working as an Air Observer while he paid for his own pilots licence and built up the minimum hours required to gain the position. All that work paid off, and so it should have. But it would not have been an easy ride.
At the end of the day, this is a Police Air Wing that consists of Police and Aviators doing police work together. It would be the best in the country by far. Keeping that mix of members is extremely important if they want to stay that way.
But, dont think for a minute that the successfull apllicant got the job without paying a significant price in terms of financial costs and in years of service. From memory he completed 8 years as a gerenal duties police officer on the street before gaining a highly competative postion as an Air Observer. Then spent the next 10 - 12 years working as an Air Observer while he paid for his own pilots licence and built up the minimum hours required to gain the position.
I really hope this guy knows how lucky he is to score a job like that and takes it in his stride and tries to learn like a ****kicker .
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Just one last thing....
Is age really a barrier to training and learning? If it is, why are there blokes getting slots on ADF pilot courses, in particulary Army SSO's, who are in the mid 30's. Age can't be that much of a barrier if the Army are willing to spend big $$$ training these guys up....
Is age really a barrier to training and learning? If it is, why are there blokes getting slots on ADF pilot courses, in particulary Army SSO's, who are in the mid 30's. Age can't be that much of a barrier if the Army are willing to spend big $$$ training these guys up....