Persevere or not?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Persevere or not?
G'day to all Pprune Rotorheads,
I have really enjoyed the forum for the last couple of years and occasionally put in my 2 bob's worth, but mainly kept up with the goings on in the very diverse and sometimes extremely frustrating industry we have chosen as a career. But, enough of the pleasantries, time to cut to the chase, so as to speak.
I have been in the industry as a pilot for the last few years and amassed the sad total of just over 500hrs in mainly piston, but around 70hrs turbine. This has been a smattering of tourist stuff, aerial photography, general charter, some work for National Parks and a bit of fire work with no accidents or incidents. In the last couple of years, I reckon that I've applied to most helicopter operators in Australia and knocked on the doors of a good percentage of them to no avail. Currently I am working outside of the industry (making more money than in my previous aviation employment, but that's not hard is it?), but am still talking regularly to anyone who gave me even the slightest sniff of a possibility of some work being available some time in the future.
Have any of you experienced guys got any other suggestions as to how to go about things? I'm single and location is not an issue (have car or even air ticket), and have had previous experience as Ops Manager (in the aviation field and outside). I've even thought about overseas, but don't know whether I have enough hrs to take that option.
Any suggestion would be much appreciated and if anyone is interested in looking at my resume, drop me an email.
Thanks in advance.
MPT
I have really enjoyed the forum for the last couple of years and occasionally put in my 2 bob's worth, but mainly kept up with the goings on in the very diverse and sometimes extremely frustrating industry we have chosen as a career. But, enough of the pleasantries, time to cut to the chase, so as to speak.
I have been in the industry as a pilot for the last few years and amassed the sad total of just over 500hrs in mainly piston, but around 70hrs turbine. This has been a smattering of tourist stuff, aerial photography, general charter, some work for National Parks and a bit of fire work with no accidents or incidents. In the last couple of years, I reckon that I've applied to most helicopter operators in Australia and knocked on the doors of a good percentage of them to no avail. Currently I am working outside of the industry (making more money than in my previous aviation employment, but that's not hard is it?), but am still talking regularly to anyone who gave me even the slightest sniff of a possibility of some work being available some time in the future.
Have any of you experienced guys got any other suggestions as to how to go about things? I'm single and location is not an issue (have car or even air ticket), and have had previous experience as Ops Manager (in the aviation field and outside). I've even thought about overseas, but don't know whether I have enough hrs to take that option.
Any suggestion would be much appreciated and if anyone is interested in looking at my resume, drop me an email.
Thanks in advance.
MPT
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,008
Likes: 62
From: North Queensland, Australia
I'm not in a position to advise, given a basically military background, but seeing as noone has come up with any suggestions I thought I'd throw in a few words of encouragement.
If you can keep trying for flying jobs while you're also working elsewhere to support yourself, why not keep doing it indefinitely?
The question to ask would be, am I prepared to give away my desire to work in aviation away, cut my losses and go for some other career path? If the answer's yes, well OK.
If not, then you'll always wonder whether you could have made a go of it.
If you can't get work locally, and you don't have ties keeping you in your current locality, travelling sounds like a top idea - go have a look somewhere different for months or years; why not?
As to where, others will be able to say whether a particular place sounds feasible with your background, but pick some places that interest you and question specifically until you get a picture of whether it might be a goer or not.
Obviously it depends how free you are to pick up and go, but if you haven't got any good reasons not to, why not think about doing the big overseas move?
If you can keep trying for flying jobs while you're also working elsewhere to support yourself, why not keep doing it indefinitely?
The question to ask would be, am I prepared to give away my desire to work in aviation away, cut my losses and go for some other career path? If the answer's yes, well OK.
If not, then you'll always wonder whether you could have made a go of it.
If you can't get work locally, and you don't have ties keeping you in your current locality, travelling sounds like a top idea - go have a look somewhere different for months or years; why not?
As to where, others will be able to say whether a particular place sounds feasible with your background, but pick some places that interest you and question specifically until you get a picture of whether it might be a goer or not.
Obviously it depends how free you are to pick up and go, but if you haven't got any good reasons not to, why not think about doing the big overseas move?
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Man,
You need to keep knocking on doors,"just happened to pass by thought I'd drop in etc." phoning at times convenient to your contacts to talk non-work trivia and provide goss of a constructive type and..... oh yeah throw in how keen you are as a "by the way" infrequently during your chat.
The key is to be in the mind of an employer and not in their face.
Don't pretend, it sticks out like dogs balls, and it sucks...be genuine in your interest and before you know it you've made a friend.
You might find that even if they don't have something for you they will have a grapevine contact for you to call.
That's the way it works.
Oh,by the way when it happens for you, don't dump your friends, they will miss you and be molto pissed if you do.
Volpe
<img src="cool.gif" border="0">
You need to keep knocking on doors,"just happened to pass by thought I'd drop in etc." phoning at times convenient to your contacts to talk non-work trivia and provide goss of a constructive type and..... oh yeah throw in how keen you are as a "by the way" infrequently during your chat.
The key is to be in the mind of an employer and not in their face.
Don't pretend, it sticks out like dogs balls, and it sucks...be genuine in your interest and before you know it you've made a friend.
You might find that even if they don't have something for you they will have a grapevine contact for you to call.
That's the way it works.
Oh,by the way when it happens for you, don't dump your friends, they will miss you and be molto pissed if you do.
Volpe
<img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Australia
G'day again All,
Thanks for all the encouragement guys, sometimes all that's needed is a good kick up the backside to keep you on the right track. Perhaps I could have picked a better time to post though, with all the guys out there doing us proud on the NSW fires. Jealousy is a curse isn't it!
Thanks again,
MPT
Thanks for all the encouragement guys, sometimes all that's needed is a good kick up the backside to keep you on the right track. Perhaps I could have picked a better time to post though, with all the guys out there doing us proud on the NSW fires. Jealousy is a curse isn't it!
Thanks again,
MPT
Guest
Posts: n/a
MPT,
My advice, for what it's worth, is keep doing what you are doing. The old "right place at the right time" adage is what is going to get you your next job. As advised previously, just keep in people's minds without hassling them too much and when something does come up, your name will be the one they think of first.
By the way, according to Australian Aviation magazine, "At present there is an overall shortage of helicopter pilots in Australia". So all of us must have a good chance of getting a "proper" job now. What does everyone else think of this??
Nice piccie of my old girl on the page, but!!
Keep your chin up MPT.
Kwackaman
My advice, for what it's worth, is keep doing what you are doing. The old "right place at the right time" adage is what is going to get you your next job. As advised previously, just keep in people's minds without hassling them too much and when something does come up, your name will be the one they think of first.
By the way, according to Australian Aviation magazine, "At present there is an overall shortage of helicopter pilots in Australia". So all of us must have a good chance of getting a "proper" job now. What does everyone else think of this??
Nice piccie of my old girl on the page, but!!
Keep your chin up MPT.
Kwackaman
Guest
Posts: n/a
Dear MPT....
Whilst I guess there are a few 500 hr pilots at home or outside the Industry.
I would reckon there are quite a few less 500 hr pilots with IREX and ATPL subjects at home or outside the Industry.
Get the message....get back to the books....!
Whilst I guess there are a few 500 hr pilots at home or outside the Industry.
I would reckon there are quite a few less 500 hr pilots with IREX and ATPL subjects at home or outside the Industry.
Get the message....get back to the books....!
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Thanks again all,
Passed my IREX last year, but I suppose I should order the ATPL course and get it out of the way while I'm waiting on my next gig!! How difficult is it compared to the IREX? Due to the fact that I don't have any f/w time, I found the IREX quite daunting at first.
MPT
Passed my IREX last year, but I suppose I should order the ATPL course and get it out of the way while I'm waiting on my next gig!! How difficult is it compared to the IREX? Due to the fact that I don't have any f/w time, I found the IREX quite daunting at first.
MPT
