Hi Southislander! you are "bringing me down to earth". Thanks, seriously, thanks a lot.

I ´ve "studied" the thread, I am aware about the bad situation to find a job (even if you are a fresh Neo Zealander pilot). And I know that your licence it is not reconized in Europe... and the same happens with USA´s licence. If I want to convert it in the future I know I am going to spend a lot of money (and even worst, more time!) to get it. It´s the "defence" of the "european training market"... I know it is more expensive to get my licence in NZ, to live in NZ and then pay again (and wait...) for the theory classes in Europe (plus medical tests - harder and too much difficult-, the official trials, etc...) than straigthly get it in Europe.

Why I want to do it in your country? It´s about the experience of living abroad (other culture, other people, other ideas...) and, at the same time, improve my english. I´ve been living in USA but now I want to see your country or Australia. I always wanted to go to those lands and I think you are even better people than I found in USA.

Working in your country? Yes, it is a dream, but I want to try. Or I can get my licence in NZ and if the worse comes to worst, try to work in AUS (I know the conversion it is only an administrative issue). And I know also the bad situation (for fresh pilots) in AUS...

My first choice is NZ. I hope to have good luck!

Thanks again.

And thanks also Rotornut: you reminded me a lot of questions which I should dont forget to ask to the schools.

PS: another email sent to Ardmore an still no answer... that makes me suspicious...

I may be lost...
 

Sorry Cunarsil, I thought I had come up with a cunning plan. So even if you came over on a visitors visa the embassy says you need to go back to sort out the student visa?? Figure that one out, bloody bureaucrats.

Plan B, give a few training providers a call and ask to speak to international students that they have on the books. I’m sure they can find a student happy to talk to you.

If you come to NZ and find that the school you have chosen is not spinning your wheels, you can transfer to another provider. A pain in the arse but it can be done.

EMS R22 – I am reminded of a humorous story told by a friend of mine (a kiwi contract pilot). He was flying on fires in NSW, Australia and was in the unfortunate position of being temporary misplaced. When he finally figured out the approximate area that he was in it became apparent that he had better vacate the area pretty quick.

To make things worse the radio crackled into life with something along the lines of...

‘aircraft 1.5 nautical miles inside the eastern boundary of Richmond air force restricted area, this is Richmond control, please identify yourself immediately’

Fearing that the might of the Australian air force was about to descend upon him he thought it prudent that he respond...

‘I may be lost but I am not stupid’

Therefore I think I will remain anonymous for the moment...

Haha fair call!

Thanks Simondh!
good advices and thanks for the suport also!
Currently I am involved in the visa issue and I am doing some medical tests in Spain for check how I am before go to NZ to the real medical test (no chance here to find a doctor allowed to extend the CAA medical certificate, I have just checked this with the embassy too)

And about a future convertion of my NZ to JAA licence, you are right, nothing is imposible!! Although now I am heading to live in NZ and try to star working (and continue living) in NZ, or even after a while in Australia. After this, God would say!

cheers
cunarsil

Other things are more relative
 

The US helicopter (and most other aviation) accident records are better than the Aus even tho Aus has no snow or ice or tornado's or hurricanes (one force 3 Cyclone Tracy every 30 years does not match 30 force 3 hurricanes every year), no microbursts, no smog, no whiteouts and no mountains (7,000 ft is just a big hill). There are more aircraft in the Los Angeles basin than in the whole of Aus yet Aus has more collisions.
Why is the US safer - probably because they do not operate under the massive illusion that they are the safest in the world and/or that their biggest airline has never had an accident.
Complacency is a killer

Mi-Tasol,

Pretty ballsy statement there, considering we read about ems accidents in the USA every week or two. When was the last ems helo accident in Australia ???

And fyi I am in NZ so have no vested interest in the aussie industry.

Ned

Mi tasol,

The weather must be bad in PNG today for you guys to be out fishing on the net!

Ag Pilot Position...
 

Right. I'm gonna try something here. See what happens. I see that there are some blokes on here with some experience so here goes....
I have a position available for an Ag pilot.
Lower North Island.
Flying one of our H300C's.
Grade 1 prefered.
Busy little Ag company.
PM me with your details...

Check out Helicorp in Hamilton NZ, they seem to do a good job.

Helicorp - Helicopter Corporation Ltd: Home

Hi 206dvr - did you find anyone from your post to PPRuNe?

Great to see Jase Kirkland back training in Taupo New Zealand, Calls himself Vertical Works.....wealth of knowledge this boy :ok:

And no it's not me :)

Now Jase is someone with a LOT of experience to pass on. I remember back when he was working with Heli Sika and Shamus used to run it back then. I think Jase was NZs youngest ever instructor at that stage.

Since then I know he has been working in various positions around the world and would be a great one to go and train with. :ok::ok:

Great to see him passing on that knowledge to newbies.

Website is worth a check just for the pics if nothing else :ok:

Please provide link for Best CPL schools in Newzeland
 

hi All,

I am applying for CPL kindly suggest some best schools available in Newzealand.

Selection criteria.

awaiting your guidance..

Try Nelson Aviation College. Situated at Motueka at the top of the South Island. It has 3 CPL theory courses per year, very professional. When I was there it had 4 R22s. Great place to train as it's a very busy uncontroled airfield and only a 10 min flight to Nelson for controled. Apart from Wanaka it would be the best place in NZ if you want mountain flying, only 5 minutes to Mt Cambell 5000 feet, Kahurangi national park is right on it's doorstep as well as Nelson Lakes national park. Great place to fly. Ring Ross Troughton, A cat Helicopter and B cat fixed wing. He fly's for Air New Zealand and is very experienced, he is great to fly with and easy to learn from.

I think Helicopter Flight Training in Ardmore would be worth a look, from what I have seen they seem a little more professional than many schools I have seen around.
I believe they may be taking on staff with experience with international and Indian students which is something if I'm not mistaken seems to be slightly more rare in helicopters

Interesting comment - is this based on experience of the school or do you work there? If uniforms impress you go and look at the military but if you want to learn from instructors who fly in the real commercial world there are a few better places to go.

What's your experience with them exactly peely?

HFT is a great school, I finished my course there 2 months ago and I'm now being paid to fly. I don't know enough about other schools to say it's better or worse than any others, but there is a huge emphasis on getting the students into the aviation work force once they've finished, and not just completing their course and sending them on their way.

pdex your question is interesting about my experience with HFT. I simply made the point that a previous comment suggested they were a little more professional than other operators and that they were taking on staff with experience. I respectfully suggest that professionalism is based on many factors and experienced staff/instructors need to be flying in a commercial environment as well as instructing if they are truly able to pass knowledge onto CPL students.

Glad to hear pdex that you are gainfully employed post your CPL training as there a very few jobs out there even for highly experienced pilots - where and what type of work?

Not employed by them at all and that seems an awfully knee jerk reaction there Peely.
I have experience of many schools and what I have seen is so many of the instructors at commercial operators are so far removed from the actual working side it becomes a moot point as to whether a school is part of a company or not.
In fact I believe there is a place to argue that a professional school specializing in training would be a better place to learn than a school that as run as a side line of a larger corporation.
I do however think that the small operators with a wealth of knowledge through years of experience where the student is training with that person is the exception to the rule.
I also make no apologies for coming from an era where presentation matters