Give The Helicopter Group in Melbourne a call. Great instructors, great machines and unlike many training schools they have a tourist operation that some fresh CPL's get a run at, obviously there is no guarantee of work after a licence. But at least they have an operation for junior pilots to work.

Be very careful at schools that promise you work at the end of your training.


:ok:

G/DAY ASH

WHY BOTHER WITH CPL(H) GO THE CPL (A) AND THEN ATPL(A). IT EVENTUALLY PAYS MUCH MORE MONEY....

I HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME FOR 20+ YEARS AND IT IS A HARD SLOGG TO THE TOP....

THE ONLY THING I HAVE LEARNT OVER THE YEARS IS......THE BIGGER THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR, THE BIGGER THE BULL S..T YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.

BUT IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON BEING A HELI DRIVER, GIVE CHOPPER LINE A RING IN CALOUNDRA, QLD. GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT KNOW HOW TO INSTRUCT AND HAVE BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND HAVE PLENTY OF HOURS TO BACK THEM UP...

I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT WITH THEM 6/7 YEARS AGO.

GOOD CLIMATE, NEAR THE BEACH, NIGHT LIFE ETC AND THE ACCOMADATION IS GOOD.....

THEY HAVE STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD......THAT HAS TO SAY SOMETHING...

ASK FOR TUB MATHESON OR KEN AMOS(INSTRUCTORS) AND TALK TO THEM
GOOD LUCK

Hey Reefy.
 

That wouldn't be self promotion would it???

HIGH NR

THE ABOVE POST WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT SELF PROMOTION....

READ THE POST AGAIN I SAID IN IT " I DID A NIGHT VFR ENDORSEMENT 6/7 YEARS AGO"" I HAVE NO TIES TO ANY SCHOOLS OR ANY COMPANY IN OZ AT ALL........


G/DAY ROBSRICH

ASH WANTED UNBIASED OPINIONS ON SCHOOLS IN OZ... I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW...... I DID NOT STATE IT WAS BETTER OR BEST.. I JUST MENTION IT HAD GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT HAD BEEN AROUND THE TRAPS AND POSSIBLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING AND HOW TO TEACH IT......
WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR SOME FLYING SCKOOLS THAT ARE JUST PILOT FACTORIES....... KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

HAS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED I THINK THE PILOTS LICENCE SYSTEM IN OZ AND FOR THAT MATTER THE WORLD STINKS.....

IT SHOULD BE MADE INTO AN APPENTICE TYPE SYSTEM WHERE YOU LEARN THE INS AND OUTS OF EVERYTHING,,, THE ENGINEERING SIDE, THE NAVIGATION SIDE, THE OPERATIONS SIDE,, CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AND SEAT IN THE MACHINE WITH EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND JUST WATCH AND LEARN AND QUESTION, AND ALSO GET THE FEEL OF THE STICKS
ABOUT LIKE WHAT AN OPERATOR IN THE NT USED TO DO......NOW HE HAD A GOOD SYSTEM....

HAVE I OPENED A CAN OF WORMS OR WHAT?????????????

ALL THE BEST

Hi Ash,

I'd recommend Kestrel Aviation just north of Melbourne at Mangalore. I did my training there and enjoyed it.

I would be totally skeptical about any freebies in the industry unless they are prepared to commit themselves in writing.

Also look back a few pages on this thread and you will get an idea of what Becker helicopters is REALLY like!!!!

I think you should also have a close look at Airwork Helicopters at caboolture, just North of Brisbane. They train on the Bell 47, a real helicopter, and they have a couple of extremely high qualified instructors. This is worth investigating.

Training, Australia or USA?
 

G'day all, just looking for an un bias piont of view if there is any real advantage to training for my CLP/H in the USA over Australia. I know we have some good schools here in Aus but would a US licence open a few more doors for me. Any feedback would be appreiated.

I am told that in the States if you do your training on a J1 visa you can then stay for two years. In this time most seem to find work as a flying instructor (you can become a FI over there with less hours than here).
You do your two years and then come back to OZ with around 1000 hours that is enough to get you put on with a decent operator here.
Or you can stay here work as a slave for a year or so with vitually no pay you might then get a flying gig and build some time for very little money. (atleast this was how it was when I was starting out, probably still the same) The end result will be the same but atleast you have travelled overseas and seen how others do it.
I dont think any employer really cares how you got your time just aslong as you can fly when they take you for a check ride.
Anyway good luck

I always believe that your average Oz 1000+ hours intructor, with bush experience and other subtle work experience, was a lot more beneficial in your initial training than Mr Joe Bloke fresh 250+ hours FAA instructor... If you're under 30 years of age, then go the Oz way and work hard for a few years as the so called slave. Most of us did it and it certainly did not make us any worse for it. I started in my late 30's and still got where I wanted to be so perserve with the OZ way. Your Oz employer prefers it regardless of what others may say. :ok:

See this thread for general training information.

Training Questions

You should try Becker Helicopters at Maroochydore in Queensland. They will advise you and possibly help with visa's etc. Wide variety of training aircraft on offer too.

Avoid Becker try Chopperline or Blue Tongue
Ask around the industry to confirm this

The aim of your training is to get you the best job in the world.

It is far simpler to achieve this in the US by all accounts (I studied in Astralia and met some great instructors).

If you come back from there with 500hrs it won't really matter that your instructor only had 250 himself.

If you go onto the job market here with 110 hours, it won't matter (much) that your instructor had 15,000 hours.

Insurance companies don't care who trained you. They're just satisfied that you've made it thus far.


p.s. I'm sure capt mike will be happy about people forcing his head above the parapet. I can hear the boot laces tightening from here.

Mr Selfish
 

Mr Selfish should pull his head in and stop running down poor Beckers operation just because his 300's are the oldest in recorded history to still be flying, and the AS350 has an engine that may disintergrate in to atoms at any moment like all the others still in use (none). I don't know what your problem is Mr Selfish maybe you have too much time on your hands, but up here in the most beautiful part of the coast we take things a little more laid back, rather than pick on poor Kiwis like you do. Yeah Beckers go go go

Trained with PHS in Coolangatta, worked bloody hard as a slave in the hanger at their Melbourne base, was given a job flying a 206 at the Rock 8 months latter. Seems along time ago now!There is very few operators who will let low hour guys (97 in my case - had a FW PPL) fly a Jet-ranger. Does everyone get a chance to go up there, of course not. You get out of it what you put in. I always found them to be generally fair in giving the jobs to those that worked the hardest (even if that was gardning at Ron's place!).
I have also heard that the Helicopter Group next door in Melbourne is good, and they have an operation in Central Australia as well, and will send new guys there.
If you are looking for a start up north chasing cattle, I was told early on that Graeme Gillies at Blue Tonque was the best man to see. There are other good schools I'm sure.
Just like anywhere, the guys who work the hardest and put up with the most crap usually get the start. Always been that way, always will be.

Cheers BigMike

Big Mike says it right there.

All you really have to do is work harder than me, work harder than Big Mike, and work harder than anyone else on this forum....(or be rich enough to buy a heap of experience.)

Your (potential) employer will likely be increasing financial risk in the increase in excess or total insurance costs, and risking the good record of the business. You can't expect them to do this for just anyone.

The fact that you have a commerical licence as issued by CASA should mean that you are judged to be capable of flying for hire or reward, so it seems incredibly unfair that you can't get a job due to insurance requirements. When you do get your job after a while you'll realise that the insurance companies aren't necessarily that draconian in their approach and even though you have the licence you still understand the squareroot of FA about the job.

Your school/instructor will matter to a certain extent as people do source references and they'll just pick up the phone to your school. You don't want references from someone who is not respected by the community. (goes slightly against what I said in previous post :confused: )

But to cut the waffle, just work hard.

Australia
 

Quick question to our Aussie friends;
I was watching the news the other day about all the fires starting earlier this year, looks like it's going to be a tough season.
I have a little time on my hands at the moment so who would be the best person to talk to down under for a little work?
As far as I could make out it was mainly in NSW, Any advice or hints??

Ta, Rick.

Things change quickly. I think most of the machines in NSW have been stood down in the last 2 days and there is steady rain out the window at the moment. So I wouldn't buy that ticket just yet.

Ok, thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye on it. :ok: