AUSTRALIAN PILOT CAREER advice wanted from working pilots?

Question

I haven't flown for 13 years!

I had a CPL,NVFR, TWIN IR

TOT Hours: 376.3

Command hours: 110.7 :(

10.7 of which are in multi-engine (mostly IFR flight)

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So clearly this is not hot!

If I don't want to spend thousands of dollars, what can you suggest? I'm hoping that with the pilot shortage, I could find someone who's willing to get me recent again in exchange for a contract period or employment or such....

Answer 1

For jobs, there's a few websites you can try.

Take a look at www.squawk.com.au or www.afap.org.au (Australian Federation of Air Pilots) - Squawk is rather new, but AFAP has been around for ages and has a rather comprehensive list of jobs - especially jobs for low experience pilots - there are a lot of paradropping and mustering jobs going for people with around about 200+ hours, or smaller scenic/single engine VFR charter setups.

However, you're in a similar boat to me - I trained more recently, but finding the jobs are a problem! I too have an instrument rating, but most, if not all places, won't employ you to fly IFR under 500 hours...which is a fair kick in the backside (especially given the work for the CIR!)

Best bet is to find a smaller operator that runs scenics - they may only give part time work and you might need to find out of hours work to help pay the wages (I work shiftwork outside of flying to pay my way) but if you clock up the hours, you're getting there. Broome Aviation Services take pilots with 300 hours for scenics!

The HUGE demand at the moment is for instructors, though (I'm presently doing a rating...) instructing isn't cheap, but its getting to a point where companies are desperate for instructors - so you can find companies that are willing to put you through the rating effectively for free, and instead bond you to work for them for say a year or so (its a win-win - not paying for a rating, then a years guaranteed work!)

Also, take a look at Qantaslink. They're running a new program (I've applied) for low time CPLs...they're getting critically desperate for F/Os, so all you need is a CPL with at least 150 hours and 100 command preferred - anything above and beyond (such as NVFR, twin and IFR or ATPL theory) is a bonus...

(for that, go to www.qantas.com, select Qantaslink and look for the link to careers).

Good luck! Email me if I can help more. :-)