In 2022 onwards, whats the future path of becoming a pilot?
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In 2022 onwards, whats the future path of becoming a pilot?
I've read a lot here about how GA in Australia is dying and getting a job in it is only getting harder. I've also seen that things like cadetships are not worth the enormous extra costs and loops the airlines make you go through.
So what really is the best path to becoming a pilot and earning money from it? I'm not bothered if I'm flying for an airline or GA, I just want to continue flying and earn money from it.
I know the industry is tough, but what truly is the best way forward? GA, Cadetships, or is there another way? Whats the industry trending towards here?
Forgive my naivety, I'm new to the industry. I appreciate any help!
So what really is the best path to becoming a pilot and earning money from it? I'm not bothered if I'm flying for an airline or GA, I just want to continue flying and earn money from it.
I know the industry is tough, but what truly is the best way forward? GA, Cadetships, or is there another way? Whats the industry trending towards here?
Forgive my naivety, I'm new to the industry. I appreciate any help!
Very good question. Ultimately you are better off going the GA path and building some experience because if you get retrenched you at least have other flying jobs or going overseas as a option (because you will have PIC time) whereas being a cadet you become snookered if you get fired early in your career.
As you say though GA is falling apart and this will only become exacerbated if airlines start injecting their cadets into GA jobs and blocking people with experience.
Right now I would be looking at going to the USA if you can qualify as that is probably your best bet in the current market.
If you are good enough and want to serve your country and give up 15 years of your life then the RAAF is always an option.
As you say though GA is falling apart and this will only become exacerbated if airlines start injecting their cadets into GA jobs and blocking people with experience.
Right now I would be looking at going to the USA if you can qualify as that is probably your best bet in the current market.
If you are good enough and want to serve your country and give up 15 years of your life then the RAAF is always an option.
Get yourself an Instrument Rating, 1500 hours total time, 50 multi (can be dual) and get the **** out of here. Go to the land of milk and honey. You'll learn real weather flying, snow runways. Apply for a green card in the yearly lottery or marry a local. Buy a Dodge Ram, don't **** around with the 1500.
GA or Cadetships will get you there. The cons of GA is that you must be motivated, prepared for hard work and compromise to get work and get hours quickly and exist on minimum wage. It will however help you to develop independence and operating without supervision in sometimes trying circumstances, making decisions without guidance and dealing with problems on your own. GA will NOT generally be cheaper than a cadetship, you still have to get your licence and ratings and then you will forgo regular income, move around at your own expense, possibly have to maintain your own currency, pay for your own endorsements etc etc...
Cadetships can be pricey but you must read the fine print, is there a forgiven amount for time in service, ie it may say $150k, but up to $50k may be forgiven if you remain with said operator for 7 years and so on. Some include accommodation and meals. Some guarantee an airline job on completion of training, others two year experience only and some only guarantee an interview with assisted industry placement.
Cadetships that guarantee a spot in the airline you could be holding a command in 5 years and at end of tenure move on to a major airline as an FO being in a better financial position than possibly the GA counterpart.
Once you are in the airline game, where you started matters very little, fly under managements radar, operate by the book and don't appear on ATSB shorts and you will progress no matter what background.
Cadetships can be pricey but you must read the fine print, is there a forgiven amount for time in service, ie it may say $150k, but up to $50k may be forgiven if you remain with said operator for 7 years and so on. Some include accommodation and meals. Some guarantee an airline job on completion of training, others two year experience only and some only guarantee an interview with assisted industry placement.
Cadetships that guarantee a spot in the airline you could be holding a command in 5 years and at end of tenure move on to a major airline as an FO being in a better financial position than possibly the GA counterpart.
Once you are in the airline game, where you started matters very little, fly under managements radar, operate by the book and don't appear on ATSB shorts and you will progress no matter what background.
But if you are happy to stay in Australia, you don’t need to experience ‘real’ American weather or snow runways!
& after the GA slog don’t expect much at the regionals $65K FO wage on Q400 at link (maybe little less at Rex) first year. Agree with the above get your 1500 and head for the US, good luck with it all!
I’ve been in this game for nearly 40 years.
Ultimately you need only one thing, an unshakable desire to become a professional pilot. This may seem overly simplistic, but in my experience it will be the main factor in whether you succeed or not. I’ve seen a whole generation of pilots and wannabe pilots, and persistence in the face of every adversary set before them, has been the difference between those who make it, and those who don’t!
I guess it’s possible for some to make it without 100% commitment (Silver spoon, friends in the right places etc...) but for the majority.... persistence.
As for the right turns to take along the way? First get your arse into an aeroplane, and grab every opportunity as it comes.
Ultimately you need only one thing, an unshakable desire to become a professional pilot. This may seem overly simplistic, but in my experience it will be the main factor in whether you succeed or not. I’ve seen a whole generation of pilots and wannabe pilots, and persistence in the face of every adversary set before them, has been the difference between those who make it, and those who don’t!
I guess it’s possible for some to make it without 100% commitment (Silver spoon, friends in the right places etc...) but for the majority.... persistence.
As for the right turns to take along the way? First get your arse into an aeroplane, and grab every opportunity as it comes.
Well said 'Krusty' I am at the end of a lifelong career as a pilot. I've been at all ends of this industry and if ever one word sums it up, it is 'commitment'. If you do not have a total commitment to this industry and a love of flying it will eat you up and spit you out in a heartbeat. In your early years it might even kill you. It requires dedication and hard work and like everything asking for these qualities it will give you a hell of a ride. The future is fantastic for people prepared to run the gauntlet, get out there and do it.
Do the time, its only a few years working for the GA wanchor owner/operators in AUS, good character building and bail out to greener pastures.
You won't look back,.... except maybe to laugh at the ones who didn't have the guts to move overseas rotting away with the ever disintegrating T&C's of what once were respectable airlines/operators of Aus.
You won't look back,.... except maybe to laugh at the ones who didn't have the guts to move overseas rotting away with the ever disintegrating T&C's of what once were respectable airlines/operators of Aus.
Last edited by Track5milefinal; 21st Jun 2022 at 09:18.
I will add my advice to those advocating a move to the US. Australia is a very very desirable country and will never have trouble attracting pilots from elsewhere to fill seats. Operators know this, and terms and conditions will only ever deteriorate as long as there are willing “drivers” to occupy seats.
Australians enjoy the only easy access to the US via the E3 visa program. Coincidentally, the US needs lots of pilots, and they all have to have 1500 hours. Connect those three dots and you will see that your best hope is getting the hours then crossing the Pacific. I have a love/hate relationship with the US, but I would be there in a heartbeat if I was at the other end of my career.
As it stands right now I cannot see any mechanism to arrest the downward trend in local terms and conditions. Why perform this demanding job for people who scorn you?
Australians enjoy the only easy access to the US via the E3 visa program. Coincidentally, the US needs lots of pilots, and they all have to have 1500 hours. Connect those three dots and you will see that your best hope is getting the hours then crossing the Pacific. I have a love/hate relationship with the US, but I would be there in a heartbeat if I was at the other end of my career.
As it stands right now I cannot see any mechanism to arrest the downward trend in local terms and conditions. Why perform this demanding job for people who scorn you?
The OP, BlueCloud1, didn't say how far along he currently is in terms of tickets and flight time; he just said he's "new to the industry"..
When pondering a run at a US E3 job, one has to consider how long it would take him to get in the hiring ballpark. The US merry-go-round won't spin forever.
When pondering a run at a US E3 job, one has to consider how long it would take him to get in the hiring ballpark. The US merry-go-round won't spin forever.
Move to the US is great.
Buy yourself and the Mrs,s, a couple of guns.
Teach the kids at the age of 4, to hide under the desk and put their bullet Proof back pack on.
God bless America, the land of the free and truely stupid.
Buy yourself and the Mrs,s, a couple of guns.
Teach the kids at the age of 4, to hide under the desk and put their bullet Proof back pack on.
God bless America, the land of the free and truely stupid.
Yep. The gun violence would have to be the biggest concern/downside…
Join Date: Jun 1999
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Well, most of the shooting here in the State has to do with one gang shooting another over the usual drug trade. It gets all lumped together for political reasons. Nothing new read about the roaring 20's the gangs back then fought over liquor sales. What is new is the disregard for right and wrong of late. On one hand, you had organized rioting with a good 2 billion Dollars worth of damage along with 28 murders, and it's nothing some ass hats go to the Capital and it's the end of days. Guns have always been part of the American Fabric. I carry and have done so for over 50 years now, In all that time outside of one disagreement with a black bear the only two-legged predator that wanted my stuff quickly decided to go someplace less. He would cut people with a razor. I didn't get injured and I didn't shoot him- the Police did a few days later. London got its crime problems and you Brits just have to suck it up. On another thread they bitch about the awful US- never mind keeping the Reds out of Europe and Securing the Seas for the nice comfortable trade your nation enjoyed And on this thread want to fly for the airlines got to the US. I got a good chuckle out of that since I retired last year. 30 years ago I was interviewing with a company hand they had a bunch of pilots from Europe flying and bitching what an awful place my country is and on and on and on, being the only citizen in the room I ask the French girl then why are you here in French, her answer was well its were the jobs and the flight time are. Should have been thank full that she was allowed to fly in the US, I know at the time the French would have told me to go pound sand. Some of the Clowns here think that the Russians and the ChiComs are going to rule the roost. Oh, and my current carry gun is a Glock 19 with a few upgrades. I retired my Browning High Power., My Smith and Wesson M-29 44 mag to heavy though I carried it daily in Alaska per State Law. My truck gun is my old Marlin 336 30-30 got that one when I was 13. The real question for you to answer is a simple one, What nations would the US fling Nukes to defend? You be surprised at how small our friends and family plan really is.
God bless America, the land of the free and truely stupid.