Originally Posted by
Badgeman
I honestly don't get it. If there is such an extreme pilot shortage in Australia why is the competition so fierce at Qantas? Why would the Australian government be making it so hard for foreign pilot to get a job in an industry virtually starving to death for airmen? I thought ICAO solved all these problems of "your system, not my system.". I get it. I am walking into the world of applied aviation vs. the world of aviation theory I spent the last 6 years of my life in during college and flight school.
Australia does not have serious shortage of pilots. What they do have is a shortage of pilots willing to work for the cr@ppy pay that is being offered by the lower tier airlines. Namely QF Link, Rex and NJS. No matter where you go on this planet you'll find experienced Australian pilots that would go back in a heart beat but can't because the money isn't reasonable
NJS have recently introduced a B-Scale contract, that starts a B717 FO off at around AU$58k, as well as a 3 year bond. Sounds good compared to the pittance you'd get here as a 1st year FO at a regional. BUT and here's the big but, QF does not hire from QF Link carriers. Unofficially, of course. So your only option to move on in Oz is Virgin Blue. Also, I'd love to move back home but I'm not particularly fond of the amount of tax I'd be paying. Australia is now one of the most highly taxed countries in the world and the cost of living has sky-rocketed over the last 5 years. So you're not going to see much of that AU$58k starting pay. THe last time I talked to a couple of my mates in Oz, the CA at NJS was earning AU$110k and paying around AU$35k in taxes. The CA at Virgin Blue was earning AU$190k and paying AU$70k in taxes.
The other 2 carriers I mentioned require you to pay around AU12k for a type rating (FO's are required to be typed in Australia) and pay less than NJS.
Virgin Blue and QF are not having problems finding suitable applicants and filling any available positions, whatever you may read in the press.