Tweet46

Thanks once again KoruPilot!!,

I am amazed that you would take the time to answer in such detail. The BGT rating based on my experience is a good thing.

A few more follow-on questions once you get some rest.

Once I found the Pacific Blue site it bounced me to the Virgin Blue site to apply....It seemed very restrictive in that if my stuff wasn't Aussie, (License, Certificates etc.). It seemed there was no consideration for my FAA ATP....do you know of a better place to apply?

I'm unfamiliar with the Alteon NG rating....is this the 737 Type? Is that a condition for employment like SWA or Can I get after it I'm checked out?

And one last question. I was looking through my permanent residency paperwork last night and noticed that it cost nearly $900 to submit it through the embassy in Washington DC. Would it be cheaper to submit it down there?

Thanks again!!

Cheers,
JD

KoruPilot

No worries, I have a few weeks off now and this helps avoid my wifes 'list'.

I've never actually seen a BGT rating on a licence. I think it is just one of those certificate thing's, normally tought by someone who has never flown a turbine. All about the PT-6 I think. At any rate, nobody was ever bothered enough to explain it since it was redundant in my case.

Pacific Blue hires through contract agencies, namely Rishworth and Contract Air, both in NZ. I know a guy at Rishworth and can give an intro if you are in NZ. Otherwise they are leary to talk to people; 'being there is everything' as my employer says. You will require a Kiwi licence, or the ability to convert yours easily. What they meen by that is you have the ATPL law written passed and your log book signed off by the NZCAA. They will give you a letter saying, basically, that you will have an ATPL upon the completion of the check ride. It has to be a two crew machine or a high performance machine they approve of, of which a P Navajo down south here complies. The latter is a waste of money as your employer will know that you can comply when the check ride is complete. Air NZ require at least a commercial though, but it's down the road so don't be too bothered at this stage.

The written I did while I was down here for a few months before moving here permanently. No residence or work permit is required of course so it is easy to get it all out of the way if you are in NZ for a couple weeks. They advertise dates online. You can pay for a course to help with passing it or buy a sample exem and work around that. My wife and I both did the latter, looked at the AIP which is online, and both passed easily with high marks; just a matter of being prepared.

ALTEON is Boeing training. They do the B737NG type rating out of Seattle for about $13000US, I think (?). That is what a friend of mine did a number of years ago. At that time you were required to have a rating for the interview, now you are not. A buddy just got on with them and she didn't have to do the type rating until after she was hired. That said, if you showed up with some heavy turbine time and an NG type you'd be hired.

The PR Visia did cost me a bit, but I don't think it was anything near $900US, more like $200 kiwi or there abouts. Can't remember, but I did it down here in Hamilton a couple of years ago.

There you go. Good luck with it. Great place to live down here in Godzone. I even gave up skiing and now surf; although skiing is a couple hours away.

Tweet46

Thanks Koru,

Anything I can do to help you avoid the "list". LOL It looks like I do have my work cut out for me. Although the prize at the end will be well worth it.

I'm not sure I will have enough time on this trip to do much studying...a new baby will put a damper on my study time.

I do hope to get by to see Margie Eckroyd on my way down.

Thanks again....

Cheers,
JD

MayFly135s

Koru,

I'm speechless and grateful for the amount of info you've provided in just a few days! Hopefully I'll get the chance to come thru Godzone soon to say thank you and shake your hand.

Two topics:
NG rating...while I would prefer to not pay for a rating is PB specifically looking for the NG vs Classic? Does it make a difference since it would be without any time on type? Also Alteon vs say Higher Power?

Conversion...I understand Oz and NZ licenses are both accepted trans-Tasman? Have you heard any info on NZCAA vs Oz CASA conversion? My first look is that NZ does a better job in assessment to decide what is required for validation, while Oz is more you will do the following.

Thanks again,
MayFly

MayFly135s

Tweet 46

I just completed the VB Domestic application and expression of interest for Long Haul. Despite not having an Oz license it still let me complete the application. While I am sure it went to the bottom of the pile, I want my interest to be known while the conversion process is underway!

JM

KoruPilot

The CAA down here does not accept a type rating unless it was done with a company whose program they accept. The classic 3/4/500 series is no good I'm afraid. My friend the training captain there originally did his in Seattle, did the classic first and the NG as an add-on, purely to expand his ability to get a job. ALTEON is also in Oz I think, and there was a place called ETA in Melbourne that did the NG, but it wasn't cheap. My friend who just got on with PB did hers in Brisbane, I think at ALTEON, but I'll have to check.

It was a good idea to do the online app with expression of interest for long haul. The expression is online but it is my understanding that it will be seperate from VB, and the hiring will run through a contract company as with PB (apparently they can't use the Virgin brand over the pacific as it is owned by SQ; go figure). The poop is that they are taking strictly 20% of drivers from VB, so there will be lot's of positions available on the B777's. CX guy's will only come back if the pay is something like $220K, or that is what they say. It will more likely be in the $180K range as with Jet Star international. I assume that a good number of Aussie EK pilots will be looking to come back and I imagine that with B777 ratings and time it would be looked on as quite favourable by both Virgin and the Aussie CAA. That said, would you want your new airline to have mostly pilots coming in who are ticked at their current employer and know each other? Likely not, so you should see some outside hiring. Long haul jet experience would of course be a plus.

The ATP conversion here was not too bad for me. I've heard some say that the Aussie one is not too bad if you have the right time in your log book. The NZCAA is up front about what you require. If you meet the minimum time requirement then you'll just need that one written exam and the check ride.

I'll try and find out about licence requirements for the op at Virgin for new hires. Likely it will be much the same as everybody else, you will have to have the 'ability to convert your foreign certificate before you are offered a job'. . .easily, which means you've done what I explained. I don't know for sure, but I think you can pretty safely assume this to be the case.

Tweet46

Thanks KoruPilot,

Once again you are a wealth of information.

Where would be the best place to get a study guide for the ATPL written? I believe I meet all of the requirements to take just the one test. Just not sure I will have the time this trip.

I do plan on knocking out a Class 1 phyiscal while I'm down there in June, if only to get something in my records and to show ANZ I'm trying my hardest to get fully qualified as soon as I can.

Cheers,
JD

KoruPilot

You might want to try Pilot Books, +64 7 548 1654 or email [email protected] / www.pilotbooks.co.nz

In Aussie try Advanced Flight Theory. They advertise that you can get the Aussie ATP and double up with the Trans Tasman agreement. For any looking to go to Oz this might be the better bet.

www.aft.com.au / [email protected]

Go to the CAA web site and they will have a link for the contracting agency that does the exams. They have specific dates that you can sit for the different city's and regions, or you can go anytime in Wellington.

All the best.
KP

KoruPilot

And if you are going to be in Auckland for a couple hours let me know. My friend who is the training captain at PB is always up for a couple of pints and he might be able to answer some questions/offer some advice that I am missing.

Tweet46

Okay Korupilot...I'll make a point of being in Auckland for a decent layover. I had hope to meet Margie as well!! Please tell your friend I'll buy him a keg or two if he can help m out!! LOL