Australian pilot shortage
10-14-2007, 06:18 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Contract purgatory
Posts: 701
EK guy's are unlikely to come back to ANZ or QF as they would be looking at cruise pilot positions. I understand that many at EK and CX are looking at the V Australia deal as it works with all that 777 time they have. With B787's going to J Star it makes sense that people would come back to Oz for that as well.
I think however that Air NZ would like to hear from people overseas, with decent experience and who can manage the work permit fairly easily.
What about Rex though? In the article they said they looked at recruiting out of the Ukraine!?! Did they bother to ask imigration or the CAA before hand? Sounds unlikely to me, but the SA thing makes sense. Unless they win the world cup, then it'll be off for sure.
I think however that Air NZ would like to hear from people overseas, with decent experience and who can manage the work permit fairly easily.
What about Rex though? In the article they said they looked at recruiting out of the Ukraine!?! Did they bother to ask imigration or the CAA before hand? Sounds unlikely to me, but the SA thing makes sense. Unless they win the world cup, then it'll be off for sure.
10-14-2007, 10:42 PM
#13
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B747 FO
Posts: 61
Ex-USAF, recently moved to the southern hemisphere with my Aussie, and just completed a FAA ATP to CASA ATPL conversion. Here’s the scoop…
2 main issues facing a pilot wanting to work down under presently:
Immigration: if you wanna fly jets with the major players i.e. QANTAS, Virgin Blue, Jet Star you MUST hold Australian Permanent Residency with either a visa, Oz passport, or citizenship (most all the regionals also have a similar requirement). Presently pilots aren’t on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) but are on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). The short of this is that Oz won’t just be giving you a visa to come work as a pilot. You’ll either need to get a visa on your own merits (birth, spouse, family) or be nominated by a specific airline employer (QF/VB/J* don’t nominate). If the regional do start doing this, know that this is a position specific visa so you just can’t quit one airline and join another - you’ll need a new visa.
Licence Conversion: presently this is not an easy or inexpensive process. My background is USAF, nearly 8 years of world wide heavy flying experience, and I hold numerous jet type ratings on my FAA ATP. In order to convert my licence I was required to pass 3 written exams:
Instrument Rating Exam (IREX): 3.5 Hour Exam / 70% to Pass
CPL Flight Rules & Air Law (CLWA): 2.0 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
ATPL Air Law (AALW): 1.5 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
*NOTE: some airlines want credits in ALL ATPL Theory subjects (that’s 7 written tests).
Also unless you have formerly flow in Australia, you will have to do a flight test for the initial issue of a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR) which is separate from the ATPL. I know it is odd for us North Americans, but you can have an ATPL and not be instrument rated in Oz.
Now the flight test, isn’t some quick All-ATPs course where you get ‘the gouge’ and fly a few approaches. In order to get all the NAVAID endorsements on your initial MECIR you will need to fly an ILS / NDB / VOR / RNAV (GNSS) / DGA (DME or GPS Arrival – Aussie procedure) and HOLD, all while getting the usual run of single engine, circling, and missed approaches. I liken it more to a full route check as you are expected to fly to another airport, utilize airways, and know and operate under all of Australia’s vast expanse of Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Orders (CAOs). In my case that equated to a 3 hour flight test, that covered 4 different airports, to get all the endorsements.
By now I am sure you are wondering what low, low, price all this mandatory fun will cost me…
Cost: (Presently .90 AUD = 1 USD)
Flight Training (in a light twin BE76 / PA44). Costs vary 300-500/hr DUAL depending on region. Unless you are current/proficient in a light twin expect about 10 hours of flight time including your flight test: 4000 / 3600
Examiner Fees: 400 / 360
CASA Certificate of Validation (needed for initial flight training): 150 / 135
CASA ATPL Licensing / Ratings / Endorsements Fee: 180 / 162
CASA Class 1 Medical
Medical Examiner Fees: 150 / 135
Ophthalmologist: 160 / 144
Blood Work: 40 / 36
CASA Processing Fee: 75 / 68
Written Exam Fees
IREX: 174 / 156
CLWA: 154 / 139
AALW: 144 / 130
Publications (must maintain own copy – none provided by CASA for testing/flight)
Approach Plates: 177 / 160
CAR, CAO, ERSA, AIP, Charts (their FARs etc): 660 / 594
Aviation Security Identification Card (Background check): 196 / 176
GRAND TOTAL (TO CONVERT YOUR LICENSE): 6660 AUD or 5995 USD
So now with a visa and licence in hand you can start hunting for that dream job! Other things to consider are the fact that the Oz aviation scene is closer in relation to the very thorough, if not a pit padantic, British/JAA aviation system. Given that aussie pilots tend to be more theory based, one must recognise that the system is just different here and that this may not be to your liking. Also Australia is a large supplier of pilots to the world market (Cathay, Emirates, etc) so be fore warned there will be a large amount of pilots chasing the big jobs.
Like all things in aviation this is subject to change, but it should give you an idea of the PRESENT system and some of the issues.
The bottom line is that if you are willing to jump through the hoops you will find a job in Oz! But I think it will take more than just a love of kangaroos to keep you going some days.
MayFly
P.S. After 5 months I still don't have my VISA and am looking to off shore contract work in the interim.
Other info on Oz Aviation:
CASA at http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/transfer.htm
Australian Federation of Air Pilots http://www.afap.org.au
Dunnunda and Godzone forums at http://www.pprune.org
2 main issues facing a pilot wanting to work down under presently:
Immigration: if you wanna fly jets with the major players i.e. QANTAS, Virgin Blue, Jet Star you MUST hold Australian Permanent Residency with either a visa, Oz passport, or citizenship (most all the regionals also have a similar requirement). Presently pilots aren’t on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) but are on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). The short of this is that Oz won’t just be giving you a visa to come work as a pilot. You’ll either need to get a visa on your own merits (birth, spouse, family) or be nominated by a specific airline employer (QF/VB/J* don’t nominate). If the regional do start doing this, know that this is a position specific visa so you just can’t quit one airline and join another - you’ll need a new visa.
Licence Conversion: presently this is not an easy or inexpensive process. My background is USAF, nearly 8 years of world wide heavy flying experience, and I hold numerous jet type ratings on my FAA ATP. In order to convert my licence I was required to pass 3 written exams:
Instrument Rating Exam (IREX): 3.5 Hour Exam / 70% to Pass
CPL Flight Rules & Air Law (CLWA): 2.0 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
ATPL Air Law (AALW): 1.5 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
*NOTE: some airlines want credits in ALL ATPL Theory subjects (that’s 7 written tests).
Also unless you have formerly flow in Australia, you will have to do a flight test for the initial issue of a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR) which is separate from the ATPL. I know it is odd for us North Americans, but you can have an ATPL and not be instrument rated in Oz.
Now the flight test, isn’t some quick All-ATPs course where you get ‘the gouge’ and fly a few approaches. In order to get all the NAVAID endorsements on your initial MECIR you will need to fly an ILS / NDB / VOR / RNAV (GNSS) / DGA (DME or GPS Arrival – Aussie procedure) and HOLD, all while getting the usual run of single engine, circling, and missed approaches. I liken it more to a full route check as you are expected to fly to another airport, utilize airways, and know and operate under all of Australia’s vast expanse of Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Orders (CAOs). In my case that equated to a 3 hour flight test, that covered 4 different airports, to get all the endorsements.
By now I am sure you are wondering what low, low, price all this mandatory fun will cost me…
Cost: (Presently .90 AUD = 1 USD)
Flight Training (in a light twin BE76 / PA44). Costs vary 300-500/hr DUAL depending on region. Unless you are current/proficient in a light twin expect about 10 hours of flight time including your flight test: 4000 / 3600
Examiner Fees: 400 / 360
CASA Certificate of Validation (needed for initial flight training): 150 / 135
CASA ATPL Licensing / Ratings / Endorsements Fee: 180 / 162
CASA Class 1 Medical
Medical Examiner Fees: 150 / 135
Ophthalmologist: 160 / 144
Blood Work: 40 / 36
CASA Processing Fee: 75 / 68
Written Exam Fees
IREX: 174 / 156
CLWA: 154 / 139
AALW: 144 / 130
Publications (must maintain own copy – none provided by CASA for testing/flight)
Approach Plates: 177 / 160
CAR, CAO, ERSA, AIP, Charts (their FARs etc): 660 / 594
Aviation Security Identification Card (Background check): 196 / 176
GRAND TOTAL (TO CONVERT YOUR LICENSE): 6660 AUD or 5995 USD
So now with a visa and licence in hand you can start hunting for that dream job! Other things to consider are the fact that the Oz aviation scene is closer in relation to the very thorough, if not a pit padantic, British/JAA aviation system. Given that aussie pilots tend to be more theory based, one must recognise that the system is just different here and that this may not be to your liking. Also Australia is a large supplier of pilots to the world market (Cathay, Emirates, etc) so be fore warned there will be a large amount of pilots chasing the big jobs.
Like all things in aviation this is subject to change, but it should give you an idea of the PRESENT system and some of the issues.
The bottom line is that if you are willing to jump through the hoops you will find a job in Oz! But I think it will take more than just a love of kangaroos to keep you going some days.
MayFly
P.S. After 5 months I still don't have my VISA and am looking to off shore contract work in the interim.
Other info on Oz Aviation:
CASA at http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/transfer.htm
Australian Federation of Air Pilots http://www.afap.org.au
Dunnunda and Godzone forums at http://www.pprune.org
10-29-2007, 06:53 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Brown
Posts: 1,126
May Fly--Hiring at Brown will slow for a while, but I bet it picks up next spring. If/when we open the HKG base, you'll be a perfect fit. I don't think it would be hard to get to HKG from SYD on a UPS jumpseat. (You getting to SYD would be a different story.)
I sure hope all your work pays off. I was actually surpised it did not cost as much as it did for you to convert. That's comparable to a 737 type.
I sure hope all your work pays off. I was actually surpised it did not cost as much as it did for you to convert. That's comparable to a 737 type.
11-17-2007, 08:01 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Lovin' life at .4 (ish) mach
Posts: 1,317
Originally Posted by MayFly135s
Ex-USAF, recently moved to the southern hemisphere with my Aussie, and just completed a FAA ATP to CASA ATPL conversion. Here’s the scoop…
2 main issues facing a pilot wanting to work down under presently:
Immigration: if you wanna fly jets with the major players i.e. QANTAS, Virgin Blue, Jet Star you MUST hold Australian Permanent Residency with either a visa, Oz passport, or citizenship (most all the regionals also have a similar requirement). Presently pilots aren’t on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) but are on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). The short of this is that Oz won’t just be giving you a visa to come work as a pilot. You’ll either need to get a visa on your own merits (birth, spouse, family) or be nominated by a specific airline employer (QF/VB/J* don’t nominate). If the regional do start doing this, know that this is a position specific visa so you just can’t quit one airline and join another - you’ll need a new visa.
Licence Conversion: presently this is not an easy or inexpensive process. My background is USAF, nearly 8 years of world wide heavy flying experience, and I hold numerous jet type ratings on my FAA ATP. In order to convert my licence I was required to pass 3 written exams:
Instrument Rating Exam (IREX): 3.5 Hour Exam / 70% to Pass
CPL Flight Rules & Air Law (CLWA): 2.0 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
ATPL Air Law (AALW): 1.5 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
*NOTE: some airlines want credits in ALL ATPL Theory subjects (that’s 7 written tests).
Also unless you have formerly flow in Australia, you will have to do a flight test for the initial issue of a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR) which is separate from the ATPL. I know it is odd for us North Americans, but you can have an ATPL and not be instrument rated in Oz.
Now the flight test, isn’t some quick All-ATPs course where you get ‘the gouge’ and fly a few approaches. In order to get all the NAVAID endorsements on your initial MECIR you will need to fly an ILS / NDB / VOR / RNAV (GNSS) / DGA (DME or GPS Arrival – Aussie procedure) and HOLD, all while getting the usual run of single engine, circling, and missed approaches. I liken it more to a full route check as you are expected to fly to another airport, utilize airways, and know and operate under all of Australia’s vast expanse of Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Orders (CAOs). In my case that equated to a 3 hour flight test, that covered 4 different airports, to get all the endorsements.
By now I am sure you are wondering what low, low, price all this mandatory fun will cost me…
Cost: (Presently .90 AUD = 1 USD)
Flight Training (in a light twin BE76 / PA44). Costs vary 300-500/hr DUAL depending on region. Unless you are current/proficient in a light twin expect about 10 hours of flight time including your flight test: 4000 / 3600
Examiner Fees: 400 / 360
CASA Certificate of Validation (needed for initial flight training): 150 / 135
CASA ATPL Licensing / Ratings / Endorsements Fee: 180 / 162
CASA Class 1 Medical
Medical Examiner Fees: 150 / 135
Ophthalmologist: 160 / 144
Blood Work: 40 / 36
CASA Processing Fee: 75 / 68
Written Exam Fees
IREX: 174 / 156
CLWA: 154 / 139
AALW: 144 / 130
Publications (must maintain own copy – none provided by CASA for testing/flight)
Approach Plates: 177 / 160
CAR, CAO, ERSA, AIP, Charts (their FARs etc): 660 / 594
Aviation Security Identification Card (Background check): 196 / 176
GRAND TOTAL (TO CONVERT YOUR LICENSE): 6660 AUD or 5995 USD
So now with a visa and licence in hand you can start hunting for that dream job! Other things to consider are the fact that the Oz aviation scene is closer in relation to the very thorough, if not a pit padantic, British/JAA aviation system. Given that aussie pilots tend to be more theory based, one must recognise that the system is just different here and that this may not be to your liking. Also Australia is a large supplier of pilots to the world market (Cathay, Emirates, etc) so be fore warned there will be a large amount of pilots chasing the big jobs.
Like all things in aviation this is subject to change, but it should give you an idea of the PRESENT system and some of the issues.
The bottom line is that if you are willing to jump through the hoops you will find a job in Oz! But I think it will take more than just a love of kangaroos to keep you going some days.
MayFly
P.S. After 5 months I still don't have my VISA and am looking to off shore contract work in the interim.
Other info on Oz Aviation:
CASA at http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/transfer.htm
Australian Federation of Air Pilots http://www.afap.org.au
Dunnunda and Godzone forums at http://www.pprune.org
2 main issues facing a pilot wanting to work down under presently:
Immigration: if you wanna fly jets with the major players i.e. QANTAS, Virgin Blue, Jet Star you MUST hold Australian Permanent Residency with either a visa, Oz passport, or citizenship (most all the regionals also have a similar requirement). Presently pilots aren’t on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) but are on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL). The short of this is that Oz won’t just be giving you a visa to come work as a pilot. You’ll either need to get a visa on your own merits (birth, spouse, family) or be nominated by a specific airline employer (QF/VB/J* don’t nominate). If the regional do start doing this, know that this is a position specific visa so you just can’t quit one airline and join another - you’ll need a new visa.
Licence Conversion: presently this is not an easy or inexpensive process. My background is USAF, nearly 8 years of world wide heavy flying experience, and I hold numerous jet type ratings on my FAA ATP. In order to convert my licence I was required to pass 3 written exams:
Instrument Rating Exam (IREX): 3.5 Hour Exam / 70% to Pass
CPL Flight Rules & Air Law (CLWA): 2.0 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
ATPL Air Law (AALW): 1.5 Hour Exam / 80% to Pass
*NOTE: some airlines want credits in ALL ATPL Theory subjects (that’s 7 written tests).
Also unless you have formerly flow in Australia, you will have to do a flight test for the initial issue of a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR) which is separate from the ATPL. I know it is odd for us North Americans, but you can have an ATPL and not be instrument rated in Oz.
Now the flight test, isn’t some quick All-ATPs course where you get ‘the gouge’ and fly a few approaches. In order to get all the NAVAID endorsements on your initial MECIR you will need to fly an ILS / NDB / VOR / RNAV (GNSS) / DGA (DME or GPS Arrival – Aussie procedure) and HOLD, all while getting the usual run of single engine, circling, and missed approaches. I liken it more to a full route check as you are expected to fly to another airport, utilize airways, and know and operate under all of Australia’s vast expanse of Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Orders (CAOs). In my case that equated to a 3 hour flight test, that covered 4 different airports, to get all the endorsements.
By now I am sure you are wondering what low, low, price all this mandatory fun will cost me…
Cost: (Presently .90 AUD = 1 USD)
Flight Training (in a light twin BE76 / PA44). Costs vary 300-500/hr DUAL depending on region. Unless you are current/proficient in a light twin expect about 10 hours of flight time including your flight test: 4000 / 3600
Examiner Fees: 400 / 360
CASA Certificate of Validation (needed for initial flight training): 150 / 135
CASA ATPL Licensing / Ratings / Endorsements Fee: 180 / 162
CASA Class 1 Medical
Medical Examiner Fees: 150 / 135
Ophthalmologist: 160 / 144
Blood Work: 40 / 36
CASA Processing Fee: 75 / 68
Written Exam Fees
IREX: 174 / 156
CLWA: 154 / 139
AALW: 144 / 130
Publications (must maintain own copy – none provided by CASA for testing/flight)
Approach Plates: 177 / 160
CAR, CAO, ERSA, AIP, Charts (their FARs etc): 660 / 594
Aviation Security Identification Card (Background check): 196 / 176
GRAND TOTAL (TO CONVERT YOUR LICENSE): 6660 AUD or 5995 USD
So now with a visa and licence in hand you can start hunting for that dream job! Other things to consider are the fact that the Oz aviation scene is closer in relation to the very thorough, if not a pit padantic, British/JAA aviation system. Given that aussie pilots tend to be more theory based, one must recognise that the system is just different here and that this may not be to your liking. Also Australia is a large supplier of pilots to the world market (Cathay, Emirates, etc) so be fore warned there will be a large amount of pilots chasing the big jobs.
Like all things in aviation this is subject to change, but it should give you an idea of the PRESENT system and some of the issues.
The bottom line is that if you are willing to jump through the hoops you will find a job in Oz! But I think it will take more than just a love of kangaroos to keep you going some days.
MayFly
P.S. After 5 months I still don't have my VISA and am looking to off shore contract work in the interim.
Other info on Oz Aviation:
CASA at http://www.casa.gov.au/fcl/transfer.htm
Australian Federation of Air Pilots http://www.afap.org.au
Dunnunda and Godzone forums at http://www.pprune.org
11-20-2007, 02:15 PM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Airline Captain (cargo)
Posts: 78
Yes, there is a shortage in Australia.
Just saw an ad that they are willing to sponser work visas for Captains and Fo's if typed in ERJ 175
http://www.avianation.com/aviation_j...bID=7305688107
the airline is called skyairworld
good luck
Just saw an ad that they are willing to sponser work visas for Captains and Fo's if typed in ERJ 175
http://www.avianation.com/aviation_j...bID=7305688107
the airline is called skyairworld
good luck
01-07-2008, 03:54 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 181
Originally Posted by MayFly135s
Other things to consider are the fact that the Oz aviation scene is closer in relation to the very thorough, if not a pit padantic, British/JAA aviation system. Given that aussie pilots tend to be more theory based, one must recognise that the system is just different here and that this may not be to your liking.
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