an American coming to Austraillia
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Japan, flying the Glider Tug, eating great Japanese food, looking at lovely Japanese Ladies and continuing the neverending search for a bad bottle of Red.
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And how are things over there in Helengrad, Kiwi Chick?
Ok Ok Taily, I'm going now!
But seriously; nbv4; tail wheel has given sound advice IMHO.
Ok Ok Taily, I'm going now!
But seriously; nbv4; tail wheel has given sound advice IMHO.
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
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On a serious note, I understand that Australia has signed an agreement with the US, so Australians under 30 are now able to take a working holiday in the US for twelve months. One would expect that reciprocal rights would also be part of the agreement!
By the way the correct spelling is A-Straya!
By the way the correct spelling is A-Straya!
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Work permits are basically a joke anyway -- call yourself a contractor and come over on a business visa -- work all you want. I did it for two years. As long as Caesar gets his, he doesn't care.
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Originally Posted by Tailwheel
Fred. From where I stand, nbv4 appears to be in the USA.
It's so easy.
Moderator
Howard. I believe USA citizens have now been added to the Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa, under a reciprocal agreement with the USA.
Fred. I'm astonished and appalled that anyone would use these forums for a wind up???
Fred. I'm astonished and appalled that anyone would use these forums for a wind up???
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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So is there anyone here who has either done this move themselves, or knows someone who has done it? I'm googling and googling, but can't really come up with any useful information. All I seem to get is 400 page PDF files that drag on and on, or seem to have no relevance at all.
I understand I have to take a knowledge test of Australian airspace questions, along with a flight test. Is this correct? Is it the kind of thing where you can just show up, take the test, then be done with it all in one day? Or is it like a month long process?
I had a friend in college who "backpacked" Australia. Basically he came here, and hopped from hostel to hostel with a group of friends seeing the sights. Thats sort of what I want to do, except I'm content with just staying in one place while working a job. Kind of like an extended working vacation... I'll stay longer if an opportunity arises. Will employers take kindly to this kind of arrangement?
Also, will 700 hours be enough, or will I need more? Flying skydivers, aerial photography, banner towing, those are the kinds of things I'm interested in. Should I just show up and start looking when I get there, or would that be a bad idea? I'm trying to find job listings on the internet, but I can't find anything.
When I got my instructing job here in america, I got it by using google. Just about every single flight school in America has a section for prospective instructors where it lists the qualifications and stuff they're looking for. I'm trying to do the same for Australian skydiving companies (or any other kind of aviation companies that may need pilots), but NO ONE is listing anything.
I understand I have to take a knowledge test of Australian airspace questions, along with a flight test. Is this correct? Is it the kind of thing where you can just show up, take the test, then be done with it all in one day? Or is it like a month long process?
I had a friend in college who "backpacked" Australia. Basically he came here, and hopped from hostel to hostel with a group of friends seeing the sights. Thats sort of what I want to do, except I'm content with just staying in one place while working a job. Kind of like an extended working vacation... I'll stay longer if an opportunity arises. Will employers take kindly to this kind of arrangement?
Also, will 700 hours be enough, or will I need more? Flying skydivers, aerial photography, banner towing, those are the kinds of things I'm interested in. Should I just show up and start looking when I get there, or would that be a bad idea? I'm trying to find job listings on the internet, but I can't find anything.
When I got my instructing job here in america, I got it by using google. Just about every single flight school in America has a section for prospective instructors where it lists the qualifications and stuff they're looking for. I'm trying to do the same for Australian skydiving companies (or any other kind of aviation companies that may need pilots), but NO ONE is listing anything.
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I'm content with just staying in one place while working a job.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I've been thinking about this again, and I'm really wanting to come to Australia to fly. I have a few more questions:
1. What kind of jobs will my 800 hours get me? Doing a search of this forum turns up mostly posts where people ask about getting a job with like a brand new commercial license and 200 hours. What about people in my range? Could I swing a commuter job? Am I stuck flying single engine skydivers?
2. How can I search for jobs online? I have a feeling I'm just going to have to show up and go door to door asking for a job. I'd hate to have to do it this way, because what happens if I can't find anything? I'm stuck in a foreign country with no job and no connections. That would suck.
3. If I indeed my only option were to just plop down somewhere and hope to find something, where should I plop myself? What part of Australia has the most abundance of jobs for people with my experience? Perth? Tasmania? Darwin? Sydney? As of right now, I have no preference as to where I end up, as long as I am sure to get a job.
4. In general, do Australian operators discriminate against foreign pilots? Here in America, we don;t give a crap where you're from. As a matter of fact, the place I'm working at now, out of the 30 instructors here, 8 or 9 of them are non-citizens. I know in certain European countries, if you're not natural born, you ain't getting a job. Is it like that in Australia?
1. What kind of jobs will my 800 hours get me? Doing a search of this forum turns up mostly posts where people ask about getting a job with like a brand new commercial license and 200 hours. What about people in my range? Could I swing a commuter job? Am I stuck flying single engine skydivers?
2. How can I search for jobs online? I have a feeling I'm just going to have to show up and go door to door asking for a job. I'd hate to have to do it this way, because what happens if I can't find anything? I'm stuck in a foreign country with no job and no connections. That would suck.
3. If I indeed my only option were to just plop down somewhere and hope to find something, where should I plop myself? What part of Australia has the most abundance of jobs for people with my experience? Perth? Tasmania? Darwin? Sydney? As of right now, I have no preference as to where I end up, as long as I am sure to get a job.
4. In general, do Australian operators discriminate against foreign pilots? Here in America, we don;t give a crap where you're from. As a matter of fact, the place I'm working at now, out of the 30 instructors here, 8 or 9 of them are non-citizens. I know in certain European countries, if you're not natural born, you ain't getting a job. Is it like that in Australia?
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nbv4 I commend you on your approach to aviation as an adventure rather than a career.
Once the immigration and licensing hassle's are done (start now it could be a lengthy process) If it's sky diving your looking to fly with your hours I would seek out larger drop zone's with caravans this will put you in a good position for the move to Africa/South America should not be a problem getting something if you have flown skydivers before, beware of the smaller drop zones as a 182 or 206 is all you will get to play with.
try http://www.ramblers.com.au/ ring the bell when you get there expect to ply the jumpers with several cartoons of beer after which they will think your a good bloke.
Oz is short on instructors at the moment also a good avenue for you, again stick to the larger operators if you want to progress to twins.
Good luck
Once the immigration and licensing hassle's are done (start now it could be a lengthy process) If it's sky diving your looking to fly with your hours I would seek out larger drop zone's with caravans this will put you in a good position for the move to Africa/South America should not be a problem getting something if you have flown skydivers before, beware of the smaller drop zones as a 182 or 206 is all you will get to play with.
try http://www.ramblers.com.au/ ring the bell when you get there expect to ply the jumpers with several cartoons of beer after which they will think your a good bloke.
Oz is short on instructors at the moment also a good avenue for you, again stick to the larger operators if you want to progress to twins.
Good luck
Moderator
1. What kind of jobs will my 800 hours get me?
As an itinerant, probably SE sight seeing and meat bombing, although if you are in the right place at the right time.....
2. How can I search for jobs online?
Low hour jobs are seldom advertised. Door knocking with a resume and hours summary is the usual way to find work.
3. What part of Australia has the most abundance of jobs for people with my experience?
Tasmania?
Darwin, north west West Australia and Far North Queensland are probably your best option.
4. In general, do Australian operators discriminate against foreign pilots?
Yes, but only if they don't shout when it's their turn to pay at the bar! And if you frequently sprout "how it is done in the USA" you may also be short of friends!
As an itinerant, probably SE sight seeing and meat bombing, although if you are in the right place at the right time.....
2. How can I search for jobs online?
Low hour jobs are seldom advertised. Door knocking with a resume and hours summary is the usual way to find work.
3. What part of Australia has the most abundance of jobs for people with my experience?
Tasmania?
Darwin, north west West Australia and Far North Queensland are probably your best option.
4. In general, do Australian operators discriminate against foreign pilots?
Yes, but only if they don't shout when it's their turn to pay at the bar! And if you frequently sprout "how it is done in the USA" you may also be short of friends!
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nbv
Skydiving here is "officially" a grey area but is - based on the exclusion from FAR 135 among other things - accepted as a PRIVATE operation. Under present laws some operations are only private if you don't get paid for doing them (but flying meatbombs is not one of those). Under ICAO conventions and proposed CASR PArt 61 rules only a commercial pilot licence holder can be paid for flying, even if the operation is called a private one.
In any case most skydiving companies are under guidance from their insurance companies to only use pilots with 300+ hours (some save money by limiting it to 500+ hours). Some of them will not care that much about you, and ask you to break the rules. DON'T. [The same applies to some cheapskates in the freight and pax charter business, who rely on a constant source of wannabees who will work for them for next to nothing.]
A couple of years ago a mate of mine did a CPL and went off to work in northern Australia - got a start with a good mob in the NT and ended up working 12 months there and getting up 500 hours mostly SE in 206 and Airvans. Came back down south for a break, started filling in for a local bank run operator flying C310, and got a start last month with one of our regionals.
With 400 hours instructing you would be albe to get your Flight Instructor rating here, and there are plenty of instructing jobs around as so many instructors are leaving for the airlines. Another mate spends winer in north Queensland doing more instructing than he needs, and summer down south - but he is semi-retired (lucky bugger!)
If you are prepared to travel to find a job and then commit to stay with it for a while to build credibility you can move to a better one. However persuading the immigration people you deserve a work visa because you hae unique skills is the hardest part. Good luck. If it all works out you should enjoy yourself here.
Skydiving here is "officially" a grey area but is - based on the exclusion from FAR 135 among other things - accepted as a PRIVATE operation. Under present laws some operations are only private if you don't get paid for doing them (but flying meatbombs is not one of those). Under ICAO conventions and proposed CASR PArt 61 rules only a commercial pilot licence holder can be paid for flying, even if the operation is called a private one.
In any case most skydiving companies are under guidance from their insurance companies to only use pilots with 300+ hours (some save money by limiting it to 500+ hours). Some of them will not care that much about you, and ask you to break the rules. DON'T. [The same applies to some cheapskates in the freight and pax charter business, who rely on a constant source of wannabees who will work for them for next to nothing.]
A couple of years ago a mate of mine did a CPL and went off to work in northern Australia - got a start with a good mob in the NT and ended up working 12 months there and getting up 500 hours mostly SE in 206 and Airvans. Came back down south for a break, started filling in for a local bank run operator flying C310, and got a start last month with one of our regionals.
With 400 hours instructing you would be albe to get your Flight Instructor rating here, and there are plenty of instructing jobs around as so many instructors are leaving for the airlines. Another mate spends winer in north Queensland doing more instructing than he needs, and summer down south - but he is semi-retired (lucky bugger!)
If you are prepared to travel to find a job and then commit to stay with it for a while to build credibility you can move to a better one. However persuading the immigration people you deserve a work visa because you hae unique skills is the hardest part. Good luck. If it all works out you should enjoy yourself here.
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I think the biggest problem you will face is CASA, the time for paperwork processing appears to be horrendous!
While I am not completely versed in his situation, I know of a guy from the States, who is now a resident. I believe he is nearing on 12 months, still waiting and jumping through hoops to please our melancholic regulator.
While I am not completely versed in his situation, I know of a guy from the States, who is now a resident. I believe he is nearing on 12 months, still waiting and jumping through hoops to please our melancholic regulator.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Hmmm Sponsorship
I would normally agree with Gen. Anaesthetic but with an instructor rating you may just find a company willing to sponsor you (instructors are quite rare these days). Even if you don't qualify you could always backpack around and have fun meatbombing (parachute dropping) for fun (free) but many a Kiwi have done this in the past and angered some locals; I personally see nothing wrong with it in Australia's current aviation job climate. If you can do the working holiday thing then you'd easily get 3 month (paid) gigs with parachute companies (unless some unscrupulous Yank was offering to do it for free). You may even be here long enough to eventually qualify for a fiancé visa (which can be done "in-house" in Tassie ... OK that wasn't really funny but I'm going to leave it in anyway).
I'd be keen to hear how it all goes. Keep us posted and good luck looking for adventure.
... OK that wasn't really funny but I'm going to leave it in anyway).I'd be keen to hear how it all goes. Keep us posted and good luck looking for adventure.
