Is Ag. Flying considered a poor career choice?
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Wally, Maaaate,
Ag planes generally only have ONE engine, so no use to you.
Listen to Super Cecil. Its not that its such a skill thing, its a whole stinky muddy dusty away from home thing, when you really dont need it. Its lifestyle and i have to say, if you think it might just be a bit of a high paying hobby, its so not.
I'm out now, and sometimes there are twinges to go back and make a buck. And then i take a bex and have a lie down.. Or watch some old vhs tapes of doing the between trees and under wires thing. Nuh, It was great at the time, awesome, best flying i ever did, but the IFR flight levels are a world away.
HD
Ag planes generally only have ONE engine, so no use to you.
Listen to Super Cecil. Its not that its such a skill thing, its a whole stinky muddy dusty away from home thing, when you really dont need it. Its lifestyle and i have to say, if you think it might just be a bit of a high paying hobby, its so not.
I'm out now, and sometimes there are twinges to go back and make a buck. And then i take a bex and have a lie down.. Or watch some old vhs tapes of doing the between trees and under wires thing. Nuh, It was great at the time, awesome, best flying i ever did, but the IFR flight levels are a world away.
HD
Yes I know yr right there 'HD' maaaate
I guess I had a lapse in common sense there for a moment (SE stuff,,,,,eeeekkkk!)
It's still just a skill though something to be taught/learnt but perhaps going from ILS2ILS isn't that bad it just gets 'skilless' at times & I kinda miss some of the good 'ole days where ya had to think on yr own 3 feet to survive:-)
Wmk2
I guess I had a lapse in common sense there for a moment (SE stuff,,,,,eeeekkkk!)It's still just a skill though something to be taught/learnt but perhaps going from ILS2ILS isn't that bad it just gets 'skilless' at times & I kinda miss some of the good 'ole days where ya had to think on yr own 3 feet to survive:-)
Wmk2
Wally, I've heard it said that you need big balls and x-ray visionto survive in ag, and in PNG for that matter. You have these things when you're young.
happy days,
happy days,
...I've heard it said that you need big balls...
Caint be that hard, even girls can do it..
.
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I understand what was meant about the other You Tube that was posted....this shows nothing of the mud, heat, carcinogenic (?) chemical mixing, guaranteed fatality somewhere etc.....but it's an awesome video!
Sure wish I had the opportunity to have done Ag.!!!! Well done all of you!!
Sure wish I had the opportunity to have done Ag.!!!! Well done all of you!!
Jeeeeesus H Christ those guys are nuts!!!
Good stick & rudder skills, only hope they live to be ripe old bitter & twisted pilots sitting in their rocking chairs looking back & saying, man we where good!
I don't think my 'external' bits are that big & am lucky to see a 50" LCD in front of me at my age :-)
That C210 (assuming) was damned low as well.
Careful there 'FB' can't make any sexists comments re girls, they are just as capable & prolly better than most ego men out there but there's enuf M/T kitchens as it is!
Wmk2
Good stick & rudder skills, only hope they live to be ripe old bitter & twisted pilots sitting in their rocking chairs looking back & saying, man we where good!
I don't think my 'external' bits are that big & am lucky to see a 50" LCD in front of me at my age :-)
That C210 (assuming) was damned low as well.
Careful there 'FB' can't make any sexists comments re girls, they are just as capable & prolly better than most ego men out there but there's enuf M/T kitchens as it is!
Wmk2
Before GPS...
One of my school holiday 'jobs' were to stand at one end of a paddock in a brightly colored raincoat while 'Biggles' took aim at me. Then once he had his line i would pace out to the next spot. The raincoat were for if i wern't fast enuf.
One of my school holiday 'jobs' were to stand at one end of a paddock in a brightly colored raincoat while 'Biggles' took aim at me. Then once he had his line i would pace out to the next spot. The raincoat were for if i wern't fast enuf.
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I realise this thread is about career choices for pilots, but figured I'd put my $0.02 in.
I feel a bit strange when I think about it: I'm a qualified AME, trained in the airlines, currently working in the airlines and all I want is to get out of the airlines into regional aviation or aerial ag.
The only problem is finding an operator that's hiring or maybe "just looking for now". Any leads would be much appreciated. I'd be willing to relocate for the right job.
While on the topic, I usually answer anyone who asks me, "Have you ever thought of becoming a pilot?" with "Nah, I prefer to keep my feet on the ground." The reality is, with a young family, I'd rather try to see them a bit more often than an airline pilot (or airline AME) job seems to afford. What are my fellow Ppruners' thoughts regarding taking up ag flying, using engineering as a starting point?
Many thanks and stay safe!
Cheers,
John
I feel a bit strange when I think about it: I'm a qualified AME, trained in the airlines, currently working in the airlines and all I want is to get out of the airlines into regional aviation or aerial ag.
The only problem is finding an operator that's hiring or maybe "just looking for now". Any leads would be much appreciated. I'd be willing to relocate for the right job.
While on the topic, I usually answer anyone who asks me, "Have you ever thought of becoming a pilot?" with "Nah, I prefer to keep my feet on the ground." The reality is, with a young family, I'd rather try to see them a bit more often than an airline pilot (or airline AME) job seems to afford. What are my fellow Ppruners' thoughts regarding taking up ag flying, using engineering as a starting point?
Many thanks and stay safe!
Cheers,
John
John,
Can't offer you any leads, sorry.
If Ag Flying is REALLY what you want to do then start down the road of researching it. It sounds like you are very much on the outside looking in so a trick might be to take 2 weeks holiday during an Ag season somewhere, rice, cotton etc (which is now) and go and work for an operator. If you want to fly then do 2 weeks mixing/loading but if you think engineering might be a good end destination then try and get a foot in on the workshop floor somewhere. This should give you a quick first hand insight, you will likely know one way or another if it is for you then.
It is possible to find a good operator in a nice piece of Australia and work with a somewhat normal work/life balance. However the money doing so from a flying perspective will be typically a little average, to make 100k + you will likely need to be flexible, move at short notice and work a location for a few months then onto somewhere else.
It can be very hard on family life particularly during the years cutting your teeth, you really want to know that your partner is 100% behind you if go down this road. Your comment about being prepared to relocate for the right job gives me the impression this might not be for you, that's fine no harm in asking etc. If you can grow this comment to "willing to move for any opportunity" then it might be different, I could be wrong just the impression I got.
I don't wish to disuade you but keep in mind that there is a very sobering reality to Ag flying and conservative guys get killed too. Getting killed flying Ag might seem tragic but not half as tragic as the sorrow for those close to you that you leave behind. On a more cheerful note I did 7 years and loved it, bloody hard work though, when the drought broke a few years back I thought of returning, but loved the flying I had moved onto to much. Now it is just a cherished memory that is part of diverse and interesting flying career.
Good luck
Can't offer you any leads, sorry.
If Ag Flying is REALLY what you want to do then start down the road of researching it. It sounds like you are very much on the outside looking in so a trick might be to take 2 weeks holiday during an Ag season somewhere, rice, cotton etc (which is now) and go and work for an operator. If you want to fly then do 2 weeks mixing/loading but if you think engineering might be a good end destination then try and get a foot in on the workshop floor somewhere. This should give you a quick first hand insight, you will likely know one way or another if it is for you then.
It is possible to find a good operator in a nice piece of Australia and work with a somewhat normal work/life balance. However the money doing so from a flying perspective will be typically a little average, to make 100k + you will likely need to be flexible, move at short notice and work a location for a few months then onto somewhere else.
It can be very hard on family life particularly during the years cutting your teeth, you really want to know that your partner is 100% behind you if go down this road. Your comment about being prepared to relocate for the right job gives me the impression this might not be for you, that's fine no harm in asking etc. If you can grow this comment to "willing to move for any opportunity" then it might be different, I could be wrong just the impression I got.
I don't wish to disuade you but keep in mind that there is a very sobering reality to Ag flying and conservative guys get killed too. Getting killed flying Ag might seem tragic but not half as tragic as the sorrow for those close to you that you leave behind. On a more cheerful note I did 7 years and loved it, bloody hard work though, when the drought broke a few years back I thought of returning, but loved the flying I had moved onto to much. Now it is just a cherished memory that is part of diverse and interesting flying career.
Good luck
Last edited by Obidiah; 4th Jan 2014 at 14:10.
I thought about it a few years ago and acted. I contacted half a dozen operators and picked one to work for. I got in the car and drove for 8 hours to the place to start work as a mixer.
What wasn't mentioned over the phone was if the company your mixing for doesn't have a piston ag plane your never going to progress
Apparently in the whole of Australia there are only three or so companies still operating piston ag planes.
The few ag pilots I met were of the opinion that the shortage of ag pilots is purely industry self inflicted because nobody wants the added cost of having to operate a piston ag plane for what is essentially training.
What wasn't mentioned over the phone was if the company your mixing for doesn't have a piston ag plane your never going to progress
Apparently in the whole of Australia there are only three or so companies still operating piston ag planes.
The few ag pilots I met were of the opinion that the shortage of ag pilots is purely industry self inflicted because nobody wants the added cost of having to operate a piston ag plane for what is essentially training.
Last edited by pilotchute; 4th Jan 2014 at 16:39.
John,
You appear to be in a bit of a bind. The fact that you are employed and trained by airlines will make it extremely hard to get into GA for more reasons than one.
You are going to have to relocate to an ag area; think Moree, St George and other similar places.
GA will be another apprenticeship in many ways as the work is structured differently to the airlines.
Having myself come from airlines and now in GA I have found it is a very satisfying career move but without the perks of airline work.
Go for it if you wish for the career change. Feel free to PM if you wish.
You appear to be in a bit of a bind. The fact that you are employed and trained by airlines will make it extremely hard to get into GA for more reasons than one.
You are going to have to relocate to an ag area; think Moree, St George and other similar places.
GA will be another apprenticeship in many ways as the work is structured differently to the airlines.
Having myself come from airlines and now in GA I have found it is a very satisfying career move but without the perks of airline work.
Go for it if you wish for the career change. Feel free to PM if you wish.
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John
I suggest you contact the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia for a list of its members.
Then work your way through them.
The fact you are an AME is good. You did not say if you have a rural background.
But coming from the airline industry is not a bad thing at the moment, provided you personally have a good work ethic, because the Ag industry is very conscious of becoming more professional.
Phil Hurst
CEO - Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia
Ph: 02 6241 2100
Fax: 02 6241 2555
Mob: 0427 622 430
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aerialag.com.au
I suggest you contact the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia for a list of its members.
Then work your way through them.
The fact you are an AME is good. You did not say if you have a rural background.
But coming from the airline industry is not a bad thing at the moment, provided you personally have a good work ethic, because the Ag industry is very conscious of becoming more professional.
Phil Hurst
CEO - Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia
Ph: 02 6241 2100
Fax: 02 6241 2555
Mob: 0427 622 430
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aerialag.com.au
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Pilotchute,
A quick search of the CASA register returns over 60 C188, over 70 PA25, 30 PA36, 10 or so GA 200, 23 FU24.
That is not counting all the bigger radials and various other piston aircraft. I guess what I'm saying is you have no idea what you are talking about.
A quick search of the CASA register returns over 60 C188, over 70 PA25, 30 PA36, 10 or so GA 200, 23 FU24.
That is not counting all the bigger radials and various other piston aircraft. I guess what I'm saying is you have no idea what you are talking about.
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It is true that most operators are using turbines these days however In my experience if you work hard and show dedication and not likely to take off as soon as your supervision is up allot of operators are usually more than happy to put a an ag wagon, Pawnee etc on line to get you started.
Many operators also have there own maintenance facilities so being an AME will be a plus But expect to get called appon to spin spanners on a regular basis.
Many operators also have there own maintenance facilities so being an AME will be a plus But expect to get called appon to spin spanners on a regular basis.