AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

What's a job in helicopters pay? Does it pay? Why do you get paid more than me?
User avatar
nzrotors
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 36
Joined: Nov 2009

AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby nzrotors » Fri May 13 2011, 01:00

Gidday all

What sort of money would a grade 1 (nz) ag pilot get in aussie roughly with:

2000 total time
1850 p in c
1000 turbine
1300 productive ag

also are many companies operating turbines on ag?
how many hrs are they doing a year?

cheers guys and gals
User avatar
AgRattler
1st Dan
1st Dan
Posts: 247
Joined: Oct 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby AgRattler » Fri May 13 2011, 01:08

They got to be better than the crap pay ya get here!!! :roll:
Redlining in neutral
funhouse
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 70
Joined: Feb 2010

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby funhouse » Fri May 13 2011, 04:40

A John Denver song comes to mind may he rest in peace.
harold
1st Dan
1st Dan
Posts: 286
Joined: Dec 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby harold » Fri May 13 2011, 22:20

The number ZERO springs to mind!
Mag seal
2nd Dan
2nd Dan
Posts: 310
Joined: May 2010

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby Mag seal » Sat May 14 2011, 02:21

I used to get my retainer ($45,000) and 10-12% of the hourly rate for the aircraft.
User avatar
nzrotors
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 36
Joined: Nov 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby nzrotors » Sat May 14 2011, 02:39

thanks for the reply mag steal
Heliduck
2nd Dan
2nd Dan
Posts: 324
Joined: Jan 2008

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby Heliduck » Sat May 14 2011, 03:32

$1500/week retainer + 10% Aircraft gross earnings but I have a few more hours total time.

I'm not with that company anymore, negotiate hard & don't accept tourist pilot pay. I've worked with a lot of kiwi's around the world & I'm not a kiwi basher, but please don't erode the professionalism of our Ag industry with another "Shearers strike". Good luck, there's been a few Ag jobs around lately.
"Plan twice...Fly once"
User avatar
nzrotors
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 36
Joined: Nov 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby nzrotors » Sun May 15 2011, 03:23

thanks for taking the time to reply heli duck

could you tell me some of the good companys to work for that are using turbines ?
K78
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 13
Joined: Sep 2012

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby K78 » Sat Nov 15 2014, 13:58

Just after some updated info on what the going rates are for Ag pilots at the moment.
Cheers
County
Gold Wings
Gold Wings
Posts: 159
Joined: Dec 2011

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby County » Sat Nov 15 2014, 21:29

Contact the AAAA and get a copy of the Ag pilot award.
County
Gold Wings
Gold Wings
Posts: 159
Joined: Dec 2011

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby County » Sat Nov 15 2014, 23:44

The award for Ag flying gives no consideration to Total flying experience. It is based on Ag Flying hours only.
bule
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 24
Joined: Mar 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby bule » Sun Nov 16 2014, 01:41

Bloody crap in nz.. What's everyone's thoughts on why that is. To much compitition? Everyone doing it for cost?
SuperF
3rd Dan
3rd Dan
Posts: 601
Joined: May 2010

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby SuperF » Sun Nov 16 2014, 04:30

Too many guys operating too cheap. Too many helicopters, too many operators and far too many pilots.

Most of them only know one way to compete, the warehouse mentality, we will be cheaper than everyone else! They come in have a go for 5-10 years, cutting the price as they go. Farmers then have an expectation that should be the price, and next year ask for a discount!

After they go broke and move on to PNG or flipping burgers/ pumping gas you still get their former clients saying, you are twice the price of the guy last year.

Then next year the next new guy starts up that is going to take over the world, and starts the whole cycle again.

In some really special areas, you can get 2 or 3 pilots, all working for the same company trying to take each other's work, telling the farmer that they can beat the other guys price, even when they know they are already a client for that company....
Mag seal
2nd Dan
2nd Dan
Posts: 310
Joined: May 2010

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby Mag seal » Sun Nov 16 2014, 04:35

Super F has nailed it.
andronicus
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 90
Joined: Mar 2003

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby andronicus » Sun Nov 16 2014, 05:15

When are the ag seasons in oz?
County
Gold Wings
Gold Wings
Posts: 159
Joined: Dec 2011

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby County » Sun Nov 16 2014, 07:17

That must be why the CAA has a vacancy ad on this forum for an experienced Ag Heli Pilot to join their ranks as Flight Ops Inspector. A new broom to sweep the shed so to speak.
bengalberry
New Member
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Oct 2013

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby bengalberry » Sun Nov 16 2014, 08:44

The job openings around lately-are they advertised or is it word of mouth?
bule
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 24
Joined: Mar 2009

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby bule » Sun Nov 16 2014, 20:10

Yeah agree with you on all those points super f, I enjoy ag flying but what a crap industry. I witnessed one operator try to poach a job this winter by offering the helicopter for free if the cocky supplied chemical. How can you compete with that!
County
Gold Wings
Gold Wings
Posts: 159
Joined: Dec 2011

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby County » Sun Nov 16 2014, 22:34

So the rumours are true...helicopters are free in NZ
Belldriva
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 28
Joined: Apr 2011

Re: AG PILOT WAGES IN AUSSIE

Postby Belldriva » Mon Nov 17 2014, 04:18

SuperF nailed it on the head.

I can think of three companies who were around in my area and are gone now, only to be replaced by others who carry on the cycle; go in cheap; get the work; be busy getting nowhere then attept to lift prices but stopped by the new kid on the block who started up recently whos "keeping everybody honest" lol and yeah Ive heard of comissioned pilots undercutting each other in house, must get a few blood noses in that company at times lol

Return to “Pay”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests