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Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Thu Dec 28 2017, 11:45
by skypig
Two interesting articles in today’s “Australian”

1. World wide Airline pilot shortage. Made worse in Australia by CASA’s non relenting attack on the industry, especially training schools. Oc:=

Australia’s soloution: Visas for OS Pilots. pop;

2. Dick Smith says what most of us think. :cool_dc:

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Thu Dec 28 2017, 12:51
by flyhuey
1. World wide Airline pilot shortage.
Australia’s solution: Visas for Overseas (foreign) Pilots.

Thanks, S. for starting this discussion. It needs to be discussed.

http://www.news.com.au/national/breakin ... 4dc309c293

For a fact, there are very experienced, older pilots, out of work, in Australia, aeroplane and helicopter.

In 2005, when I was 50, and had applied to Qantas, through a friend, his contact told him, "Ah, he's too old." That is right. When I was 50. Qantas!

There are plenty of Australian pilots available . . . I heard of one guy sleeping in his car, in the bush, in QLD. I met him and thought he was a hell of a nice fellow. Why not employ him? I knew an former Ansett Captain, who could only get a job as a Sim Instructor, in Adelaide, and all he could afford was a shack. It finally killed him. Why wasn't he flying? I know unemployed Aircraft Mechanics, too.

Take a look at any job ad these days. Space Shuttle landings, within the last 90 days is insufficient.

I have held Commercial single and multi-engine Seaplane licences, since 1994, but one Australian employer wants an Aeroplane Pilot to hold a Coxwain Licence . . . You would think I was applying to bring Wild Oats in to the finish line.

The real problem is, in Australia, a pilot MUST have one Endorsement to blow his nose and another to wipe his bum, another to tie his shoe laces, add to that a Green card, a Pink Card, a White Card, a First Aid Certificate, a Certificte III or IV in Training and Assessment though you have been a Flying Instructor for more than 30 years and a previous Check Airman, which you would think would trump a Certificate III in Training and Assessment, current HUET, current ME-CIR, takeoffs and landings in the specific aircraft within the past 90 days, and the list of flaming hoops goes on and on.

I know. I know. You guys do not want to hear about what I have done, during my career and think it is all boast. But, I am telling you, there were times I was not current, had never flown a particular aircraft as a Captain/Pilot-in-Command, before, had no licence for that country, yet was welcomed with open arms overseas and ALL training was paid for . . . One of those employers actually had a training contract with Qantas. Part of that training was to actually fly their Boeing 737-800 jets, as a Captain (Under Supervision) for six sectors. On one hand, I was too old to even be hired by Qantas to sweep their hangar floor, but in another circumstance age was no barrier.

So, guys, if you feel threatened by this news to hire Foreign Pilots and you are unemployed or under-employed, start writing to Barnaby Joyce and Peter Dutton and anyone who will listen. CASA needs to change the requirement for an Endorsement for every nit noy. It is a nonsense and no safer than the free-for-all, in America. Also, if employers are short of crews, consider the long-term investment in an employee right here in Australia, instead of short-term, get rich quick thinking. Loyalty and respect is a two-way street. Why don't employers provide training or only provide minimal training and expect a pilot to show up with a Chinese laundry List of qualifications?

I went to work for a guy based out of Brisbane-area, flying two of the absolute sh!ttiest multi-engine turboprops I had ever flown. Nothing worked. Parts were always en route. Pay was late or short, every month. I had last flown those same type of turboprops, when they were still relatively new, more than 30 years ago. Recurrent Training was stuff all. I was assigned 4 hours Sim, at Anseet, in Essendon. Some of which he used to assess a pilot who flew like a crippled monkey and some of which he use for his own Instrument currency - AND, he had me operating the Sim for him. I was lucky to get 2 hours recurrent training. There was so much more I wanted to do to refresh my skills. He was easy to please. Operating on one engine after takeoff, the Owner/Chief Pilot could not even track down the runway centreline. We ended his recurrent training when he crashed it onto the runway nose first, after attempting to take off with a dual flameout. It was the only time he remained on the runway centreline. Yeah, well, that IS what is out there, for Owners and Chief Pilots setting the rules and writing job ads. Well, the guy went into liquidation owing everyone money, including me. Then, there are other Chief Pilots, with a drawer full of CVs having better credentials and more flying hours than the Chief Pilot who will strike through the CVs with truly inane comments scribbled across the CVs. I have seen them with my own eyes. So, this is what is out there and the challenges to employment.

So, these are just some of the problems. Trust me, there is no shortage of pilots in Australia. AND, it is not just in flying . . . I worked 12 hour split shifts eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as a Casual Employee, driving a city bus in Adelaide. Another employer, where I worked tirelessly, working on everything that came through the door, as a Motor Mechanic, made me redundant to hire his brother-in-law. Still another employer, a luxury car dealership was ripping off customers' over warranty claims and got upset because i refused to cooperate/participate. There are true bastards in every industry and employers whom want it all their way who will treat you like a second class citizen, a wage slave, and fully expect you to cooperate and participate in their illegal activities -"be a team player". And, they take great delight in treating employees this way.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Thu Dec 28 2017, 23:04
by ThatGuy
Hey FlyHuey.

Sorry to say, but If problems follow you everywhere you go, then there is a good chance you may be the problem?

I don't know you, so this may not be the case.

However, I have come across many older 'experienced pilots' that built up some extensive experience during the golden years in this country.
The problem is they just fell into these positions and often have a very self entitled view of themselves though more often than not, they over estimate their abilities.

They often cannot be bothered trying to learn the new flight and duty requirements, airspace laws or radio requirements as they just want to be sat in a machine, pointed in a direction, and sent to work.

As an operator, it is near impossible to unlearn this attitude from this type of pilot.

I also find it rather counter productive in how many pilots slag off operators these days.
You do understand they go through even more BS with back and forward reg reforms than you do as a pilot?

Their entire profit margin can be swallowed up by trying to adhere to new regulations, only for them to be revoked!

Industry should be supporting the hand that feeds them and praising operators that are doing the right thing.

Just food for thought as i haven't seen many threads on here representing employers that are trying there damn hardest to create the jobs in an increasingly difficult industry.

Happy new year. :D

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Thu Dec 28 2017, 23:10
by ThatGuy
Better jump in here and say that i am only supporting the operators who are doing the right thing, not the guys paying in hugs and smiles. pop;

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 02:49
by flyhuey
I don't know you, so this may not be the case.


But, this was buried amongst other insinuation.

Sorry to say, but If problems follow you everywhere you go, then there is a good chance you may be the problem?


Which should have been written thusly: "Sorry to say, but if a problem follows a pilot everywhere he goes, then there is a chance that pilot is the problem."

But, you would rather make a personal attack. This is not twitter or facebook.

Golden years
was before airline deregulation, prior to 1978, when there was a flying job for anyone who wanted it. Post Viet Nam War, post Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, it became every man for himself, I got mine, screw you!

many older 'experienced pilots' that built up some extensive experience during the golden years in this country.
The problem is they just fell into these positions and often have a very self entitled view of themselves though more often than not, they over estimate their abilities.

They often cannot be bothered trying to learn the new flight and duty requirements, airspace laws or radio requirements as they just want to be sat in a machine, pointed in a direction, and sent to work.

As an operator, it is near impossible to unlearn this attitude from this type of pilot.
That is merely your prejudice. That IS discrimination. You tar all older pilots with the same brush. You cite these older pilots "fell into these positions", which makes you sound like a jealous sausage, because your didn't "fall into one of those positions you felt entitled to or deserving of. Now, you are in a position to discriminate. It might surprise you to know just how many older pilots, say older than 50, began their careers flying "steam gauges" and went on to fly in Glass Cockpit aircraft with more than one three-axis Autopilot,in a multi-crew environment and no doubt they transitions to that aircraft within one month out of their career. It might surprise you to know there are many "older pilots" who hold ATPL from more than one country, so it is a bit unfair to state they "cannot be bothered to learn new . . . " Just more prejudice, on your part.

We need less prejudice and discrimination.

Definition of prejudice-

prejudice |ˈprejədəs|
noun
1 preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience: English prejudice against foreigners | anti-Jewish prejudices.
• dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior formed on such a basis: accusations of racial prejudice.


I also find it rather counter productive in how many pilots slag off operators these days.

I worked for three employers, in Australia. One as a helicopter Chief Pilot. Another one as a Captain flying very poorly maintained two-engine turboprops. And, a third, who I solely helped get through a CASA audit unscathed. All three are out of business. There was one common denominator in all three, other than my employment. A couple years ago, or so, I was seated on a big name brand airline, in Oz, in the Emergency Exit Row, of a Boeing 737-800. Just before push back, from ADL, I looked across to the opposite Emergency Exit and discovered it was installed incorrectly. Imagine that Emergency Exit Door was missed by the Engineer, missed by the Cabin Crew, missed by the Purser, missed by the First officer, missed by the Captain. I pointed it out, discreetly to the nearest Cabin Attendant, to alert the Captain, before pushback commenced. These problems are systemic and institutionalised. Not down to my attitude, as you insinuated.

You do understand they go through even more BS with back and forward reg reforms than you do as a pilot?
Cost of doing business. If you cannot afford to be in business, comply with the CASA Regulations, and pay Pilots what they are worth, then make room for those who can.
As an operator, it is near impossible to unlearn this attitude from this type of pilot.
The first time a pilot compromises his professionalism, compromises on Regulatory compliance, compromises on safety, compromises on aircraft airworthiness, works for free, is not a "team player", then he will be sucking kok and kissing bum for the remainder of his career. You're right, cannot change that attitude in a true professional.

Get out the popcorn!

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 03:00
by ThatGuy
Flyhuey.

I didn't read any of that, i was too busy with my job, flying.

I though about drafting up a small novel in response to your analysis of my comment but i thought it better to 'knock off' and have a beer instead.

Jamming your life history and credentials down peoples throats obviously isn't working for you.

Again, retire and write a book.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 03:18
by Heliduck
ThatGuy wrote:
Just food for thought as i haven't seen many threads on here representing employers that are trying there damn hardest to create the jobs in an increasingly difficult industry.

Happy new year. :D


TG, your comments provide food for thought & an opportunity for self reflection, but I did pick out this part for comment.
Large commercial airlines are a business & if it suits the business they will offload people as quickly as legally (& sometimes illegally ) possible. My experience is only with small operators & I would be extremely surprised if there was an Aviation business anywhere in the world which was owned by an operator who was “trying their damn hardest to create the jobs”. Operators own a business for 1 reason, to make money. Yes they take financial risk & not only do they battle the CASA bs but also the ATO, local councils, pilots egos, & on it goes, but I’m pretty confident they don’t get out of bed every day so they can work hard at getting another pilot into a job. Operators don’t create the jobs, demand creates the jobs. Operators cater for the demand so they can make money.
As a side note I admire all the operators I’ve worked for - committed, hard working, visionary, they rolled the dice with their financial future & won, they could have just as easily lost. Unfortunately operators are also people & they easily fall into the trap of trying to make money off their workers & not their customers.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 03:31
by Firefish
flyhuey wrote:
1. World wide Airline pilot shortage.
Australia’s solution: Visas for Overseas (foreign) Pilots.

Thanks, S. for starting this discussion. It needs to be discussed.

http://www.news.com.au/national/breakin ... 4dc309c293

For a fact, there are very experienced, older pilots, out of work, in Australia, aeroplane and helicopter.

In 2005, when I was 50, and had applied to Qantas, through a friend, his contact told him, "Ah, he's too old." That is right. When I was 50. Qantas!

There are plenty of Australian pilots available . . . I heard of one guy sleeping in his car, in the bush, in QLD. I met him and thought he was a hell of a nice fellow. Why not employ him? I knew an former Ansett Captain, who could only get a job as a Sim Instructor, in Adelaide, and all he could afford was a shack. It finally killed him. Why wasn't he flying? I know unemployed Aircraft Mechanics, too.

Take a look at any job ad these days. Space Shuttle landings, within the last 90 days is insufficient.

I have held Commercial single and multi-engine Seaplane licences, since 1994, but one Australian employer wants an Aeroplane Pilot to hold a Coxwain Licence . . . You would think I was applying to bring Wild Oats in to the finish line.

The real problem is, in Australia, a pilot MUST have one Endorsement to blow his nose and another to wipe his bum, another to tie his shoe laces, add to that a Green card, a Pink Card, a White Card, a First Aid Certificate, a Certificte III or IV in Training and Assessment though you have been a Flying Instructor for more than 30 years and a previous Check Airman, which you would think would trump a Certificate III in Training and Assessment, current HUET, current ME-CIR, takeoffs and landings in the specific aircraft within the past 90 days, and the list of flaming hoops goes on and on.

I know. I know. You guys do not want to hear about what I have done, during my career and think it is all boast. But, I am telling you, there were times I was not current, had never flown a particular aircraft as a Captain/Pilot-in-Command, before, had no licence for that country, yet was welcomed with open arms overseas and ALL training was paid for . . . One of those employers actually had a training contract with Qantas. Part of that training was to actually fly their Boeing 737-800 jets, as a Captain (Under Supervision) for six sectors. On one hand, I was too old to even be hired by Qantas to sweep their hangar floor, but in another circumstance age was no barrier.

So, guys, if you feel threatened by this news to hire Foreign Pilots and you are unemployed or under-employed, start writing to Barnaby Joyce and Peter Dutton and anyone who will listen. CASA needs to change the requirement for an Endorsement for every nit noy. It is a nonsense and no safer than the free-for-all, in America. Also, if employers are short of crews, consider the long-term investment in an employee right here in Australia, instead of short-term, get rich quick thinking. Loyalty and respect is a two-way street. Why don't employers provide training or only provide minimal training and expect a pilot to show up with a Chinese laundry List of qualifications?

I went to work for a guy based out of Brisbane-area, flying two of the absolute sh!ttiest multi-engine turboprops I had ever flown. Nothing worked. Parts were always en route. Pay was late or short, every month. I had last flown those same type of turboprops, when they were still relatively new, more than 30 years ago. Recurrent Training was stuff all. I was assigned 4 hours Sim, at Anseet, in Essendon. Some of which he used to assess a pilot who flew like a crippled monkey and some of which he use for his own Instrument currency - AND, he had me operating the Sim for him. I was lucky to get 2 hours recurrent training. There was so much more I wanted to do to refresh my skills. He was easy to please. Operating on one engine after takeoff, the Owner/Chief Pilot could not even track down the runway centreline. We ended his recurrent training when he crashed it onto the runway nose first, after attempting to take off with a dual flameout. It was the only time he remained on the runway centreline. Yeah, well, that IS what is out there, for Owners and Chief Pilots setting the rules and writing job ads. Well, the guy went into liquidation owing everyone money, including me. Then, there are other Chief Pilots, with a drawer full of CVs having better credentials and more flying hours than the Chief Pilot who will strike through the CVs with truly inane comments scribbled across the CVs. I have seen them with my own eyes. So, this is what is out there and the challenges to employment.

So, these are just some of the problems. Trust me, there is no shortage of pilots in Australia. AND, it is not just in flying . . . I worked 12 hour split shifts eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as a Casual Employee, driving a city bus in Adelaide. Another employer, where I worked tirelessly, working on everything that came through the door, as a Motor Mechanic, made me redundant to hire his brother-in-law. Still another employer, a luxury car dealership was ripping off customers' over warranty claims and got upset because i refused to cooperate/participate. There are true bastards in every industry and employers whom want it all their way who will treat you like a second class citizen, a wage slave, and fully expect you to cooperate and participate in their illegal activities -"be a team player". And, they take great delight in treating employees this way.


Have a sook mate. Lol.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 03:43
by flyhuey
ThatGuy wrote:
Jamming your life history and credentials down peoples throats obviously isn't working for you.
Experience and the credentials I have didn't come overnight. They came from decades of hard work and continual study and self-improvement. Typically, they will come with an older pilot.

If my kind of experience makes you feel threatened/inferior/jealous, makes you feel like I am after your job, then I am sorry for that. I just could never understand why pilots feel so insecure about themselves, their experience, their position. Would you rather have a punk out there treating your machine like his personal toy, when your back is turned, or have a guy like me, a survivor, who will respect the aircraft and treat it like he owns it. So what you have to put up with an older experienced pilot who tells you he will not fly in those conditions or when he believes an aircraft is unairworthy. That is NOT "attitude". That IS what's right and safe and complies with the Regulations.

Do the math. IF a pilot flies an average of 500 hours per year, then how does one dumb down a veteran/seasoned pilot's CV, so it is less threatening and more palatable to lesser experienced AOC Holders/Chief Pilots? It is a no win situation. Isn't dumbing down a CV as big a farce and lie as someone who exaggerates? For example, how would a pilot, in an interview, when asked about Cold Weather experience explain to the uninitiated that he has operated aircraft and done preflights in -54°C conditions, yet nowhere in his logbook can you find a a single line entry for Mawson, McMurdo or Wilkins, in Antarctica. Would you merely presume he is making it up or consider other possibilities outside your breadth of experience?

There is no shortage of experienced Australian pilots, just as there is no shortage of prejudice and discrimination in the Australian workplace.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 04:26
by Airbeater
Apparently still no shortage of FLOGS either.

Seriously though, WELCOME BACK CASS, I love your rants :lol:


AB

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 04:56
by Heliduck
flyhuey wrote:done preflights in -54°C conditions, yet nowhere in his logbook can you find a a single line entry for Mawson, McMurdo or Wilkins, in Antarctica.


Flyhuey, When you find yourself in a hole the best course of action is to stop digging.

I've never been to McMurdo, but I can say that Mawson doesn't have a runway therefore you are talking about helicopters. AS350's have been used for the last few decades but only in summer, so regardless of the operational limit of -40 degrees C there are no Aircraft at Australian bases through winter, & in summer it doesn't get anywhere near that cold, even up on the plateau in a blizzard. As Wilkins is a daylight runway & attached to Casey station there are no aircraft ops in winter.
The northern part of the world has lot's of aviation activities in winter & it gets a bit cool up there as well, your decision to reference Antarctica has me suspicious that you've operated in neither area, maybe that is the suspicion all of those nasty operators had when you were applying for jobs. pop;

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 05:16
by flyhuey
Heliduck wrote:
When you find yourself in a hole the best course of action is to stop digging.

Preflights in -54°C OR operating where you need to use a walk-around oxygen bottle, just to do a preflight at 13,325 feet ASL, is well outside your operational experience Heliduck, thus you cannot assume it is outside of everyone else's. To believe so is merely prejudice and an attempt to bring someone down to your experience level. Isn't that the very definition of "Tall Poppy Syndrome"?

When prejudice, presumption, and discrimination can be taken off the table in Australian workplaces, then Australians regardless of experience or age will be truly given a "fair go".

Remember each of you who choose to slag me, in this forum, will be older (over 50, over 60) veteran pilots someday -and, may even be looking for work, whilst putting up with prejudice and discrimination - I mean, that is, IF your know-nothing know-it-all "team player" attitudes allow you to live as long as me.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 05:36
by Heliduck
McMurdo - 10ft AMSL
Wilkins - 2 529 ft AMSL
Mawson - no runway, right on the coast.

I'm always keen to hear of others experiences, I've met a lot of pilots who have done some amazing things which I find very interesting & the experience of hindsight has led me to wish I had paid a bit more attention to some of the stories as they might have saved me some trouble from time to time.

Maybe it's me not reading your posts correctly but you confuse me with conflicting references. Where in Antarctica can you do a preflight at 13 325ft? The highest point of Mount Kirkpatrick is 14 856ft, my very good friends died in a Ken Borek Twin otter at 13000ft because they couldn't out climb the mountains so I'm pretty sure they couldn't have taken off from that altitude.
I'd love to keep playing bladeslapper tennis but I've got to go to work, being over 50 I have a lot of people who rely on my experience & demand my attention to ensure safe operations.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 06:03
by flyhuey
Heliquack
Maybe it's me not reading your posts correctly

Can you read?

Did I specify the -54°C or 13,325 feet was Antarctica???? You and other bs detractors would not be interested where I personally experienced those conditions. Thus, I deliberately did not specify. I should have used some other geographic feature you may be familiar with, other than Antarctica, but, like you, I had made an assumption, about you.

You read into things what you want to read, which supports your perspective.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 09:13
by hand in pants
Duck and TG, thank you.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 09:21
by Evil Twin
I think somebody needs some serious psychiatric help, at the very least a solid CRM course should be undertaken.

Insanity - Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result!

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 10:34
by CYHeli
Umm gents, can we bring back on topic, regarding the lack of jobs for locals?

Is the problem as simple as saying that the industry is destroyed because the CPL course has moved from 105 to 150 hours?
Or are there other issues relating to pilot progression and advanced training.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 12:21
by FerrariFlyer
Shortage of fixed-wing pilots around the world...YES!

This is evident by the sign on bonuses being offered in the USA (type-rated crews) and elsewhere. Various regionals in the USA are like-wise offering great levels of assistance to get rotary qualified guys into their fixed-wing world and keeping their aircraft flying. It will very likely continue to compound with time.

Regional services in Australia are suffering badly too. QantasLink reducing service frequency on some routes due to lack of crews and cancellations across the fleet are now frequent. Entry requirements continually dropping. Check this recent advertisement for Virgin ATR First Officers - 400hrs TT will get you a look in (and if you don't meet this minimums they ask applicants to apply anyway and keep them posted...)

https://www.afap.org.au/pilot-jobs/pilo ... ortunities

Below is a job advertisement from the AFAP site looking for pilots overseas in the USA with a $9600 AUD sign-on bonus, profit share, bonuses etc. The recruitment into the majors is significant at present the world over.

https://www.afap.org.au/pilot-jobs/pilo ... 20Officers

Shortage of rotary-pilots here in Australia...not really!

The prolonged and substantial slow down in the once quite large oil and gas industry has left quite a few reasonably qualified pilots unemployed. In recent times some have managed to gain work elsewhere in the industry in different roles. Some green shoots emerging which is promising.

EMS/SAR has expanded ever so slightly however the qualifications for the role are getting harder and more difficult to acquire and are seemingly becoming a niche for ex-military aviators. For the foreseeable future there seems to be a continual throughput of students completing their CPL's however movement beyond that in the multi-engine and IFR world will now be even more difficult with the new instrument rating requirements and lack of an ATPL-H flight test (I stand to be corrected on the status of the latter).

Interesting times (still waiting for all those Vietnam vets to retire too...that'll trigger a mass shortage :lol: )

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 14:05
by Rattlegun
CYHeli wrote:Umm gents, can we bring back on topic, regarding the lack of jobs for locals?

Is the problem as simple as saying that the industry is destroyed because the CPL course has moved from 105 to 150 hours?
Or are there other issues relating to pilot progression and advanced training.


As FerrariFlyer has pointed out, the fixed winged pilot shortage has been widely acknowledged. As to a shortage of rotary-wing pilots, it would be interesting to know how many (quality) applications operators usually receive for various positions (entry level through ME IFR Capt; metro and rural) as this may be an indicator of any "shortage".

Anecdotally, it seems that entry-level rotary positions are not advertised as they can be easily filled via word-of-mouth. To me, this would suggest there is still a surplus of entry-level rotary pilots (of which I am one). Also anecdotally, I have heard that candidates with more (specific) experience can be a bit harder to find, (eg. Ag, long line), but a "shortage" might be a bit of a stretch.

I would contend that career progression and training seems to be the issue for the rotary-wing industry, rather than a shortage of sheer numbers. I'm not involved with recruiting, so it would be nice to hear from those that are.

It's worth noting that VET Students Loan assistance is available for some courses:
AVI50415 - Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating)
AVI50516 - Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor)
AVI60116 - Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Chief Flight Instructor)
AVI60216 - Advanced Diploma of Aviation (Pilot in Command)


and that the good people over at the Connellan Airways Trust are doing more than their fair share.

Re: Pilot shortage. The Australian Thursday Dec 28

Posted: Fri Dec 29 2017, 23:45
by dark horse
FerrariFlyer wrote: For the foreseeable future there seems to be a continual throughput of students completing their CPL's however movement beyond that in the multi-engine and IFR world will now be even more difficult with the new instrument rating requirements and lack of an ATPL-H flight test (I stand to be corrected on the status of the latter).


Happy to correct you here for the info of those who need it. Don’t let the ATPL flight test get in the way. Most large operators should be able to offer it simply and cheaply as part of check to line training. I know of one large East Coast operator who does. Get the exams done and show you’re ready.