Career changer: Looking for Aussie advice

[watterman]

Hello.
I'm 33yo candidate for a career change. I live in Australia (Brisbane) and working as an Engineer but contemplating embarking on a pilot career, before it's too late. (I ain't getting any younger ).

Thanks to this site, I'm much better informed than I was a few weeks ago and have a better idea what to expect. Although I'm not turned off completely, I am not diving in head first either.

Since this is a U.S. website and much of the info is based on U.S. carriers, I was hoping to get some advice from an Aussie pilot or someone with experience of the Australian industry, that can comment on employment and work conditions here, job opportunities etc.. If not, perhaps someone can point me to an Australian forum that is as insightful as this one.

Thanks and regards,
Adrian (watterman)

[rjmore]

Try http://www.pprune.org

Lots of BS on there but some good discussion. Plenty of your mates on there as well. You shouldn't have any trouble finding some guys to talk to.

[watterman]

Thanks rjmore.

Can anyone explain why piloting for a regional means so much time away from base. It seems that it shouldn't be hard for the airline to schedule in such a way that you get home each night (or most nights) when each town is only hours away.
At least, that is how I would see it in Queensland. We have a much lower population density than the U.S., so less cities to 'visit'. A Dash-8 could do a milk run up the coast and back to BNE within 12 hours.
Time away from home is the biggest downside to a piloting career for me. That and the crappy beginners pay.

regards,
Adrian. (watterman)

[Sachi]

Hey Adrian
Im also another Australian looking at making a career change... eventually. At the moment Im in Japan teaching English, but the plan is to come home in August, get a full time, save $$$ and take it from there.
What schools / pathways are you considering? Im from the Gold Coast area.
Sach

[watterman]

Hi Sachi.
I've been talking with Royal Qld Aero Club at Archerfield (I'm in BNE). I was considering going the integrated route but I've been detered alot lately.
The plan was to go full time because I'm 33 I wanted to fastest route to an ATPL, and although I can't say money is no object, I consider myself in a reasonable position to be able to do it.

Plans have changed now though and my pilot career may have crashed before it took off!

I have a concerning problem with my left eye. I've been to see a CASA approved opthamoligst and submitted to CASA but they won't review until a full medical is done. I haven't bothered with that yet because even if I can get a Class 1 medical, I would be the last pick of the airlines because there would be other candidates with better eye sight for them to choose.

That makes it one hell of a big risk! $80K and then no job offers and nothing that I could do to get around it. My wife would kill me!

I have read alot lately about the pilot shortage been of no real benefit to 250hr jet-jockey wannabe's. It's captains that are in short supply. Fresh graduates are been pumped out of the flight schools by the dozen, and due to my less than ideal eyesight, I just couldn't compete for the more desirable jobs.

It's still a dream, but at this stage I can't see it happening (pun intended) .

I hope I haven't disheartened your aspirations Sachi.
Good luck Mate.

btw, the English teaching gig is something I've been considering for a while. My wife is a Taiwanese national and I've considered teaching there just for a break from routine. It pays well in Taiwan I hear and is in demand. Perhaps you could share some thoughts on the life of an English teacher. PM me if you wish.

cheers,
Adrian (watterman)