Unemployed Pilots

thesweeney

Hey don't know if there is a thread on this already but said I start one.

With the aviation industry gone to sssshiite, whats everyone doing? 9 months finished myself now no sign of even a whisper of an interview. Keeping myself current, doing some hours and planning on renewing my IR in Sept.

Working away in a 9-5 job Mon-Fri for time been, and tis grand! Way things are just delighted to have money coming in to pay those loans!

Anyone thinking of Instructing, no jobs there either I know, or heading bush flying to Africa or Oz? Love to hear some different views

Foggy43

It is pretty bleak around the world. Even when the world recovers 40% of business / first class travellers will be gone.

Have you read this? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8041213.stm
Not good news, is it?

chickenhawk

Thinking of instructing myself. Won't panic for a few months though.

I'd stay away from oz and new zealand if I was you. I know a few pilots from that area and the market is too hard to break into they say.

pclancy

Yep. Also recent news the regional services are slowing down a lot and pax numbers falling on domestic routes.

thesweeney

Ya its pretty unfornate.

The only up is that these things in aviation come in cycles. So it 'should' ( I'm praying) change within the next year or so.

Oz and NZ arent a good option I agree, they're is an overflow of pilots there themselves. Bush flying then...well lots of different opinions on it. Some say its great, good experience build hours and develop your skills. Others say hell no, no european airline will look at you cos it looks 'cowboyish'. Who knows! I certainly dont. But renewals are looming on the horizon...so for now thats all Im planning!

partyatmygaff

Not a pilot myself, It will pick back up again I am sure, Air travel will never die.

Flyer1

Bush Flying - you'll really learn to fly.

I've had a good few pals that have done bush flying, crop dusting and all the so called " cowboyish " flying. They are some of the best pilots you'll get. You'll get a lot of spoof from people about " ohh airlines dont like this that and the other". I'd much prefer fly beside a person with 1500hrs in the bush than a person fresh out of a training school with 250hrs and no time putting what they've been fed in to practise.

We'll always need pilots, just seems to be a bad time for it. Hang tight

chickenhawk

Anyone know how to start bush flying??

thesweeney

Chicken go to pprune the african aviation thread. Then go to the Maun 2008/2009 thread. Really all the information is on there. After that send an email to Sefofane in Maun, they email you back there 'pack'. Has all the visa info etc in it, if you dont fancy doing that pm me your addy and Ill send it on. Hardest decision is picking which part to go to! I was all set for Tanzania when I was thinking of going and few said Botswana is the better option. Either way the new season is coming and the best time to go is Oct. So its still an option playing in my head...

I agree with you flyer on the bush v 250hr...who would you rather sit beside! (and Im one of those low hr ones!)

chickenhawk

Cheers Sweeney! That's a great thread. Never thought of it before really now it's shot up there as something to do for a while.