Pilot Work?

[stickshaker]

I currently work online in the web industry. I'm reasonably flexible with hours, and would love to fly around. As such, I could easily do 9-5 at an airport with a few random hours of flying work throughout the day. Those particular hours would pay far worse but it isn't about the money. However on the same token, I'm not going to throw a $100k job out the window to make less than McDonalds just for flying! Ideally I can have the best of both worlds.

 

Is there work out there like that? It seems almost ideal, if you could have a staff member who is only paid for hrs in the air, vs someone who needs consistent $/real job.

 

I assume though you'd need a fair number of hours before anyone is willing to hire.

 

 

[Ultralights]

the only paid work you could do with an Raaus certificate is as an instructror, anything else would require a Commercial pilots licence. and to work with someone with an AOC.

 

 

[stickshaker]

Can you? Based on https://www.casa.gov.au/regulations-and-policy/standard-page/flight-instructor-ratings seemed like you needed 200 hrs, and needed a teaching diploma, then a FIR course. Sounded more for a late career role than a starter.

 

Actually based on what I can find you need a Commercial license to do anything, which is $70k+. That sucks.

 

 

[stickshaker]

I wouldn't be opposed to 'free work' if it meant avoiding CPL, or if those hrs could be used towards CPL (as the biggest cost seems to simply be getting so many hrs).

 

 

[facthunter]

I wouldn't hold you breath waiting for a change. If it's any consolation, It cost much more in real terms when I did it. If we want to do commercial work in RAAus planes do you think that might just make it a bit more difficult to retain our concessions? Nev

 

 

[Ultralights]

yes, you need 200 hrs in command minimum, and complete a PMI course, though, the PMI (principles and methods of instructing) course is usually run over a series of weekends, then you need to do the instructor rating flying component, which usually involves flying the entire syllabus as an instructor, and your instructor acting as a student.

 

unfortunately that the only way you can make money with an RAAus certificate.

 

 

[stickshaker]

Fair enough, wouldn't want some rookie doing it.

 

Too bad I'm not interested in video games or something a bit cheaper!

 

 

[facthunter]

Yes It's not cheap. It's a big challenge to keep the costs down. Nev

 

 

[Pearo]

Does hour building for CPL have to be done in VH registered aircraft?

 

FWIW, the hour building part is cheap, the dual instruction is where it gets expensive!

 

 

[stickshaker]

Relatively speaking, still looking at ~$150-200/hr for single hire and need 200 hrs total!

 

Probably some more wiggle room in larger cities, in smaller towns if there's only 1 place that does it not many options.

 

 

[Pearo]

Relatively speaking, still looking at ~$150-200/hr for single hire and need 200 hrs total!Probably some more wiggle room in larger cities, in smaller towns if there's only 1 place that does it not many options.

$150/hr is cheap for GA!

 

I am in the same boat(aircraft?) as you. Well paid IT job, want to do aviation for a late career change, dont want the pay cut. I am also beyond a reasonable age for making an airline career out of it (plus there is no money in aviation until you are in the left seat of a jet). I dont want to make money from flying, but if I could offset the cost I would be happy. There is a fair to good chance I will do a CPL in the next few years, but I already have the hours so I am lucky.

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

You can fly as part of another career. Consider flying as a form of transport for your profession / trade which can be tax deductible. Flying vet, IT specialist, flying piano tuner (I knew him - he would fly into properties and remote towns - tune pianos - fly on to the next). Transport for yourself is not "commercial" so you don't need anything other than a Private or Recreational Licence / Certificate. Works like using a private car for work transport - keep log books and apportion use and expenses between work and private.

 

 

[stickshaker]

That's exactly it, the chances of becoming a captain are slim to none. At this stage I'm on track for a decent future so really don't want to rock the boat there, albeit in some country town or fringe capital as property is very expensive! But house is paid off, working for a retirement kitty now.

 

Hmm that's good thinking, too bad everything I do is easily remote, but I wonder if I could get some meet and greets in. "yeah sorry shared desktop isn't working, I'll fly on over!".

 

Anything logic based I can pick up quite quickly, if there's work in that field especially on weekends that would work a treat.

 

 

[nong]

Does hour building for CPL have to be done in VH registered aircraft?FWIW, the hour building part is cheap, the dual instruction is where it gets expensive!

Yes! RAAus aircraft are an excellent CPL hour building tool.

 

 

[facthunter]

A CPL course is fairly structured. There's not much opportunity/point to just run up hours. There's a reduced hour more structured alternative I think still happening. You have to be on it from scratch to achieve it. Nev

 

 

[Pearo]

A CPL course is fairly structured. There's not much opportunity/point to just run up hours. There's a reduced hour more structured alternative I think still happening. You have to be on it from scratch to achieve it. Nev

There is a about 70-80 hours that you make up on your own by just flying, of course you would be mad not to spend those hours actually doing something constructive. As far as I am aware the instructors still need to be aware of the flight so it can be logged as time toward your CPL. I split some hours with other CPL students so I can venture further at less cost.

 

There is an integrated CPL150 course, but I am not sure how many places will offer that since part 61 came into play. The standard CPL course is 200 hours.

 

 

[poteroo]

In our regional location in WA, having an RAAus rated instructor available on weekends would be useful. Would really fit with us to have someone with a non-aviation career job - but a love of flying sufficient to gain the instructors rating. You need supervision for your first training work, which I'm prepared to do. It also could work insofar as my retirement plans because at 75 - who knows when my medical will last?

 

The requirements for the RAAus rating are lower than GA, and you can do the training in many RAAus FTF's. If you happen to hold a full PPL,(even an RPL), with a few hundred hours PIC, then RAAus offer an attractive entry point by only requiring a lower RAAus hours experience. You still need to do the instructors course. (see the OPS MANUAL).

 

I'm not sure that I'd really want a GA trained instructor with low TT and PIC. The more experienced PPL/RPL offers more industry knowledge and flying knowledge when trained as an RAAus instructor. A few years 'life' and 'business' experience would also work for our setup.

 

Good luck with your career. happy days,

 

 

[kaz3g]

You can fly as part of another career. Consider flying as a form of transport for your profession / trade which can be tax deductible. Flying vet, IT specialist, flying piano tuner (I knew him - he would fly into properties and remote towns - tune pianos - fly on to the next). Transport for yourself is not "commercial" so you don't need anything other than a Private or Recreational Licence / Certificate. Works like using a private car for work transport - keep log books and apportion use and expenses between work and private.

We had a flying vet when I was on the station...the piano tuner (Salvo Brigadier Cake) came by road.

 

I'm an occasional flying lawyer now and I'll be flying myself to a conference in Perth in August.

 

Kaz

 

 

[pete78]

Relatively speaking, still looking at ~$150-200/hr for single hire and need 200 hrs total!Probably some more wiggle room in larger cities, in smaller towns if there's only 1 place that does it not many options.

Hello, well is getting more expensive than ever.... now rates running at around $250/h+ BUT there is a place in Melbourne (Moorabbin) where a PA28-180 cost $220/h wet or $160 dry, casual hiring or they sell block hours from $110/h dry rate for 100 hours block. Still adding fuel will be around $180/h wet which I think is pretty good. I think 2-3 pilots can share the 100 hours block and save a fortune. Have a look for hour building Australia and let us know what you think. If you willing to share a package with me, please let me know. Cheers

 

 

[pete78]

Does hour building for CPL have to be done in VH registered aircraft?FWIW, the hour building part is cheap, the dual instruction is where it gets expensive!

Pretty sure you can log hours on any rego from around the world as long is not classified as ultralight and certified above a certain empty weight. I flew in USA, Europe, Australia and all hours counted.

 

 

[facthunter]

It's not a matter of just being in it. You have to be operating it in some real capacity including lawful instruction. otherwise you are a passenger and shouldn't operate the controls officially, or log the time as hours counting towards your own total hours flown.. Nev

 

 

[kasper]

Pretty sure you can log hours on any rego from around the world as long is not classified as ultralight and certified above a certain empty weight. I flew in USA, Europe, Australia and all hours counted.

I know this is a comment that only applies to a small fraction of RAAus pilots but for completeness ONLY 3axis hours count ... if you have hours in other aircraft groups within RAAus they DO NOT count towards your aeronautical experience for CPL. So for me I separate my hours in my logbook by aircraft grouping so I can exclude the Group B and C time from the Group A time.

Equally I separate my weightshift UK NPPL time from my UK 3axis time so my total times for GA when asked by the appropriate regulatory body for the licenses I hold (UK US or Aust) are correct

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Years ago under AUF I was told not to log 3 axis hours in my GA log book. Have since lost any record of AUF hours. Doesn't matter now.

 

 

[facthunter]

Yes . I also have lost record of many interesting flights I just didn't include to keep the logbook(s) "clean". Early in your "career" you need them for prospective employers to peruse, so they should be neat and no questionable stuff. Despite this I know of many instances totally "faked" endorsements and entries that didn't get questioned. It is a LEGAL document so I don't take chances and would like to see the BAD guys (and Gals?) caught, or the system is suss..After a while they don't have a lot of significance except to get a few dates in the right perspective. My first book. ( the most interesting) has been expensively bound but is shedding pages profusely. Has the Flight Radio licences and morse code entry and says I know how to swing a prop and recover from stalls and spins. Yay!.. Nev

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Actually based on what I can find you need a Commercial license to do anything, which is $70k+. That sucks.

There's always the RAAF option, free training for a few years, has worked out great for a family friend.