NZFF

Posted: **Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:44 pm**

If this has been covered before feel free to close this thread.

But is anyone here an actual Airline Pilot?
If they are I'd be interested to know how they got to be a pilot and what they fly (considering I'm a budding airline pilot)

Posted: **Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:36 am**

Hi,

i am not a pilot, but my friend is, here is how he became a pilot He joined the RNZAF ATC (air training Corp) when he was about 13, he did his training and PPL through that. he then built up hours at the local club flying cessnas and the like. he then did his commercial pilots license at great expense to himself (had well off perents how picked up most of it) he said the hardest part for him was getting a job, he started out in some of the smaller airlines (sun air and the likes) buildiing up hours, he then got a job at MT cook flying ATR-72's. he has just left the country to go and fly for a UAE airline (didn't say which one) but he did tell me that he will be flying A320's and A330's to start of as a captain, he also said that he was not going to get to fly the jets etc in NZ as in his words, it was a closed club and that only the older guys got on the jets, and only if you were liked by the cheif pilots. he wasn't as he blew up a 737 captain and reported the near miss to CAA, but that is another story.
he did say that it was so much easier to get started in the UAE than anywhere else, as they cannot get pilots, and that they are really good payers too

hope that helps a little

Jason

Posted: **Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:47 pm**

jastheace wrote:
QUOTE (jastheace @ Dec 16 2007, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi,

i am not a pilot, but my friend is, here is how he became a pilot He joined the RNZAF ATC (air training Corp) when he was about 13, he did his training and PPL through that. he then built up hours at the local club flying cessnas and the like. he then did his commercial pilots license at great expense to himself (had well off perents how picked up most of it) he said the hardest part for him was getting a job, he started out in some of the smaller airlines (sun air and the likes) buildiing up hours, he then got a job at MT cook flying ATR-72's. he has just left the country to go and fly for a UAE airline (didn't say which one) but he did tell me that he will be flying A320's and A330's to start of as a captain, he also said that he was not going to get to fly the jets etc in NZ as in his words, it was a closed club and that only the older guys got on the jets, and only if you were liked by the cheif pilots. he wasn't as he blew up a 737 captain and reported the near miss to CAA, but that is another story.
he did say that it was so much easier to get started in the UAE than anywhere else, as they cannot get pilots, and that they are really good payers too

hope that helps a little

Jason

just to be clear, ATC has no affiliation with RNZAF. im a corporal in ATC no1 sqn (welly). we just wear their uniform and get to go on bases

Posted: **Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:48 pm**

2fst4u wrote:
QUOTE (2fst4u @ Dec 21 2007, 07:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
just to be clear, ATC has no affiliation with RNZAF. im a corporal in ATC no1 sqn (welly). we just wear their uniform and get to go on bases

i always knew it as the RNZAF ATC, but then that was how my grandfather explained it to me, mind you that was almost 20 years ago now. sorry about that

Posted: **Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:03 am**

my friends are in it but they don't fly very often from what I hear.

My route path was to get my PPL, CPL and a couple of necessary ratings and then move onto a small airline (e.g. sounds air - just an example) and hopefully go to the Air NZ Beechcrafts. I was also seriously considering going ovverseas ater on because my basic life ambition is to become a 737 Captain and I'm not too sure if that'd be very possible in New Zealand.

Posted: **Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:30 am**

You will need a bit more than that Kelburn. Most Airlines dont want you unless you have the F ATPL. That way once you have the hours and age, you have a ATPL. I can almost Guarentee you wont go straight from a CPL with almost no experience to Sounds Air or Similar.If you dont go with any sort of Cadetship or similar, you can expect to be flying Regionals or Instructing for a few years atleast to gain hours.

Myself Kelburn- I am planning to do Qantas Cadets. The course isnt cheap, around $80K AUD, but it can be paid by HECS- The Government Loan Scheme for University. There are a 2 Courses- a 3 Year and an 18 Month. Both Courses qualify you with a Frozen ATPL. The 18 month course is an Assosiate Degree, and the 3 year a Bachelor Degree.

After the course is finnished and you pass, Qantas selects employment for you for another 2 years. This can be anything of there Choice- You dont get to choose- It could be Qantas Link, or it could be flying Regionals in Darwin. After this period of 2 years, Guarenteed Job with Qantas as a Second Officer on the Boeing 747-400 or Similar at a later time. They dont say they guarentee the job, but if you pass, it is guarenteed from what I have herd. Perhaps you could give this a shot Kelburn?

QUOTE

He did say that it was so much easier to get started in the UAE than anywhere else, as they cannot get pilots, and that they are really good payers too
hope that helps a little
Jason[/quote]

Not Totally True. Emirates 777 FO only get around $100000 PA including Housing, Education, Utilities etc Allowance. Which, isnt a great deal, and you have to Live in Dubai....But, thats Emirates- Etihad is offering 777 First Officer positions, with a Similar Salary, but much much less hours needed. Only around 1500 Minimum, though atleast 1000 of that has to be ATP Operations. Which Obiously means you would want to have around 2000hours atleast.