Airline Pilot?

[Kelburn]

Thanks for all your positive comments.

I'm not quite planning out my future as far as the ppl cpl Vincent I'm just trying to get a vague idea of what I'm gonna do.

I was originally quite set on one idea but I have started to open my spectrum to overseas.
(737 is my life long dream but I wouldn't mind 747, 777 (although not too sure about the 757's and 767's))

[benwynn]

Why a 737? Sure if its your favourite plane, but you wouldnt earn as much money, and you wouldnt get to travel the globe!!

[Kelburn]

I wouldn't really be doing it for the money. But I might change. You never know.

[ZK-Brock]

Well the way I see it Kelburn, you may as well aim for the biggest jobs there are (not 737 mate), whatever that is at the time (at this stage it'd be an a380 captain I guess..). Once you've got to the top of the industry, you can always find a more enjoyable flying job (if you don't like the a380 long-haul lifestyle or whatever) - flying part time or whatever, knowing that your financially secure (actually probably bloody rich), and anywhere in the industry (e.g part time air transport, corporate, instructing, aeros...) is all open to you, so you can find a job easily that would suit your ideal lifestyle.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (ZK-Brock @ Dec 18 2007, 11:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well the way I see it Kelburn, you may as well aim for the biggest jobs there are (not 737 mate), whatever that is at the time (at this stage it'd be an a380 captain I guess..). Once you've got to the top of the industry, you can always find a more enjoyable flying job (if you don't like the a380 long-haul lifestyle or whatever) - flying part time or whatever, knowing that your financially secure (actually probably bloody rich), and anywhere in the industry (e.g part time air transport, corporate, instructing, aeros...) is all open to you, so you can find a job easily that would suit your ideal lifestyle.

That's what a current Vincent Dash captain did. He flew -NEZ (-VAC currently) with Ansett then went to Emirates and was flying A300s then 773's for a number of years. He got sick of the lifestyle, so came back to NZ filthy rich (for a pilot anyway- Nice HSV, Wairarapa house, Wellington Apartment, Beautifully rebuilt C185, kitset Lancair etc ) and is now flying the Dash pretty much just for something to do..
I hope to do that
Is Nelson Aviation college any good? I was thinking of saving up for a year, pay for and do all my theory to CPL, then do the flying part while driving a truck part time in Motueka. I guess I'd have a fair chance of getting into VA?

[ZK-Brock]

From what I've heard, NAC is very good, as far as flying schools go (there may be some better non-flying school places to go). I know a few pilots who have come out of there.

A question of my own now, how wise is it to do commercial training and do ATPL subjects instead of the C-cat course? That would knock the cost of training down quite a bit... but are there enough air operations jobs around to find a job once I'm qualified?

[A185F]

Short answer - Yes. Dont do a C-cat if youdont have to. There are jobs around and will do much better for your career. Even alot of instructors will tell you that,- if they're honest, or had a bit too much sauce. Good to get the ATPLs out of the way cos it's bloody hard to do when ya workin, time wise as I have found out...

[Kelburn]

Just to throw in a question;
what's a Frozen ATPL?

[FunkymonkeyNZ]

your ATPL is your AirlinetrafficPilolts License right, and that consists of 1500 hours minimum, well a frozen is where pilots who want to reach the level of captian but havent flowen the hours sit there exsam and pass it but the license is frozen untill the fly those required hours. unfortunetly this isnt availabe for pilots in New Zealand, have no idea why???....maybe thats why our 777&747 captains are such old buggers LoL

[HardCorePawn]

ATPL = Airline Transport Pilots License... basically what you need if you want to be PIC on a plane that requires a co-pilot and is being used for Air Transport Ops...

[Kelburn]

Thanks. for that. I knew what a ATPL was but had forgotten the F ATPL.

Does anybody have near solid figures for what a 737 pilot would earn (both Captain and FO) and same for a heavy e.g. 777

[FunkymonkeyNZ]

well i tmay be a bit of target here but i remember reading that a 737 FO pays about 60-70K not bad huh! and the first officer gets around i think 80-90k pa, but im not sure if this is just flying domestic or trans tasman. so u know by the time we get there is gonna be worth it!!!

[Kelburn]

Not to contradict you Funkymonkey but I heard from the head instructor at Welly Aeroclub that
737 FO = 100k
737 Captain = 150k but I'm not sure. You're probably both right (it would differ between airlines)

I also heard that:
Air NZ 1900d FO = $40k increasing each year you work.
Air NZ 1900d Captain = $70k

You can never be too sure (considering pilots don't go around say "oooh, I get $100,000 a year")

[benwynn]

I highty doubt $70K for a B1900D Captain...But then again Im not sure..

[HardCorePawn]

I know one airline where:

737 FO around $70k base
737 Captains around $120k base

then you get to add on retention bonus, duty allowance, overtime etc.

[benwynn]

Virgin Blue is around that I think HCP. Mabye a tad less for Captains though

[Kelburn]

A 744 captain would be pretty good.

$500k+ PA only for taxiing, taking-off and programming a small computer as well as pushing a few buttons. (In other words just doing tiny bit of flying and the rest spend as an I.T. monitor - sort of, although not all 747 pilots do this.

I have to say, I'd quite enjoy working for VB.
I can't decide which I like better 737 classic (-300,-400,-500) or NG (-600,-700,-800,-900)

[benwynn]

Very Very Very Very few pilots will earn that amount of money Kelburn..

EDIT- BTW, I know a 747 Pilot. He handflies the aircraft down from Cruise belive it or not..

[A185F]

QUOTE (Kelburn @ Dec 18 2007, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A 744 captain would be pretty good.

$500k+ PA only for taxiing, taking-off and programming a small computer as well as pushing a few buttons. (In other words just doing tiny bit of flying and the rest spend as an I.T. monitor - sort of, although not all 747 pilots do this

hrmmmm dunno about that they would be luckey to get 200k in most airlines, some more obviously and depending on experience but I dont think you will find any pilot earning 500k plus just for flying...

[Kelburn]

reall?
Huh I though that's what the got.
Anyway $200k is still good (a bit more than the average for New Zealand)