iscover
1991/92 Flying Training Directory
0 comment
It would be very difficult to predict career opportunities in aviation in the next five years. Indeed, five years ago, many commentators were predicting that 1991/92 would be a period of tremendous growth both domestically and internationally. Well, at the risk of preaching to the converted, we all know that is not the case.
Aviation has always been a slave to the economy; to paraphrase- when the economy sneezes, aviation catches a cold, and at present, it has bronchitis.
If this sounds dismal to the young hopeful with a yen to make a career of aviation, it is well to know that you will be entering an industry that can only be described as unpredictable at the best of times. For many it can be a hard school, with frequent periods of being unemployed, disenchantment with the overall situation, and wondering if all of the expenditure was worth it. Now that we’ve plumbed the depths of the downside, it’s time to talk about the various ways in which an aspirant can choose to tailor a career path. It is also worth mentioning that not all pilots experience the battling phase. Many pilots through good timing, planned or otherwise, experience an almost dream run from their first solo through to a relatively secure position with an airline.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
One of the first things that ought to be considered, is what you actually want to fly- whether it be fixed wing or rotary wing- and whether you truly have the aptitude for an aviation career. This can be quickly gleaned in several ways that won’t tax your pocket unduly. A trial flight with a flying school will quickly indicate if it’s really what you expected.
There are a couple of features that the tyro ought to know up front. First of all, flying is largely a numbers regime. Speeds, distances, fuel weights and volumes, geographical direction, and height, are but the tip of the iceberg. If numbers fail to intrigue you, then it’s probably wiser to be honest with yourself at the beginning and disregard aviation. Second, frivolity has no place in the air. Af:i;. s Air Safety column is filled with examples of over confidence and lack of thought. Logic and a sense of reality translated into safety awareness are more in line. This in itself can mean a lifetime of routine which may not appeal to someone who is seeking a flamboyant career. If you’ve read this far undaunted, then we can now look at the options.
First let’s look at helicopters. Learning to fly helicopters is more expensive than learning to fly fixed winged aircraft. There are more moving parts, and a higher level of maintenance intensity. Helicopters also burn more fuel to keep aloft. Many helicopter pilots initially learn on fixed wing aircraft to the level of commercial pilot, and then undertake their conversion. There are a number of career opportunities with rotary wing. After gaining a commercial helicopter licence, many pilots choose the well worn track to Northern Australia to muster on the huge pastoral properties; others choose the formidable terrain of New Guinea. Both are considered to be a worthy step on a pilot’s resume when they venture south again seeking more prestigious positions. Unless a newly qualified helicopter pilot has very good connections, or a bottomless well of money (and most . don’t, contrary to the hackneyed ‘silvertail’ taunts), it is almost impossible to get a flying position with any of the high profile helicopter operators with minimal experience. This means that you are virtually compelled to experience the heat and dust and flies.
A newly acquired CPL means that you have exchanged your ‘L’. plates for ‘P’ plates, and nobody wants to talk to you until you have logged experience. In most operators’ minds, this translates to about 1,000 hours plus. Once that hump is traversed, it is as though the pilot has joined a new exclusive club. Whether this process is fair, or equitable with other professions, is open to debate. The fact is that is how it works, and you as an individual are unlikely to change it or to buck the system.
Fixed wing, as stated, is cheaper than rotary wing. Apart from not being as manoeuvrable as rotary, fixed wing does offer a wider scope. You can go higher, farther, and faster. If an airline career path is your aim, then fixed wing is your only option. Perhaps this may change in years to come if tilt rotor aircraft become viable. However, such aircraft are still economically a long way into the future.
Possibly one of the things that most discerns aviation from other professions is that the student can choose to qualify at his or her own pace. It ought to be stated however, that it has been conclusively proved that the cheapest and most efficient way to learn to fly to an advanced stage is by an intensive, daily flying program. Like the violin, frequency is the key. With this in mind, the student can choose various methods. The most fundamental way is to learn to fly at a flying school, while concurrently studying the mandatory subjects, either by correspondence, by private tuition, by attending classes at an approved private school, or a tertiary facility. This method does have its pitfalls. The students are left to find out things for themselves to a large degree. One advantage of learning this way is the ease of the study program.
Integrated flying schools are fairly popular now. These schools have approval from the CAA to offer a student the full syllabus, theory and practical, through to a CPL and a command instrument rating. This includes all examinations. An efficient way to go. Some even include accommodation. The student usually needs to pay for such a package in advance. The full program, usually lasting about 12 months, and costing around $A32,000 is a big step. Mostly the money either has to be saved or borrowed. If for no other reason, it’s a careful consideration in that the aspirant ought to be asking themselves: ‘is there any chance that this school might fall over financially while I am here?’. It has happened and it could happen again. Now one can also acquire a diploma of aviation studies from an approved tertiary institution while undertaking practical instruction at a connected flying school. Adelaide and Newcastle are the pioneers in this regard.
The other way to become a professional pilot, of course, is through the defence forces. Provided that your flying ability and general self discipline is up to speed, the forces do offer free on the job training and job security (refer p. 22 Oct 91 AA). It ought to be mentioned that the washout rate is high, and the requirement for conformity must be accepted. Hours logged per annum are nowhere near as high as, say, a pilot flying on commuters or night freighters. In the past the airlines have favoured ex-military pilots, specifically because of the airmanship imbued.
In Australia the career minded pilot graduating in 1992 can make a number of choices. Let’s say that this pilot has opted for an integrated flying school program. The package includes a commercialpilot’s licence, twin engine endorsement- probably on a Duchess or Seneca – and a command instrument rating. As in helicopters, this is a bare minimum. If you’re prepared to reach into your back pocket again, you can go straight on, possibly even at the school where you are, and undertake an instructor’s rating. This is a course that many choose, gaining hours on a meagre income by instructing learners.
Others, like the helicopter pilot, head north. Northern Australia and New Guinea are most likely to employ low time pilots. If, for example, you secured a position in a remote centre flying ad hoc charter ops in a Cessna 210, your employer would no doubt be assessing your progress for when you would be ready to upgrade to the Baron. And so it would go until your log book began to get a few pages in, and then you could start thinking of the next stage, a job back in the south. With appropriate experience and when demand is high, it is then possible to get jobs in charter companies, commuter airlines, or even the airlines themselves. If it’s now 1994 and the economy has rapidly improved, then it’s possible that your choice of airlines could be two international and six domestic (including one or two subsidiaries). It’s also possible that at that time the airlines may be offering cadetships or the like in a similar manner to the Europeans as was Qantas during the late eighties.
This approach embraces a new philosophy. It is one where the airline is providing the aspirant with a career opportunity rather than allowing others to train an individual and then exercising the lion’s right when suitable. This almost got to be political several years back when Qantas were recruiting RAAF pilots faster than the RAAF were recruiting civilians! In any case Lufthansa, Qantas Swissair, Cathay Pacific and British Airways are adopting a new approach that rather than inherit someone else’s bad instruction, why not start with a clear blueprint? This raises the question: what about the experience premise? These graduates will have experience levels below 500 hours. This writer once accompanied a Qantas check session at Avalon where four second officers were upgrading to first officers. Of the four, the one who had entered Qantas with 500 hours on 172s actually flew the 7 4 7 best. In terms of judgement and flying tear drop and standard circuit patterns and approaches without the T-VASIS and clean landings, he was without peer.
The US airline operators liaise with various universities that offer user pay aviation courses. They tend to take an early interest in candidates and monitor their progress. In effect this can also occur in Australia if the student chooses to notify the airlines of their own progress by unsolicited resume updates.
At 1500 hours experience, candidates are entitled to gain their Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence, provided that they have passed the required theory subjects, and satisfy instrument experience and medical standards. This licence entitles the user to act in command of heavy aircraft – anything larger than, say, a Beech 200 King Air.
And lest it be misunderstood, this is what it is really all about, to assume command status. Don’t become a pilot unless you want to become a captain.
Directory of Australian Ifr Flying Schools
Canberra Aero Club, Canberra Airport, Fairbairn 2600. Tel: (06) 247 4841
Vee-H Aviation, Canberra Airport, Fairbairn 2600. Tel: (06) 248 6766
Fairbairn Air Charter Training School, Canberra Airport, Fairbairn 2600.
Tel: (06) 249 1326
Aero Professional, Bankstown Airport 2200 Tel: (02) 771 6383
Air Center Albury, PO Box 521, Albury 2640. Tel: (060) 21 2929
Air Facilities, PO Box 675, Albury 2640. Tel: (060) 21 3950
Airtex Aviation Academy, 501 Tower Rd, Bankstown Airport, 2200.
Tel: (02) 792 1588 Fax: (02) 792 2927
Armidale Airways, PO Box 630, Armidale 2350. Tel: (067) 72 9877
Aurora Aviation Academy, PO Box 53, Tocumwal 2714. Tel: (058) 74 2003
Fax: (058) 64 1004
Australian Flying Training School, PO Box 143, Yagoona 2199.
Tel: (02) 709 5518 Fax: (02) 709 2883
Aviation Centre Flight Training, 444 Marion St, Bankstown 2200.
Tel: (02) 790 3149 and (02) 674 5331
Civil Air Training Academy, PO Box 207, Cessnock 2325. Tel: (049) 90 1000
Fax: (049) 90 7515
lllawarra Flying School, Bankstown Airport 2200. Tel: (02) 70 0626
Kingsford Smith Flying Services, Bldg 3, Gypsy St, Bankstown Airport
2200. Tel: (02) 708 1133 Fax: (02) 709 6257
Logan Air Services, 624 Desoutter Rd, Bankstown Airport 2200.
Tel: (02) 790 4103 Fax: (02) 791 0005
Macquarie Grove Flying School, PO Box, Sc;1mden 2570. Tel: (046) 55 1995
Fax: (046) 55 2811
Mciver Aviation, 19 Caladenia Close, Elanora 2101. Tel: (02) 607 4455
Fax: (02) 913 9553
Navair Bankstown, Bldg 487, Avro St, Bankstown Airport 2200.
Tel: (02) 708 1222 Fax: (02) 796 2289
New England Air Training & Charter, PO Box 596, lnverell 2360.
Tel: (067) 23 1344
Northern Rivers Aero Club, cl- Lismore Airport 2480. Tel: (066) 21 4844
Orange Air, PO Box 505, Orange 2800. Tel: (063) 65 5211 Fax (063) 65 5122
Parafield Flight Centre, Kittyhawk Lane, Parafield Airport 5107.
Tel: (08) 281 5444
QuirindilGunnedah Flight Centre, Gunnedah Airport 2380. Tel: (067) 47 4615
Schofields Professional Pilot School, PO Box 46, Riverstone 2765.
Tel: (02) 626 6211 Fax: (02) 626 5445
scout Association of NSW, PO Box 146, Wahroonga 2076. Tel: (02) 773 4165
Sydney Aerobatic School, 457 Marion St, Bankstown 2200.
Tel: (02) 791 0044
Sydney Airways, Tower Rd, Bankstown Airport 2200. Tel: (02) 772 2323
Tamair, PO Box 28, Westdale 2340. Tel: (067) 67 7208 Fax: (067) 67 7070
Advanced Aviation Academy, Murwillumbah Airport 2484. Tel: (075) 36 6788
Advanced Aviation Training, 22 Adina Ave, Coolangatta Airport 4225.
Tel: (075) 36 6788
Air Pioneer, PO Box 5494, Mackay Mail Centre 4741. Tel: (079) 57 6661
Noel Bellamy Aviation, cl- Royal Qld Aero Club, Hangar 1, Beatty Road,
Archerfield Airport, PO Box 361, Archerfield 4108. Tel: (07) 277 7155
Cape York Air Services, PO Box 6267, MC Cairns 4871. Tel: (070) 53 5858
Chopperline Flight Training, Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra 4551.
Tel: (074) 91 8588 Fax: (074) 91 8519
Flight Training Australia, Bldg 25, Archerfield Airport, PO Box 523, Archerfield
4108. Tel: (07) 277 8544 Fax: (07) 275 1509
NAAC Flying School, Townsville Airport, PO Box 522, Garbutt 4814.
Tel: (077) 25 1888 Fax: (077) 25 1464
North Qld Aero Club, cl- Cairns Airport, Cook Highway, Aeroglen, Cairns 4870.
Tel: (070) 53 1438 Fax: (070) 53 7891
Piccolo Aviation, PO Box 360, Gladstone 4680. Tel: (079) 78 1888
Fax: (079) 78 1133
Royal Qld Aero Club, Beatty Road, Archerfield Airport, PO Box 41, Archerfield
4108. Tel: (07) 277 5300 Fax: (07) 277 0891
Sunland Aviation Service, Bldg 112, Archerfield Airport 4108.
Tel: (07) 277 1233
Sunshine Coast Air Charter, PO Box 377, Caloundra 4551. Tel: (071) 91 1988
Towns ville Aero Club, PO Box 240, Garbutt 4814. Tel: (077) 79 2069
Warner’s Air Charter, Roma Airport 4455. Tel: (076) 22 1619
Central Flying Services, Bldg 119, 2nd Avenue, Moorabbin Airport 3194.
Tel: (03) 580 3881 Fax: (03)587 3128
Stillwell Civil Flying School, Hangar 50, 3rd St, Moorabbin Airport 3194.
Tel: (03) 586 8333 Fax: (03) 586 8350
Combined Flight Training Pty Ltd, Cnr 1st Ave & 2nd St, Moorabbin Airport 3194,
PO Box 40, Southland Centre 3192. Tel: (03) 580 9777
Gawne Aviation, PO Box 486, Shepparton 3630. Tel: (058) 23 1481
Maf-Air Flight Training Center, Ballarat Airport, Ballarat 3352.
Tel: (053) 38 1234 Fax: (053) 38 1509
Moorabbin Aviation Academy, 77 Northern Ave, Moorabbin Airport 3194,
PO Box 40, Southland Centre 3192. Tel: (03) 580 5433
Peter Bini Adv. Flight Training, Cnr First Ave & Bundoora Pde, Moorabbin
Airport 3194. Tel: (03) 580 5295
Southern Air Services, 46 Northern Ave, Moorabbin 3194, PO Box 40,
Southland Centre 3192. Tel: (03) 580 6566
Staywood Air, PO Box 709, Warnambool 3280. Tel: (055) 65 9348
Fax: (055) 65 9434
Ad Astral Aviation, PO Box 1DO, Belmont 6104. Tel: (09) 478 2500
Fax: (09) 478 1570 Attn Ad Astral
Amity Aviation, 9A Eagle Drive, Jandakot 6164. Tel: (09) 417 1190
Aviation Academy of Australia, 11A Eagle Dr, Jandakot Airport 6164.
Tel: (09) 332 6847 Fax: (09) 417 1565
Jandakot Flying College, PO Box 263, Willetton 6155. Tel: (09) 417 4777
Fax: (09) 417 5757
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Aero Club,
Aircare Pty Ltd, Bldg 2, Parafield Airport 5106. Tel: (08) 258 0404
Fax: (08) 258 6328 Attn: Aircare
Australian Aviation College, Kittyhawk Lane, Parafield Airport, PO Box 582,
Salisbury 5108. Tel: (08) 250 6088
Kingham & Hartwig Flying School, Hangar 55, Parafield 5106.
Tel: (08) 258 4244
TonyKingham Flying School, 1st Floor, Terminal Bldg, Adelaide Airport 5000.
Tel: (08) 234 1034
Arnhem Air Charter, Tel: (089) 81 8910
Directory of Simulator Trainer Operators
Aero Professional, Tower Rd, Bankstown Airport 2200. Tel: (02) 771 6844
Air Pioneer, Box 5494, Mackay 4741. Tel: (079) 57 6661
Australian Simulator Training, 235 O’Riordan St, Mascot 2020.
Tel: (02) 693 5907
Cape York Air Services, PO Box 6267, MC Cairns 4871. Tel: (070) 53 5858
Civil Air Training Academy, T he Airport, Cessnock 2325. Tel: (049) 90 1000
Fax: (049) 90 7515
Stillwell Civil Flying School, PO Box 210, Cheltenham 3192. Tel: (03) 586 8310
Flight Simulators (Australia), Airport Ave, Bankstown 2200.
Tel: (02) 790 1947
Flight Training Australia, Bldg 25, Archerfield Airport 4108.
Tel: (07) 277 8544 Fax: (07) 275 1509
Fogarty’s Aviation Academy, MSl-1102 Maroochy Airport, Mudjimba 4564.
Tel: (071) 48 7247
Gawne Aviation, PO Box 486, Shepparton 3630. Tel: (058) 23 1481
Gold Coast Aviation Centre, Coolangatta Airport, Bilinga 4224.
Tel: (075) 36 7588
Groupair, PO Box 118, Casey Airfield, Berwick 3806. Tel: (03) 707 1954
Noel Bellamy Aviation, PO Box 361, Archerfield 4108. Tel: (07) 277 7155
Precision Flight Simulators, Bldg 62, Airport Ave, Bankstown Airport
2200. Tel: (02) 709 5246 Fax: (02) 709 2883
Royal Qld Aero Club, PO Box 41, Archerfield 4108. Tel: (07) 277 5300
Fax: (07) 277 0891
TKFS Commercial and Instrument School, 1st Floor, Terminal Bldg, Adelaide
Airport 5000. Tel: (08) 234 1034
Vee-H Aviation, GPO Box 565, Canberra City 2600. Tel: (06) 248 6766
Directory of Helicopter Training Schools
Aust Aeronautical Academy, 46 Vaughan Ave, Essendon, 3040.
Tel: (03) 379 2832
Bankstown Helicopters, Hangar 604, Marlon St, Bankstown Ad 2200.
Tel: (02) 791 0500
Chopperline Flight Training, Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra 4551.
Tel: (074) 91 8588 Fax: (074) 91 8519
Great Northern Helicopters, 45 Leichhardt St, Bull Creek 6155.
Tel: (09) 417 9895
Helicopters Brisbane, Hangar 224, Archerfield Airport 4108. Tel: (07) 277 0001
Helicopter Operators, PO Box 2168, Mt Isa 4825. Tel: (077) 43 2844
Heli-Aust, Hangar 271, Bankstown Airport 2200. Tel: (02) 709 1215
Heli-Training, Hangar 464, Birch St, Bankstown Ad. Tel: (02) 790 5533 3 AXIS SIMULATOR
Highland Helicopters, PO Box 848, Fyshwick 2609. Tel: (06) 257 2549
Jayrow Helicopters, PO Box 46, Mentone 3194. Tel: (03) 587 1833
Jeff McTaggart Helicopters, PO Box 1174, Surfers Paradise 4217.
Tel: (075) 96 3623
Kestrel Aviation, Bundora Pde, Moorabbin Airport 3194.
Tel: (03) 580 5411
Mereeba Heli Flying School, Mareeba Airport 4880. Tel: (070) 93 3819
Mciver Aviation, Hoxton Park Aerodrome 2171. Tel: (02) 607 4455
Professional Helicopter Ser vices, Moorabbln Airport 3194.
Tel: (03) 580 7262
Tony Carmody, 622 The Nicklin Way, Wurtulla 4575. Tel: (071) 93 1720
Townsends Helicopter Training School, Haxton Park 2171.
Tel: (02) 607 8300
Trident Helicopters, PO Box 126, Maleny 4552. Tel: (071 48 7716
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
