Sounds like you’re a bit over work... what kinds of projects do you do (res, commercial, schools, hospitals?)
Checked out aok in the 182rg today. Definitely the pick of the litter so far. Checked out the diamond DA40 while I was nearby. Very modern, but I don't feel the desire to spend the $5k they want to endorse me. Composite construction with dual G1000s... Very nice. Sig www.pless.com.au/mechanics.htm
ha.. we do hospitals... recent ones are: Concord Hosp Wagga Wagga Hosp Blacktown Hosp St George Hosp Tumut Hosp
What? $5k for an endorsement on a fixed gear single? They're having a laugh, surely? Stick with the RG. Better aircraft anyway.
I thought it sounded a bit ridiculous, but their planes, their rules. I'll stick to the RG as you say. The Diamond was a very nice place to sit though. Sig www.pless.com.au/mechanics.htm
Can only be an insurance requirement - certain number of hours on type before they'll let you go. I'm hearing that a lot these days.
Steve and Gazza. How many hours have you each flown? Aircraft flown list? And any older piston aircraft? Ta.
Gayry would have a far more interesting story to tell than me. I started flying in the late 80s, so too late to fly any real classics. I missed out by just a day or two to get a free Tiger Moth endorsement when I was only 21. Still disappointed about that. I've flown pretty much every GA single and twin you can think of, but nothing exotic or particularly interesting. All my turbine time is in PC12 and PC24. 11,000 hours total. Pick of the bunch of each type? GA single, probably C210. Twin; definitely Aerostar, with an honourable mention to the Cessna 414A. Worst aircraft I've flown? Seneca I. What a total POS. Favourite? PC24 of course. What a machine! And the fact I get to fly it on my own - amazing. I will get a Spitfire endorsement one day. Hopefully in the next five years.
So many hours ,I just worked out I've been driving cars for 46 years approx , say I hour per day over that period is around 16,500 hours .. When one compares that to the hours you have spent flying , makes one feel safe when flying on a commercial aircraft .. Must be a buzz the current one you sit in ? So for you to jump into a warbird (hate the term) or say a DC3 you need an endorsement ? What does that involve?
I'll go out on a limb and say that Gary would have double or even triple my hours. Flying for the airlines really racks them up, especially long-haul. My Jetstar captain mate does an average of 900+ hours per year, whereas at RFDS we generally do less than 500. Since I've been on the jet I've only averaged around 350 per year. Yeah, I get a thrill every time I walk up to the -24. It's what I always wanted to do (fly bizjets) so I guess it's the pinnacle of my career. Happy to do it for the next 10 years or so and then retire late 50s with about 15,000 hours. Generally speaking, any aircraft over 12,500lb max take-off weight (or any jet) requires a type rating. This is aircraft specific training that is a very intense few weeks of theory and simulator work. An endorsement is a much lesser event but also aircraft specific and may be required for any aircraft type (as Peter is dealing with now). The interesting thing is that the new CASA licence is no longer aircraft specific for aircraft under 12,500lb. It just says "single engine" and / or "twin engine" etc. So technically anyone with a single engine rating can jump into (pretty much) any single engine aircraft and blast off. Same with twins. However, the reality is (again, as Peter is discovering) insurance companies will insist on a certain amount of aircraft specific training (and time on type) before they'll cover you.
And fair enough, really. Even today at Moorabbin I saw some appalling flying. The guy carrying out my check flight made some very broadly racist comments OLIO Sig www.pless.com.au/mechanics.htm
ta for explaining . I can only imagine what the insurance issues or complience measures are. When my Godfather killed himself in the Mustang P51 ,from memory the CASA ? finding was inexperience , he had few hours in such a powerful aircraft and had jumped into that from some 100hp Chipmunk ? Than goes to a airshow doing loops in a Merlin powered fighter ! And into a mountain ! My father flew a lot in the early to mid 60s when he owned his Cessna flying to Yarrawonga or Ballarat but always with a purpose ...not a guy to fly around in circles. As a child I never flew in it , my mother not a lot .I do remember as a child going out to Berwick airport and my Godfather showing us over the P51 ,when he was killed ,my mother told me years latter she was relieved as it put my father off flying his own aircraft . Blows me away the hours you guys do and the experience you must have ..
I was looking up the Australian aircraft register , plenty of information including owners details and address, so much for privacy?
I think it's vitally important to know your own limitations....and I never fly beyond them. I'm pretty sure most pilots think the same way. Surely very few are reckless daredevils.
I stopped counting at 20,000 hours Rob…Really enjoyed my career …Flown most GA single pistons and Twins..Favourite was the Navajo CR but I did like the Cessna 400 series..Flew the C208 Caravan , Citation , DC8 -55 , 747 200 , 300 , 400 and 777 200 , 300 and 300ER..Been shot at and even had mortars slung towards the jet when parked..Fondest memories is flying Air Ambulance in Africa with a small team..So I recon Steve has the best job in the world!
There’s Old Pilots and Bold Pilots…But no Old Bold Pilots…If you ever have doubt..There is no doubt so do something else..
