LAUNCH YOUR FLYING CAREER
Are you looking for an exciting, challenging and rewarding career? Do you dream of taking to the skies where you can see things from an entirely new perspective? Would you like to get behind the controls of amazing machines – big and small? If so, flying could be for you.
While most people think of pilots flying passengers around the world on commercial airlines, there are many more diverse career paths in aviation. Some of these are:
instructing people to become pilots or learn new skills
charter flying to carry people for business or tourism
agricultural flying
aerial photography and survey work
helicopter mustering
military flying in some of the world’s most expensive and advanced aircraft.
Aviation is also critical in medical evacuations, firefighting and other emergency operations to help save people’s lives, livelihoods, and homes.
Professional pilots must be able to physically control an aircraft, as well as make accurate decisions in complex, time-critical situations.
You will need to be in good health, have good eyesight and hearing, and typically have an education in English to become a commercial pilot.
Most people who succeed in aviation have above-average initiative, self-discipline, common sense, patience and perseverance.
Contact or visit flight training organisations and talk to people in the industry. The amount of training required can seem daunting at first, but with drive and dedication, you can turn your love of flying into a highly satisfying career.
CHOOSING A FLIGHT TRAINING ORGANISATION
You must train for your licence, ratings and most endorsements through a flight training organisation that is authorised under Part 141 or 142 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations. An organisation can be authorised under both. When CASA issues an approval to allow an organisation to train pilots, it inspects the facilities and equipment to make sure they can deliver flight training safely. There are more than 280 CASA-licensed organisations that conduct flight training Australia-wide, along with some technical institutes and TAFEs. Several universities offer degrees in aviation. A number of flight training courses are full-time. Some organisations have live-in facilities and can arrange finance to help with costs. Others specialise in training for people who can only fly occasionally.
Choose a flight training organisation based on what you want to achieve.
If you want to fly for recreation, choose an organisation that concentrates on the private pilot licence, rather than a larger one that focuses on training for professional licences and ratings. Organisations that cater mainly for private pilots often use basic and economical aircraft for training, which will help reduce your costs. If you want a career in aviation, you need training beyond the private pilot level to commercial level and may prefer to complete all training with one organisation. You should choose an organisation that delivers commercial flight training.
Reference: https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/pilot-career-guide
Universities in Australia offering Aviation degrees and courses
University of South Australia
University of Southern Queensland
Edith Cowan University
Swinburne University of Technology
TAFE International WA
Griffith University
University of New South Wales
RMIT University