Old Fart Pilots......where are the youngsters?

[ramblingboy42]

I went to Heck airfield saturday morning to have a look at their airshow. Heck Airfield is in the SE Qld canefields near Jacobs Well.

Lots of ultralights and modern era light aeroplanes on flying and static display, including a Petrel...which I had enquired about here previously. The Petrel coming in at $185,000...ouch...its really a very small aeroplane.

There was one Tiger Moth flying circuits for $10/pop and a number of club members giving free flights around the canefields and Jacobs Well.

What was noticeable was that nearly all the club members/pilots were as old as me or older. And there was some fine airmanship shown.

[bee utey]

Old farts have more money and spare time to indulge in this sort of thing.

Canberra man who built plane in his garage prepares for charity flight across Australia - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-13/canberra-man-who-built-plane-in-garage-prepares-for-charity-race/9734522)

[Gordie]

I got my pilot licence at 17, consumed all my pay. My observation is, having been a kid who grew up, wanting to drive, fly and operate things...I don't see a lot of that in the young ones these days. Machinery doesn't seem to have the same 'magic' for them that it did for us...probably because they have a lot of other things to play with now.

[goingbush]

I got my pilot licence at 17, consumed all my pay. My observation is, having been a kid who grew up, wanting to drive, fly and operate things...I don't see a lot of that in the young ones these days. Machinery doesn't seem to have the same 'magic' for them that it did for us...probably because they have a lot of other things to play with now.


Hit the nail on the head . When I was at school I was one of about a dozen in my age group who wanted to be a pilot . Out of that group of kids all went on to fly or work in aviation . One went on to Join the Army & Fly Nomads & tragically was killed in one . (Double tragedy for that family as his younger brother died playing with explosives whilst still at school. )

I ask my grandkids / nephews & they don't know anyone interested in Aviation.

[strangy]

It’s very expensive and a typical new pilot can expect to be treated like dirt in every aspect of the job until they manage to build a few important hours to get out of the general aviation work and move into airlines.

[goingbush]

a sign of the times,

QANTAS GROUP ANNOUNCES PILOT ACADEMY (https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-announces-pilot-academy/)

My Stepson is on the Qantas Group management committee, its a pure co-incidence that my local airport is vying for a role
Corowa airport pilot training school bid takes flight | The Border Mail (https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5294988/corowa-airport-pilot-training-school-bid-takes-flight/)

[JDNSW]

I'm pretty certain that when I learnt to fly (mid sixties) there was a government subsidy. I seem to remember that I paid five pounds solo, six with an instructor ($10, $12) per hour in Victas. That was about one and a half day's pay for me at the time. Discussing it with one of my work colleagues at the time, he realised that over the time it took me to get a licence (18 months), it was less than he spent on smoking (he quit soon after!). I don't know what the rates are at present.

[Gordie]

I'm pretty certain that when I learnt to fly (mid sixties) there was a government subsidy. I don't know what the rates are at present. It certainly was cheaper via a sort-of-govt-subsidy in NZ at the time, in that there were no landing fees, things like the visual flight guide etc were provided free, medicals were cheap...whereas now it is user pays for everything and the user pays lots! It cost me about $5k mid-80's to get PPL, now that would be about $20k.

[goingbush]

I'm pretty certain that when I learnt to fly (mid sixties) there was a government subsidy. I seem to remember that I paid five pounds solo, six with an instructor ($10, $12) per hour in Victas. That was about one and a half day's pay for me at the time. Discussing it with one of my work colleagues at the time, he realised that over the time it took me to get a licence (18 months), it was less than he spent on smoking (he quit soon after!). I don't know what the rates are at present.


I dont know, probably comparable now to then, I don't smoke, never have but I was absolutely flabbergasted standing in line behind a scrawny unkempt looking woman at IGA who asked for a carton of smokes , I could not believe she handed over 4 x $50 notes & got only coins as change. Then I looked at the cigarette price board .

How the hell can anyone afford to smoke , .....no wonder there are the haves & have-nots !!

You could afford Helicopter flight training at those prices !!

[Gordie]

a sign of the times,

QANTAS GROUP ANNOUNCES PILOT ACADEMY (https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-announces-pilot-academy/)

Wish these things were around when I wanted to take my PPL further....as I say to younger ones nowadays....get the airline to train you, or join the air force....it's a hard road putting yourself through at your own expense.

[Hugh Jars]

They all have Flight Sim to play with. Kind of takes the mystery away [emoji3]

If you’re female and have an interest, now is not a better time to apply for an airline cadetship in Australia. Both have 50:50 quotas for recruits.

I chose the self-funded route when I was learning, which took a few years to save up and pay. To get a Commercial licence, First Class Instrument rating and Grade 3 Instructor rating cost me just on $30k in 80’s dollars. That meant going without a lot because I didn’t borrow any funds.

When I did the CPL/ATPL theory at TAFE in 87-88, there was about 60 blokes in 2 classes. Of that 60 blokes, only around 10 went on to a flying career.

Back then, you really had to have a fire in your belly if you chose the self-funded route. It’s no different today, except there are far more opportunities for those that do.