Question re. FIFO/flying opportunities/Mining in Oz!
Discussion
Afternoon everybody,
Some background before the meat of the question...
I'm 25 and in full time employment in the UK, but for a long time have been saving and strongly considering a move to Aus, in order to work either in the mining industry or in a supporting transport role (planes or helis).
The catch is, I cannot fly yet
In a year's time, if I continue to save, I might just have the money needed to learn to gain a commercial heli license here in the uk. Approximate costs will be £40,000+. Possibly less learning to fly fixed wing.
After three years working at a desk for a utility company I'm desperate for a change, and am fairly certain that I could cope with the repetitive nature of shift work in the burning hot desert hell that is most of the Australian mainland.
Does anyone on this forum happen to have firsthand experience either as a pilot, mining industry worker or recruiter in these fields? I have been keeping up to date with industry news and on one hand hear lots about opportunities in the Galilee basin on the east cost, and on the other, a loss of business on the West coast.
Just hoping to learn as much as possible to work out if I should invest my time and money learning to fly over here in the UK, or whether it is wiser to do this in Aus.
Does anyone know the cost of learning this incredible skill, down under.
Many thanks in advance!
Tom
Some background before the meat of the question...
I'm 25 and in full time employment in the UK, but for a long time have been saving and strongly considering a move to Aus, in order to work either in the mining industry or in a supporting transport role (planes or helis).
The catch is, I cannot fly yet
In a year's time, if I continue to save, I might just have the money needed to learn to gain a commercial heli license here in the uk. Approximate costs will be £40,000+. Possibly less learning to fly fixed wing.
After three years working at a desk for a utility company I'm desperate for a change, and am fairly certain that I could cope with the repetitive nature of shift work in the burning hot desert hell that is most of the Australian mainland.
Does anyone on this forum happen to have firsthand experience either as a pilot, mining industry worker or recruiter in these fields? I have been keeping up to date with industry news and on one hand hear lots about opportunities in the Galilee basin on the east cost, and on the other, a loss of business on the West coast.
Just hoping to learn as much as possible to work out if I should invest my time and money learning to fly over here in the UK, or whether it is wiser to do this in Aus.
Does anyone know the cost of learning this incredible skill, down under.
Many thanks in advance!
Tom
Hi mate.
Hopefully the below will aid your decision in some manner, although my exposure to the mining sector has been limited to the construction of iron ore mines in Western Australia. Also, I'm a Quantity Surveyor 'by trade', which essentially means I manage the budget and contractual issues for construction projects. This is somewhat different to the sector in which you're considering so bare that in mind too.
Having read about the 'mining boom', I began searching for a job and was lucky enough to secure one overseas landing in Perth in Oct 2011. Having come from the UK (via the Middle East), I landed here and could not believe he atmosphere - everyone (to which I was exposed at least) seemed to be living the dream, but it was 'boom town' back then I guess.
This continued for about 18-24months, however as many of these mines (in WA at least) moved from construction into production, the demand for trades, office staff, transport of materials, accommodation, (and more relevant to the question) flights for personnel and so on began to drop. This drop (in my mind) has continued for the last 12-18months as the mining projects complete and there is very limited investment in new mines.
What I'm essentially saying is that the 'mining boom' that was here 24months ago has gone, and things have been slowing ever since. Now, my experience is purely based throughout Western Australia & Darwin, however I suspect the slowing of the mining industry to continue, at least whilst the iron ore price remains hugely down on what it was before these mines began production and china was at the peak of demand. Metals may be a different story, but I've not had much exposure to those and they don't seem to have as much investment in Australia due to overseas competition.
As to the future of the mining sector here, I think once the last of the large scale (several $billion) LNG / ore projects complete construction late this year / next year - I think we'll see some real issues in this sector and the associated sectors (as mentioned above).
To give you an idea, 3 years ago I was competing with in excess of 40 applications when looking to lease a unit, and was forced to pay more rent than advertised to secure the unit in addition to 3months rent upfront. On contrast, in my most recent lease (Nov 14) I was offered a free rent period and a significant drop in the rental value as the vacancy rates of rentals has shot up!
By chance, I recently bought a car part of a guy who was a fixed wing pilot who's been transporting personnel to regional mines for about 5 years. Whilst we didn’t talk at length, he did indicate that his company had made redundancies and that the outlook was bleak generally. In terms of chopper license, I have never once seen a chopper being used on any mine site – and I spent two years in various mines.
I got out of the mining sector just under a year ago, and I also don’t see there being much in the way of prospects for me in Western Australia for some time. As such, I’m moving to Melbourne in 3-4 months. Relevantly, I’d genuinely say that 75% of the people I was working with (chasing the boom) 3 years ago have moved on, either overseas or to the east coast in more typical building / financial sectors. Many of my friends have moved onto Canada and South America, perhaps it’s worth investigating these locations too.
So, whilst I am known to be pessimistic (and I’m sure someone will swiftly point out how wrong I am about the future), I simply don’t see any real opportunity here in the sectors / roles you’re looking at, especially when the sectors and roles appear to be contracting and the markets are full with people looking for work.
All of that said, if you're unhappy in your current role I couldn't suggest you undertake further study / change of role more strongly. I'm 27 and I've been studying (although it's always been related to my role) part-time since I was 16. It'll take another 2 years to complete my current studies, and then I would have completed most of the necessary studies that I require for my career (some 13 years later...actually sounds ridiculous when I read that back). The was I see it is that we (in our mid-ish 20's) have about another 35-40 years of work left (depressing)...what's a few years now to set you on the right path, even if that path isn't the mines or the role of a pilot etc.
Good luck with whatever decision you make!
Hopefully the below will aid your decision in some manner, although my exposure to the mining sector has been limited to the construction of iron ore mines in Western Australia. Also, I'm a Quantity Surveyor 'by trade', which essentially means I manage the budget and contractual issues for construction projects. This is somewhat different to the sector in which you're considering so bare that in mind too.
Having read about the 'mining boom', I began searching for a job and was lucky enough to secure one overseas landing in Perth in Oct 2011. Having come from the UK (via the Middle East), I landed here and could not believe he atmosphere - everyone (to which I was exposed at least) seemed to be living the dream, but it was 'boom town' back then I guess.
This continued for about 18-24months, however as many of these mines (in WA at least) moved from construction into production, the demand for trades, office staff, transport of materials, accommodation, (and more relevant to the question) flights for personnel and so on began to drop. This drop (in my mind) has continued for the last 12-18months as the mining projects complete and there is very limited investment in new mines.
What I'm essentially saying is that the 'mining boom' that was here 24months ago has gone, and things have been slowing ever since. Now, my experience is purely based throughout Western Australia & Darwin, however I suspect the slowing of the mining industry to continue, at least whilst the iron ore price remains hugely down on what it was before these mines began production and china was at the peak of demand. Metals may be a different story, but I've not had much exposure to those and they don't seem to have as much investment in Australia due to overseas competition.
As to the future of the mining sector here, I think once the last of the large scale (several $billion) LNG / ore projects complete construction late this year / next year - I think we'll see some real issues in this sector and the associated sectors (as mentioned above).
To give you an idea, 3 years ago I was competing with in excess of 40 applications when looking to lease a unit, and was forced to pay more rent than advertised to secure the unit in addition to 3months rent upfront. On contrast, in my most recent lease (Nov 14) I was offered a free rent period and a significant drop in the rental value as the vacancy rates of rentals has shot up!
By chance, I recently bought a car part of a guy who was a fixed wing pilot who's been transporting personnel to regional mines for about 5 years. Whilst we didn’t talk at length, he did indicate that his company had made redundancies and that the outlook was bleak generally. In terms of chopper license, I have never once seen a chopper being used on any mine site – and I spent two years in various mines.
I got out of the mining sector just under a year ago, and I also don’t see there being much in the way of prospects for me in Western Australia for some time. As such, I’m moving to Melbourne in 3-4 months. Relevantly, I’d genuinely say that 75% of the people I was working with (chasing the boom) 3 years ago have moved on, either overseas or to the east coast in more typical building / financial sectors. Many of my friends have moved onto Canada and South America, perhaps it’s worth investigating these locations too.
So, whilst I am known to be pessimistic (and I’m sure someone will swiftly point out how wrong I am about the future), I simply don’t see any real opportunity here in the sectors / roles you’re looking at, especially when the sectors and roles appear to be contracting and the markets are full with people looking for work.
All of that said, if you're unhappy in your current role I couldn't suggest you undertake further study / change of role more strongly. I'm 27 and I've been studying (although it's always been related to my role) part-time since I was 16. It'll take another 2 years to complete my current studies, and then I would have completed most of the necessary studies that I require for my career (some 13 years later...actually sounds ridiculous when I read that back). The was I see it is that we (in our mid-ish 20's) have about another 35-40 years of work left (depressing)...what's a few years now to set you on the right path, even if that path isn't the mines or the role of a pilot etc.
Good luck with whatever decision you make!
Edited by CountingBricks on Tuesday 9th June 02:43
Thank you for that epically long reply 2nd poster!
It's alwayss useful to sense check the work prospects before following a dream too far. I'd still enjoy living in Australia but the loss of work for pilots is a shame.
No doubt the LNG extraction will continue off the west coast, so perhaps some opportunities still exist over there? Perhaps re-skilling and working on the rigs rather than flying to them might be a good way to earn a ton of Aussie dollars.
Lastly...
I've heard Australian girls are super hot. Can anyone confirm this?
Cheers for the comments all.
T
It's alwayss useful to sense check the work prospects before following a dream too far. I'd still enjoy living in Australia but the loss of work for pilots is a shame.
No doubt the LNG extraction will continue off the west coast, so perhaps some opportunities still exist over there? Perhaps re-skilling and working on the rigs rather than flying to them might be a good way to earn a ton of Aussie dollars.
Lastly...
I've heard Australian girls are super hot. Can anyone confirm this?
Cheers for the comments all.
T
t way to live your life.NorthernSky said:
No doubt the LNG extraction will continue off the west coast, so perhaps some opportunities still exist over there? Perhaps re-skilling and working on the rigs rather than flying to them might be a good way to earn a ton of Aussie dollars.
T
I Am in the Oil and Gas industry working FIFO on one of the so called megaprojects in the LNG field, moved here from Texas in 2011 and whilst it lagged a little behind the mining boom it basically shadows what counting bricks has said in his excellent summary above. To give an idea, we have seen 24 months of redundancies and those of us left has experienced pay reductions from 15% to 45% (yes, hard to believe but thats what has happened). In addition, there is now a surplus of folk from managers and engineers to tradies looking for the few jobs left.T
I have a PPL, which I converted from the USA to here and was shocked at the cost of hrs. I only flew fixed wing but a small bugsmasher in the USA is about 100 per hr wet and here in WA it was more like 330 per hour although the dollar is much weaker. I haven't flown for 2 years now and am no longer current. At the royal aero club there are few foreign pilots in training and I think NZ is a cheaper (and more entertaining) way to build hours and obtain your CPL. Maybe try out of Hamilton in the north island, it seems popular.
On the plus side, we only use Choppers to get to work (unlike mine sites) and there are more offshore installations going in shortly with the wheatstone platform and Shell's prelude FLNG facillity. These have a 30 to 50 year design life so its a job for life once you get in. The islands on the NW shelf also all use choppers only with the main runway on Barrow island taking jets from perth and then all onward flights to the surrounding islands done by chopper. Bristowes are the main contractor up here and most of the pilots are pommies. All offshore drill ships, Lay barges, DSV's and heavy lift vessels (of which there have been a load!) all require chopper crew change outs, several trips a day (every day) in the cases with vessel that have 400 people on them.
I can give you more info if you require just PM me so I don't bore everybody off your thread.
The traffic at this end has slowed down but they are still flying in, and flying out a lot of the workers, now most of the Iron Ore projects have been built.
Down south in the Goldfields, where they always used Turboprops, a few have switched to Jets.
We don't see a lot of the helicopters from Barrow, but do hear them, when the weather is less happy and they go IFR then we might hear from them then. (When cyclones visit for example.)
The Karratha ones fly a lot to the established platforms like North Rankin, Goodwyn A and the Okha. A lot of the Karratha ones we talk to are CHC helicopters but I am not sure on my helicopters, more so on my planes! I believe Bristows are there too. Broome and further up the coast also has helicopters, I believe but we don't talk to them as they are in Brisbane's part of the world.
Down south in the Goldfields, where they always used Turboprops, a few have switched to Jets.
We don't see a lot of the helicopters from Barrow, but do hear them, when the weather is less happy and they go IFR then we might hear from them then. (When cyclones visit for example.)
The Karratha ones fly a lot to the established platforms like North Rankin, Goodwyn A and the Okha. A lot of the Karratha ones we talk to are CHC helicopters but I am not sure on my helicopters, more so on my planes! I believe Bristows are there too. Broome and further up the coast also has helicopters, I believe but we don't talk to them as they are in Brisbane's part of the world.
Pommygranite said:
I've never done this on PH before and won't do it again but this is my wife, I met her here in Perth and she is Australian. The answer is yes
She's a dead ringer for a girl my mate met on Ashley Madison last week 
Generally speaking, I was disappointed with the standard of Aussie girls when we arrived a couple of years ago. There are some exceptional stunners but there a lot of "average" girls and even more Asian girls who dont float my boat.
Before we moved here I wasn't really looking forward to my missus getting upset each time I ogled a passing Aussie but upon arrival my mind was put at rest by the average appearance of most.
Maybe its a Perth thing but I think the girls in the UK are generally better looking. What swings it in favour of Perth is the countless number of girls that wander around in nothing but a bikini for 3 months of the year and those who go to the shops in shorts so short that 25% of their arse is on show whilst they're doing the grocery shopping.
Edited by 200bhp on Wednesday 17th June 03:44
Pommygranite said:
I've never done this on PH before and won't do it again but this is my wife, I met her here in Perth and she is Australian. The answer is yes
You got (very) lucky though, she is very rare for an Australian girl :thumbsup:I much prefer English girls, finally found a good one after a bad run of aussie and more particularly Kiwi women
madazrx7 said:
Pommygranite said:
I've never done this on PH before and won't do it again but this is my wife, I met her here in Perth and she is Australian. The answer is yes
You got (very) lucky though, she is very rare for an Australian girl :thumbsup:I much prefer English girls, finally found a good one after a bad run of aussie and more particularly Kiwi women
Good for you Tim - deserve it.
I think the diverse culture of Oz gives you a lot of variety but mental pervades globally
All,
Thanks for all your replies and advice. I meant to comment sooner than this but clean forgot to!
To the guy with the hot wife - big congratulations to you. It gives me some hope that there are a few more out there who are single!. Kiwi could work too... Depends on the personality as much as looks, I suppose!
May well drop some PM's as I get to a point of making a decision. Thanks again guys.
Tom
Thanks for all your replies and advice. I meant to comment sooner than this but clean forgot to!
To the guy with the hot wife - big congratulations to you. It gives me some hope that there are a few more out there who are single!
. Kiwi could work too... Depends on the personality as much as looks, I suppose!May well drop some PM's as I get to a point of making a decision. Thanks again guys.
Tom
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