What do you do with your pilot licence?

[danny_galaga]

6 minutes ago, Student Pilot said:

Don't know any ex-RAAF that fly Ag, it's a different job to normal (if there is such a thing) flying. Ag flying goes from quiet spells where you might only do 300 hours a year in droughts to 12 or 1400 hours a year in boom times. There is a financial component (Ag has some prostitute pilots, only in it for the money) but you have to be really keen on flying to stick with it for very long.
WARNING possible controversial statement!  
Usually find the military boys have been given a free ride with training and life in general and don't take to Ag, it is different to what most expect. Biggest percentage go into airlines where working life has more status and is more predictable. 

And yet he's doing it 🤷‍♂️

[Student Pilot]

Ag is a pretty small industry with only something like 200 pilots, it is also very insular with small operations in remoter areas that don't get out much. I'm not saying there aren't any RAAF pilots flying Ag just that I don't know any. What area does he fly? Does he do fires too? There's not many spots with all year work left in the country now so most (generalising here) pilots do fires in the summer. 

[facthunter]

A top Gun F-18 Pilot won't necessarily be suited or Happy flying airlines. One chap my DC-4 course the was a croppy who did not make it. None of this actually Means much. One sample is not  great proof of anything..  IF you Missed out on something you may have wished to do It's not uncommon to Make out you didn't want it anyhow because they all hate the job, or it's for Wankers who like wearing uniforms etc.. Over the years I would have known well over a thousand pilots and Yes there were a few who were a bit shaky but not THAT many. Taking in very high hours Pilots who have done a lot of solo Hours didn't work out so well either. They had often fallen into Habits that were a bit hard to change from and didn't adapt well.. The Airforce doesn't want people with another way of being trained  either. We  had Ex Army Airforce and ex Vietnam chopper pilots as well as Intake cadets and Aero club/ flying school $#1t Kickers & ex instructors such as me. When I commenced  a Commonwelth gov't Commercial Plus Instructors rating scholarship course for which I had to do a DCA officers flight test where I had to  agree to apply for a Job as a Pilot on completion . The demand for Airline Pilots was over and I had already resigned my Teaching job with the NSW Dept of Education, as they require a Ship load of Notice or they will dock your Pay. ( Lovely People to work for).. Eddy Connellan offered me a job on good terms. I got on well with Him and have a lot of respect for Him,  but  was not sure I'd get on so well with his offspring. At my TAA interview is Had my nose rubbed well and truly in the Cat$#!t  by a Person  (Director of Flight Operations) who assured Me they had plenty of pilots with more hours  and other qualifications than I did which WAS UTTER bs, That was Thursday. By Friday I get a Message can I get Myself to  Melbourne to BE on a DC 4 course  the following WEDNESDAY.?????   Nev

Edited Saturday at 08:12 AM by facthunter
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[danny_galaga]

1 hour ago, Student Pilot said:

Ag is a pretty small industry with only something like 200 pilots, it is also very insular with small operations in remoter areas that don't get out much. I'm not saying there aren't any RAAF pilots flying Ag just that I don't know any. What area does he fly? Does he do fires too? There's not many spots with all year work left in the country now so most (generalising here) pilots do fires in the summer. 

Northern NSW I think. For a while he was commuting from SE Qld in his RV6. I think he's permanently moved now.

 

I think you are missing the point I was making. This is not a tall tale for you to deconstruct, I was merely pointing out that it's nice to see some of the  'big boy' pilots staying grounded (so to speak) and still flying as a pass time. 

[Bennyboy320]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

A top Gun F-18 Pilot won't necessarily be suited or Happy flying airlines.

I have to disagree with that statement, everyone in the military knows that their time on the cockpit won’t last forever & the natural progression to keep flying until 65 is joining the airlines, It’s a different type of flying & you adapt, I was privileged to have been an airline pilot for 26 years of which 22 years were overseas, loved every minute of it until I voluntary took early retirement in the COVID days. Most of my squadron friends have either just retired or in their last few years, all ex classic hornet pilots. 

[Student Pilot]

2 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

Northern NSW I think. For a while he was commuting from SE Qld in his RV6. I think he's permanently moved now.

 

I think you are missing the point I was making. This is not a tall tale for you to deconstruct, I was merely pointing out that it's nice to see some of the  'big boy' pilots staying grounded (so to speak) and still flying as a pass time. 

Danny I think you are misconstruing my intent. I did not say it was a tall tail, my post was not to question your statement or deconstruct your comment.
I was stating my experience within a small industry. I haven't worked Northern NSW for a few years, both cotton and broad acre out west or fert in the tablelands but I do still have contacts there. As I said I'm not questioning your statement but my personal experience is I don't know any ex RAAF flying Ag. There could quite well be some. 

[danny_galaga]

8 hours ago, Student Pilot said:

Danny I think you are misconstruing my intent. I did not say it was a tall tail, my post was not to question your statement or deconstruct your comment.
I was stating my experience within a small industry. I haven't worked Northern NSW for a few years, both cotton and broad acre out west or fert in the tablelands but I do still have contacts there. As I said I'm not questioning your statement but my personal experience is I don't know any ex RAAF flying Ag. There could quite well be some. 

 If you tell me about a CEO of a food franchise who likes to keep it real by serving at the drive-thru of his first restaurant, the purpose of the anecdote being that it's nice to see successful people staying interested in the 'nuts and bolts' of his profession, my first reaction isn't that I know some CEO's, but none of them do what you described, and then concede there might well be some.

 

My first reaction is that this is nice to hear. My personal experience in the subject is not important. Saying 'there could quite well be some' , when I'm telling you I knew one still implies you are reserving judgement. Therefore you are still missing the point.

 

Fact Hunter and several others here were airline pilots, but I bet they aren't doubting the veracity of the other pilot from my hangar that I mentioned. Even if they don't personally know an airline pilot who also flies a Thruster in his spare time, I'm confident they don't find it hard to believe, even if they know most Thruster pilots.

 

My point is there are ATPL pilots who still enjoy flying small aircraft. 

 

Your point that you don't personally know one of my examples is irrelevant. You probably don't know the other guy either. Maybe you can bang on about him too 🤷‍♂️

 

 

[facthunter]

Bennyboy. I did say"won't necessarily"and you don't generally build up a lot of hours on an  F18 or the like It's also about as different to Airline flying as you could get. Jet Airliners have not increased their cruise speeds for about 50 years. They are stuck at High subsonic. After airlines I instructed in RAAus, including Thrusters and Drifters and never scratched anything. Of Course there's great doubt around how a Airline person would cope with very basic aircraft so you're scrutinised for a While. Then lots of Owners wanted me to fly their plane and tell them what i thought of it.   I Flew my own Citabria  for a few years and had a Twin Comanche that ended up on Line and sent me broke, because of the Clown I entrusted with it. Nev

[johnm]

On 01/08/2026 at 11:51 AM, facthunter said:

You've adequately demonstrated what selective Perception is and seem happy to disparage a whole group of highly Trained Professional People without hesitation. Top Guns don't make good Airline Pilots. I deal in FACTS and will defend their reputation from the attack you have made. Your Author is Probably cheesed off that He wasn't accepted. or that Job would not appeal to him because it not exciting enough. It's just ONE persons opinion, John and he's Trying to sell books NOW. By  the way I'm fh  (Lower case)    Flying the Nomad is not a plus. It probably gave him PTSD. Nev

correction fh - I have 'quoted' a disparaging remark ............ in the interests of us all hearing different opinions - that's happening - that's good

 

that's why I made the comment 'all respect to airline pilots' - figured you would bite

 

to me the discussion is the important part

 

how a life is lived as a commercial pilot intersts me and probably all us wannabees 

[facthunter]

YOU are responsible for what YOU choose to Post and I'm certainly Prepared to stand by how I have replied. It's not a Matter of BITING, either. IN my experience it's NOT accurate. I'm compelled to undo the  errors of that article to the best of my ability. I certainly would not put my name to such a derogatory view of our Airline Pilots. There's plenty of BS about them out there already without adding to it.  IF you really are Interested ASK some of them. Airline Management doesn't like them.  Pilots enjoy doing their Job. (Can't have that) Most  Head Office People wouldn't KNOW what their Job entails. I allowed a couple of them to ride in the Jump seats Mel-Syd and the weather in Sydney was really rough with Hail , Turbulence etc which we had to carefully and actively dodge with Airborne Weather radar. On arrival One said, "Well you blokes DO have to earn your money sometimes, don't you?" It's a pity more of them don't see it.  Way back most Airlines were Managed by Pilots.   Now it's mostly Accountants. Nev

[johnm]

last comment on this directed to you fh

 

I am not responsible for any 'bad' remark about airline pilots - it was Mr F18 Tucker's statement - you can be incensed (I understand that and agree with your position (not that I have to state this !)) but point your finger elsewhere please.

 

Perhaps even MR F18 Tucker now regrets that crass statement .......... the rest of the book might deliver on this

 

Thanks BBoy Stupilot and fh for what you write. (and shall continue to)

 

My understanding is commercial pilots are generally humble persons and think their adventures are nothing more than a normal life. My old man was a commercial pilot and really now wish he wrote his commercial life down. we did suggest it but modesty surely gets in the way - maybe also the scrutiny / pressure of peers

 

I have his logs but not the 2000 ? hours he did in tiger moths, dungbusting - that log disappeared at his funeral (or got way layed) (his funeral that I did not attend). The earliest mention of me and my twin brudda in those logs was aged 3 when we went for a couple of laps around the the district in a DHC2 beaver - I guess it was 2 of us strapped in the front seat - a lovely old bird that still survives today

 

 

[facthunter]

You Posted it digger, so you own it.. You didn't Preface it either. I don't find critiquing it  Pleasant either, but  Some Mud always sticks. Nev

[Builds By Baz]

Looks like my post has ended in conflict again. 😞

[rgmwa]

25 minutes ago, Builds By Baz said:

Looks like my post has ended in conflict again. 😞

Don't worry about it.

[johnm]

14 hours ago, Builds By Baz said:

Looks like my post has ended in conflict again. 😞

not so B by Baz ................. its encouraged some entertaing posts about what you can do with a pilots license 

* as innocent as it was - thanks

* or perhaps ........... what you should not say about a license

* we all look forward to your next post

* 🙂

[facthunter]

You've done nothing wrong Baz. Nev

[Moneybox]

23 hours ago, Builds By Baz said:

Looks like my post has ended in conflict again. 😞

Don't worry about it Baz, it's their second childhood coming into play. They'll argue like a group of school kids any opportunity they get.

[facthunter]

Don't believe that BAZ. No one hates it more than I do but I'm considered fair game to say anything against., here. I'm not going anywhere. It's so easy to be  anything on line. The $#!t above is just More of the same and Ignores what the Moderators have asked for and is a bit gutless on Moneyboxes part. I'm pretty sure HE wouldn't like getting what he is dishing out. None of them would. The comment above is uncalled for. Hang in. ASK me anything you feel like asking . Perhaps NOT on this forum as the way it's operating at the Moment  it's a disgrace so I wont be able to say things I'd like to as it's likely to be Bagged.  I'm the REAL McCoy. I check  what I don't know and have a lot of Contacts to ask.  Don't be Put off by the unpleasantness.  It happens on Forums.  I go back a fair way on this One.  I was good Mates with Ian Baker before it began  and still am.  He's done a Lot for the Ultralight Movement and I went as his Proxy the meeting of RAAus where to my surprise and some disappointment found the the Permanent Staff in the Office regarded the Delegates as a nuisance.  That was when a red-wine Loving ex CASA notable took over thinking it would be a feather in his Cap in His semi-Retired Lifestyle in Canberra. Nev

Edited 13 hours ago by facthunter
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[BrendAn]

5 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Don't believe that BAZ. No one hates it more than I do but I'm considered fair game to say anything against., here. I'm not going anywhere. It's so easy to be  anything on line. The $#!t above is just More of the same and Ignores what the Moderators have asked for and is a bit gutless on Moneyboxes part. I'm pretty sure HE wouldn't like getting what he is dishing out. None of them would. The comment above is uncalled for. Hang in. ASK me anything you feel like asking . Perhaps NOT on this forum as the way it's operating at the Moment  it's a disgrace so I wont be able to say things I'd like to as it's likely to be Bagged.  I'm the REAL McCoy. I check  what I don't know and have a lot of Contacts to ask. Nev

there you go again.  give it a rest

[facthunter]

I will say what has unfortunately become necessary to say.. You are NO help and are Part of the Problem. . I'm Fair Dinkum. It will pass when It's sorted. Properly. Nev

[BrendAn]

1 minute ago, facthunter said:

I will say what has unfortunately become necessary to say.. You are NO help and are Part of the Problem. . I'm Fair Dinkum. It will pass when It's sorted. Properly. Nev

i am putting you on ignore too.  i haven't got time to listen to you whining, i think you enjoy it.

[turboplanner]

On 02/08/2026 at 6:30 PM, Builds By Baz said:

Looks like my post has ended in conflict again. 😞

Probably would have been better if you were just about to go solo and wanted to fly commercial and thinking of going up to Darwin  for lessons and what was it like flying up there.

[facthunter]

Putting people on IGNORE is really the Most Pathetic action Possible. IS Telling me of it is supposed to bother Me?  It doesn't! . Nor  have I EVER Put anyone on an ignore list OR intend to. It's time a few People GREW up and behaved like adults.  Don't shoot Me I'm only the Messenger. People must have the right to say "things" others don't always like or where ARE we? It should be Putting people in Boxes Indulging in personal insults rather than Tolerance and reason.  Don't do things to others that you would like being done to you. How about WE give that a try? Disagreements are a normal Part of any Honest interaction. It'd be a boring World IF we all thought the same. It's HARD to get Much Idea of people on a website.  IF you wouldn't say it to My face why say it at all? Nev That's my Name Is that a problem?. My avatar is Dusty Crop Hopper.  A Disney Planes character who is a Misfit and looked down on but comes through. That's MY life and it's not been easy. Lots of others get things handed to them on a Plate and think their Poo doesn't smell. Nev