Work Experience with Airlines

[VivalaBuses]

Hi all,
I am looking to do work experience in engineering or ground operations departments of airlines that have a base in Sydney. If any members know who I could contact, could you please PM me their email address. This will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Duncan

[Denning-6V71]

Are you looking at working with large airlines? That would be problematic as you'd need to get an ASIC (Australian Security Identification Card) which airlines will only issue to their employees. Most major airlines as well as third party maintenance organisations are the same. That's if you're looking to work 'airside', which is a restricted area.
If however, you're looking more at the organisational/administration side, ie office work, then I'd suggest going to the various Australian airlines, Qantas, VB and Jetstar for starters and looking at the employment sections on their websites.
AFAIK, airlines don't really offer "work experience" per se. I may be wrong here, so if anyone knows anything different, please correct me.
If you're wanting a career in aircraft maintenance engineering and are thinking of using work experience to get your foot in the door of the industry, PM me and we can talk specifics.
Cheers,
John

[The Inspector]

With the way QANTAS are going at the moment youd think all their staff were on work experiance

[Volvo B12BLEA]

With the way QANTAS are going at the moment youd think all their staff were on work experiance

ROFLMAO.....
"The Inspector"..... true so true.

[Denning-6V71]

Well it's one thing to point and laugh from outside the fence, but another thing entirely to be keeping these incredibly complex machines flying safely.

[kitkat271]

AFAIK, airlines don't really offer "work experience" per se. I may be wrong here, so if anyone knows anything different, please correct me.

They do, actually. Both Virgin Blue and Qantas have work experience / internship programs in place across Australia, however they're mainly for university / TAFE students doing aviation or engineering subjects, and only open to students at certain stages on specific courses. There's also internship programs for ground staff like in a call centre environment.

I think both the UNSW and Griffith University aviation courses have a link to either airlines, not exactly sure which discipline though but in an operational area rather than engineering.

I actually don't think work experience with a major airline would be all that beneficial to those just thinking about entering the industry, small companies give you much more of a broader feel of the industry - the big players just do everything on much bigger scale and means you don't get to see as much. It may be worth trying one of the MROs based in Bankstown, one of the corporate jet operators or maybe a small operator like Aeropelican (at Williamtown?), or even the Flying Doctors.

[VivalaBuses]

Thanks KitKat. I think Williamtown is a bit too far, but I'll try the RFDS

[paulf]

That would be problematic as you'd need to get an ASIC (Australian Security Identification Card) which airlines will only issue to their employees.

ASIC stands for Aviation Security Identifcation Card,also as its only going to be work experience he will not need a red ASIC,i know QF and other airlines issue yellow temporary ASIC cards for these type of occasions.

[Denning-6V71]

True enough too. There are restrictions placed on yellow temporary ID card holders, such as having to be always escorted by a full ASIC holder at all times while airside and needing to be escorted through security by an ASIC holder, but that's certainly one way to do it.
It took about 2 weeks to get my ASIC when I started with Qantas, so I had a yellow ID card. It was bloody annoying having to be escorted everywhere! But at least I knew that my ASIC was coming

[paulf]

True enough too. There are restrictions placed on yellow temporary ID card holders, such as having to be always escorted by a full ASIC holder at all times while airside and needing to be escorted through security by an ASIC holder, but that's certainly one way to do it.
It took about 2 weeks to get my ASIC when I started with Qantas, so I had a yellow ID card. It was bloody annoying having to be escorted everywhere! But at least I knew that my ASIC was coming

I have been lucky,never had a yellow ASIC,my red ASIC was ready before my first day,and i get it renewed about 4 weeks before its due so never had to use a yellow ASIC,but i have had to escort workmates airside who have had a yellow ASIC which is a pain .

[VivalaBuses]

The reply I got from VB mentioned strict regulations from CASA. I wonder what they are in regards to work experience

[Daz]

Well it's one thing to point and laugh from outside the fence, but another thing entirely to be keeping these incredibly complex machines flying safely.

Hahahahahaa!!! Cough...

The reply I got from VB mentioned strict regulations from CASA. I wonder what they are in regards to work experience

Civil Aviation like to think they're smart, but they're only difficult for those who are truly honest or seriously screw up which is pretty much no-one in aviation except that guy who lost a WestWind up north- he's in the poo. Tell them you're learning to fly at Bankstown Airport and you need an ASIC, you might have to get a stamp at a flying school for the form but almost any will give that if you tell them you want to fly there. Call the "*C**ts who tell Lies And Rip you off at Casa*" or "CLARC" on 1300 737 032 for more info, if you haven't already got one you'll need an Aviation Reference Number (ARN) before you apply which from a distant memory is free. I'd get an ARN just to say you had one, quite frankly. Once you receive that, which doesn't normally take long, you can apply for the $200 ASIC.

I told them I flew out of Gold Coast airport and they gave me one, even though most of my training was out of AF.

Side note, an ASIC also allows you a 10-20% discount at Duty Free shops in some airports. However at that hefty $200ish for your initial and four weeks lead time, it's not cheap if you're not going to use it much. Oh and CLARC is really CASA licensing and registration centre. And trust me; don't call them c**t or they'll hang up on you; at least if you do make sure it's before they've got your ARN.

Daz.

[Daz]

I forgot to mention that the CASA website is really helpful and has all of the forms you need on there. Thank Dick Smith for that.

Daz.