Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hi,

 

I am the producer of the event. At the moment, the companies who committed to formally attend the job fair are:

 

Bell Helicopter

Reach Air Medical

Air Methods

Med-Trans

Air Evac Lifeteam

PHI

Papillon Helicopters

Sundance Helicopters

Helicopters Academy

702 Helicopters

Black Hills Aerial Adventures

Seven Bar Aviation (pending)

Whirly Girls (informational vendor)

 

There are usually a several other informal operator/owners that come as well and are lurking around the event if you take the time to network.

 

Traditionally, out of the 200'ish attendees, between 40 - 60 people are hired out of the event depending on the year, the economy, and hiring demands.

 

Does that help?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Black Hills represent! Flew there for a summer and it's a great "first job out of flight school job". Owner is really nice guy who is down to Earth and isn't afraid to climb in and help fly on busy days. Great scenery too. Loved my time there plus got to fly his Bell 47.

 

If you're one of those guys who just don't feel comfortable instructing and want to do tours instead, it's worth a look.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can you attend the job fair separately?

We do not offer it that way. It is an educational event first . . . and a job fair second. If you choose to purchase a ticket to HeliSuccess, and not attend any of the educational sessions, but only the job fair, that is up to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We do not offer it that way. It is an educational event first . . . and a job fair second. If you choose to purchase a ticket to HeliSuccess, and not attend any of the educational sessions, but only the job fair, that is up to you.

Bummer.

 

Say Zippie, any tips on how to get in with Black Hills?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well there's one more vote for Heliexpo (if you're still pondering this Mac), their job fair is free for all.

 

If I recall though, when I was at Helisuccess (many, many years ago) the job fair was offered at a separate price?

 

As for the educational side of the event. I learned that there are way more unemployed cfis than I ever could have imagined, there's a huge bottleneck between the entry-level side and everything else (which apparently still exists!), the Vietnam retirement was put off another 3-5 years, none of the operators who gave presentations or were at the job fair had any interest in anyone below 1000hrs, and the only way to get your career started is through networking!

 

I got so depressed that I left on the second day just after Papillon gave their talk about how great they are (but we won't hire you because your logbook isn't fat enough).

 

Lunch was pretty good though!

Edited by r22butters
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Astro. There aren't any secrets really. Tour company in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Doing tours in 44s, 206s and one grumpy 47. With some instruction under your belt you can start right into tours, if you have only the bare 150 hours, you can work as a ground loader in order to prove yourself and get some stick time.

 

That's the great thing about Mr. Jacobs. He is mister second chance in the industry and can help guys build time who couldn't find an instruction job out of flight school. And that's why I speak very highly of him and respect him immensely.

 

I actually contacted Lyn about doing an article about him in an issue of the magazine until Lyn said I would have to do all the work myself and send him the article.

What do I look like Lyn?! A typewriter?!!

 

Anyway the season is tough. You will work a lot, you'll have to be tough and always keep a smile on your face, and that gets hard after 7 busy crazy months or so. If Mr. Jacobs is at Helisucess, I encourage everyone to shake that mans hand and offer to buy him a beer. As far as the entire industry is concerned he may be overlooked as a small fish, but he is mister second chances and he has helped many many pilots continue their dream and for that I will always speak very highly of him.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am glad to see the posts about Black Hills, and wanted to back up Zippies' comment.. (Zippies', is also one of the best local's places to eat in Hawaii.. just saying)..

 

I have known a lot of pilots that have worked with these folks and everyone loves them. I finally met them at HeliExpo when they bowed out and let me win an awesome model at a Whirly Girls auction (it's on our conference table). I have heard nothing but great things about them and that's saying a lot in this industry.

 

If Mr. Jacobs and his wife is at HS, i will gladly buy them a beer...

 

Oh yeah, i know some folks that would be happy to write about them, and i think it's a great idea. They totally deserve it for giving so many an option in this pretty difficult industry. PM me and we'll get that started.

 

sincerely,

 

dp

 

 

Here's a link to another topic about HeliSuccess:

 

http://helicopterforum.verticalreference.com/topic/19255-heli-success-job-fair/?do=findComment&comment=172391

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bummer.

Say Zippie, any tips on how to get in with Black Hills?

This brings up a good point about this seminar, the job fair is good but meeting people is golden. Talk to other pilots, learn about some of their experiences, take it their advice, and make new friends. These will help you immensely in many aspects of your career and you can pick up new tips that may help you fly safer. The reason I was able to work at Black Hills for two years was because a friend of mine who was already there told Mike I was good to go.

 

Black Hills is a nice place; the scenery is beautiful, people are nice, and the food is great. You do it right and you do it safe, you'll come out into the next chapter of your career with good base of knowledge to build on even further. Safe to say that one of the reasons I'm flying where I am today is cause Mike gave me a chance, and I'll always be grateful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...