NavyHeloBubba Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 Hey there. I'm a transitioning military helo pilot and will be attending the Heli-Success conference this year. I was wondering if anyone has been to the event in the past and which companies (besides the listed sponsors) are usually there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdminLB Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hi, I am the producer of the event. At the moment, the companies who committed to formally attend the job fair are: Bell HelicopterReach Air MedicalAir MethodsMed-TransAir Evac LifeteamPHIPapillon HelicoptersSundance HelicoptersHelicopters Academy702 HelicoptersBlack Hills Aerial AdventuresSeven 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Can you attend the job fair separately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippiesdrainage Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdminLB Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r22butters Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 (edited) 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 October 26, 2015 by r22butters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Pig Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 But I hear the Vietnam guys are about to retire again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyHeloBubba Posted October 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Thanks everyone for the info. I just wanted to be able to do some homework on the companies that will be there. I'm looking forward to attending both the educational and job fair portions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippiesdrainage Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RkyMtnHI Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotay Posted October 31, 2015 Report Share Posted October 31, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r22butters Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Ah' Black Hills, I would have taken a position with them a few years ago if it weren't for the fact that I suffer from pogonophobia! ,...that's right, I'm talkin' about you Abe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Bird Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 So how was it? Did anyone get a job??! What's the industry outlook??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Posted November 24, 2015 Report Share Posted November 24, 2015 I heard there were a lot of 1-2k hour guys there looking for work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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