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New Guy Looking for Some Answers


SColson

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Hey everyone,

 

First time posting here and looking at becoming a professional pilot. A little background about me, I work at a job that pays great but I'm miserable doing it. I'm 22 looking at entering this field because it is something I have always been fascinated by. My dream career is to become a SAR helicopter pilot.

 

This is where I am hoping this forum will help. All my research suggests that military experience is basically a requirement to get the hours required for anything in this field. I understand I can expect to pay upwards of $10,000 just for the licenses but after that, I am unsure how to even get my foot in the door for the thousands of hours that are required.

 

I am looking for guidance as to what the first logical step is in this process. I currently live in Las Vegas, NV but do not plan on spending many more years here. I would like to move somewhere further north where SAR and helicopter fire fighting skills can be utilized (I've always considered Northern California).

 

Thank you guys for any and all help!

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Well...first advise is read more, post less. These questions have been answered 100s of times here and this forum is a goldmine of information that answers so much.

 

Second advise...please tell us where we can get certified training for 10k? Todays schools cost 80-100k to complete, but if you do join the military its free.

 

Best thing you can do is read, search this forum, and actually go stop into a flight school and find some first hand knowledge. Nothing can beat putting your feet to the ground and going to a place face to face.

 

Ps, when a school tells you their cost is 60k....immediately ask what their per hour cost of their helicopters are and multiply that number per hour by 200. Thats a rough 85% of your training expence.

 

A general hour spread in civilian training schools is 130 hrs in Robinson R22 helicopters and 70 hours in Robinson R44 helicopters, assuming your weight is light enough to train in the R22.

 

Ground classes, books, gear, more books, etc. This all adds up. Your in Vegas? Go see 702 helicopters and see what they can do for you. Its a close first stop for you.

Edited by WolftalonID
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Another guy who wants SAR? When I was in school seemed like everyone wanted HEMS!

 

I guess if that was my dream job, I'd join the Coast Guard,...or the Navy?

 

If you want to be a flight instructor for a few years, then a tour pilot for a few years more, then begin the long road to twin IFR jobs,...? Take that $10k to the casino and turn it into $80k, keep your day job, and get in line!

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Add another zero to your budget and you should be able to get all of the ratings.

 

A job I can not promise you as they can be hard to come by.

 

Seems like the military would be a decent option if you can make that commitment.

 

The civilian route can be much less of a straight path. Theres a chance you can make it if you have good hands and character though.

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Isn't SAR basically just HEMS over the ocean?

Not really - HEMS aircraft are mostly activated by an ambulance crew which has seen the need for a rapid movement of a patient to hospital, or a hospital that needs to transfer a patient to a different hospital.

 

SAR is going looking for somebody who is missing, with the intention of finding them, recovering them, and perhaps taking them to a hospital. And it ain't always over water. And it often involves the military, where perhaps somebody else isn't too keen to see you and sends projectiles in your general direction.

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No...

 

Why just say "wrong" with nothing to back it up unless your scrambling on Google to try and find a job posting...

 

I think Bristow had a SAR contract in the GoM. Arizona DPS does a good bit of SAR along with a bit of fire fighting and such. Maybe that's not SAR only but I think it's a good portion of what they do.

 

A friend of mine who does utility is on a SAR contract. I suppose that'd count.

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Well, if SAR is what you want to do, you may want to see about interviewing with some of the ANG CSAR squadrons. 129th RQS at Moffett Field, 101st up in New York, and the 210th in Alaska. There's also the reserves in Tucson and Cocoa Beach, FL.

 

You'll need a bachelors degree. If they hire you on you'd then have to make it through USAF pilot training, then the HH-60 IQT course.

 

I'm active duty so my experience is pretty different but I know the Alaska bros are always busy. Between the fires and the hurricanes Moffett and NY has been busy too.

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I think Bristow had a SAR contract in the GoM. Arizona DPS does a good bit of SAR along with a bit of fire fighting and such. Maybe that's not SAR only but I think it's a good portion of what they do.

 

A friend of mine who does utility is on a SAR contract. I suppose that'd count.

The Bristow contracts were/are SAR in support of oil and gas support, shuttling crews and supplies is/was the job. SAR when someone goes missing once a year.

 

Not enough people go missing or need rescued to have a full time SAR only base. Most utility operators do SAR, but it's few and far between doing lift jobs, fires, powerlines etc...

Edited by adam32
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The Bristow contracts were/are SAR in support of oil and gas support, shuttling crews and supplies is/was the job. SAR when someone goes missing once a year.

 

Not enough people go missing or need rescued to have a full time SAR only base. Most utility operators do SAR, but it's few and far between doing lift jobs, fires, powerlines etc...

 

I don't believe this is correct. Both Bristow and Era have aircraft and crews dedicated only to SAR. BP, by themselves, for many years, had a Cougar S-61 and later a S-92, fully configured for SAR with crews on duty 24/7.

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No...

 

Why just say "wrong" with nothing to back it up unless your scrambling on Google to try and find a job posting...

Sooooo many things wrong with the sentience.

 

We have many mission sets where I work. SAR (otherwise know as life saving) comes first. Get your facts straight before you spout mis-information.

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Sooooo many things wrong with the sentience.

 

We have many mission sets where I work. SAR (otherwise know as life saving) comes first. Get your facts straight before you spout mis-information.

You're not a civilian either so get your facts straight, Captain.

 

SAR is NOT EMS, don't confuse the two and continue giving false information.

Edited by adam32
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I don't believe this is correct. Both Bristow and Era have aircraft and crews dedicated only to SAR. BP, by themselves, for many years, had a Cougar S-61 and later a S-92, fully configured for SAR with crews on duty 24/7.

In the USA? I don't believe so...

 

Many helicopters are configured for SAR...the CHP helicopters are configured for it, but they are LE pilots that happen to do some SAR.

 

Very little SAR is done with helicopters in the USA, majority of it is on foot and horseback then sometimes they will have to lift someone out with a helicopter.

 

Coast Guard is probably the only thing that fits as SAR.

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Wrong

 

In the USA? I don't believe so...

Many helicopters are configured for SAR...the CHP helicopters are configured for it, but they are LE pilots that happen to do some SAR.

Very little SAR is done with helicopters in the USA, majority of it is on foot and horseback then sometimes they will have to lift someone out with a helicopter.

Coast Guard is probably the only thing that fits as SAR.

Wrong.

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You're not a civilian either so get your facts straight, Captain.

 

SAR is NOT EMS, don't confuse the two and continue giving false information.

WRONG pal... I retired earlier this year, so I AM a civilian.

 

SAR IS a mission set we do at our unit. Again, fact check before you show your ass on the internet.

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WRONG pal... I retired earlier this year, so I AM a civilian.

 

SAR IS a mission set we do at our unit. Again, fact check before you show your ass on the internet.

Mission set yes, like I said multiple times already, it's one of MANY hats worn at your company...Captain Ass.

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