helimariner Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 Hi Guys and Girls, Anyone came across flying seaman? I mean merchant navy guy & for eg. from Merchant Navy Academy with BSc & MSc in Marine Navigation. I've been deck/navigating officer onboard offshore vessels for years now and little bit on SAR vessels, but decided to pursue my dream job from childhood (well... driving ships was as close to flying as I could choose those days). Do the mariners make good helicopter pilots? Does it make you any more employable in the future??? There are some similarities I'd guess:- driving vessel around offshore platforms in close quarters (like hovering around stuff - just missing collective control)- navigation (well more or less same in aviation)- CoG, stability / cargo calculations (well we calculate not only x & y but also quite important in Z axis)- being Officer of the Watch and in charge of manoeuvring, navigating etc. (nearly as being PIC during your watch).- meteorology (also similar basics)- Helicopter Landing Officer and all Helideck firefighting stuff we had to do- not to mention North Sea safety standards and all that $hit I have to deal with every day Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helimariner Posted June 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 85 Views and no reply... are we really one of that rare species Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudkow60 Posted June 4, 2018 Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 I flew with a buddy in the Coast Guard that went to the Cal Maritime Academy, was commissioned a Merchant Marine, and then went to flight school. Great guy and good pilot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helimariner Posted June 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 Thanks mudkow Just wondering... from employers perspective - I believe there are some of those here... Would you consider someone from such background a valuable candidate, even if having low hours? A man worth investment? Of course there is vast amount of experience, like actual flying and feeling of the aircraft that is not transferable experience, but all the one in connection to responsibility and decision making definitely is.(yeah we have clients directly over our heads as well and sometimes also pushing for things...) I've started my training recently and trying to feel the market. I know it will be struggle, but hope that some of that will give me a little head start comparing to other low timers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r22butters Posted June 4, 2018 Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 (edited) Well, if you had 100 hours "in" a Mariner you could work for Boatpix ,...hmm, that sounded kinda dirty, come to think of it Edited June 4, 2018 by r22butters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred0311 Posted June 5, 2018 Report Share Posted June 5, 2018 (edited) All things being rqual it could give you a leg up for a job based on a ship compared to someone with the same flight time. Not everyone is cut out for life at sea and you have proved you are. However you'll still need to meet the minimums for that high time job, and the flight school you instruct at won't care... You could always go tuna boats though if you're a masochist. Edited June 5, 2018 by Fred0311 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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