Is it really that hard?

[Guest rookie101]

I've read through this forum, and several others, and a lot of you pro guys say that this job is really hard to find work. My question is, is it really that hard? With all of the stuff I've read, it makes a rookie like me want to run for the hills!! Could anybody in here please clarify how hard it really can be to get a job. I know that the liklehood of getting a job will vary with helicopters already flown, total hours, current location and even if you like the place you're going to work at, but what other things might it inquire, i.e. your personality, people skills, or knowing a second or even third languge. I know a lot of the guys who say that it can be hard to find a job are just telling the truth about the helo business, and the truth is always better than a lie. My decision to fly is not for money, but for the love of flying and I can't really fly if I don't have any work to do.

Hope everyone has a safe and merry Christmas and lets not forget on this Christmas our men and women over in Iraq, and everywhere else in the world, who are away from home protecting use from what ever may come our way

 

rookie101

Edited December 25, 2005 by rookie101

[AndrewT]

I would say get to know people within the industry. Its pretty small, so the more people you know, the better of you'll be. That can count almost as much as total hours, ships and missions flown, etc etc

[Rob2k]

Having contacts are great, but you think they are almost as important as your experience flying? You could know every bigshot in the industry but they still won't hire you unless you have sufficient experience and flight time to be safe. Of course if you have a good amount of hours and flight time, then I can see where your contacts are almost as important.

 

Anywho, rookie101, who cares if it's easy or hard to find work? If it's what you truely love to do, and you work hard at it, then you'll be better off and happier than you've ever been before. The jobs are out there, just do the same amount of research on where you want to go work as you do searching for a flight school.

 

Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays if you're one of those critical people),

- Robert

[warpig]

its the first job thats hard to get, i.e. under 1000 hours. after that the doors open up and there are plenty of jobs available with 1000 hrs. add on an instrument rating and theres plenty more available.

[flingwing206]

With a CFII ticket, it's easy to find an instructing job, easier still if you have 50 R22 hours and the SFAR, and a job will be yours in less than a week if you have 200 R22 hours, the SFAR and the double I.

 

With only a CFI (no instrument rating), finding a CFI job will take much longer, but they do appear (think months instead of weeks).

 

With only a Commercial rating, finding ANY work will be hard untill you have over 1,000 PIC in helicopters. You'll have to buy or beg hours, and employers WILL look harder at your logbook to see what kind of flying you've been doing. People may talk up or talk down instruction flying, but everyine knows pretty much exactly what you've been doing (and that you've actually DONE it) over the last 800 hours. Not necessarily true of those 800 Rotorway hours in the old logbook...

 

Barring relatives in the industry or phenomenal luck, there are no easy ways in, but if you do the work, get the instrument and CFII, do a solid job as an instructor while keeping out of trouble, you will have no problem moving into the next level. There is no critical shortage of 1,000-hour pilots, but there is plenty of opportunity for good new ones.

Edited December 27, 2005 by flingwing206

[AndrewT]

Having contacts are great, but you think they are almost as important as your experience flying? You could know every bigshot in the industry but they still won't hire you unless you have sufficient experience and flight time to be safe. Of course if you have a good amount of hours and flight time, then I can see where your contacts are almost as important.

 

 

well, obviously not AS important as flight experience....i mean, who cares who you know if you don't know how to fly a helicopter! But it is important in that it can help you get an interview, etc etc.

 

just my 2 cents

[delorean]

Experience, contacts, & location.

 

First you have to have the minimum requirements for the job to get on the insurance. Any extra experience above those minimums (hours, ratings, degrees, etc) is a plus.

 

Second, make contacts. Go to Heli-Expo and talk to everyone at the job fair. Stop by other flight schools and take an hour of instruction. Post a lot of messages here. The main thing is, get your name out there. This is such a small industry......that works in a bad way too.

 

Finally, be willing to move. The jobs are out there, they're just scattered around the country. If you can move around for a few years, you build hours FAST. If you're holding out for your home town, major city, or even region, it may take a while longer.

[Bladed Sun]

Greetings,

 

Jobs like logging, fire fighting, ems, etc. are all about hours logged and, I've noticed, turbine hours. But, having worked at my flight school refueling, customer service and what not; I got a few rare opportunities to actually fly scenic and photo flights. After not too long people I had never met or seen would come in looking for such a flight and request me as the pilot. I don't know if such instances are common. Perhaps it was just luck.

 

But, I agree, instructing is the best way to get hours. It also expands your knowledge when you have to teach someone else the ropes. Having heard stories from other instructors, it also keeps you on your toes!

 

Cheers

[Autorotator]

With a CFII ticket, it's easy to find an instructing job, easier still if you have 50 R22 hours and the SFAR, and a job will be yours in less than a week if you have 200 R22 hours, the SFAR and the double I.

 

With only a CFI (no instrument rating), finding a CFI job will take much longer, but they do appear (think months instead of weeks).

 

With only a Commercial rating, finding ANY work will be hard untill you have over 1,000 PIC in helicopters. You'll have to buy or beg hours, and employers WILL look harder at your logbook to see what kind of flying you've been doing. People may talk up or talk down instruction flying, but everyine knows pretty much exactly what you've been doing (and that you've actually DONE it) over the last 800 hours. Not necessarily true of those 800 Rotorway hours in the old logbook...

 

Barring relatives in the industry or phenomenal luck, there are no easy ways in, but if you do the work, get the instrument and CFII, do a solid job as an instructor while keeping out of trouble, you will have no problem moving into the next level. There is no critical shortage of 1,000-hour pilots, but there is plenty of opportunity for good new ones.

 

 

I finished my CFI/CFII and it took me about 3 months to find a CFI job, and even for that i had to move 1200 miles from home. I always thought it would be really easy getting a job after I was all done. Well that was untrue. Obviously this will not be true with some people, they will get jobs right out of school.

Take care, Fly safe

 

P.S. I had over 300 hours in the R22 and my SFAR 73 sign off when looking for a job

Edited March 2, 2006 by Autorotator