crashed_05 Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I've noticed there are quite a few schools who, in their advertising, like to say that there is a shortage of helicopter pilots today due to the ever increasing retirement rate of vietnam era pilots. However, It appears quite obvious from the number of threads that keep popping up on here from those seeking employment, that these job opportunities just don't exist. What gives? Is it just due to our current economic downfall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67november Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 or is it simply the lack of these schools to update their web sites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashed_05 Posted August 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Good point...hopefully, in a few years when I'm in the same situation, the market will have picked up a bit. Is that being too optimistic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I don't know if a shortage exists or not, but it seems logical that the jobs being vacated by retiring Vietnam era pilots are not the coveted entry-level jobs being discussed on these forums. Although there is plenty of talk here about the abundance of young CFI's looking for work, I'm guessing there may well be a shortage of experienced commercial helicopter pilots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coaster Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 The whole "Vietnam pilots retiring" ploy has been used for over a decade. Heck I'm in Canada and I'm still flying with Vietnam vets lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apiaguy Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 There is no shortage. There never has been. Sure, there is a shortage of guys with 5000+ hours who have 2000+ VR and 1000 night and 2500 in multiengine helicopter and can show up and work for 40000 for a seasonal job. oh yeah, must want to live in a trailer next to the helicopter and help do maintenance for no extra pay. Also pump your own fuel and be ready to fly in any weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin DBC Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 There is no shortage. There never has been. Sure, there is a shortage of guys with 5000+ hours who have 2000+ VR and 1000 night and 2500 in multiengine helicopter and can show up and work for 40000 for a seasonal job. oh yeah, must want to live in a trailer next to the helicopter and help do maintenance for no extra pay. Also pump your own fuel and be ready to fly in any weather. Sign me up! I can start in 15 years when I meet the minimums. J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I can’t quote the source, but some time ago I heard the rate of which qualified ex-military pilots were retiring, out-paced the number of commercial certificates being issued. I recall the ratio being approximately for every 8 retirements; only 4 certificates were issued. When I say “some time ago” I mean the mid 90’s. I suspect the assumption was the military no longer pumps out helicopter pilots like they used to. This statistic allowed some to forecast a shortage and flight schools used it as a marketing tool to drum up business. However, this statistic did not take into account things like; the general overall health of the helicopter industry and the influx of early 1990’s R22 pilots into the commercial sector who were considered “inexperienced” in the mid-90’s. Also the arrival of foreign pilots wasn’t accurately predicted. Currently, the insurance companies seem to be creating a false shortage. Meaning, nowadays, you have to have specific experience in specific types of operations in order to qualify for a job. Today, simply having an abundance of flight time is not enough. As the above poster somewhat pointed out, the shortage are folks with thousands of hours in helicopters with thousands of hours in, unaided night, NVG, long line/VR, over-water, mountain, IFR/IMC, piston, light single, twin, heavy, combat, international, instruction given in all types, factory current, fluent in 5 languages, ATP, CFII, A&P/IA, under the age of 40, who can wear a tie or a flightsuit and a non-smoker. Yea, there is a shortage of this guy………………… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashed_05 Posted August 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Currently, the insurance companies seem to be creating a false shortage. Meaning, nowadays, you have to have specific experience in specific types of operations in order to qualify for a job. Today, simply having an abundance of flight time is not enough. As the above poster somewhat pointed out, the shortage are folks with thousands of hours in helicopters with thousands of hours in, unaided night, NVG, long line/VR, over-water, mountain, IFR/IMC, piston, light single, twin, heavy, combat, international, instruction given in all types, factory current, fluent in 5 languages, ATP, CFII, A&P/IA, under the age of 40, who can wear a tie or a flightsuit and a non-smoker. Yea, there is a shortage of this guy………………… You paint a vivid picture. It's a long road to the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 There is no shortage. There never has been. Sure, there is a shortage of guys with 5000+ hours who have 2000+ VR and 1000 night and 2500 in multiengine helicopter and can show up and work for 40000 for a seasonal job. oh yeah, must want to live in a trailer next to the helicopter and help do maintenance for no extra pay. Also pump your own fuel and be ready to fly in any weather.Most jobs are seasonal. $40,000.00 for 3 months is nothing to laugh at. Not too bad if the trailer is a double wide. If you do not know how to pump your own fuel you will not work in my LZ. As far as any weather, the minimums do drop for helicopters and it depends upon the job. One thing for certain, must be safe and sensible, too much paperwork involved in losing man and machine. One or the other may have sentimental value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apiaguy Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) I digress, but there is NO shortage of pilots Edited August 7, 2009 by apiaguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jehh Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Actually, I disagree... For a short period of time, from 2006 to 2007, there actually was a shortage of 1,000 hour pilots. For that period, we did not keep a single CFI to 1,000 hours, they all got jobs in the GOM at 750 to 800 hours. Of course now, it is 1,500 hours, but it was that in 2002 as well, so it does move up and down with the times. 3 to 5 years from now, it may well be back down to 1,000 hours, but that will depend on the economy, and how few new CFIs are produced in the next two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gomer Pylot Posted August 12, 2009 Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 As always, there is no shortage of pilots, but there is almost always a shortage of well-qualified pilots. There are far more brand-new commercial pilots than are needed, but then that's always the case. There are still a lot of Vietnam-era pilots around, and we won't be going anywhere for awhile. Because of the over-abundance of new pilots willing to work for little or nothing, we have been working for peanuts, and have no retirement, so we'll have to work well into our seventies. I would love to have been able to retire in my fifties, or at sixty, but that is simply not possible. I won't even be able to draw full Social Security until 66, and even then I won't be able to live on it. We will likely fly until we can't pass a physical, and I hope that's a long, long time. It will probably be the same for all you youngsters, and you can plan to work until at least 70, because it will be near that before you can draw full Social Security, and you will have no other retirement. Plan on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted August 13, 2009 Report Share Posted August 13, 2009 FWIW - statistics based on the number of certificates issued and/or the number of Army aviators are not completely reliable. Many military pilots do not pursue a civilian flying career when they leave the military. In fact, I know more than a few who have never touched the controls since getting out. Can you imagine being a helicopter pilot and not wanting to fly anymore? It's more common than you might think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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