fixed to un-fixed

[29singlespeed]

Greetings-

 

I am a perpetual aviation addict that has dabbeled in going full professional, but all the known issues in aviation has kept me out. At another cross roads and considering dumping my chips full in and playing with Jet A in the sky.

 

I am a non-current Commercial/Multi/Insturment/CFI pilot that graduated from Embry Riddle. I have spent my past 12 years in the corporate world, owned a great outdoor/ski/bike shop in crested butte (bank called the note, no fault of the business so I sold it at a loss, typical in todays world) and now leaving a COO level position in the bicycle industry.

 

All that said, I am feeling what some would call crazy, and go in debt once a again (1/2 the cost to transition/add on) and get my rotor commercial/cfi/cfii add on and commit to the time building/instructing

 

Anyone out there make the leap from fixed to rotor?

 

Currently in socal - and looking at LA Helicopters and Star Helicopters as both hire from within. Any other places I should look at? Would love to get to hawaii, colorado, arizona, etc.. We could stay in LA area for some time to get all the hours. Seems like there is a lot of helicopter options around here.

 

Any locals I can connect with?

 

The goal will be to have a lifestyle that makes a comfortable wage and allows me to live in interesting places.

 

The career outlook is a huge unknown for all aviation, so that I understand.

 

Thanks,

 

Travis

[Inferno]

I've flown with LA Helicopters. Great company. I can't speak about Star, no experience.

 

Keep in mind, if you're going to teach in robbeies, you're going to need 200 Heli time. Thats a hell of a lot more than where you would nab your add-ons, and basically put you in the same boat for cost as a rookie entering the field....

[RTC]

Currently in socal " Any other places I should look at?"

 

Check out Helistream Inc. @ KSNA as well. www.helistream.com

[29singlespeed]

Thanks for the responses. Did not occur to me that I would still need 200 hrs of time to start instructing.

 

Time for some intro flights and see if I want to did the huge $$ hole again, or just go back to fixed wing (easier route for me at this point)

[Goldy]

Thanks for the responses. Did not occur to me that I would still need 200 hrs of time to start instructing.

 

Time for some intro flights and see if I want to did the huge $$ hole again, or just go back to fixed wing (easier route for me at this point)

 

The 200 hr requirement is found in SFAR 73 and only applies to Robbies. You could train in a S300 and not have those req's to live with. If you come up into the SF Valley, check out Elite for R22/44 or Group3 and Orbic for 300 time.

 

LA Helicopters is a well respected school. Also check out www.phpa.org for upcoming get togethers in the local helicopter world. Always a lot of fun.

 

I'm in the LA area along with a few hundred other helo pilots, just PM me if you have any local questions.