heliflyknow Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 I'm currently in the instrument portion of my flight training at a school that flies Robinson's. I have trained exclusively in the 44. Next semester I have a choice on what bird I want to fly, but can't decide which would be best for my career. I can fly the 66 which I'm sure would be fun, and it would be nice having turbine time, but I'm not sure if it would be more beneficial to train in a 22. It seems only a very small percentage of flight school graduates first job isn't flight instruction. I will receive ~60 hours in whichever AC I fly. I weigh around 185 so that may limit who I can train in a 22, but it seems most schools train primarily in the smallest Robbie. The school I'm at has a long line "elective" that I will receive 10 hours in the 66 as well once I'm finished with CFII. Those that have or currently are Flight Instructors, which do you think would benefit me more? Having training in a 44 & 66, or 44 & 22? For what it's worth, I plan on finding a job in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Quote
pilot#476398 Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) If you think you'll get hired by your school, do whatever they recommend. If you want to get hired by any other school, get out of that 44 and into a 22 right away! 185lbs is just fine for teaching in the 22, just don't gain anymore weight! Oh' yeah almost forgot. Less than 1% of graduates first job is not teaching, so...YOU WILL BE TEACHING! Edited January 17, 2014 by pilot#476398 1 Quote
sardog Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 They should call the next Hollywood fad diet the 'R-22' Diet 2 Quote
Spike Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Good lord, where are these programs coming from…….. heliflyknow,Get experience in the most common training airframe(s) other schools utilized in the training sector. More-than-likely, it's not the R66……… A "heads up"; your school should be advising or counseling you about your training and how that training relates to the real world….. 4 Quote
Mikemv Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 I guess I missed it but when did the R66 get the "hook" approved? 1 Quote
pilot#476398 Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 May I ask why you got your Private rating in the 44,...since you only weigh 185lbs? 1 Quote
heliflyknow Posted January 17, 2014 Author Posted January 17, 2014 I was closer to 200 when I first started, and it seemed like the 44 would be a bit easier to fly. I'm thinking the only way the 66 might help my career path is if I'm one of the 1% that get a turbine job fresh out of school. I would be happy working for a waiters wages as long as I was flying so I will take any job I'm offered, just want to make myself as marketable as possible. Quote
Flying Pig Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) You aren't going to be that 1% ...,. Hate to break it to you Edited January 17, 2014 by Flying Pig 1 Quote
pilot#476398 Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) Reasons to do your Private training in an R44; 1. All you want to be is a Private Pilot, and you have a ton of money to spare.2. You own or are purchesing an R44.3. Your boss is paying you to learn how to fly his R44 so you can fly him around.4. You're in a part of the world that has no R22s or S300s.5. You weigh 241lbs and have a fear of fully-articulated rotors (i.e. the S300). That 1% isn't flying a turbine, he's flying tours in an R44 for Old City Helicopters in Florida (for chump change! However everyone I've spoken with about them leaves after a year to go,...wait for it,...TEACH! ...in an R22! Edited January 17, 2014 by pilot#476398 Quote
rotornut67 Posted January 17, 2014 Posted January 17, 2014 Read SFAR 73 and see how many hours it requires you to have before being able to instruct in an R22 for starters. Then use some sound judgment and make your decision. If you plan on staying in this industry and most likely start out instructing you will need the 22 time...and let me guess, you are in a 141 program?? I'm not even going to finish the rest of that thought...that is all Quote
Trans Lift Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Yeah you kind of screwed the pooch by doing all your training in a 44, your gonna need a certain amount of hours in a 22 to teach in it because, more then likely, thats the airframe you will be in. Is this all out of pocket or GI Bill? Quote
heliflyknow Posted January 18, 2014 Author Posted January 18, 2014 200 tt, 50 in ship if I'm not mistaken. You guessed it I'm 141, finish your thoughts that's what the forum is for. Quote
rotornut67 Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Yep, you are correct on the SFAR, and I don't want to sound like I'm against any 141 school, but some (if not all) are "selling" things during training that an entry level pilot does not need and it's all at government (taxpayer) expense. I am a veteran myself and used my GI bill (Montgomery), and you deserve to use yours also (I am assuming you are Post 911 or are very wealthy to do all your training in a 44). It just hits a sore spot with me to see the benefits being abused (I am not saying you are, but the school). It will lead to the proverbial "WELL" running dry in the very near future and benefits that are earned and deserved wont be available. Good luck with everything and fly safe. 2 Quote
heliflyknow Posted January 18, 2014 Author Posted January 18, 2014 I know exactly what your saying, especially when one semester costs what someone would pay for PVT-CFII in a 22. All the "electives" that are offered probably have little impact on a resume and are more like familiarization. But I think everyone has pretty much confirmed my suspicion that the 22 is the way to go for more job opportunities. 2 Quote
d10 Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 You aren't going to be that 1% ...,. Hate to break it to you I'm not even convinced it's as high as 1%. And yeah, if he was going to be in that small percentage of people it would be in one of those situations pilot#12345 mentioned and he'd already know it. helifly, everyone's kind of hinting at the right answer, but to put it bluntly, if you don't get yourself a lot of R-22 time very soon you'll never be employable. That needs to be your top priority right now if you intend to make a career out of this. You might also want to adjust your expectations of where you'll find work. There aren't nearly as many helicopters in the DFW area as there are in the rest of the world. If you're not willing to move literally anywhere for work, your odds of success are again going to be very low. Quote
Flying Pig Posted January 18, 2014 Posted January 18, 2014 Ironically enough…. I was in the category of having a turbine job waiting for me, but outside of the military or law enforcement…..probably not many people in that boat. I actually had to pay for all of my ratings but I was already in the unit as an observer and knew a couple pilot spots were coming due to retirements. Quote
jeffs Posted January 20, 2014 Posted January 20, 2014 What school are you going in DFW? Only one I knew of out there is US Aviation Academy. Quote
FlyingBuma Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Give AOPA a call. They have been very helpful with me in the past regarding information about medical issues. Also, for a fee, they can work with you and the FAA towards resolving your situation. Quote
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