touchy subject?

[traveljunkie.jc]

I don't want this to be taken as a money hungry question. I only mean to be thorough in my investigation of this field. I seem to be running into a very wide array of opinions about salary. Can someone enlighten me- what can I expect as reasonable pay as a CFII, then later as a tour pilot?

[Bootcamp]

It depends where you are flying. Starting at 200 hours, you can expect to make between $20 and $35 per flight/ground hour and expect to work around 20 hours a week at a slow school or 35 hours a week at a busy school. It takes a while to build up a student base, so don't expect to make enough to eat when you are starting off.

 

If you are fortunate enough to get an R44 tour job around 500 hours, expect to make between $75 and $150 per day; but keep in mind most of these jobs are seasonal.

[traveljunkie.jc]

Can you elaborate a little please? You said the tour job at 500 hours would be fortunate, but you listed a daily rate less than that of what a CFII could be making.

[nightsta1ker]

In the flight training industry you can easily work a full day and get paid for half of it. Keep that in mind.

[Azhigher]

At my old school it was $24 per billable flight hour and $18 per billable ground hour, $28 for an hour of CFI instruction.

 

For tour salaries check out helicoptersalaries.com and look at Papillon, Sundance, and Maverick/Mustang.

[Rotorhead84]

I don't want this to be taken as a money hungry question. I only mean to be thorough in my investigation of this field. I seem to be running into a very wide array of opinions about salary. Can someone enlighten me- what can I expect as reasonable pay as a CFII, then later as a tour pilot?

 

 

Where do you see yourself flying tours? CFI's don't make much. But most do the job with the idea that the flight time you log has value and is "compensation"

 

A tour pilot isn't that much higher up the pay scale. The real money in rotary flying is in Utility and (eventually) flying for one of the bigger offshore operators in larger aircraft.

[Mikemv]

I need 2 or 3 CFII-RH now.

 

One of the CFis' pay check was $3,300 for the last two weeks.

 

SFAR R22/44 + S300 qualified, minimum 200 hours dual given

 

send resume to mikefranz@embarqmail.com as an attached word document and I will forward it to the Chief Flight Instructor to contact you.

 

Only qualified reply please.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[traveljunkie.jc]

 

 

Where do you see yourself flying tours? CFI's don't make much. But most do the job with the idea that the flight time you log has value and is "compensation"

 

A tour pilot isn't that much higher up the pay scale. The real money in rotary flying is in Utility and (eventually) flying for one of the bigger offshore operators in larger aircraft.

I'm not sure. I live in Connecticut so I would like to do something close to home. But I keep hearing that I have to move to a tourist city to get that first job. What do you mean by "Utility"? Sorry, not familiar with the jargon yet.

[aussiecop]

Mike,

 

That's a great CFI opportunity for someone, and they say jobs are hard to come by!

[Rotorhead84]

I'm not sure. I live in Connecticut so I would like to do something close to home. But I keep hearing that I have to move to a tourist city to get that first job. What do you mean by "Utility"? Sorry, not familiar with the jargon yet.

 

To be blunt you're probably going to end up far from home if you want to be a tour pilot. Especially if you want to just be a tour pilot. We're talking places with some real scenic views that have a huge tourist base. Grand Canyon, Hawaii, etc.

 

Utility is just what it sounds like. Exploiting the characteristics of a helicopter that make it unique in the first place. Basically using the helicopter for what it was designed for. To work.

 

Everything from hauling x-mas trees, to building transmission lines, tree trimming, Ag, Firefighting, long line, etc etc etc. These jobs are significantly harder than flying tours, and usually pay accordingly.

[Flying Pig]

I don't know that there is a huge helicopter market in the NE US. Im in Law Enforcement aviation and I had to move to the other side of the country to get the type of flying I was looking for. Gotta go where the opportunities are. That being said, you may be able to get something as a CFI but you'll eventually have to jump out of the nest for a while until you have the quals to move back to a local job. Something like EMS flying for example could get you back home. There are companies that allow you to live where you want and they pay your travel to the job sites. But if you are just now in the research phase, you have several years ahead of you.

 

I did a static display this past weekend at an airshow and talked to a couple guys who were in the mid-30s who were thinking about a career change. Their belief was that once they had their commercial certs, they were employable. Sadly I think I ruined a few dreams.

Edited April 2, 2014 by Flying Pig

[aussiecop]

Better ruining their dreams than doing them the disservice of pumping them up and letting them waste 80k in training without knowing the realities of career flying.

[aeroscout]

Better ruining their dreams than doing them the disservice of pumping them up and letting them waste 80k in training without knowing the realities of career flying.

Blessings are often accompanied by cursing.

[pilot#476398]

f**k!!!

[Spike]

I don't want this to be taken as a money hungry question. I only mean to be thorough in my investigation of this field. I seem to be running into a very wide array of opinions about salary. Can someone enlighten me- what can I expect as reasonable pay as a CFII, then later as a tour pilot?

 

It’s simple. Regardless of the sector, if you fly your butt off, the more money you will make. Furthermore, initially, the amount of money you are making is insignificant compared to the experience you are building. That is, in the beginning, you will be making peanuts which will allow you to make walnuts in the future…… In short, it’s paying your dues……

 

Considering the above, working at a busy school or tour op is a must…… Fail to do this and income will be hard to come by…….

[OGE]

I don't want this to be taken as a money hungry question. I only mean to be thorough in my investigation of this field. I seem to be running into a very wide array of opinions about salary. Can someone enlighten me- what can I expect as reasonable pay as a CFII, then later as a tour pilot?

 

Nothing reasonable about it, but it is what it is:

 

VFR flight $23 / hour

VFR ground $18 / hour

IFR flight $25 / hour

IFR ground / sim $20 / hour

[traveljunkie.jc]

 

To be blunt you're probably going to end up far from home if you want to be a tour pilot. Especially if you want to just be a tour pilot. We're talking places with some real scenic views that have a huge tourist base. Grand Canyon, Hawaii, etc.

 

Utility is just what it sounds like. Exploiting the characteristics of a helicopter that make it unique in the first place. Basically using the helicopter for what it was designed for. To work.

 

Everything from hauling x-mas trees, to building transmission lines, tree trimming, Ag, Firefighting, long line, etc etc etc. These jobs are significantly harder than flying tours, and usually pay accordingly.

[traveljunkie.jc]

 

To be blunt you're probably going to end up far from home if you want to be a tour pilot. Especially if you want to just be a tour pilot. We're talking places with some real scenic views that have a huge tourist base. Grand Canyon, Hawaii, etc.

 

Utility is just what it sounds like. Exploiting the characteristics of a helicopter that make it unique in the first place. Basically using the helicopter for what it was designed for. To work.

 

Everything from hauling x-mas trees, to building transmission lines, tree trimming, Ag, Firefighting, long line, etc etc etc. These jobs are significantly harder than flying tours, and usually pay accordingly.

[traveljunkie.jc]

No, my end goal isn't to be a tour pilot. I want to be able to do the more challenging jobs. I only ask about the tour pilot because that's what I understand the next step to be after getting hours as a CFI.

[Rotorhead84]

No, my end goal isn't to be a tour pilot. I want to be able to do the more challenging jobs. I only ask about the tour pilot because that's what I understand the next step to be after getting hours as a CFI.

 

 

Ahh. I never did the CFI thing. I went straight into Ag, so the other guys can comment more in depth.

 

However from what I understand once you start doing the CFI thing you just continually whore your resume out to every operator in existence you can find contact info for until one of them hires you. I don't necessarily think tours is the next step. It might be easier to get into though. There is also offshore stuff you can try for and maybe get on a ground crew at a larger utility operator.

 

Don't be afraid to stop being a CFI to go sweep floors or drive a support truck. Because generally speaking, there are places that hire newer pilots to do support tasks to gauge their performance before they spend any sort of money on training you for a seat.

[Trans Lift]

I got into utility at around 800 hours, never did tours. You may get a lucky break depending on who you get to know, etc. Networking is a big part of it all. There are plenty of tour operators in NY city. I know at least 5. That's not too far from home. I wouldn't be too worried about staying close to home though because more than likely, at some stage during your experience building, you will get a job that is the opposite side of the country.

[Trans Lift]

I got into utility at around 80

[aeroscout]

I got into utility at around 80

I'm guessing that's 80 oil changes. I saw your 800 hour post. Then it is followed by your 80 post.

Sounds like a fun topic for a thread.

[Flying Pig]

I think he's padding his logbook. No way you can be under 40 and have 800 hours.

Edited April 21, 2014 by Flying Pig

[Trans Lift]

Wierd typo/black magic computer posting thing!!

Edited April 22, 2014 by Trans Lift