MilPilot Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 For those that have made the transition, what was your first civilian helicopter job and did you change to a better second job soon after the first? What was your biggest obstacle to overcome when making the transition? 1 Quote
Wally Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 After a hitch at Ft Wolters, took a few years off to be normal, and then a CFI gig. Left that after a year (owner's partner mentioned closing the school at first opportunity) for PHI. Working of a seat-of-the-pants operator, essentially being an employee/member of the family (possession, property?) in the constant struggle to keep in the black and legal was a little disconcerting, The flying part was still flying. PHI (big companies in general, I guess) was more my speed. No obstacles whatsoever, a pilot is a pilot is a pilot. Networking into the commercial civilian world was a challenge. There is an attitude shift required. You, the PIC, are the man in the civilian world in the sense that everything is you. No matter what the boss or customer says is the intended assignment or responsibility, the end result, good or bad, is your baby. But everybody tells you what to do with perfect authority... Quote
Velocity173 Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 First and current job is HEMS. I've thought of transitioning for more money but that would require more work. Almost went S-3 and back to instructing but I'd be out of a job right now if I went that route. Pretty content with where I am and don't plan on transitioning anytime soon unless it's a single pilot FW position. Biggest obstacle was learning a new aircraft. Getting back to flying using both hands and feet again took some time (2-3 days) to get used to. For some getting out of the military the single pilot aspect is difficult to overcome as well. Since I instructed at Rucker and I already flew GA single pilot FW, it wasn't that difficult. Quote
CharyouTree Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Personally, I'm having a problem being at 1400 hours, so I'm just under the hours for a lot of jobs (1500 PIC PHI, for example) but way over what you'd expect for an entry CFI in an Robinson. Especially since I'd have to pay out of pocket to get the 50 hours in a Robby to meet the SFAR (unless I found someone willing to pay me to act as PIC with 10 hours). Quote
zVo Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 CharyouTree, I've seen part 141 schools offer "SFAR 73" courses and Robbie 22/44 transition courses. If you've got Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits that you don't mind using, it should get you the 50 PIC hours you need pretty quickly. It sounds like you have your CFI/CFII from taking a military comp test, but if you still need to pick up your certs, part 141 CFI is usually 25 hours and CFII is 15 hours... more options for GI use. You'd have to pay for 10 hours of Robbie time still, but that's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying for it all. Quote
CharyouTree Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) CharyouTree, I've seen part 141 schools offer "SFAR 73" courses and Robbie 22/44 transition courses. If you've got Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits that you don't mind using, it should get you the 50 PIC hours you need pretty quickly. It sounds like you have your CFI/CFII from taking a military comp test, but if you still need to pick up your certs, part 141 CFI is usually 25 hours and CFII is 15 hours... more options for GI use. You'd have to pay for 10 hours of Robbie time still, but that's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying for it all. Yeah, there's a course here in Georgetown (between Hood and Austin) that offers it, but I don't know if they offer it under part 141. I called the same school a few weeks ago to ask about their ATP program, and they don't have that covered under 141 right now, and when I asked about other options, she didn't mention that 73 course. So either she didn't think of it, or it doesn't apply. I'm actually planning on swinging by in the next few days. I already have my CFII, so getting hours paid for by GI bill seems like a tough task, unless I go fixed wing. Which is great for hours, not so great for RW hours. ..unless the SFAR 73 course would fall under. Edit: After a visit up there today, the SFAR doesn't qualify for VA payments. Edited June 17, 2014 by CharyouTree Quote
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