More Lies???

[Retreating Brain Stall]

Thought I would share an article I found interesting off the news feed today:

 

Quote:

"The helicopter training program costs more than TSTC’s traditional flight program. Pearce said students will end up paying about $160,000 over the course of two years, compared to about $70,000 for students in the aircraft pilot training program.

But new helicopter pilots also earn higher wages immediately after graduation than commercial airplane pilots, in part because of the differences in pilot responsibilities."

Humor yourselves and read more directly from the article:

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/tstc-starts-new-helicopter-training-program/article_85d57cb2-4d3a-5a3d-a779-ee0d88f28afd.html

Edited August 20, 2014 by Retreating Brain Stall

[eagle5]

What lies?

 

After graduating from ULA last week, I immediately got hired flying EMS for 120k! Its how things are now since all the Vietnam guys have finally retired. Didn't you hear?

[Flying Pig]

$160,000 to become a helicopter pilot these days????? Holy jehosephats

[WolftalonID]

Glad I finished last year... Wow inflation hits fast!

[Bootcamp]

I'm more curious as to what Robinson helicopters cost "$1.2 million apiece to buy".

 

And what the heck does this sentence even mean:

Pearce said students will end up paying about $160,000 over the course of two years, compared to about $70,000 for students in the aircraft pilot training program.

Does he mean "airplane" or are helicopters no longer considered "aircraft"? Sorry...am I being too anal?

[A-aron]

Damn those birds look different in red.... So used to them being yellow. Also the line that says Universal Helicopters is a manufacturer is wrong. I am also curious if they meant all 3 of them would cost 1.2 million.

[A-aron]

And my suspicion was confirmed lol. "UHI has incurred the upfront cost of the three helicopters, which approximates $1.2 million. " Their airplane program is called aircraft so yeah...

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCcQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tstc.edu%2Fdocs%2Fdoc.php%3Fid%3D8499&ei=MTX0U7eqFMf1iwLvvIGYCg&usg=AFQjCNEEjDh53CKmt4pDMAY-3waQ5TPBkw&sig2=wJe7gThr7RK4IrSPcHoIbg&bvm=bv.73373277,d.cGE

[avbug]

The helicopter pilot's initial wages will be higher, and may stay that way for the first few years. After that, depending on the course the fixed wing pilot takes, it's no contest.

[Velocity173]

I think the wage comparison is misleading. You're not gong to be earning 43 grand out of school unless you've got some pretty good connections. You're going to be earning the same 25 grand as a CFI that a regional FW guy starts at.

 

Also, you sure aren't going to be making 96 grand in 5 yrs either. That's twin IFR pay and no one is going to hire you when they have plenty of military twin guys filling the gap.

[WolftalonID]

I am positive I will make much more money flying helicopters over fixed wing.......

 

Mostly because I am not rated to fly fixed wing for money!!! Lol.

Edited August 20, 2014 by WolftalonID

[avbug]

Instructing, wages are fairly comparable. After that, however, the helicopter pilot tends to make more for the first few years, perhaps as much as ten years, depending on the path of either one. The salary curve tends to flatten considerably for the helicopter pilot, while the fixed wing income should continue to climb.

 

There is a lot more the puzzle, however. In the grand scheme, fixed wing pilots are far more a dime a dozen than rotor pilots, and those who are dual rated are somewhat of a rarity. Fixed wing pilots tend to face far more competition for positions than rotor pilots, although there are also far more fixed wing aircraft and positions that come open.

 

In some arenas, the pay disparity is striking. While waiting on a fire recently, I listened to a discussion between a pilot flying an Astar and a pilot flying a single engine air tanker (SEAT). The air tanker pilot was making hundreds of dollars an hour for every flight hour as well as daily. His daily wage was higher than the helicopter pilot, but the helicopter pilot made nothing for each flight hour (TEMSCO). The helicopter pilot tended to fly a lot more hours in the summer on fires, but made far less. There were only about 55 SEAT positions available in a given year, however, and most of those were filled by returning pilots. The Astar pilot was returning, too, but not that far removed from instructing...only a few years into his career. Most of the SEAT pilots were 20-30 years into their career, with far more flight time.

 

The Astar pilot also had a job when the season ended, with the same employer. The SEAT pilot did not, and had to go find other work.

[Retreating Brain Stall]

[quote name="Bootcamp" post="158073" timestamp="1408502909"

Does he mean "airplane" or are helicopters no longer considered "aircraft"? Sorry...am I being too anal?

 

No, you have just gotten really good at interpreting the FARs;)

Edited August 21, 2014 by Retreating Brain Stall

[aeroscout]

$160,000 to become a helicopter pilot these days????? Holy jehosephats

The highwaymen you lawmen swore to arrest are making a strong comeback.

[Azhigher]

96k is attainable in 5 years after school. Tours at Maverick will do it, utility will do it, If you go gulf and make it into a medium... May not be the norm but it isn't unheard of either.

 

Also, you sure aren't going to be making 96 grand in 5 yrs either. That's twin IFR pay and no one is going to hire you when they have plenty of military twin guys filling the gap.

[eagle5]

96k is attainable in 5 years after school. Tours at Maverick will do it, utility will do it, If you go gulf and make it into a medium... May not be the norm but it isn't unheard of either.

 

I'd amend that to 5 years after you find your first job, which itself could be 5 years after school.

[Rgt Bk Bk S]

Avbug knows what he is taking about people! The guy is a genius of aviation. Take his word to the bank and watch it grow in value like a CD account