Heli Tour Pilot Career

[nerfgun]

Hi all..

 

I am currently studying computer science but I feel that I won't be willing to do this for more than a few years. I've always been passionate about flying and traveling, and I have this "career idea" that I might work in CS field for a few years to save some money, get a heli licence and my own heli (if I'm lucky), get a decent amount of hours and then I'd like to work as a heli pilot somewhere tropical/warm..

 

What is the average salary of helicopter tour pilot? Do you think it is worth going down this road? I really think it is something I would love to do. I don't want to be rich, I just want to enjoy my life and yet be able to survive.

 

Any help, info or advice on this career path will be highly appreciated.

[Falko]

...

 

I don't want to be rich, I just want to enjoy my life and yet be able to survive....

 

Well in this case, the helicopter industry will be perfect for you

 

As far as pay goes, to my knowledges, papillon pays the lowest, followed by sundance and then maverick helicopters. I heard 80-90K+ seems to be normal at maverick.

 

But iam sure other guys here can give you more accurate information.... But before you are able to fly for those bigger operators you would need to get around 1200-2000 hours to get in and by then you should have more inside I formation.

 

Falko

[eagle5]

Work in CS until you've saved up at least 100k. Then move to Hawaii and attend Mauna Loa Helicopters. With any luck they'll hire you to teach there after graduation... but you'll still need to find a second job to survive! Pilots make jack for many, many years!

[Azhigher]

The average salary of a tour pilot at the great entry level tour spots (Grand Canyon, and Alaska) are around 50k. As Falko stated above Papillon is the lowest, Maverick is the highest.

 

If you're talking about later on flying tours in tropical locations (Hawaii) the last I heard Blue Hawaiian paid around 80k to start, but adjusted for the higher cost of living it would be making roughly 50k in a standard location on the mainland. Livable, but not easy living.

 

Is it a good path to go down? Could be. It takes a very specific kind of person to fly tours long term. Most get burned out after a couple years. The nice thing is if you've landed a job flying tours in Hawaii chances are you meet the minimums to do other types of flying and you have some options.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Azhigher

[vortamock]

$50k a year starting? What's all this "cheese and crackers" stuff everyone talks about? That sounds like great starting pay to me! Heck, I wish I made that much now! (I might be able to afford flight school quicker) =D

[eagle5]

You need 1000-1500 hours to try for that 50k job, which can take 2-5 years of cheese and crackers (which by the way are a delicacy, most can only afford Ramen) to get! Its entry level turbine not entry level, entry level.

[vortamock]

Ah, jeez. I was getting excited! =P

[Azhigher]

Yeah, in between flight school and your first turbine job is working as an instructor, which will make you anywhere from 5k a year to 35k, depending on the school and your number of students.

[vortamock]

35 is doable, but 5 not so much. I'll try to either fly part time while building hours or save up some extra in case that's not an option.

[Pohi]

5k a year barely covers beer money. Depending on the type of beer, it would not even be enough.

[R22139RJ]

5k a year barely covers beer money. Depending on the type of beer, it would not even be enough.

When you get a new, better paying job or get an upgrade you may make more money but you won't see any of it, it just goes to more expensive beer.

[Wally]

When you get a new, better paying job or get an upgrade you may make more money but you won't see any of it, it just goes to more expensive beer.

 

I guess there's a point in there somewhere?

Life is too short to waste it on what you don't like... like poor beer. Or grumpy people (good beer helps with this).

 

"Is it worth going down that road?" No. Flying is a rational economic proposition for only about 1% of those working at it.

Other than the fact that I would never, ever want to own the helicopter I fly for a living, I think you have a good plan. The one caution is if your technical education would become obsolete while you operated your tour service. You want something to do if flying isn't what you dreamed it was.