My Training Delimi

[FXBGHELOS]

Hi - I'm a rather new poster here, but hope to get more involved and learn as much as I can. I am in my mid 40s and have taken 3 or 4 hours of training in the past year or so. From my first lesson, I have been hooked and have been thinking of ways I can make this into a career. Not a pleasent subject with the spouse however. She isn't so keen on the idea of me flying, especially every day. Its like I have a decent job - but not one time has that has this job or any other job given me the joy and put a smile on my face like my first or any liftoff in one of those crazy whirly-birds.

 

I dream of completing my training through at least CFI then would like to open a flight training center. Have already looked into the market for training as well as the market for other helicopter uses, seems pretty stable and alot of growth potental. Has anyone else looked into something like this. Am I crazy to think about such a drastic career change this late in life.

 

Did you ever have a feeling that something would just work. I know there are many variables but there is that gut feeling that this can work if I put forth the effort. It may not be easy, but I see success. I would have to have at least one other CFI/II - If there is any interest in the Virginia area - please drop me a note, i'd like to talk.

[67november]

I've read multiple posts and threads of "older" pilot training, i think what it's boiling down to is MID LIFE CRISIS

 

it used to be the sports cars and other toys now it seams more and more to be holding that cyclic and flying off the the next vacation spot

 

by the way I turn 44 next month and looking to start training in 12+ months.

[FXBGHELOS]

I've read multiple posts and threads of "older" pilot training, i think what it's boiling down to is MID LIFE CRISIS

 

it used to be the sports cars and other toys now it seams more and more to be holding that cyclic and flying off the the next vacation spot

 

by the way I turn 44 next month and looking to start training in 12+ months.

 

I have been interested in helicopters for a long time -- guess some of it is still that mid life crisis thing going on too. Since I took my first flight about 2 years ago, i have been hooked good. Nothing like the view from up there. Of course my wife thinks i'm nuts and when I talk about i'd like to start a school, she don't like that idea at all....anyway, another story.....

[67november]

Of course my wife thinks i'm nuts and when I talk about i'd like to start a school, she don't like that idea at all....anyway, another story.....

 

get your wife to understand where your coming from, without her suport you'll wind up with a case of AIDS

 

Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome

[Fire Dave]

I too am 45. I have had the same job for 25 years. I have always loved helicopters and flying ever since I was a kid and my uncle took me up in his Piper Cub.

Tomorrow I am checking out Canadian Helicopter in Toronto. I have been to National. Hopefully I can start ground school in the fall.

 

Dave

[FXBGHELOS]

get your wife to understand where your coming from, without her suport you'll wind up with a case of AIDS

 

Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome

 

She tells me to go take the lessons, but she isn't sure she can handle me flying for a living. I keep telling her that if she really loves me she would support me. Don't seem to work very well with her. I don't know where it will carry me.

 

[fry]

I am in my mid 40s and have taken 3 or 4 hours of training in the past year or so.

 

I dream of completing my training through at least CFI then would like to open a flight training center. Have already looked into the market for training as well as the market for other helicopter uses, seems pretty stable and alot of growth potental. Has anyone else looked into something like this. Am I crazy to think about such a drastic career change this late in life.

 

Why do you think the world needs another helicopter flight training center? :-)

 

Seriously, what did you find when you looked at the market for flight training? I mean, are there really enough folks out there who can come up with $50k to become CFIs (or however much they'll pay until they run out of money or enthusiasm)? Especially with interest rates going up. And how would you generate revenue from "other helicopter uses"...there's not a lot of demand for R-22 longline work? How would you get the aircraft...and the other start-up costs? Bankers are not keen on lending to aviation businesses (you think your wife is cool to the idea now wait til you tell her you're getting a second on the house and borrowing from your IRA to chase your dream of flight)? And insurance? Pathfinder would probably be your only option and that is expensive, awful insurance.

 

But, there is an outfit in Utah...Upper Limit Aviation...that is doing what you'd like to do (I only know about them from this board and their website). They say they are the "premier" flight school in the West...only opened in '04, brand new CFI & 3 aircraft. Now that's chutzpah. (http://www.ulaheli.com/helicopter-training-school.php). You ought to give him a call and ask him how he got started.

 

And yes, it is a crazy idea. But anyone who starts their own business is crazy. Why would anyone take the risk? If you're going to be a small businessperson the only folks who will understand why you're doing it are other small businesspeople. And a network of them to talk to is your best hope for success because there are not enough hours in a day to learn it all by trial-and-error.

 

Good luck crazy person.

[Superman]

My wife didn't understand my passion for flying either....Sooooooo I got rid of the wife and kept on flying. Ya know I still haven't spent as much on flying as I did getting rid of the wife!!!

[67november]

ah yes marrige is grand, and divorce is 10 grand

[Heli_Girl]

Hah i guess im lucky then, I don't have a wife to deal with lol And my boyfriend that i've been with for 6 years is all for me flying, and he does everything he can to help me out, and get me flying

[RotorWeed]

I say go for it. I have no regrets about spending the money to get my pilots license! I would do it again in a minute.

 

Rotor

[FXBGHELOS]

Why do you think the world needs another helicopter flight training center? :-)

 

Seriously, what did you find when you looked at the market for flight training? I mean, are there really enough folks out there who can come up with $50k to become CFIs (or however much they'll pay until they run out of money or enthusiasm)? Especially with interest rates going up. And how would you generate revenue from "other helicopter uses"...there's not a lot of demand for R-22 longline work? How would you get the aircraft...and the other start-up costs? Bankers are not keen on lending to aviation businesses (you think your wife is cool to the idea now wait til you tell her you're getting a second on the house and borrowing from your IRA to chase your dream of flight)? And insurance? Pathfinder would probably be your only option and that is expensive, awful insurance.

 

But, there is an outfit in Utah...Upper Limit Aviation...that is doing what you'd like to do (I only know about them from this board and their website). They say they are the "premier" flight school in the West...only opened in '04, brand new CFI & 3 aircraft. Now that's chutzpah. (http://www.ulaheli.com/helicopter-training-school.php). You ought to give him a call and ask him how he got started.

 

And yes, it is a crazy idea. But anyone who starts their own business is crazy. Why would anyone take the risk? If you're going to be a small businessperson the only folks who will understand why you're doing it are other small businesspeople. And a network of them to talk to is your best hope for success because there are not enough hours in a day to learn it all by trial-and-error.

 

Good luck crazy person.

 

I have looked at the market, probably not in extreme detail but yes I have did some market survey work. There are alot of people out there that will fork over 50k if they can to get there ticket. Heck sometimes its really not about the money, after all money isn't everything, but it does help. I'd rather be doing something I completely love than doing something that makes me alot of money and gives me alot of grey hair. In addition to the flight training market I think there is - additionally there are local radio and television stations that I have talked to already and they are very interested in hiring a chopper for the morning and evening traffic reports. They can easy get the money back by having business sponsors.

 

As far as being able to afford the ship, I can do that without too much problems and without getting a second on the house. The hardest part would be giving up the full time job and the income for something that may or may not make the bacon immediately. Anyway, its all in a days work right.

 

I will talk to those people out west and may get some pointers - thanks for the tip.

 

When we stop dreaming we stop living. I will always be a dreamer until life is taken from me.

[Witch]

I've read multiple posts and threads of "older" pilot training, i think what it's boiling down to is MID LIFE CRISIS

 

it used to be the sports cars and other toys now it seams more and more to be holding that cyclic and flying off the the next vacation spot

 

by the way I turn 44 next month and looking to start training in 12+ months.

Dang, it sounds like, from your posts, you've been flying for 44 years. I got the bug a few months ago after hearing an SSH ad, I got an interview, a flight, but was not accepted. Plan B-Flight school in Corvallis

 

Almost have the money, and I'm gonna get-r-done.

 

Later

[fry]

As far as being able to afford the ship, I can do that without too much problems and without getting a second on the house. The hardest part would be giving up the full time job and the income for something that may or may not make the bacon immediately.

 

And don't forget the cost of getting your CFI. You did say you didn't have it yet, didn't you? So you'd give up the full time job and so you wouldn't have that income coming in, plus you'd have the outflow for rent, maintenance and other overhead. Gonna use the retirement nestegg to buy the aircraft? Maybe you should look into a SSH franchise. All that "live your dream" and "it's not about the money" stuff is their sales pitch.

[67november]

Dang, it sounds like, from your posts, you've been flying for 44 years.

No, but my first exposure with helos was back in 1968, when the Army landed a couple of S61's in the park across the street from the house. been hooked ever since.

started bending wrenches on a/c in 1984, unfortunatly I cound not find work when I finally came home to this land of 10,000 lakes, so I jockey this desk for now.

[Guest rookie101]

unfortunatly I cound not find work when I finally came home to this land of 10,000 lakes, so I jockey this desk for now.

 

Yikes, now there is a dilema