New Pilots Vs. Employment opportunities

[BJH]

I apologize if this question has been asked before, but I've noticed all the new pilots in training on this forum and I wonder if we will be seeing a greater supply rather than demand for pilots scenario in the near future.

 

I keep reading about the growth rate of the industry as well as the retirement of Vietnam Veteran pilots and I feel optimistic about employment opportunities. However, I just have to wonder if there are already enough pilots already in training. Hope this is not a stupid question.

 

Those with experience in this industry, please give me your professional opinions.

 

Thanks

[Sparker]

*No experience in this industry*

 

It has been brought up a couple times (by me, too)...

 

Check these out:

 

http://helicopterforum.verticalreference.com/helicopterfor...?showtopic=5236

 

http://www.verticalreference.com/helicopte...?showtopic=5112

 

http://originalforum.justhelicopters.com/D...jsd=True#384915

 

 

 

Basically, when I asked, nobody seemed too concerned. I just took their word for it and hopelessly invested the rest of my life into a career that is know for extreme booms and crashes. Life wouldn't be worth living with out some excitement, though.

 

Be passionate about what you do. You'll be fine.

[Goldy]

Many years ago I attended a certain training facility ( shall remain nameless !). I looked around at 63 recruits in my class. A year later, 21 of us graduated.

 

I know many many people who were once helo students. For different reasons, most never got their PPL. Even fewer still went on to commercial or instrument. So, look around at 10 students....probably half wont get to PPL. Just my experience..throw in a lil SSH and the numbers are probably even less than 50%.

 

Goldy

[BJH]

Thank you both for your help. I'm a 35 year old guy trying to change careers and follow a dream. I know nothing is a guarantee, but I'd like to know chances are better than not that jobs will be available once I have the hours. My wife is behind me, God bless her, and I'm aware sacrifices are required.

 

I've made a very good living for the past 6 years, but I have 30 years of work remaining and I just want to look forward to work each day. Those of my friends, that are not supportive, tell me "that's just life, you don't just get to do what you want to do", but I disagree. I still believe, in this country, if you really want something, its obtainable.

[Hovergirl]

Those of my friends, that are not supportive, tell me "that's just life, you don't just get to do what you want to do", but I disagree.

 

Those are your FRIENDS? Man, you need some new ones who aren't in the business of poisoning your plans just because they're unhappy. I think Goldy has a good point -- I already know a couple of people with 10 or so hours who didn't go all the way through. I think if you have the maturity and commitment to get through your training and a good dose of professionalism, that will separate you from a lot of people.

 

Hope so anyways.

 

HVG

[klmmarine]

Thank you both for your help. I'm a 35 year old guy trying to change careers and follow a dream. I know nothing is a guarantee, but I'd like to know chances are better than not that jobs will be available once I have the hours. My wife is behind me, God bless her, and I'm aware sacrifices are required.

 

I've made a very good living for the past 6 years, but I have 30 years of work remaining and I just want to look forward to work each day. Those of my friends, that are not supportive, tell me "that's just life, you don't just get to do what you want to do", but I disagree. I still believe, in this country, if you really want something, its obtainable.

 

 

I am doing it so don't ever let anyone tell you that it can't be done. I am 31 and had a very established and well paying career, that I left to follow my dream of flying. I am now at 110 hours and loving every minute of it. My wife was behind me and now that she has been for a ride she is even more supportive.

 

I don't subscribe to the "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." school of thought, BUT if you are willing to work hard and dedicate yourself to it, you will make it happen.

[BJH]

Thanks to all for the comments, help and support.

[JPDPilot]

For different reasons, most never got their PPL. Even fewer still went on to commercial or instrument.

 

What do you think is the main reason for people quitting their training? Is it cost, finding training too challenging, etc?

 

JPDPilot

[Sparker]

What do you think is the main reason for people quitting their training? Is it cost, finding training too challenging, etc?

 

JPDPilot

 

 

The point Ive heard most people get really discouraged is trying to hover. They can't catch on to it right away and give up. Finances, stress at home, some thought helicopters weren't as cool as they imagined.

[mechanic]

I am 39 today. I have been training part time for a little over two years now and have just 26 hrs TT. I thought I would be a working CFI by now. I use the MS 02' Sim to keep my skills fresh as possible. My job has gotten progressively busier since I started training and I also have a new boss that does not want me to fly and makes it very hard for me to take off to make the 2.0 hr commute one way.

 

I have also incurred some pretty big medical bills with my youngest daughter last year, so I've been busting my hump to get it paid. I am starting to get discouraged by the extra long time its taking me to make progress. I guess I will keep going at a very slow pace. Hopefully I will get there.

 

The flying has come mostly pretty easy for me, since I can operate all kinds of construction, ag, and industrial equipment. The studying has been kicking my butt, though. If you want it bad enough I would think you will get there.

 

Good Luck….

 

[slick1537]

I for one believe that if you want anything bad enough, you can do it. Especially in todays day and age where so much information is freely available via the internet and even help from people across the world via web forums.

[fry]

Thank you both for your help. I'm a 35 year old guy trying to change careers and follow a dream. I know nothing is a guarantee, but I'd like to know chances are better than not that jobs will be available once I have the hours. My wife is behind me, God bless her, and I'm aware sacrifices are required.

 

I've made a very good living for the past 6 years, but I have 30 years of work remaining and I just want to look forward to work each day. Those of my friends, that are not supportive, tell me "that's just life, you don't just get to do what you want to do", but I disagree. I still believe, in this country, if you really want something, its obtainable.

 

Just curious but, have you ever flown anything? Instead of chucking it all a pursuing some vague "dream"...with the potentially crippling debt...why not get a fixed wing PPL? It's not that terribly expensive, most of the body of knowledge gained will transfer over to RW and it is a lot of fun.

 

Also, might I suggest a alternative credo to that provided by your friends, "Do what you do well for money (especially if you have kids), do what you like to do for fun".

[Sparker]

Just curious but, have you ever flown anything? Instead of chucking it all a pursuing some vague "dream"...with the potentially crippling debt...why not get a fixed wing PPL? It's not that terribly expensive, most of the body of knowledge gained will transfer over to RW and it is a lot of fun.

 

Also, might I suggest a alternative credo to that provided by your friends, "Do what you do well for money (especially if you have kids), do what you like to do for fun".

 

Good point, but you could also get a helo PPL. Besides, we all know fixed wing is BORING! (haha... I know some of you dual rated pilots might disagree)

 

But Fry raises a good point, but instead of just getting a fixed wing PPL, go take a $100 intro flight at the closest helicopter school, but I would personally avoid SSH. I've heard for some people fixed wing training can cause a lot of bad habits when you switch back over to rotor craft.

Stick with what you want to do, not whats cheap.

 

BTW- Your friends that say you don't get to do what you want to do are just trying to make themselves feel better about being trapped behind a desk while you may potentially be hovering around with the best office view ever.

Edited September 13, 2007 by Sparker

[jehh]

I still believe, in this country, if you really want something, its obtainable.

 

Then you have your answer...

 

Seriously, if you want something badly enough, you'll make it work. You just have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

[wannabe heli pilot]

Bjh, It's your life and you get on shot and many people change careers. I like Mechanic travel 2 hours on way as well times 4 flights this week! I took a night job to have more time available to fly.I was self employed before that so working and taking orders from someone else was interesting. Flying helicopters is a goal that is attainable and I'm all in so to speak. Good Luck!

[BJH]

Bjh, It's your life and you get on shot and many people change careers. I like Mechanic travel 2 hours on way as well times 4 flights this week! I took a night job to have more time available to fly.I was self employed before that so working and taking orders from someone else was interesting. Flying helicopters is a goal that is attainable and I'm all in so to speak. Good Luck!

 

Good luck to you as well.

[AdamSTL]

I use the MS 02' Sim to keep my skills fresh as possible.

 

If you have Pedals you should grab the xPlane demo; I think it makes even the HoverControl models look like rough estimates. And by look I don't mean "looks" although they do have three or four gorgeous models available at xplane.org - It's the Torque that really makes xPlane look so good - I haven't flown any FS200X or FSX Models that seem very accurate when it comes to Anti-Torque. Torques (Gyroscopic precession) is there as well among so many other intricacies. xPlane models the Surfaces of an Aircraft to produce it's physics data where MSFS uses canned equations. Equations produce good models of Fixed wings and enough of them could make a good Helicopter model but it hasn't been done. xPlanes brute-force method is pretty impressive. /end hi-jack