Another newbie training question...

[Rogue]

Hi all, I am looking into becoming a Helo Pilot and have pretty much read everything here on this site and JH and well... I still wanna give it a shot. Like most normal living people though my only fear is to shell out mucho grande $$$$$ and the "need" for helicopter pilots not be as needed as claimed. I'd like to hear some feedback about how real the need for new pilots is.

 

I'd also like to hear ya'lls thoughts on training. I've pretty much settled on Bristow for a number of reasons - if ya'll could look at this link... http://www.heli.com/prospective-student/2-...nd-fees-FAA.php - at the bottom of the page it would look like Option A would maximize my hours and reassure my training but does anyone really think that the Mountain program, the External Load program and Commercial Pilot program to be worthwhile? it seems to be my understanding from all the reading I've done that after I'm liscensed and experienced and training I'd need would be provided on the job? I personally would like to have a GOM job since I already live on the coast. so at this point I have no desire to be a utility pilot or ems pilot, hauling saltwater gorrilas would be fine for me from that viewpoint it would seem Option B would be what I want to do, any thoughts? Thanks ya'll, Jeff

[bspindeli]

With all the research I have done, I would have to agree with you. Option B looks the best.

[RotorWeed]

I would go with option B. If you want to spend that extra 10 grand why not get yourself 40 more hours of PIC time? Your total PIC is what employers are going to look at anyway.

 

my 2 c

[Helihead]

I would go with option B. If you want to spend that extra 10 grand why not get yourself 40 more hours of PIC time? Your total PIC is what employers are going to look at anyway.

 

my 2 c

 

 

So my total time in fixed wing will count with employers? or are they looking helicopter PIC

Edited November 26, 2007 by Helihead

[RotorWeed]

So my total time in fixed wing will count with employers? or are they looking helicopter PIC

 

They are looking for Helicopter PIC, not fixed wing.

[Rogue]

thanks guys, i just got so caught up in all this reading and research i can confuse myself sometimes that's kinda what i was thinking was why spend the extra $$$

[apiaguy]

be aware that neither program gives you enough time to instruct in the R22 (you need 200 helicopter hours and 50 in the r22)....more$$

 

I know 2 guys in the last 6 months who completed all their ratings (thru CFI) and the first couldn't find a job (only had 160 hrs heli) and the other didn't want to go to the gulf or alaska so completely gave up.

[Rogue]

oooh almost overlooked that part!!! thank you!!! hmmm... that makes my suspicions of the "need for more pilots" even greater... if they need more pilots soooo badly then why is it so hard to get the experience. i understand it shouldn't be easy to get your liscense but there's a heck of a difference between 50 hours and 1000 hours!!! now for example - they need semi-truck drivers and they'll train you for free, i know kinda of a funny comparison but let me tell you as a class a cdl holder driving a rig ain't no easy feat itself, albeit not anywhere near pilot hard but my point is if they need pilots so bad then why is it so hard to get a job? this is something i don't want to find out AFTER I shell out the bucks for training if you know what i mean.

[slick1537]

I would get your instrument and instrument instructor ratings. You may be selling yourself short by not getting them.

[helonorth]

Just an idea, but it worked for me. I got my commercial at Bristow and found a school close to

home to get my CFI. I was able to build a relationship with the school and got a job when I

finished. Took a while, but I got busy and the hours came. Now in the GOM. Rotorweed:

GOM employers will consider fixed wing time, but the majority should be heli. Had 150 and they

counted it. Talked to guys with much more that got hired.

[Rogue]

all good advice thank ya'll

 

i'm looking at a total career change so yea i wanna go from zero to hero if possible... i know that there aren't any guarentees and it depends on my ability - that's just a lotta bucks to be shelling out so i just trying to make sure that i make a sound decision!

 

i guess the conspiracy theorist in me comes out at times and well he's saying.. "if i owned a training school i'd say there's a demand for pilots too!" hahha

 

so even if I took "option A" I still have to find a way to bridge the gap from there to being able to be hired as a trainer! that is something i definetly hadn't considered. i guess no matter how ya cut the cake its going to take about $75k to be hireable as a trainer, does that sound about right?

[jehh]

$75K is a safe number to work with, however it can be done for $60K if you get it right...

 

The thing is, you do not need 200 hours to teach in Schweizers, however there are a limited number of Schweizer only schools left, so that limits your job options.

 

And yes, those of us who own schools are all biased when we say there is a demand for pilots. The thing is, there really is a demand for pilots, at least qualified professional pilots with good attitudes who are willing to do what it takes, and do not expect it handed to them. It is all about attitude, having a good one makes all the difference.

[Kilkenny]

$60K??????????

 

Holy cow! I'm getting my PPL and CPL, both heli, for less than $20K. And when I go for my commercial checkride, I'll have more turbine than piston!

 

Man it's great to be me!

 

And for all you naysayers, it is possible and the answer is in the forums. I have worked for 7 years to make this happen.

[Rogue]

Thanks Jehh, its good to hear feedback about that topic. I didn't mean to insult you and if I did I apologize, the inner conspiracy theorist in me thing was meant tongue in cheek. I got the impression from the forums that most of the people in the helicopter industry are very fine upstanding people.

 

 

Ok, I'll bite... Kilkenny I've done a serious amount of reading could you point out to me what I've must have missed? Even going to Bristow I can get my certifications fairly cheaply but albeit with the minimum amount of hours. Bristow or wherever I may end up going to me is trying to get as many hours as possible so that I may transition from my current career to a new career as smoothly and hopefully as quickly as possible. I am 33 years old and still have bills to pay though I can afford to basically take a year off and go to school I'll need to get back to making money as soon as possible!

[ascott20]

Get your CFII, get a job as an instructor, build hours. That is the best experience trainer out there. If you do your training in Robbies and don't have enough to instruct, look into Boatpix or other affordable time-building flight programs after you get your certs. They will give you some great experience and hours at a cheaper price.

[heloskypilot]

I am currently a cfii and employed teaching, took 3 years to finish all my ratings, while working full time. My approximate costs in the end were about 58k, took no loans, just paid as i flew. (had a real good job). Now , paying my dues making a little money building hours instructing in the R22. (got the sfar sign off in the R44 also). all of this played a major role in getting hired above others that did not get the instrument instructor or r44 sign off. (I also had a career change at 37 (started at 34). Enjoying every day and learning a lot day by day. That is the great part of instructing, you should be always learning and improving your skills. I also am managing the operations where i work (since it is only one bird and me) and this will add to my resume also.

[heloskypilot]

Just another note, Minimum hrs are just that... 40 hrs for the ppl is what the feds require, the average is 55-60 range and some people higher. This depends on the frequency of your training and how quick you catch on. All in all , i finished at 212 hrs with the final rating of instrument instructor and r44 sfar sign off (this is need to instruct in the 44 as well as you need to get the sfar sign off in the R22). So , plan on going over a little, try to finish at the minimums and if you go over a few hours, fine.. you will have the extra money to do that.(just don't tell the school how much you have. pay as you go and manage your own hours and ratings. Keep track of your progress yourself, this is what it means to become a professional. (although a good flight instructor should be tracking your progress and preparing you for the checkride. good luck.

[Goldy]

$60K??????????

 

Holy cow! I'm getting my PPL and CPL, both heli, for less than $20K. And when I go for my commercial checkride, I'll have more turbine than piston!

 

Man it's great to be me!

 

And for all you naysayers, it is possible and the answer is in the forums. I have worked for 7 years to make this happen.

 

 

Now theres a man thats been paying attention.

[Rogue]

not really Goldy, I've been talking about going all the way to CFII. of course only getting to commercial is cheaper. now who's paying attention hahaha don't mean to sound insulting but if it insults you then oh well.

 

thank ya'll for the replies, I think the right answer for me and what I want is to choose a place like Bristow and just go all out, pay as you go would be great if I lived near a good school as in my current career I make good money but I think I'm going to go ahead and bite the bullet, get a loan and get it done, thanks again ya'll.

[jehh]

$60K??????????

 

Holy cow! I'm getting my PPL and CPL, both heli, for less than $20K. And when I go for my commercial checkride, I'll have more turbine than piston!

 

Man it's great to be me!

 

And for all you naysayers, it is possible and the answer is in the forums. I have worked for 7 years to make this happen.

 

Wow, that is a good deal... $133.33/hr including CFI, all ground instruction, checkrides, written tests, etc? ($20K / 150 hrs)

 

So humor us, how are you doing it for under $20K from scratch (what the original poster is trying to do and what the $60K number is based on) with no prior flight experience?

 

(BTW, if you're doing an add-on to your airplane ratings, that doesn't count since it only requires 60 hours total time, and yes that can be done for $20K)

[jk5549]

$60K??????????

 

Holy cow! I'm getting my PPL and CPL, both heli, for less than $20K. And when I go for my commercial checkride, I'll have more turbine than piston!

 

Man it's great to be me!

 

And for all you naysayers, it is possible and the answer is in the forums. I have worked for 7 years to make this happen.

 

Hello,

 

I am looking for flight training, and that cost of 20K sounds great...where did you got o get that? I would love to save that kind of money.

 

Thanks.