Questions on Pilot Careers

Ztirnivek · April 7, 2008

Hello all,

I am asking for help/guidance with the helicopter career. It has been a dream of mine to fly, and now i am ready to embark on this career. However, i have a few questions about it. Everything i read says that there is a high demand for pilots and the pay is high. Well i would liek the truth from real pilots and not schools trying to take my money and time. I am 30yrs old (soon to be 31), currentlly have an engineering job making 45k a year ( i know i probly wont make that right away). I have a school with in an hr away (i live near buffalo/niagara falls NY) that uses a 269c helicopter for training. so......

Are pilots in high demand?

Is this a good helicopter to learn on?

Am i wastin money on this?

What jobs can i get right away, if any?

Am i gonna be poor for the first few years, or do low hr jobs pay?

What should i expect to make anually? right away and later in life?

also, what states/areas would be best for getting jobs in? i am willing to go anywhere!

I know i am asking alot, but any information from you folks that are out there working would be GREAT! Please and thank you in advance!

NorCalHeliKid · April 8, 2008

Hello and welcome. I encourage you to do much more research than you have thus far, but since you are here I will try and help.

Are pilots in high demand?

What kind of pilots?

Is this a good helicopter to learn on?

Yes, arguably the best trainer out there.

Am i wastin money on this?

Yes, but join the club and hope for the best!

What jobs can i get right away, if any?

CFI, CFII...if any.

Am i gonna be poor for the first few years, or do low hr jobs pay?

Yes, you will be poor and work is unreliable at best.

What should i expect to make anually? right away and later in life?

That ALL depends on who you work for and who you know.

also, what states/areas would be best for getting jobs in? i am willing to go anywhere!

There are flight schools throughout the country. The highest concentration being in L.A. and FLA.

FLHooker · April 8, 2008

Ha. Welcome to the Addiction.

Ztirnivek · April 8, 2008

Thank you NorCalHeliKid,

however i have a few additional questions. When i said pilots, i basically meant helicopter pilots, meaning once i get my license is it gonna be difficult to get a job? I plan on learing here in NY where i have my full time job, this will help pay for most of my training and the obvious, living expenses. After that i am willing to relocate to just about anywhere, Cali and Fla on the top of the list by far. In your mind would it be diffucult to find work there? also you stated that i am waisting money? why is this? what did you mean by this? CFI jobs, are they full time or part time?

thank you once again.

DanceswithCyclic · April 8, 2008

Hello Ztirnivek,

One night at Boeing Field in Seattle, I asked some nice folks from Hillsboro Aviation if it was true that RTC pilots are in high demand. They replied, Qualified pilots are. You can generally read that as over 1000 hrs total time, and in many positions twice that. Search the net, helicopter pilot jobs.

Trainer Helos are almost always piston-powered for cost reasons.

Only you can decide if you are wasting money. Base that decision on what else is happening in your life.

Yep, CFI or CFII. It will feel like Full-time work at part-time pay, say maybe 15-25K a year. And there lots of CFIs out there.

It was recommended to me when I started, to self study about 3 hours for every hour of instruction given. As a fresh CFI (January), I feel that was good advice. Helped me lots.

My last piece of advice. Shy away from Training Contracts. Pay for time as you go or in blocks of less than 10 hrs. Set a ceiling or limit, of say 15 hrs of training or $2500 and re-evaluate your desire to continue.

NorCalHeliKid · April 9, 2008

Thank you NorCalHeliKid,

however i have a few additional questions. When i said pilots, i basically meant helicopter pilots, meaning once i get my license is it gonna be difficult to get a job? I plan on learing here in NY where i have my full time job, this will help pay for most of my training and the obvious, living expenses. After that i am willing to relocate to just about anywhere, Cali and Fla on the top of the list by far. In your mind would it be diffucult to find work there? also you stated that i am waisting money? why is this? what did you mean by this? CFI jobs, are they full time or part time?

thank you once again.

Again, what field of work as a helicopter pilot?

Where your full time job is... your chances of finishing your training without flying full time all the way through CFI/CFII....very low. Then, you would be wasting your money.

Wasting your money...because flying helicopters costs a lot of money and there are many people who are dedicating their lives for years to get the desirable hours and jobs that you are picturing in your head when you think helicopters. Its not east being broke and in debt to something that there is no meetings for like AA or NA or rehab of any kind....ask around.

I feel like Im pissing into the wind...do more research, visit schools, ask the CFIs their thoughts and meet and converse with people who have the jobs that you think you want to have one day.

helonorth · April 11, 2008

1) There are a lot of pilot positions available doing all kinds of work. You will generally need 1000

hours to get your foot in the door in the GOMexico or flying tours. 2000 hours to start flying EMS.

At 1500, you could probably get a corporate job or ENG.

2) You will most likely train in a Robinson R-22 or a Schweizer 300. Try to get time in both.

3) You will not be wasting your money. If you are determined to fly helicopters it is very doable

but expensive.

4) Your first job will be as an instructor. Be prepared for low pay, constant availability and low

pay. Plan on about a year and a half.

5) As I said low pay instructing $15-20K, low 50's starting in the GOMexico and tours.

6) Expect to top out at $75-80K, there are exceptions. I know guys that make a lot more in

ag work, but not my cup of tea.

7) You can get your first job teaching anywhere, but lots of schools in Fl. and Ca. You have

the right attitude by being ready to relocate.

simondlh · July 16, 2008

I've been looking into my options too and was initially leaning towards Canada although I've just found out that to be an instructor you need many hours and some hard dosh, this being the usual route after gaining your CPL leaves you a bit stuck and means you have to scrub floors in some hanger for a while whereas in America from what I've read you can be an instructor as soon as you gain your CPL and then gain hours this way.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong