Helix Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Long time fixed wing flyer here, I started fly helicopters last October and going for CFII in about a week. I was looking over helicopter ATP requirements in FAR61. 1200TT and only 200 of it has to be helicopter. How would employers feel about hiring an ATP heli pilot with less than 1,000 in category? Am I being too hopeful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingseapig Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 Long time fixed wing flyer here, I started fly helicopters last October and going for CFII in about a week. I was looking over helicopter ATP requirements in FAR61. 1200TT and only 200 of it has to be helicopter. How would employers feel about hiring an ATP heli pilot with less than 1,000 in category? Am I being too hopeful? Most employers won't hire you unless you have a minimum of 1000-1500 hrs "helo" time, depending on the company. This is due to primarily insurance coverage and lower rates of insurance rates for pilots in those flight hour ranges. Not saying you can't find a job out there with that type of ratings but it will make it a bit more difficult and limit your options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil77 Posted June 11, 2008 Report Share Posted June 11, 2008 "...minimum of 1000-1500 hrs "helo" time.." ...not necessary, it depends what you have flown and what you are planning to fly.In pretty much every corporate job (fixed-wing and helicopter) you are more a systems administrator than anything. For those jobs its crucial to know your systems inside and out; know how every hydraulic system works, what SAS and autopilots do if they fail and how you treat inflight engine fires, electrical issues etc. while you're in the soup. All that is certainly good to know also when you do vertical reference, but you'll be utilizing other traits - like your "stick-and-rudder" skills - more than systems knowledge. If you have a problem: land! (or try to crash so you can walk away). Bottomline: you'll need more helicopter time for the latter than for the twin-engine IFR jobs.(Actually, my Chief Pilot back in the days had a couple of thousand hours f/w time and only 80 hours in category when he became captain in an S-76 ) I forgot to mention that - as always - you have to be lucky to meet the right person at the right time to get those jobs, but they are out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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