WolftalonID

Good to know.

Well...you have heard...and I gave advise...can lead a horse to water...cannot make it drink. When advise that’s sound is given..then try and follow it, change your mindset, open up to doing more than you are..and you will find more in life than what your experience is at the moment.

My advise is simple....do your research. When you see crap spoken about any place there is always more and well deserved. When you see positive it’s also well deserved. Pilots live for drama..as you are most likely aware...so why would we shy from it on forums. Find a good 141 school. One that has altitude over sea level. One that’s got reputation for success. One that treats students like family. One that doesn’t brag like a douche bag. Find a school that focuses on building industry quality pilots. Be willing to move to go to it too. This is a gypsy industry. It takes time building hours before one can return to live where they vacation and work where you work. As an example of a quality school, check into Silverhawk Aviation Academy in Idaho. I went there, taught there, attribute a lot of my success to them and the values taught I seek in the industry for employment...although the industry is much more ruthless than anticipated.

Son you need to go to a legit school. Call Silverhawk Aviation Academy in Caldwell Idaho. Legit, VA approved 100% funding.

So how has the search progressed?

Yep coastal waters exemption from LA tax. Paid ID state income only to be safe.

Well ok then...consensus says I was harsh...who would expect anything different from me by now. I spoke how I felt based on personal observations. When I graduated highschool way back in the 90’s I dreamed of being an aviator...I had an instructor who showed so much passion he pulled the same right out from me. He moved on in his success and I moved away. Years went by and I once more pursued the dream. I spoke with some older helicopter pilots...as I had originally pursued fixed wing. Back then fixed wingers struggled to make a buck while rotor wing made some cash faster in the ranks. All the old salts I spoke to were drowning in self misery and made it purposeful to pass that along to me...so I steered away and went to find a new fixed wing school. My luck...the instructor I found at a small school was more bored than an emo kid at church. I walked away again. Fast forward a decade....and I had grown wiser, with much more perspectives to draw from, and wisdom to see how protrayed opinion was vs who was doing the portraying. I went on the hunt again...found plenty of misery and a few optimistic success stories. I listened. I read. Sometimes people even spoke incite to my naïve mind. I had a dream, a passion, and knew that passion is not built on misery. I followed those who emanated their own passion. With wisdom and determination I succeeded. Many do not. Many who do succeed do it without passion and result in misery. My point is this. If your perspective of success is not in what you pursue...then chalk it up as maybe it wasnt for you. But to forcast that consequence onto a dreamer looking to follow a possible passion is wrong. Pull from them their passion by building it with some of your own. Give them wisdom to success from knowledge only you have. Do not destroy a passion from your own regrets. Aviation is not for everyone...even for some spending years doing it to figure it out. Even at PHI...not everyone enjoys what it is I enjoy. I fly a shallow water field contract in a 407, no a/c, 30-50 landings a day and I live offshore, 14 days on then 14 days off, making the work load more than a cush deep water heavy job would. When I was interviewed the manager layed out the job details. He said can you handle flying 6-8 hours a day? Can you handle doing 30-60 take offs and landings a day? Can you handle 100* heat with 110% humidity and no a/c, doors on conditions? Can you handle a rather rough around the edges customer who demands retarded stuff without concerns of aviation safety and stay professional and focused? Can you handle flying 14 days away from family at a time? I replied...let me get this straight.. You are going to pay me X amount of money to take 13 vacations a year, then when I am exhausted from those vacations, I get one more? And I can fly helicopters the rest of the time? Both were accurate perspectives.....like anything we see out there..which channel do you find your passion from. John

In the offshore world you find two types of helicopter drivers. (1) Pilots. Love what they do. Can master the toughest jobs. Build customer service around the most unique people. Enjoy being the pilot for the guys who need them there. Make friends easy. Have enough intelligence to understand what they are getting into before they get there. Can handle the task at hand with professional poise and grace. (2) Bitches. No explanation required. I personally live offshore with my guys. Love it. Food has a mix of things to eat, and you can choose what to eat. Room is nice for its age. Never once saw a sign for esbestos...but maybe if they print a sign for asbestos in spanish it might read that way. Having a degree, helps me read though. I spent nearly 20 years working construction, framing, siding, roofing, building cabinets, trim. Worked in mines, ran heavy equipment...all alongside those with and without educations....most were honest, hard working tough mother f&*#+s who could kick your ass if out of line and back yours up when it wasnt. You earned respect there...never entitled to it. Now I switch careers and bust my ass to climb the ladder...over the top of the shoulders of those who went before me...Pilots...and Bitches...and along the way have discovered...Offshore piloting...same same as my previous life...just a bit more awesome...because I get to fly helicopters. My advise...listen to everyone...suceed with those who can show you their passion....walk away from those who regret their choices. Get on weight watchers...drop some weight. I am 6 foot 2 inches and went sub 200 easlily enough to get through school. Keeping it there takes as much effort as getting there, and helps keep your mind and body sharp..you need that to fly. Edited to make me 6 foot 2 inches....not 62..haha...god not yet..not yet.

Yes..my opposite comes in from Cambodia.

I saw it happen when I was instructing. Made a pretty loud pop on the bird next to me..we were both running up on the ground. Bag hit so hard it melted slightly to the blades.

Well if you ask Mark at Rocky Mountain Rotors in Montana, he has a very opposite opinion. They have one and fly it in high altitudes around the Bozeman area and love it. The recent article and cover of Rotorcraft Pro has the pictire of his.

Well...first question I would have..is why are you looking behind you to land vs picking a spot, moving the helicopter to it?

Try the gulf. They need pilots bad.

The aspens inclometer should be accurate for trim if installed properly.

Reducing blade flap on windy days when a blade is hanging over the edge of a platform....it works..just dont let it wind up too much. 10-15% is what seems to be the unspoken we dont talk about it technique. Just saying from a friend who I know whos second cousins fathers cats breeders neighbor knew about back in nam.