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#1
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Heliocopter pilot as career change?
Hello All,
I was hoping I might be able to get some feedback/advice from people who have experience in the commercial aviation field. I am trying to make a decision on whether pursuing a career, as a commercial helicopter pilot is realistic. First a little (I promise) bit of background. I am a 34 y/o man in good health and I currently work as a software engineer. My education is that of a Biochemist but I entered the computer field, and left graduate school, writing software during the "Dot Com" boom of the late 90's. As most everyone knows when the bottom dropped out of the "Internet" era a lot of jobs went with it as well as the security I had in the field. The fact is that with economy still recovering and many, many software development projects going over seas, jobs are still hard to find and the salaries have been literally cut in half. All that being said, I have started looking at possibly switching to other careers. I am a private pilot though I do not have many hours flying solo. In fact, after I got my ticket I barley got to fly at all, mostly because of money. In fact is has been about 5 years since I have flown solo and I would need some instructor time in the cockpit before being ready to go up on my own again. I have always looked at careers in aviation as something that I would enjoy but since I never went the military route I figured I never had a chance. Also the regular long time away from home that airline pilots endure is something that would not be right for my wife and children. Plus after what my flight instructor told me regarding the low pay that pilot's get while trying to get their Multi Engine, and Turbine, etc... Ratings? Let's just say from what he told me you don't start making good money as an airline pilot until you are flying the 737 size jets and higher. In any case I had the opportunity to speak to a helicopter pilot instructor at my local airfield. He made it sounds as if civilian helicopter pilots can get hired without military experience. Contrary to what I had thought, he said that non-military pilots worked for medieval, police, and news organizations as well as others. He went on to mention tourism related professions out in Alaska and other locations. I asked him if one had to own their own helicopter to be paid as a pilot and he said not at all. He said that in his situation he started instructing by leasing a Robinson helo and the business just grew and grew. Now he owns 4 R22's and hires others to instruct for him. Now this all sounds nice but he does have an incentive to get someone to take lessons from him, hence why I am looking for outside opinions from those who are already in the field. What I am looking for is a career that I would love going to everyday and one that might allow me to support my family. I still enjoy writing software and have had limited success writing commercial programs and consulting, but if it were realistic to think that I could find a job as a commercial helicopter pilot to provide/supplement my income I would invest the time and money (approx $20,000) it would take to earn my commercial rating. Thank you in advance for any advice or comments. - David ) |
#2
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I think the challenge will be getting insured as a low chopper time pilot.
"NewsMonkey" wrote in message ... Hello All, I was hoping I might be able to get some feedback/advice from people who have experience in the commercial aviation field. I am trying to make a decision on whether pursuing a career, as a commercial helicopter pilot is realistic. First a little (I promise) bit of background. I am a 34 y/o man in good health and I currently work as a software engineer. My education is that of a Biochemist but I entered the computer field, and left graduate school, writing software during the "Dot Com" boom of the late 90's. As most everyone knows when the bottom dropped out of the "Internet" era a lot of jobs went with it as well as the security I had in the field. The fact is that with economy still recovering and many, many software development projects going over seas, jobs are still hard to find and the salaries have been literally cut in half. All that being said, I have started looking at possibly switching to other careers. I am a private pilot though I do not have many hours flying solo. In fact, after I got my ticket I barley got to fly at all, mostly because of money. In fact is has been about 5 years since I have flown solo and I would need some instructor time in the cockpit before being ready to go up on my own again. I have always looked at careers in aviation as something that I would enjoy but since I never went the military route I figured I never had a chance. Also the regular long time away from home that airline pilots endure is something that would not be right for my wife and children. Plus after what my flight instructor told me regarding the low pay that pilot's get while trying to get their Multi Engine, and Turbine, etc... Ratings? Let's just say from what he told me you don't start making good money as an airline pilot until you are flying the 737 size jets and higher. In any case I had the opportunity to speak to a helicopter pilot instructor at my local airfield. He made it sounds as if civilian helicopter pilots can get hired without military experience. Contrary to what I had thought, he said that non-military pilots worked for medieval, police, and news organizations as well as others. He went on to mention tourism related professions out in Alaska and other locations. I asked him if one had to own their own helicopter to be paid as a pilot and he said not at all. He said that in his situation he started instructing by leasing a Robinson helo and the business just grew and grew. Now he owns 4 R22's and hires others to instruct for him. Now this all sounds nice but he does have an incentive to get someone to take lessons from him, hence why I am looking for outside opinions from those who are already in the field. What I am looking for is a career that I would love going to everyday and one that might allow me to support my family. I still enjoy writing software and have had limited success writing commercial programs and consulting, but if it were realistic to think that I could find a job as a commercial helicopter pilot to provide/supplement my income I would invest the time and money (approx $20,000) it would take to earn my commercial rating. Thank you in advance for any advice or comments. - David ) |
#3
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$20K sounds about right to get the commercial helicopter. I think initially
your bigger opportunity to fly for hire will be as a helicopter CFI. Just had my first helicopter lesson last week, and the CFI, who has about 400 hours in helicopters, said he spent about $45K in training in checkrides (private through CFII). Sounds like he feels he'll be teaching for another 6-12 months before he'll get hired on either in the Gulf of Mexico or Grand Canyon, which he said were the two biggest markets for turbine helicopter jobs at around $45K. He said typical EMS jobs want 1000-3000 hours of experience. Good luck! Max T, CFI, ATP Otis Winslow wrote in message .. . I think the challenge will be getting insured as a low chopper time pilot. "NewsMonkey" wrote in message ... Hello All, I was hoping I might be able to get some feedback/advice from people who have experience in the commercial aviation field. I am trying to make a decision on whether pursuing a career, as a commercial helicopter pilot is realistic. First a little (I promise) bit of background. I am a 34 y/o man in good health and I currently work as a software engineer. My education is that of a Biochemist but I entered the computer field, and left graduate school, writing software during the "Dot Com" boom of the late 90's. As most everyone knows when the bottom dropped out of the "Internet" era a lot of jobs went with it as well as the security I had in the field. The fact is that with economy still recovering and many, many software development projects going over seas, jobs are still hard to find and the salaries have been literally cut in half. All that being said, I have started looking at possibly switching to other careers. I am a private pilot though I do not have many hours flying solo. In fact, after I got my ticket I barley got to fly at all, mostly because of money. In fact is has been about 5 years since I have flown solo and I would need some instructor time in the cockpit before being ready to go up on my own again. I have always looked at careers in aviation as something that I would enjoy but since I never went the military route I figured I never had a chance. Also the regular long time away from home that airline pilots endure is something that would not be right for my wife and children. Plus after what my flight instructor told me regarding the low pay that pilot's get while trying to get their Multi Engine, and Turbine, etc... Ratings? Let's just say from what he told me you don't start making good money as an airline pilot until you are flying the 737 size jets and higher. In any case I had the opportunity to speak to a helicopter pilot instructor at my local airfield. He made it sounds as if civilian helicopter pilots can get hired without military experience. Contrary to what I had thought, he said that non-military pilots worked for medieval, police, and news organizations as well as others. He went on to mention tourism related professions out in Alaska and other locations. I asked him if one had to own their own helicopter to be paid as a pilot and he said not at all. He said that in his situation he started instructing by leasing a Robinson helo and the business just grew and grew. Now he owns 4 R22's and hires others to instruct for him. Now this all sounds nice but he does have an incentive to get someone to take lessons from him, hence why I am looking for outside opinions from those who are already in the field. What I am looking for is a career that I would love going to everyday and one that might allow me to support my family. I still enjoy writing software and have had limited success writing commercial programs and consulting, but if it were realistic to think that I could find a job as a commercial helicopter pilot to provide/supplement my income I would invest the time and money (approx $20,000) it would take to earn my commercial rating. Thank you in advance for any advice or comments. - David ) |
#4
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Well Mr. Monkey.... Far be it for me a lowly lurker and armchair pilot
to step in here when others far more qualified are giving such good advice..... But let me make my comments. I currently work as a software engineer First as everyone will tell you, I'm sure - DON"T give up your day job. Now as they are starting to tell you - Don't expect to be flying a copper chopper, medical chopper, TV chopper, or oilrig chopper anytime soon. Now you will notice that a large segment of your potential employers has just disappeared..... Oh what to do, oh what to do. Well..... as you have stated - YOU currently work as a software engineer. In your shoes I would start approaching the small, tiny, out of the way, miniscule mom and pop operators and have a serious talk about your abilities as a software engineer and how you could seriously help them improve, promote, and maintain their computer systems particularily on the web. And at the same time how you want to become a helicopter pilot and gain experience ( hours ) as a pilot. Take a look at how many small companies ( not just helicopter or aviation companies ) that have an absolutely lousy web site. No pictures worth a spit, no rah rah and very little reason to deal with them when they are in the middle of the stagnant majority. SAFARI helicopters is a very good example of this. They actually manufacture helicopter kits and are about the only company in the world that manufactures kits and yet for the past few years their website has been stagnant and dull dull dull. Yet if you asked them they would be the first to agree that they are trying to get their customers attention and generate new leads and sales through that website. Imagine how many small helicopter companies are out there that have had some buddy, relative, el cheapo programmer, or whatever design their website and maintain it. Or who has set up their computer system for business use with systems, hardware, softare that is now obsolete and perhaps of limited use for todays and tomorrows market and business requirements. If I was you and actually got that helicopter license or was in the process of seriously getting that license and actually looking around the marketplace for a job I would start at the bottom of the barrel and look for operators who wanted to improve their appearance and bottom line and who could seriously use your help. If I were you I would use a helicopter operation as a business model and put together a substantial presentation as to how your skills as a software engineer could help their business and by being employed by them how they as an operator could help you gain the hours your want. Isn't this how you would go about obtaining employment if you were interested in entereing automotive manufacturing business, or shoe business, or construction business, or............?????????? |
#5
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Shiver Me Timbers wrote: Isn't this how you would go about obtaining employment if you were interested in entereing automotive manufacturing business, or shoe business, or construction business, or............?????????? It certainly isn't the way I would go about it. I may be completely out of date, but I get the skills I need for the job first, then I apply for the position. Sounds to me that's what Mr. Monkey has in mind. George Patterson Treason is ne'er successful, Sir; what then be the reason? Why, if treason be successful, Sir, then none dare call it treason. |
#6
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Shiver Me Timbers wrote: Isn't this how you would go about obtaining employment if you were interested in entereing automotive manufacturing business, or shoe business, or construction business, or............?????????? G.R. Patterson III wrote: It certainly isn't the way I would go about it. I may be completely out of date, but I get the skills I need for the job first, then I apply for the position. Yup.... I kinda realized I wasn't quite clear after I posted. What I was trying to impress up him was that if he had a helicopter rating and also had another marketeable skill that would be of true value to a potential employer that he should put together a package that highlighted those special skills to that company and why hiring him would be mutually beneficial to both. |
#7
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Shiver Me Timbers wrote:
I currently work as a software engineer First as everyone will tell you, I'm sure - DON"T give up your day job. I doubt that he plans to give up his day job. I think he has been reading the writing on the wall. Software jobs have been evaporating faster than a raindrop in the desert. Anyone who has a job in IT knows that they wont be employed for much longer due to the influx of H-1B's, L-1's and offshoring. He is probably just preparing for that now so he will be ready to switch carreers when forced to do so. While being a commercial helicopter pilot is a very glamorous job, it might be more practical to go back to biotech. Biotech/medical is one of the few industries that are still hiring. Dennis H. Dennis Hawkins n4mwd AT amsat DOT org (humans know what to do) "A RECESSION is when you know somebody who is out of work. A DEPRESSION is when YOU are out of work. A RECOVERY is when all the H-1B's are out of work." To find out what an H-1B is and how Congress is using them to put Americans out of work, visit the following web site and click on the "Exporting America" CNN news video: http://zazona.com/ShameH1B/MediaClips.htm |
#8
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#9
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In article , Shiver Me Timbers wrote:
I currently work as a software engineer First as everyone will tell you, I'm sure - DON"T give up your day job. I'd agree with that; the day job can pay for the flying. In your shoes I would start approaching the small, tiny, out of the way, miniscule mom and pop operators and have a serious talk about your abilities as a software engineer and how you could seriously help them improve, promote, and maintain their computer systems particularily on the web. The trouble is - on a small mom and pop shop, they simply won't have enough work to keep a software person busy for more than an hour or two a week at most. It just won't pay the bills. Added to that, the job market is oversaturated with 'web designers'. If finding work in software engineering is hard, finding work in web design related things is much harder - probably as hard as getting an airline job. If the software job's work hours is preventing flying, freelancing can provide more time flexibility, so helicopter training can be fit in between (and as a freelancer, you can also 'network' a bit more easily, especially if you hang out at the airport and do freelance work for business owners who happen to be pilots. You'd never guess how I've got 100% of my freelance work.). The best line of work is things that CANNOT be outsourced - that require physical presence. Many small/medium businesses have appalingly bad (worm/virus-ridden) LANs, no backups, and no sysadmin to sort out the mess and make a network that works well. They can't hire a full time sysadmin because they maybe only have an hour a week of sysadminning that needs doing. So do like the jets - become a fractionally-owned sysadmin :-) You can provide general network/computer health services to a number of companies, and if there's a few of them owned by pilots, then usually, a bit of flight time comes with it ;-) -- Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net "Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee" |
#10
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Dylan Smith wrote: So do like the jets - become a fractionally-owned sysadmin :-) And, if you're in the States, keep in mind when you're pricing your services that the IRS wants an extra 15% for self-employed people. George Patterson This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind". |
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