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Any (helicopter) pilots out there?

Started by 1.21GW, February 21, 2016, 09:04:44 AM

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1.21GW

February 21, 2016, 09:04:44 AM
Among many considerations for my next life (when I leave my current career/city), I am interested in getting my FAA license as helicopter pilot as one career option. 

Wondering if any board member is a pilot or knows a pilot that they could put me in touch with.  I'm trying to get a lay of the land with respect to training, industry demand, etc.  Google searches turn up plenty of info, but it's hard to tell the legitimate stuff from the illegitimate.
"I doubt I'm her type---I'm sure she's used to the finer things.  I'm usually broke. I'm kinda sloppy…"

ducpainter

#1
February 21, 2016, 09:13:55 AM
pm the 'Major'... http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?action=profile;u=48


Uncle Sugar will fix you up. ;D
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent.”


kopfjäger

#2
February 21, 2016, 09:19:36 AM
“Woohoohoohoo! Two personal records! For breath holding and number of sharks shot in the frickin\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Bick

#3
February 21, 2016, 10:30:42 AM
Quote from: 1.21GW on February 21, 2016, 09:04:44 AM
Among many considerations for my next life (when I leave my current career/city), I am interested in getting my FAA license as helicopter pilot as one career option. 

Wondering if any board member is a pilot or knows a pilot that they could put me in touch with.  I'm trying to get a lay of the land with respect to training, industry demand, etc.  Google searches turn up plenty of info, but it's hard to tell the legitimate stuff from the illegitimate.

Did you win Powerball?

Private Pilot/Rotorcraft Rating around these parts will set you back @ $40K.  After that, renting a S300 will run @ $300/hr.  Tacking on your Instrument Rating, building up hours to get your Commercial ticket = $$$.

Most employers are looking for @ 2,500 hours minimum, for a job that will start @ $50k/yr.

If you started off fixed wing Private, tacked on ratings, built up hours...  might save a @ 30%.

The cutoff age for the "Be All You Can Be" route is 33.

It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean you're looking at the guy that believed all the commercials. You know, about the "be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger.

* A man can never have too much whiskey, too many books, or too much ammunition *

ducpainter

#4
February 21, 2016, 10:32:33 AM
Quote from: Rotor Head on February 21, 2016, 10:30:42 AM
<snip>
The cutoff age for the "Be All You Can Be" route is 33.


You're just worried that you're close to aging out. :-*
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent.”


Bick

#5
February 21, 2016, 10:37:18 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on February 21, 2016, 10:32:33 AM
You're just worried that you're close to aging out. :-*

I got that shit out of the way long ago.  I'm good for at least another 11 years.   8)
It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean you're looking at the guy that believed all the commercials. You know, about the "be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger.

* A man can never have too much whiskey, too many books, or too much ammunition *

ducpainter

#6
February 21, 2016, 11:12:47 AM
Quote from: Rotor Head on February 21, 2016, 10:37:18 AM
I got that shit out of the way long ago.  I'm good for at least another 11 years.   8)
That's the blink of an eye Major...

what will you do after that when you grow up? :P
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent.”


Bick

#7
February 21, 2016, 11:15:49 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on February 21, 2016, 11:12:47 AM
That's the blink of an eye Major...

what will you do after that when you grow up? :P

Not sure.  Start painting motos?...  or build a house. ;D
It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean you're looking at the guy that believed all the commercials. You know, about the "be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger.

* A man can never have too much whiskey, too many books, or too much ammunition *

ducpainter

#8
February 21, 2016, 11:20:59 AM
Quote from: Rotor Head on February 21, 2016, 11:15:49 AM
Not sure.  Start painting motos?...  or build a house. ;D
You should start practicing.

The rocket scientist can point you in a direction... [evil]
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent.”


Bick

#9
February 21, 2016, 11:34:38 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on February 21, 2016, 11:20:59 AM
You should start practicing.

The rocket scientist can point you in a direction... [evil]

So if I go in the opposite direction of where he is pointing, I should be golden?

So to apply your analogy to the original topic...



;)
It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean you're looking at the guy that believed all the commercials. You know, about the "be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger.

* A man can never have too much whiskey, too many books, or too much ammunition *

MendoDave

#10
February 21, 2016, 12:06:32 PM Last Edit: February 21, 2016, 12:10:57 PM by Mendo Dave
We have a helicopter program here via the community college. Talked to the guy in charge, he used to fly H60 Seahawks.  8)  Bick
Bottom line the whole program will cost a bit over 100k.

https://www.klamathcc.edu/Academics/Programs/Aviation-Science-Helicopter

1.21GW

#11
February 21, 2016, 12:21:31 PM
Thanks all.

I had seen various schools for 20-40k for licensing (well, for the training part), but from what I'm reading above, it's the post-license seat time that is the real cost.  Rotor Head says 2500 for most commercial jobs and I see the National Parks Service has a minimum for job applicants of 1500, so even at $100/hr rental, that's well over 100k just to compile the hours.

So what is demand like?  Jobs hard to come by or is there a pilot shortage?
"I doubt I'm her type---I'm sure she's used to the finer things.  I'm usually broke. I'm kinda sloppy…"

Bick

#12
February 21, 2016, 12:55:17 PM
Quote from: 1.21GW on February 21, 2016, 12:21:31 PM
So what is demand like?  Jobs hard to come by or is there a pilot shortage?

With military force reductions, lots of very experienced pilots on the market.  Not a lot of civilian helicopters flying around.

Best market is off shore oil. 

Medical requires tons of hours for consideration.

It is a huge investment for a job that will only pay $50-80K/year.

A lot more fixed wing jobs out there.  Not long ago, JetBlue was hiring some with 0 hours, and covering all the training (and only paying @ $20k/yr)  Other airlines may be doing the same.  It is a way to get licensing costs & hours paid for.
It's all in the grind, Sizemore. Can't be too fine, can't be too coarse. This, my friend, is a science. I mean you're looking at the guy that believed all the commercials. You know, about the "be all you can be." I made coffee through Desert Storm. I made coffee through Panama while everyone else got to fight, got to be a Ranger.

* A man can never have too much whiskey, too many books, or too much ammunition *

MendoDave

#13
February 21, 2016, 01:05:30 PM
Quote from: Rotor Head on February 21, 2016, 12:55:17 PM
With military force reductions, lots of very experienced pilots on the market.  Not a lot of civilian helicopters flying around.

Best market is off shore oil. 

Medical requires tons of hours for consideration.

It is a huge investment for a job that will only pay $50-80K/year.

A lot more fixed wing jobs out there.  Not long ago, JetBlue was hiring some with 0 hours, and covering all the training (and only paying @ $20k/yr)  Other airlines may be doing the same.  It is a way to get licensing costs & hours paid for.


Thats not a bad approach.

1.21GW

#14
February 21, 2016, 01:34:48 PM
While various aspects of it appealed to me, I was thinking of mountain rescue.  I was also thinking about abroad, where services are limited.  But that was speculation, as I am trying to see what it would take in time and money to just get the license and the requisite flight hours.

The military reductions aspect I didn't consider, so that's something to factor in.

Thanks, guy.
"I doubt I'm her type---I'm sure she's used to the finer things.  I'm usually broke. I'm kinda sloppy…"
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