Army Air Crossroads, any pointers?

[Muzza9999]

The time has come in my short (heli) flying career that I am faced with the hideous prospect of three years flying a desk and using the manual of defence writing as an aileron. I only have 900 hours total, (Squirrel, Gazelle, Lynx) and genuinely have no idea what my chances are of employment outside. I am considering anything (and frankly would fly anything) but seem to be faced with much doom and gloom in the civvy jobs market. Can anyone out there shed any light on what my chances may be.

I hate to leave the forces but really feel it isn't really me anymore, I was only meant to be in for 6 years, but lost track of time.

I would really appreciate your advice.

Muzza

[Mercenary Pilot]

I would think that with 900 hours in turbine choppers and military training you would stand a good chance of employment in civvy street. Try reposting this in the PPRuNe Rotorheads Forum (http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23) you will probably get a more informed answer there.

Best of luck :ok:

[Muzza9999]

Thanks, sorry if I'm in the wrong place - doesn't say much for my nav skills...;)

[SmilingKnifed]

Muzza,

BEagle over on the Military Forum is also worth contacting as he has good gen regarding the ATPL requirements (I take it you went through 660 so have some hours in a civvy registered cab).

[Vortex Thing]

Righty ho chap pin your ears back and brace yourself for some sitting on the fence style advice NOT.

Do not under any circumstances leave the Army unless kicking and screaming, in a body bag or Med discharge.

Without doubt and probably backed up by the conversation myself and 5 other ex-army officers have just yesterday it was without doubt the worst thing we ever did in our lives.

I would happily donate a grandparent to go back in time and change my decision to leave the army.

Working in anything other than an airline is likely to drive you quite quite mad as the world of instructing and the low hours pilot waiting for a ticket is full of unscrupulous, selfish liars and cads.

The other options, regardless of qualifications or sector mean working with yourself as nobody has heard of teamwork in civvy street they have only heard of profit margins.

It is official civvy life sucks and the only way you will realize how badly is when you are irrevocably (and annoyingly by your own volition) firmly in it.

If you can even get a response much less an interview from anyone and secure a job with a carrier then and only then hand back the gro bag and exchange the green suit for a white starched shirt.

If on the other hand you think it may be better on the other side. I am more than happy for you to PM me so that I can do everything in my power to convince you otherwise.

Take the SO3/2 job on offer get your JAA exams done in slow time and go nowhere until you have a job offer.

I was RMAS in 95 and left the Army in 03. Of my pilots course no one has less than 700hrs and of the 7 I am still in contact with one is now 1200hrs just moved from BMI to BA and NOT one other has managed to get an interview from an airline much less a job other than instructing within aviation.

Instructing on the outside will get you divorced, broke, killled or all of the above. You cannot make a living as an instructor unless you have some particularly benevolent benefactors and you cannot get any other job unless someone interviews you which it appears post age 30 is about as likely as Willie Walsh coming round to the mess to personally ask you to join BA, marry his daughter (yes the Balanese Goddess of Plenty) and move in with your new bride on her yatch the 'Saucy Sue' currently in the British Virgin Isles

Good luck and if you are foolhardy enough to leave despite my pleadings then watch yer six cos no one out here will as they are too busy trying to avoid starvation or bankruptcy and looking for opportunites to trade thier granny in for an interview!!

[scroggs]

Must have missed this. I can't speak for the wobbly-headed fraternity as I have absolutely no helicopter experience, but you have very little chance of an airline job with your experience as things stand at the moment. Most airlines, rightly or wrongly, would rather take a 250-hour newbie than a 1000-hour helo pilot, unless your experience was on very heavy metal (for helos) - and even then, only if the senior management were ex-rotary themselves.

In the heady days of 1998-2000 (when even VT's granny would have got a job!), Virgin did take a few straight-through rotary people (with 3000 hours or so). With the number of furloughed and other experienced pilots on the market (and there are a lot, at least on our books), there's no need for us to go looking at people with less than 737 or similar experience, and 4000 hours plus at that.

You need fixed-wing multi if you wish to crossover to an airline job at the moment. The rotary market may be different, however, and for that you need to visit the Rotorheads forum.

Scroggs

[paco]

There is rotary work, but I would probably stay in and make better plans.

PM me any time.

Phil

[Vortex Thing]

Must have missed this. I can't speak for the wobbly-headed fraternity as I have absolutely no helicopter experience, but you have very little chance of an airline job with your experience as things stand at the moment. Most airlines, rightly or wrongly, would rather take a 250-hour newbie than a 1000-hour helo pilot, unless your experience was on very heavy metal (for helos) - and even then, only if the senior management were ex-rotary themselves.
In the heady days of 1998-2000 (when even VT's granny would have got a job!), Virgin did take a few straight-through rotary people (with 3000 hours or so). With the number of furloughed and other experienced pilots on the market (and there are a lot, at least on our books), there's no need for us to go looking at people with less than 737 or similar experience, and 4000 hours plus at that.
You need fixed-wing multi if you wish to crossover to an airline job at the moment. The rotary market may be different, however, and for that you need to visit the Rotorheads forum.
Scroggs

The funny thing is about this that even having taken the rotary time out of the equation we are talking about chaps who have fixed wing fATPLs and 700 hours fixed wing on top with 500hrs of instruction still can't get an interview anywhere! Surely having passed through a fairly rigouros selection and course would show some sort of trainability?

[Vidal 423]

Muzza9999

PM me - if you are still in a quandry, I left last year and can give you a few pointers.

The arguments for staying are strong.

Vidal

[Gazeem]

I left the mob in 2003 at 30, with a fATPL, instructors ticket and 500hrs SEP.
Now flying large jets for a respected UK charter airline, all over the world.
In the main I have no regrets in leaving, miss the boys and comradeship a little from time to time, but life is generally better here. I am glad I left when I did rather than be chained to a staff appointment filled career.
I was lucky, from my experience I would'nt advise leaving until you have all your tickets and then as ever.... hope for the best.... plan for the worst...
FO (Capt retd) Gaz