Its about time I said hi :)

[SIBUK]

I made my profile some time ago but ive just been silently browsing so I decide its about time to say hello and introduce myself.

I am at 28 year old guy from the UK and I have always wanted to fly. In my spare time I am a paraglider pilot and I only wish I had started doing it sooner, its the best thing I ever did. I also love computers & games.

When I was younger I wanted to join the RAF as a pilot but in the end I decided to go do a bit of work and go down the computer games route and I now have a degree in computer games software development. But, while I was doing this degree I realised that I just cant sit in front of a computer all my life. I just cant do it! I am always looking outside and up at the sky and wishing I was out there :sad:

As it stands now I still dont fully know what I want to do. Even in a job as a pilot I dont know if I want to be a airline pilot or go down the rotary route. My reasons for this is that airline pilots seems like a boring job to me in some ways. Helicopter pilot on the other hand seems like my kind of thing, but I dont like all these reports I hear that helicoper pilots retire poor, single and homeless :p I would really like to settle down and get my own place (somewhere else than in the UK!). The fact is, I actually dont care so much about money. I do up to a point, but really I just want to do a job that I enjoy, but I dont want to retire with nothing. Well ive been reading this forum for a while and I still cant decide :confused: I even know a guy who teaches paragliding all summer and is a ski instructor in the winter which is totally awesome but he never has a penny left saved for a rainy day.

[Heliport]

If you haven't already read it, this thread is worth reading -

Would you become a professional pilot again? (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=194922)

[thecontroller]

stick to IT. you are never going to be able to buy your own place and/or drive a nice car as a helicopter pilot. unless you have 50k in the bank

[helopat]

Maaaate,

Being a helicopter pilot is kind of like being clergy...its Gods work and you're never going to get rich doing it...but, as our brethren above have said, worth doing.

HP:ok:

[thecontroller]

and.. be warned, being a helicopter pilot turns into "just another job" after a while. its not all like "Magnum PI"...

[jetflite]

Ask your self. . when i'm retired and i look back on my life will i be smiling and happy ? if you stick to IT you will maybe be smiling in your nice house etc, but always casting your eyes sky ward and thinking "What if"... I would go and do it....do IT on the side... I'd rather be left with nothing but be smiling of the 60 years of flying,blue skys, etc. .

but if you only want to fly for fun.....stick with IT and use that money to fly for fun...if you want to do it as a professional... Go for it, don't doubt your self and enjoy the ride....

"Anything is possible if it's everything to you"

[HELOFAN]

Or have a second /first career & fall back to it for the $$$

Its part of the master plan.

LOL

HF:ouch:

[helopat]

Quote
It might lose its gloss but the worst day flying is better than the best day as an electrician – for me anyway:suspect:


Mr Shellfish...couldn't agree with you more...I've been at it better than 20 years and, yes, there are some not so groovy days, but most days I still love it. I think that if you get into a 'bus driver' flying job, you'll get bus driver satisfaction...if you get into EMS, SAR or Police work, a little more varied and the boredom won't set in as quickly.

Anyhoo...rambling on and on and on and on

[JollyGreen]

Sibuk
Interestingly, I was in a very similar position to you about 15 years ago. I got my paragliding licence in the Peak District in 1989 (yes, really), and had a job as a computer programmer. I took the step to get my CPL(H) in 1992, overseas, and spent the next few years combining flying and working a "real" job.
To cut to the present day, I am now a multi-engine captain, earning over USD100K after tax, spending my nights at home with my wife, and enjoying both lifestyle and job.
The road from point A to point B has not been an easy one, far from it. Times of poverty, lost relationships, and frequent bouts of "Where did I go wrong?" depression, but now I can see the rewards and know it really was all worth it.
The only question you need to ask yourself is, "How much do I want this?". The fact that you don't know between fixed wing and rotary begs the question of desire, and you need plenty. If you go for it, go big, go hard, and draw strength from all the people (including, maybe especially, your mother) who tell you you'll never succeed, and you'll make it...one day.
Cheers
JG

[paco]

If you wake every morning and can say "I want to be a helicopter pilot above all else", then go for it. Otherwise keep your present job and fly in your spare time.

Good luck, whatever

Phil

[Whirlybird]

You need to at least go for a trial helicopter lesson and find out if you like it. Most people love it! As an instructor, sometimes I feel a bit like a drug dealer - I give 'em their first fix and it gets them hooked. :ok: But just occasionally the opposite happens. I had one chap who was all set to do the course etc; he did a trial lesson, and I knew within 15 minutes we'd probably never see him again.....and we didn't.

So get a helicopter flight, and maybe a f/w one while you're at it, and then at least you've got a bit more information before you make your decision. As for making that decision, I'd say go for it if you want to, but try and make sure you have something to fall back on if it all goes pear-shaped or you decide you were wrong after all. Not always possible, but worth bearing in mind if you can.

[Jarvy]

Just go for it. Lifes to short to listen to all the negative ones.
I had a go in a 206 about 8 years ago, loved it and ignoring advice from everyone around exept the wife deceided to go for my CPL(H).
2 1/2 years ago dream achieved. Then before doing any work I was found to have a heart problem. Been grounded for 18 months but at last there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Would I do it all again? You bet I would! Just another job? Never?

[5.0]

Badly paid? Helicopter pilots? Nonsense! It's a king's ransom. I did 250 hours last year in a twin turbine and they gave me £40,000. If I worked in IT and hired the same aircraft for, say, £500 an hour I would have had to give them £125,000. Therefore a net gain of 165 grand!! Beat that in a real job!

Slip the surly bonds mate...

[Whirlygig]

5.0, on the face of it that's quite a good salary but, did the Queen pay for your training or did you?! 'Cos if you pay for it yourself, £40k to repay the loans etc, ain't so cool!

Cheers

Whirls

[Impress to inflate]

Just trot along to your local flight school, go for a spin and see if you like it (you will !:ok: ) then look at the cost and time of doing your CPL(H) at one of the many schools, (I recomend OAT) then head up north for the good money. In less than ten years of flying I'm now on over £70k, and never look back. Go on just do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know it makes sence..:ok: :ok: :ok:

[dstone]

Nike have a good expression-"JUST DO IT!":ugh: :ok:

[HillerBee]

Follow your heart, otherwise you might regret it. It's better to regret something you have done, then something you haven't done.

I would recommend doing your training in this country however and when you finished groundschool you might be able to do some part-time work or working from home (programming of course) to keep some income. If you want to work in the UK it's better to train over here. Not just because of local conditions etc, but more for building a network.

'Hillerbee'

[SIBUK]

Ahh guys thanks for the replies :) HillerBee & Jetflite that is exatly what I figured. If I dont do this Im going to regret it I know it. And Mr Selfish I love reading posts like yours from people who came from one job and the finally decided they were going to do it and become a pilot then went out and did it, even though you could have earned more in their old job. They are so inspiring. JollyGreen :) awesome story, can I ask do you still paraglide today? Whats better, paragliding of flying a helocopter? :p

The thing is I only care about the money up to a point (yes it sounds cool to be 60 and to look back and life and say hell yeah I did it, but I still reckon you would regret not having any retirement funds :P) , but looked at what some of you guys earn you earn craploads! :eek: A least to me it seems like loads anyway. At end end of the day I would rather do a job that I enjoy and not earn so much than do something that I hate/bores me and earn lots. Whats the point in having money when you dont even enjoy your job? I dont see it.

As it stands now I just finished my degree and I got some debts but I am willing to sell everything I own to go for this. I can be indecisive, but then when I do decide on something I really go for it. I have had a fixed wing lesson years ago and loved it but I will have a helicopter lesson soon I hope to, although I am sure I will love it :) I gotta admit I find it hard making a decission on something I have never done. I am pretty glad I did my degree actually because it means I got something to fall back on.

[HELOFAN]

Who says you cant make money flying.
I will admit that initially there may not be a well paid job & even still into the career the dosh may not be huge but who says you will never get that all elusive big bucks flying job.

My dad was a Chief Flying Instructor in helicopters.
Before that he was a cop ( no guessing there is not much money there either ) yet he provided for a family with 3 kids and was paying off a house & we didnt miss out on anything important in life.

We may not have had all the luxuries that you can get with a big paying job but as kids we got other stuff like If we got decent grades on our reports we got to go up in things most others never will like,
Chip monks, Tigermoths, S300's, Gliders, Jet Rangers, Longrangers, Squirrels, Chinooks's, Huey's, Westland Whirlwinds, Cessna's, getting to do 3 day (full days too) tours on a US Aircraft carrier cause he was mates with someone that is in the US military and a helo pilot too ( gotta admit nothing like going on a carrier & being escourted through restricted areas to see **** most dont get to see) and the list goes on, I honestly can't remember all of them but every now & then things come to mind.
All this just to get good grades....like that's it? Well the other rule he had was as long as I gave it my best he would allow certain allowances LOL.

I grew up in and around airports & flying schools.
The smells, the sounds & sights of classroms, aircraft, soicial clubs & bars.
Students trying to pass something , classes being held Pilots & PAX returning from flights with that look on their face, that look you know cause you have been there too, having been flying in a helicopter.

I know being the son of a helicopter pilot that the path is not an easy one but...
(A) if it too easy, everyone would do it &
(2) is it really that hard if thats what your passionate about.

All my Dad ever asked of me was to get something behind me incase aviation doesnt work out or last for what ever reason.
Just have something to fall back on.
I did that and now am ready to move on with what I know I was born to do and in a month I start my career in Helicopter aviation (school starts in October ), ( last stage of my Visa permitting. fingers crossed LOL )

If I can do half of what he did and be half the pilot he was I could die being a happy man.

Unfortunatly my Dad was killed in a helicopter accident many years ago (wow 20 yrs next year).
Alot of PPl ask, and I know that flying helicopters is what he LIVED for and I know that he died doing something he LOVED and was so passionate about and he would not have chosen anything else if he had the choice again.
Regret nothing except not trying to achieve the things that you want most.
Failing is not losing, never trying is.

I know that although he may not have been able to give us everything he wanted he gave us enough & I think he gave us some things that no one else or the very lucky few would have been able to give.

The ability to dream & the knowledge that if you want it you CAN achieve anything you want.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't especially yourself.
Time flys when your having fun, don't miss out on the oportunities whilst you still have them.

He passed something on that I have never been able to shake & I thank him for it !

The Aviation Bug.

HF

[flyin'fish]

sibuck.

I'm almost 50, 2 kids a wife Airline Cpt, crazy about helicopters, just money to live decently looking fwd to get PPL to start with and then.......who knows.

If are looking to have stability (economically) in the today aviation world : forget it

Starting salary 2000-3000 €
but after 100.000€ min to get your ratings.
minimun and 3 years time to be eligible for an airline job.


Follow your dream with a foot on the solid ground....

ciao ff

[aurora1827]

Helofan - you lucky bastard.....no mystery why you're doing this.

Sibuk - don't listen to the guys who say if you're worried about retirement funds you're just not passionate enough. Nobody here is likely to recommend fixed wing (wonder why?) but really, it's not that easy on that side either. Just go for what you like best and any problems are best solved as they arise. As you say, you've got a degree to fall back on, you can change your mind at any time and fly in your spare time instead. You really have nothing to lose except a :mad: of money....and anyway, once you start thinking about it it's actually too late - you've got it you just don't know it yet........welcome to the club........;)

[5.0]

did the Queen pay for your training or did you?! 'Cos if you pay for it yourself, £40k to repay the loans etc, ain't so cool!

Whirls, the Queen fronted the cash (thanks Liz, I'm a republican by the way, nothing personal) but I paid in sweat many times over!
I agree it's not a lot of money if you have to pay back mega loans but the point I was failing to make is that you can get paid to do something you love or pay to do it. The gross may not be huge but the net, the difference between paying and getting paid is enormous.
Oh, and "follow your heart" is cracking advice for life in general. Easy for me to say of course, I'm living the dream.
SIBUK, GO FOR IT! :ok: