Hi, I wanna become a helicopter pilot... [Archive]

DonQuixote23

24th Sep 2012, 19:37

;) Don't worry, I've read the FAQ.

Just wanted to say hi and lose my PPRuNe post virginity.
In about three months I'm leaving Gothenburg/Sweden for Titusville, Florida and Bristow Academy. Unless you are bored senseless with noobs posting about their training here, I might write a line or two when there is something worth writing about.

I've been in IT for a decade and leaving a director position to pursue this romantic dream of flying helicopters. It remains to be seen how hard of a faceslap reality will be once I'm there. Sure it'll be great though :ok:

Cheers // Björn

2papabravo

24th Sep 2012, 20:23

Björn,

Welcome!

All the best with your training!! I can safely say, Bristow Academy and life in Florida was arguably the best time of my life.

Enjoy!!

2pb

spinwing

25th Sep 2012, 00:08

Mmmm ...

Well your obviously insane (leaving a good well paying job proves this) enough to really enjoy your new career choice ;)

All I can do is wish you well and welcome you into this 'Band of Nutters' that is the Helicopter Industry. :D

Good luck ... Be careful .... ENJOY yourself ;)

DonQuixote23

25th Sep 2012, 07:23

Haha, thanks guys for the support ;)

There have been many late nights of thinking about the things I give up and leave behind, but I want to do this way more than I've wanted to do anything so it'll have to happen. Head/heart dilemma; to quote the late Steve Jobs - "stay hungy, stay foolish" :p

Brilliant Stuff

25th Sep 2012, 12:56

Have a cracking time. Enjoy it. :ok::ok::ok:

Devil 49

26th Sep 2012, 15:13

Have you considered medication to assist in overcoming the irrational urge to leave a productive and rewarding career to play with loud, dangerous toys?

Hot_LZ

26th Sep 2012, 15:40

Welcome on board and no doubt i will be meeting you shortly.

Try and get around, Titusville isnt exactly an exciting place. But you will have fun.

LZ

DonQuixote23

26th Sep 2012, 17:57

"Have you considered medication to assist in overcoming the irrational urge to leave a productive and rewarding career to play with loud, dangerous toys?"

Haha, Well... you know... good pay, city centre offices, lots of travel, fancy hotels, gourmet dinners, parties, ladies... Not what you want from life is it? I'm miserable and need to get out of this! ;)

On a serious note, while some of the above is somewhat true, when I should be sitting at night working with strategic management and reading about the latest in server deployment solutions, instead I'm watching 10 minute long, detailed youtube clip on how to start an MD500 helicopter. And then I watch it again. And I find it miles more interesting and motivating than anything at work for the last year or so. Heavy weekend drinking doesn't help - I have to give this up and go for a new career in playing with loud, dangerous toys :O

"Welcome on board and no doubt i will be meeting you shortly.
Try and get around, Titusville isnt exactly an exciting place. But you will have fun."

Sounds great - looking forward to it. I visited Titusville in January, and yes, it does seem to score badly on excitement. But I'm pretty sure that my very first winter that is not cold and miserable along with heli flying and motorcycle riding should keep a big grin on my face! :ok:

Are you studying/teaching/working there now? For how much longer?

FYR

26th Sep 2012, 19:45

Haha, Well... you know... good pay, city centre offices, lots of travel, fancy hotels, gourmet dinners, parties, ladies... Not what you want from life is it? I'm miserable and need to get out of this!

On a serious note, while some of the above is somewhat true, when I should be sitting at night working with strategic management and reading about the latest in server deployment solutions, instead I'm watching 10 minute long, detailed youtube clip on how to start an MD500 helicopter. And then I watch it again. And I find it miles more interesting and motivating than anything at work for the last year or so. Heavy weekend drinking doesn't help - I have to give this up and go for a new career in playing with loud, dangerous toys

Welcome to the club, I was doing the same thing in Copenhagen not six months ago. Well paying job, carte blanche on the company mastercard (within reason), apartment and job in the centre of Copenhagen, could ride the bike to work. Yet still, while i should be scheming on marketing techniques, I somehow always landed on youtube, helicrew.dk or this place.

Im in Norway at EHC now, and even though Im a bit older than the other guys, its friggin' awesome!! I know it'll be rough getting out on the other side, getting your first job and all, but im 100% committed, and so is the gf, so I guess I have as good a shot as anyone.

Have a great time over there, the weather should by all means be better than here :D

Martin in Norway (from Denmark)

Hot_LZ

26th Sep 2012, 20:00

Soave_Pilot

26th Sep 2012, 20:58

"Aim high and never mistake temporary defeat for failure"

madflyer26

27th Sep 2012, 05:57

Bjorn,

Good luck with your career change. No other job comes close for me!

Regards

MF26

Sir Korsky

27th Sep 2012, 14:07

Just a quick reality check though.

If you ever manage to get into this insane industry after starry eyed syndrome has receded, have you given thought to where the future may take you? I possibly have your dream helicopter job and I wish I was earning your well paid income. I am very fortunate to be in a job where I am home with the monsters 99 out of 100 nights, but this is rarely a profession that is family friendly. There is also the extreme risk associated with going to work every day too. The guys on this forum who promote the keep your job and fly for fun idea may be onto something. All I am trying to relay to you is consider the long term picture and do whatever it takes to keep your current career up to date and ready to slide back to. You may have to do this to keep those bills paid.

Lewycasino

27th Sep 2012, 14:24

Why so many negative comments?

It's his dream, I say go for it, we only get one life.

The adage of the older you get, the quicker time passes is SO true, if you have a passion, pursue it while you have time to do so.

Sir Korsky

27th Sep 2012, 14:37

And you hit the nail on the head casino, WE only get one life. When there is a family involved, you have multiple lives to consider, not just your own pursuits to manage and I reiterate, this is not a family friendly career choice. That was the experience point I wished to convey. :ok:

Lewycasino

27th Sep 2012, 15:18

point noted SK, i only made my comments based on personal experience, being past the age now where i can realistically change my life, I'm always keen for the younger generation to pursue their dreams and go for it.

FYR

27th Sep 2012, 15:40

FYR,

You may think that Florida is all blue skies and surfing but believe me there are alot of dirt kicking moments from May-Sept when the Tropical storms and TS roll through. Gets beyond a joke when only 4 hours in the morning is useable to fly before the CBs show up.

Winter is lovely though! How have you found conditions at EHC?

LZ

Well, (and I'm not on the payroll at EHC), so far its really great! The buildings are 3-4 years old, the machines are in most cases pretty new, and the instructors are great at what they do, both in theory and practical teaching.

Accomodation is pretty good as well, in my class of 10, 9 of us stay at the school, which serves for a bit of socializing and studying in the evenings as well. The school is half inside and half outside the terminal area; access to the hangar and apron requires an accesscard, but thats about it. -If i sit in my room and want to go sit in a helicopter, its down a flight of stairs and through a door, 24h.

Also, theres a cheap direct flight from the airport to Copenhagen, not courtesy of EHC, but its nice in the weekends.

Norway is not exactly known for its fair weather, but I figured that harsh weather might make for more challenging and thus rewarding training, plus the mountain and bush course is included in the package. It all counts.

As i said, Im not on the payroll at EHC, but so far I've had few reasons to complain.

It might be, that some day I'll find out that it was a mistake doing this, its an uncertainty to be sure.

What is certain however, is that I was miserable doing what I did, and I had a pretty good career going with cake on thursdays and everything.

Perhaps its a case of "the neighbours' grass is greener" syndrome, but I think it goes both ways; I doubt most lifetime-pilots' expectations about "the safe life" the "normal" people live, would actually be what they found to be what they imagined.
I figured theres less strain on your neck looking down from above, than standing down there looking up.

I've met a lot of negative pilots, and I've met a lot of positive ones as well, who is right? I guess I'll know in a few years...

I dont know if this works... Im not a girl, nor a lawyer, but its basically how i felt when i finally made my decision to quit the "safe life" ;)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/41520910/5449835_460s_v1.jpg

Oh, and my girlfriend's a lawyer, so its not directed at them either, she loves what she does and only seldomly find need to elbowdrop me ;)

DonQuixote23

27th Sep 2012, 15:51

Again, thanks for your comments and I appreciate your honesty Sir Korsky.

There is no doubt I am very naive. I'm naive when I think that training will be mainly a load of fun, and that afterwards landing a rather well paid job with good condition will be fairly easy. I'm aware of this. But I don't confuse "easy" with "it won't take a big effort". I just believe that it will work out alright. I've had this approach before and it's been going rather well so far. And thinking that it won't anymore is not going to make me happy. Such a thought would nail me to my desk where I sit.
I am determined to make this work. Sad as it may be, I cannot get myself to appreciate what I have, because right now the thought of staying in the IT industry for the rest of my life makes me want to puke. And to be honest I've never really enjoyed either the many years of studying or the work very much. I've dug in and tried to do my best and I'm happy with what I've accomplished, but I'm not happy. I'm getting close to the age where a big change will be very difficult (32) and for the first time I have found something that I passionately want to do. (Not counting fighter pilot dreams after watching Top Gun for the first time, and not counting the years when I thought I could, and tried, to become a professional motorcycle racer. Now THAT was difficult and any chance of success very slim! ;)

So many people I have talked to say "ohhh, I would want to do that too, but.. but.. but.." or "I wish I did that when I had the chance but... but... but.." and they give all the rational reasons and obstacles in the world. They may be right, but I'll try to prove them wrong :)
However, it should also be said that it is not a complete banzai move. I'll keep my apartment and should this not work out I think I would be welcome back to my old job (probably not the same position though, but still) ;). And if that happens I'm sure I will appreciate the good things with the IT jobs much more than I do now.

DonQuixote23

27th Sep 2012, 15:56

FYR - wonderful!! We are SO much on the same page here. Superbly written text that just about sums it all up! :ok:

The cartoon is brilliant btw!

Flying-dutch

27th Sep 2012, 17:21

it's like reading my own story here :).

DonQuixote23

27th Sep 2012, 18:08

Simondlh - great stuff :). When do you start and what training will you take?

FYR - how much does the training at EHC cost and what do you get? In the distant future I might take EASA IR, can this be done at EHC?

Another thing - I wrote a long post but it said it had to be reviewed by a moderator. Why is that? Too long?

FYR

27th Sep 2012, 19:20

Simondlh - great stuff . When do you start and what training will you take?

FYR - how much does the training at EHC cost and what do you get? In the distant future I might take EASA IR, can this be done at EHC?

Another thing - I wrote a long post but it said it had to be reviewed by a moderator. Why is that? Too long?

I think new members need a number of posts before they can post long ones without admin approval.

Its 575.000NOK, and with that we get ATPL(H) VFR theory exams, CPL(H) certificate and the bush/mountain course. - European Helicopter Center (http://ehc.no/_global/courses/courses)

EHC does some different aerial work with their 350's, 355 and BO105, which allows some students to work as cargohandler/co-pilot afterwards, but im not sure how many actually go that way. They use the 355 and the BO105 for IR training, Im not aware of the prices but you can find their email on the site.

FYR

27th Sep 2012, 20:58

FYR and anyone else with a relationship, if I may ask, what does your girlfriend think or you career change, giving up everything, spending a nice porsche moneywise and no future garantee ?
Do you all get support or

Hey Chris, didnt see that post for some reason...

In Denmark (with our ludicrous vehicle taxes) a new Porsche would cost 3 or 4 times what im paying here, guess that helps, or maybe not. Not counting on ever owning one of those, seems ill be more of a lada man in the future ;)

Yeah she totally supports me. Of course she thinks its pretty cool to have a boyfriend who's a pilot, I mean who wouldnt? No seriously she likes me happy, and I was definately not happy doing what I did before. Its rough sometimes when we dont meet for two-three weeks, but Skype helps alot. Its also nice just to have the option to go home for a weekend if we find that its been too long. I wouldnt have that option in Florida, thats for sure...

I used to sail on containerships, so I know the feeling to be really far away, so in comparison this is not so bad ;)

DonQuixote23

27th Sep 2012, 21:11

"Hey Chris, didnt see that post for some reason..."

It's the admin approval step playing havoc with the thread I think. My grand story (;)) suddenly popped up at the end of the first page too.

Anyway, good to hear about the dreams and will to live in here :ok: Keep it up!

And FYR, I tried the sports car thing. A bit of fun, didn't really improve life in general and then my sister crashed it. End of story.

Flying-dutch

1st Oct 2012, 18:48

It's easy to get sucked into a repetitive lifestyle for the sake of security, seeing the same people, places, building's, driving the same route to work every single day. What a waste! Sure, you may sacrifice security and continuity but personally I don't believe that's what life is about
Exactly!!

In Denmark (with our ludicrous vehicle taxes) a new Porsche would cost 3 or 4 times what im paying here, guess that helps, or maybe not. Not counting on ever owning one of those, seems ill be more of a lada man in the future http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wink2.gif
Oh yes, forgot about the high vehicle taxes in Denmark, Lada man.
but it's like DonQuixote23 said, sportscar is not improving quality of life.
Gonna get my nose in the books again. aviaton law.

choppertop

2nd Oct 2012, 01:43

I think you need to experience being 'without' to appreciate the being 'with'. Now, after five years in the helicopter game, basics feel like luxuries. And flying for money -- at last -- feels like heaven.

DonQuixote23

24th May 2014, 20:59

To stir some life back into this almost two year old thread, I am extremely happy to tell you that I was yesterday offered a job as a flight instructor at Bristow Academy!!! :ok:

It's been a LOT of work to get here and my bank statement is a proper horror story to read, but with that first job in the industry secured the future looks a little brighter :)

fijdor

24th May 2014, 21:51

Congrat.

JD

whoateallthepies

25th May 2014, 13:28

Bjorn

Many congratulations from an old (sometimes bold) pilot. So pleased you are enjoying your dream.

Using that new "txt" expression - YOLO!

Regards

FYR

25th May 2014, 18:16

Congrats mate! A year and a half and you'll be in an S92 on the north sea ;)

DonQuixote23

26th May 2014, 01:19

Thats the hope and plan! :)

FYR - how has it worked out for you?

ALM In Waiting

26th May 2014, 11:16

Glad to hear it's working out for you. Best of luck in the future.

FYR

26th May 2014, 12:50

Thats the hope and plan!

FYR - how has it worked out for you?

Not too bad, I finished my training a few weeks less of a year from the beginning, during my training I had been in contact with a few operators in my home country, i ended up being an unemployed pilot for 8 days :)

I fly sightseeing and taxi jobs at the moment, its not a regular job so i have a "real" job on the side. Haven't made much of a salary yet, but thats to be expected as a lowtimer :)

Still, no regrets ;)

Rob22

27th May 2014, 19:07

Hi,

I have been reading your stories since the far 2012, and I really want to congrat DonQuixote23, chris-tt, FYR and some others guys for having followed their dreams and have also achieved a job in this passionating indrustry :D Not easy at all, but try to be happy in the one and only life we have makes this decisions worth, don't you agree?

Best wishes and better flights to everyone!

Rob

DirtDiver

29th Mar 2015, 23:20

First off al congratulation to the people who did it!
Who just said f*ck it, lets take a leap of faith and lets be the man i dream to be!

FYR & DonQuixote23 i would say this will be the million dollar question.
Which school do you think is better Bristow or EHC?
Oke to be fair, that is an unfair question both schools have their own better points.

FYR, the question i am wanting to ask is how is the job guidance and connections with operators and EHC?

Like Bristow academy has connections with bristow, bond, chc.
So being an Bristow academy graduate will like an advantages over EHC graduate, or am i seeing this wrong?

Again congratulation to all!

EESDL

30th Mar 2015, 11:39

In view of recent tragic circumstances it has to be asked (but rarely is)......are you mad?

boratron

31st Mar 2015, 14:20

Thought i'd stick my oar in to this one. I'm in a similar position to the OP. I own a business that is financially rewarding but i'm pretty unhappy doing it. Last year i started my PPL(H) and love it. I'm just about to sell the business, move myself and my wife over to Mauna Loa helicopters in Hawaii and start my CPL.

Im 41 years old, but i couldn't see myself doing what i do now for the rest of my life. So in for a penny in for a pound. If i didn't do it i would have always regretted it.

Watch this space.

DonQuixote23

2nd Apr 2015, 01:20

Boratron - I wish you all the best and fully support your decision! Please keep us updated on the progress.

As for myself I'm coming up on 700 hours. I got my EASA FI rating late last year and have been working in the EASA team at BA since. Two months until my OPT (work visa) expires and then it's back home to Europe. I am thus currently accepting interesting offers of employment with start dates from July 1st onwards :O

DirtDiver: I cannot say as I do not have any experience with EHC, but I have been happy with my training at BA and the connections/work opportunities it has provided. It is my understanding that as a BA graduate, and especially as a BA employee you do have an advantage when it comes to finding work in the north sea offshore sector in general and with Bristow Aberdeen in particular. On the other hand I understand that through EHC you can get good connections to the Scandinavian on-shore market. I don't know enough to give you any proper advice on the matter, other than I think that both options are good.

Finally - what do I think of my decision to embark on this insane journey? Well, I haven't missed my old job for a second. I have missed my friends and family and the positive economic situation. The uncertainty whether things are going to work out or not has been tough to tackle at times. But even though some days feel like a lot of hard work, frequently I get reminded of how much I like flying helicopters (and instructing) and now 2.5 years since the start I am still as motivated as ever to make this my career, fly different aircrafts in different locations, meet many more fantastic people in the industry and continue to improve my skills and knowledge.

Would I recommend others to do what I have done? Ehhrrr... Hmm... Maybe ;)

robin303

2nd Apr 2015, 08:56

Outstanding. You conquered and live your dream like most here. Well done.:ok:

DirtDiver

3rd Apr 2015, 06:15

@DonQuixote23:
Thanks for you reply!

I am wondering what FYR his opinion/experience is about EHC>

Tomorrow I will be flying to Hillsboro for mine current job.
Because I am in town probably will also visit the Hillsboro Aero Academy.
Their package are a bit more cheaper due to no tax state.

Anybody here having experience with Hillsboro Aero Academy?

DonQuixote23

17th Aug 2015, 17:56

Hey all. Time for the next episode in this long running story.

In June 2015, after a year as an instructor at Bristow Academy, the chances of finding myself in an S92 any time soon appeared rather slim considering the downturn in oil and gas. Fortunately something else that look very interesting popped up and from a little shed in the Indonesian jungle where I spent what felt like a well deserved holiday, there was some frantic emailing back and forth.

And now, as of today, I'm delighted to be an AS350 pilot working for a company based in Harstad in the very north of Norway. The learning curve will be steep but step by step I will do pax, inspection, construction/longlining, filming etc. The scenery up here is spectacular and the weather so far is sunny, calm, clear and warm. They say it might change... :)

SimonK

17th Aug 2015, 21:10

Bloody well done! I fly the S92 and its a great job (albeit with a lot of uncertainty at the moment pretty much everywhere offshore) but it's pretty routine a lot of the time....your job sounds fascinating and you'll love the 350. I flew it in the military and its a superb aircraft, very forgiving and reliable (touch wood!)....enjoy. You've done very well getting a job in this climate.....

DonQuixote23

18th Aug 2015, 16:15

Thanks! Did my first flight up here today. Absolutely stunning views! I was :eek: :D

DonQuixote23

26th Aug 2015, 17:59

Here are a few pictures taken during my first couple of weeks up in the far north.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/706/20715647470_4f4130afbf_b.jpg
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/743/20281114484_391a07ba32_b.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5637/20715724150_bb1c051bd7_b.jpg

whoknows idont

26th Aug 2015, 19:00

Awesome, man! Very good to hear that your leap of faith paid off, congratulations! :D

Oh and btw, what you are doing now is so much better than driving offshore busses... [:

Manuele68

27th Aug 2015, 16:18

I was a manager for many years in an Equestrian Center in Italy that I built and launched. I decided to sell my center because of the economic crisis in Italy was impacting on my business and I thought that it was the right time to change my life, at 45 years old, start a new carreer/challenge and follow my other dreams, obtaining the helicopter pilot license.
I got a loan and I lived my last two years in Oregon USA to do it.
Now I have my HCPL but I run out of money, so I am In Italy again to find a way to save more money to finish my CFI... well...is a dream and it is true..you have only a life...It will take more time that I expected but never give up :=
Too old ? maybe... but when I see back in my life I want to have more memories than regrets..
Welcome on board and fly safe man :ok:

Jetdriver69

30th Aug 2015, 22:55

I joined the U.S. Army at 17 and turned wrenches on AH-1S Cobras until I got into Warrant Officer Flight School about 18 months later.

Best period of my life flying the Huey and -58 in a West Germany with the Russians just a couple of km behind the fence.

But in hindsight, no one should give a helicopter to a 19 year old, there are way too many opportunities to do silly things and have all kinds of unauthorized fun.

I only flew helos for 5 years as I entered the USAF and flew jets until I had my 20. After another 13 years of flying the Gulfstream 550, I have a chance to change jobs where I can fly a Bell 407 in addition to the 550.

I am going to give it serious thought as I have always missed the real flying that only helicopters can give you.

I agree 1000%, go for your dreams. I also didn't want to be that guy who is in his rocking chair and regretted a career choice.

Ascend Charlie

31st Aug 2015, 03:48

I don't want to live my dreams!!!

They usually involve flying at low level under massive sets of wires, with no gap to get up through them, or else I am inside controlled airspace without a clearance, cannot decide whether to try to sneak back out and then request clearance, or pop up and tell the tower where I am and accept the consequences. And sometimes I am naked in the cockpit. Wouldn't want to live that one.

And anyway, having had a full flying career over 45 years, am now out to stud.:ok:

krypton_john

31st Aug 2015, 05:13

LOL Ascend Charlie! Glad it's not just me then.

Al-bert

1st Sep 2015, 00:17

Ascend Charlie - strange how we had the same dreams (and others report same re wires and ATC violations). Not tried the naked in cockpit bit tho - just wouldn't be right not to wear flying gloves! :ok:

DonQuixote23

2nd Aug 2019, 11:45

Another few years have gone by. I left the onshore/as350 job last summer as it was very difficult to combine with having a family (our daughter was born in 2016). To much time away and you never knew when/if you were going to come home the same day when you left for work in the morning.

Got married, took a few months of daddy leave while getting the EASA IR. Some time unemployed and miserable and then, horray, passed the interview and sim tests and got hired by Bristow Norway. I passed the S92 skills test last week and completed the aircraft training today.

VERY happy to have been given this opportunity! We’ve bought a house in Stavanger, family is here and next baby due any day now. Can’t say its boring...

Attached are some of the best pictures from the last three years. Fewer mountains and more sea in the future.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x540/64969032_fd45_4d72_bb11_bce138359e3c_c1b7a1106489dcda3e40874 bb17ad25673cc0d26.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1458x1944/e99dde1b_2042_4f20_b6ce_60a53d1c6a57_697fee4bb93a22abe3b14cf 72085b1b9127cf67e.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1934x1451/89929f05_d94d_4b83_830a_f0579ca9b819_6c7dc48d99fc2e28801fc8e a92e2a8d3f87d4f6f.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/6b4e7f2e_dc29_443f_bb48_2b08e5497051_008c6a2d6ebd374be1d2028 ccd7264170f7cb694.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/7f9800ef_531e_4388_96a3_5909799cb694_9e41ac4cd3220035c517439 2545727b2958e52cc.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1124/c23c4778_badf_4c42_abf5_9894261a6776_5c255f8efc49740dad03233 c094bf03b402af903.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/99b0ca9a_0fac_4d3c_b1d7_98701b0fc413_9a65aac83b8ae6135d721ae e1e25bc87634c4280.jpeg