I am a UK based 25 y/o and looking into a career as a commercial helicopter pilot. Ultimately with the aim of flying SAR, HEMS, NPAS etc.
I have tried the military route, passed RAF selection just to be told my dual nationality made me ineligible for service, and thus am now looking into self-funding my CPL(H).
The main issue I have is that the circa £90,000 – £150,000 costs of either the modular or integrated routes feel like an incomprehensible amount of money right now. My family are supportive, but as far as I know there’s no big inheritance waiting for me or a trust fund I can tap into. I know there is a scholarship offered at Helicentre, but I don’t think it’s wise to bank on this to make it work either.
I think if I stayed at my current job, maybe I could raise the money in 5-8 years. I currently earn £38,000 and have managed to save up almost £30,000 while living at home. But I cannot live at home forever and will be moving out soon.
Obviously, salary is not a significant motivation for a career as a helicopter pilot, but I worry about the sensibility of getting to 30 and putting my entire life savings into this job when the same amount of money could be put towards buying a pretty decent house or starting a family (both things that could well be on my mind in my mid 30s).
TLDR;
My questions are, for those who have self-funded a CPL(H):
- How did you it? (loans, scholarships, years of saving, etc.)
- What route did you take? (Modular, Integrated). I’ve heard people recommend the modular route but if it’s going to take the same amount of time to earn as you learn or save and do it all in one go, I think I’d rather go integrated.
- Where did you do it? (UK, Overseas). Is there anywhere significantly cheaper once you consider travel, living costs, license conversions, etc.
- What is the job market like? (particularly at low hours)
- How has your financial situation developed throughout your career? (was the investment worth it? Did it cause you issues at any point? When did you see an ROI?)
I have also tried to get information from various helicopter schools, but it feels a bit like they’d say anything to sell you their package and would appreciate some real insight from pilots who maybe were in a similar situation to myself.
TIA.