Ah, DB. You are naive. Don't you know that you can ONLY be a heli pilot if you've been trained at the taxpayer's expense ?
Here's Pat Malone doing a bit of
PR for the industry. (And by "industry" I mean funded on a commercial basis or with private money.) And, just like motoring journos and others, he has to remember that he is writing for a wide audience. He has to use general terms.
Out here in the real world (where people like TC hardly ever venture) there's a whole GA heli industry struggling to survive against increasing regulation, higher expenses and tw*ts like TC who preach that light singles (and particularly Robinsons) are not safe. Take a look at the CAA CHIRP and find the true story about light single safety and reliability.
I wonder if TC has ever wondered why the failure rate in mil training is so high ? Could it be the quality of instruction ? Could it be the time/budget pressure ? Could it possibly be bad filtering of applicants ?
In the real world a potential student turns up and is told how much the process will cost THEM in minimum terms. That immediately clears out all those who are not totally dedicated. Then, when they've gone past 20 hrs and still can't hold a hover, there's another weeding out.
However, if you're prepared to stick at it and keep handing over your money, you will reach the correct standard and you will become a helicopter pilot. That applies to about 98% of the able-bodied, clear thinking population.
Of course the likes of TC have a vested interest in protecting the mystique of helicopter pilots. Take a trip around The Derby this weekend and count the shoulder stripes, the shades and the swagger.
Don't get me wrong - I do believe that good helicopter pilots are hard working, multi-skilled, intelligent and very well trained. But whether the licence says PPL or CPL or ATPL is irrelevant. Whether privately or taxpayer funded is irrelevant. It's the training, experience and character that matters - to fly well in our airspace you have to remain open-minded and have an ability to consider those around you.
The worry about TC is he just seems too blinkered to be a good pilot. Do you think he really exists or is he on here just to wind up other ppruners ?
