Dunno about choppers. I knew a guy who was a commercial chopper pilot. Couldn't find work. Became a Benedictine monk instead. Left the monastery, had another go, then returned to being a monk. He has since left the monastery for good though. The Abbot won't give him another chance.
I'm serious about the monk thing. All told he spent about 3 or 4 years as a novice.
B'nut