What's next............Sponsorship?????
I agree with all those urging to be a little realistic. Seeing as the airlines have only really just moved into a situation where 'training is paid for' (by bonding your life away), sponsorship for the rotary industry is probably still very far away. Due to the cyclic, short sighted nature of the oil industry, Bristow's main customer, I struggle to see the day where sponsorship returns.
IMHO, it would simply be nice if the big three made more effort to mentor young guys into the industry. I don't want their money, it would be nice, but I've made the effort to generate the required funds myself. Would it not be beneficial to the heli companies to reach out to those willing to pay for their training, identify training risk early by standard assesment techniques, and for those successful, offer a job on a provisional basis if CPL(H) + IR all go well. There's no increase business risk to them, just better communication between to employer and potential employee.
Maybe wishful thinking...
Cheers
Nick