Helicopter Pilot, Where in the World to Train? USA, CAN, UK/EU, SA, AUS etc?
Hello great people of PPruNe! Long time reader first time poster. I want to start off by saying this is a great site and I've truly enjoyed reading about your advice, you guys Rock :rockon:
I've been wanting to be a Helicopter Pilot for far too many years and can now finally do something about it. I apologies for writing what a million other people have put but I hope to get some great advise and assurances. So my questions are as follows.
1) I'm 32 from the UK but work as a contractor abroad and have a house in the US so I guess thats my home although I rent it out... I'm not tied to it so I'm happy to train anywhere in the world, where would you suggest? and why?
2) Should I do it as a package to get my CPL with IR etc? or do one in one place like a PPL and then the CPL in another? IR in another? Instructors etc etc
3) I dont mind where I work afterwards either but should I be looking at joint JAA/FAA integrated courses? or do one and then the other if and when I need it? I would love to fly Offshore in Norway at some point, but am happy to spend time elsewhere before I get there clocking up hours. I hear there is more work in the US at the moment... Apparently...
4) I finally have the funding for this and am hoping to do my CPL and instructors in a year, I've seen mention of modular learning but am a little unsure if this is something I would do. Would I be able to do this or should I just do everything I need to in one go?
5) The school I've already been looking at is Bristow in Florida because a friend of mine just graduated and is flying pipelines in Pensilvania, plus he has a house there I can rent. I've also read very good reviews about it, He's from Scotland and did his FAA and instructors course and probably one or two others. What schools do you recommend depending on the answers to the other questions? and do you recommend this as an all in one stop shop?
I took a flight a few years back (2004) in Redhill UK and loved it. I was told by the instructor I had a natural ability (hopefully he was being genuine). This is something I am going to do but want to make all the right decisions before I even start!
So if you had to do it all over again knowing what you know now, had no ties to anywhere, the funds to pay for it (obviously not bottomless I do have some limits) and the time, how would you do it?
It was either this or motorcycle racing, again something I've wanted to do from childhood. Mind you I can still to this after I finish training.
Thanks in advance!
Rossco