trancebrah
Flying a helicopter is easy; any idiot can do it. Flying a helicopter 'professionally' and knowing what to do when the unexpected occurs is what makes it slightly less easy. IMO planning diligently, being in control at all times, being aware of your environment and not being tempted to push your (or the machine's) limits, are what distinguishes a good pilot from qualified pilot.
This industry has some of the biggest egos on the planet ("How can you tell a helicopter pilot at a party? He'll soon tell you...") and if you poke around here, you'll a lot of them at work. You'll also find some of the most experienced and knowledgable pilots in the world on this forum, as well as the world's greatest characters and sense of humour. As an owner, you'll need pockets deep enough to cope with the occasional surprise (there will always be a surprise somewhere along the line) and, as has been said before, a thick skin - both to fly and participate on PPRuNe. Your induction won't be complete until you've been flamed at least once by an ego hiding behnd an anonymous user name
As John R81 said, there are many ways to earn more money, but flying a helicopter is the most fun you can have with your clothes on and is very cool indeed
