Just don't get yourself in too much debt as I know LOADS of people with IRs either still instructing, or working in an office, paying massive debts off wondering what went wrong.
I agree completely, in fact I don't know why people are surprised, when it doesn't work to buy the IR, it has always been a high risk strategy for a low timer, as there were always only 2/3 potential employers.
Wasting your time with CHC/Bristow right now I believe no hiring as far as I know. It has always been cyclical, I remember a hiring booms around, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008 by that rational another one should be along soon (but I wouldn't count on it)