Hobomike,
I'm from the UK originally....got over 12500hrs rotary, mostly on longline and fires. The first 1000hrs are the hardest to come by, but the next couple thou, Mmmmm a 1000hrs doesn't make you a great pilot, staying alive and passing PPC's annually as an operational pilot does. Apples/oranges comes to mind, yes a 1000hrs in a Robbie instructing, will give you some hands on, but come the operational world of utility, offshore etc, whole new game to learn. Don't think for a minute that reaching the 1000hr mark as a CFII will earn ya bum a seat...........
She's a hard slog my friend.........
