Low time helicopter pilot

[Aussie1122]

Hi guys,

I am currently doing my commercial helicopter license at 43 Air School in Port Alfred, South Africa.

I am still unsure of what to do after testing com and have heard mixed feelings about either ATPL or Instructors rating. I have no desire to instruct but if that is the only work available I am prepared to do it just to build hours.

I also have an Australian and UK passport so would it be beneficial to covert my license and try find work over seas?? If so what are the requirements to convert from a South African to a UK license?

Thanks

[Hawkeye0001]

I'd go for the CFI rating no doubt. Opens the door to the instructing world that'd be closed for you if you only have a CPL or ATPL. Build your hours with that; you can always do your ATPL later on in your carreer. For many jobs there's no need to have one.

[Transsonic2000]

Hi there,

one thing you must be aware of is that the helicopter job-market in Europe is very limited, especially to those who have only a few hundred hours of piston engine time, without any turbine time it's pretty much impossible to find a job. Most of the commercial operators prefer hiring former military helicopter pilots.

To convert a non-JAA/EASA license into a JAA license (e.g. CPL) you have to take the entire theory and pass all exams according to the JAA/EASA syllabus and pass the respective check-ride, which is quite extensive, time consuming and expensive.

For further details in this regard I recommend to get in touch with the respective aviation authority and/or a flight school.

One last thing, becoming a flight instructor only for the sake of building hours is never a good thing to do, you'll better go and find a different way to built time. It's also pretty unfair regarding your students who have worked hard to be able to afford flight training and becoming a pilot and in return they diverse nothing less but the best instruction possible.

[Cfitz22]

I'm in the same predicament! In the middle of my ATPL's at CATS in house, luton, England. 4 exams left and loved my time studying in house. don't know what the requirements are for licence changing. I don't think it's easy getting a UK Licence, but I'm sure it can be done some way or another.

I'm Irish and hold a UK ppl(H). From what I've heard the FI course is the way forward to build your hours at low cost. That what I've decided to do. If you don't want to instruct, the only way you will get any sort of job is getting your IR, which is great if you have a spare £45,000 floating about.

Hope all works out for you!

[Aussie1122]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I may have been mis understood saying I really don't want to instruct. If that is the only job I can get I will still do it to the best of my ability and give the student the best possible instruction I could offer. Its just not a job that appeals to me.

I am going to be doing my IF rating and turbine rating on the Bell 206 so hopefully that will help.

I would love to work in the UK but understand having low hours I need to get in where i can and starting logging some time.

So from everything i've read it seems instruction is the best way to get into the game and then i should just go from there.

Thanks for all the feedback

[4runner]

"One last thing, becoming a flight instructor only for the sake of building hours is never a good thing to do, you'll better go and find a different way to built time. It's also pretty unfair regarding your students who have worked hard to be able to afford flight training and becoming a pilot and in return they diverse nothing less but the best instruction possible."

Well put Transsonic. To return to the topic, what about the offshore rigs off of Nigeria or Equatorial Guinea? Do they hire low timers? I know NOTHING about whirlybirds btw. Well, I know that they have too many moving parts...And they're slow, and take way too much work to fly.

[lilflyboy262...2]

Use your Aussie passport and get a Canadian work visa via the working holiday program. I believe the aussie one can be extended past one year as well.
Then head to Canada. There is a ton of Aussie and Kiwi boys working up there.

Good luck!

[sicamore]

Can't emphasis getting Canadian Visa as more. Lots and f good work in Canada and if you're under thirty you are in the running, know plenty if rotor pilots getting good early turbine time up there,. Good luck

[pilotchute]

When I went to Canada on a working holiday visa there was a list of jobs that you were not allowed to do. I'm pretty sure pilot was one of them. Along with nurse, welder and a few others. Protecting local jobs I would say. I also remember that the one year time frame wasn't extendable. I came across a few heli pilots and they all said they had been hired by companies whilst they were outside Canada and had work permits sorted out by the companies before they entered the country. This may have all changed of course. These guys were all ex Australian Army and all had sling experience.

Remember that you would have to convert your licence also.

[lilflyboy262...2]

Considering I just did a year in Canada on the working holiday visa, I can tell you now that pilot is not on the list.