It's decision time- advice appreciated

[dude65]

Hi Folks
I'm after a bit of advice. I currently hold a fixed wing PPL and am seriously considering a commercial helicopter licence. I've done a bit of a search and have come up with this thread.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=124748&highlight=brisbane+training
Looking at the post since it began in 2000, it would appear that things in the helicopter business are on the improve. Is this true?
Is there work in Qld for those prepared to travel? Is it as challenging and fun as I've been told?
The career path for me on fixed wings is a bit limited due to my age (see my log in name). How will this affect my prospects in the rotary world? Is it a viable option for someone of my age with a family?
Any advice from those who've been there done that would be appreciated.

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

That's the kind of post to get you beaten to death on here mate - follow your heart, that's what I say. Good luck.

[Whirlygig]

Dude,

I hope you mean that you were born in the same year as me rather than you being 65 years old!!!

If the former, go for it! I can't really speak for Australian job prospects but I gather that, all over the world, the pay isn't up to fixed wing standards. It will cost more to learn as well. Do your sums and make sure you have your family's support.

Cheers

Whirls

[i4iq]

Hey Dude

You're only a few years my senior and I'm about to do the same, with a family etc. but without the fixed wing.

"Enjoy your labor under the sun"

[dude65]

Can I categorically state that 65 is the year of my birth not the age of my death.:ok:

[Bitmonx]

in this case go for it dude! You will have lots of fun flying choppers as long as you respect them and their mechanics. :ok:

[Heliport]

dude65

In addition to 'Australia: Training, Employment, Job Prospects' which you've already found, there are lots of threads listed here which contain an enormous amount of information:

Frequently Asked Training Questions (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122944)

The topics listed don't change much for obvious reasons, but the threads to which they link are constantly updated.

Two in particular might be helpful to you:

Am I too old? (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113544)

and

Fixed-wing to Rotary (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102183)



Heliport

[dude65]

Thanks Heliport, you're a legend.:ok:

Big thanks to all of you. It's hard to know where to start. This sort of thing helps.
Dude65

[SASless]

Walkers and the such are a problem to deal with in a Robbie cockpit...a collapsible version (walker...not Robbie) would be the way to go.

A bit of maturity in the crew room cannot be a bad thing....

[Hamna]

A lot of chopper jocks sometimes say that they should have rather become doctors or attorneys.Moneys better and they tend to spend more time at home. But boring lives...........Go for it and good luck.

[Gas Producer]

Dude,

65 was a particularly good year, even if I do say so myself. I took the plunge a tad over 4 years ago. Left a VERY well paying profession to pursue flying helis. While the experience had a couple of downs, it gave me a new perspective on many things and has had afforded me a little over 2,000 hours in the cabin now. I had wife, family, mortgage and tall the other things that make you think this can't be done. But it can. Oh, and by the way wife and family still intact and all of us are enjoying life more now than before I started flying.

If you want to do this badly enough you will find a way to make it work. How badly do you want to do it? Follow your dreams, I say. Your life is not a dress rehearsal.

GP