Helicopter business ideas

[pilotbro]

Many people complaining here about the "state of the industry". If there is any reasonable idea for using a copter, this might be the best time to start a new business around it. Why? Aircraft available, manpower available, and rates are low making financing prob cheaper than even before.

Here is my draft list of ideas. I am sure there are plenty more!

1. Wind farm maintenance
2. Powerline/pipeline inspection using most modern surveillance equipment (making the job much faster than today)
3. Opening new shuttle routes (e.g., between airports, between two cities)
4. Opening a business in a new emerging country
5. Taking UAVs to the range of service, together with "real" a/c. This way able to provide full service to the customer, e.g., the electricity company
etc
etc

What are your ideas?

There must be tons of opportunity out there. Anyone complaining about the "state of industry", but not coming up with ideas, is essentially saying that copters are not useful anymore. ;)

[helimutt]

nothing new in that list, all being done already. Always rememember the old saying, 'How do you make a small fortune in the helicopter industry? Start with a large one'

[spencer17]

#1 done
#2 done
#3 all financially viable done
#4 way to risky for small to medium companies
#5 why fly out with "real" a/c and then take UAVs for most jobs real chopper can do.

There are thousands of people in the industry doing brainstorming every day to come up with something new, but the wheel was only invented once.
I worked on new or partly new projects, but it's really not easy to find something totally new for a well established resource.

[helimutt]

fohnwind hits the nail right on the head. Start a counselling service. :E

[Fareastdriver]

Whatever you do, don't count me in.

[rans6andrew]

my time in industry has taught me that if you start with a "solution" (kn this case the helicopter) and try to find a "problem" (the line of work) you can burn through serious amounts of investor's funds and produce nothing. Much better to have a problem and go looking for solution.

Instinct tells me that when the helicopter seems to be the answer it is worth putting considerable effort into trying to find a cheaper way to do the job.

[whoknows idont]

If there is any reasonable idea for using a copter, this might be the best time to start a new business around it. Why? Aircraft available, manpower available, and rates are low making financing prob cheaper than even before.

Why not: Operator market is saturated with operators of every size, shape and color. Operators with empty order books, sitting all ready and set up. Waiting and trying to fill every possible gap in the market to put their shiny A/C to use.

For the discussion's sake let's assume you do find a new niche, invent a new way to use a helicopter to make money: Those operators will come in and take it all. They are either struggling to survive and will beat every reasonable price just to create any possible turnover. Or they sit on paid-off aircraft and will beat every reasonable price because they can and they prefer making little profit rather then none at all.

Sorry bro, but it seems like you don't really have any experience in this industry.

[Ascend Charlie]

1. Start a rumour that all the Vietnam-era pilots are retiring, and there are a lot of job vacancies to fill, needing new pilots at the bottom for the holes left by those moving up.

2. Start a flying school with an amazing finance deal to train these expectant pilots. Tell them they will be employed by the school on graduation, as long as there is work.

3. Screw the heck out of them, and sit back while your cast-iron clauses in the finance deal drain every dollar they have.

4. Move out of the area before you get lynched, go back to step 2 somewhere new.


What's that? Already been done? Rats.....

[helimutt]

AC, that sounds suspiciously familiar. Did that guy ever get done?

[chopper2004]

1. Start a rumour that all the Vietnam-era pilots are retiring, and there are a lot of job vacancies to fill, needing new pilots at the bottom for the holes left by those moving up.

2. Start a flying school with an amazing finance deal to train these expectant pilots. Tell them they will be employed by the school on graduation, as long as there is work.

3. Screw the heck out of them, and sit back while your cast-iron clauses in the finance deal drain every dollar they have.

4. Move out of the area before you get lynched, go back to step 2 somewhere new.


What's that? Already been done? Rats.....
We would not be talking about +30 Robbos plus odd 206 for turbine and some fixed wing stuff.....spread across certain statelines? Biggest school around....

cheers

[chopper2004]

Many people complaining here about the "state of the industry". If there is any reasonable idea for using a copter, this might be the best time to start a new business around it. Why? Aircraft available, manpower available, and rates are low making financing prob cheaper than even before.

Here is my draft list of ideas. I am sure there are plenty more!

1. Wind farm maintenance
2. Powerline/pipeline inspection using most modern surveillance equipment (making the job much faster than today)
3. Opening new shuttle routes (e.g., between airports, between two cities)
4. Opening a business in a new emerging country
5. Taking UAVs to the range of service, together with "real" a/c. This way able to provide full service to the customer, e.g., the electricity company
etc
etc

What are your ideas?

There must be tons of opportunity out there. Anyone complaining about the "state of industry", but not coming up with ideas, is essentially saying that copters are not useful anymore. ;)
On a laughable scale - may I suggest a VIP service albeit with a twist - an escort service

- Utilise an H130 or H145 with VIP interior or lease one out bit cheaper than owning one right out and get them to do the C,G checks etc

-Franchise a call girl :mad: sorry professional escort service with the best looking employees from preferably east of the Berlin Wall :p

-Must have aircrew with Night /IR experience as most of the clientele demands will be at the dead of night

-Due to servicing the very rich - can charge a fortune per hour - which will happily pay for crew, lease of airframe, incidental costs as in charge the clients a 5 figure sum especially if they would like the Meter /Mile High Club lol thrown in

-It will not only be maintenance checks and inspections and EASA/FAA audits but will have to have your employees have Class 1 Medicals and quarterly examinations by the docs :E:mad: and plenty of oil lubrication

Q.E.D

cheers

[500e]

Think some one lost their privileges in the US for something like that :E

[Self loading bear]

Perhaps better if they bring their own girlfriend (or boyfriend we do not discriminate when there is a business opportunity)
If you take a portable printer on board and you amend the flightplan a bit you should be able to print plenty of membership certificates for the Mile high club!

Cheers SLB

[newfieboy]

I actually worked quite a few years ago with a fellow pilot who joined the mile high club in the back of a Jetbox on fire ### in the province of $@&$&$&@ with one of the chicks from the radio shack. I know cos had to decline the flight due duty day and all. The Chief Pilot took him up....you know who you are GM if you're reading this!!!

[The Night Owl]

Find a wealthy owner, they pay the bills, you collect the money simples!

.....ah that's been done many a time too, but old habits die hard!

[paco]

I've always wondered about moving golfers and racegoers around - you could always call it Inter-Course Helicopters. At least the customer would always come first.

Phil

[206 jock]

Persuade the French to allow Heliskiing

[Self loading bear]

Yesterday on National Geographic on Dutch telly:
Moonshiners season 5 episode 17
Bootlegging 250 liters in a Jetbox.
Including glass and packaging I guess 350 kg?

Cheers SLB

[diginagain]

Glamping(ish).

[Self loading bear]

Glamping(ish).

Something like this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3683244/Now-s-class-shed-Aviation-fan-turns-old-Airbus-passenger-jet-25-000-luxury-pods-garden.html

[diginagain]

Something like this?
Airbus passenger jet turned into £25k luxury pods for gardens | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3683244/Now-s-class-shed-Aviation-fan-turns-old-Airbus-passenger-jet-25-000-luxury-pods-garden.html)

Like that, but smaller, leakier, less comfortable, you can't stand up to move around and the fire exits wouldn't get certified. That sort of thing.

[Self loading bear]

Like that, but smaller, leakier, less comfortable, you can't stand up to move around and the fire exits wouldn't get certified. That sort of thing.

Then what is the Glam in Glampingish?

[Self loading bear]

Digin,

I think I get the idea.
Glamping (http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2014/12/abandoned-puma-helicopter-wreck-horsham-paintball-southern-england/)

[haihio]

There is work for helicopter pilots out there but It's probably very far from your own country, you must be willing to live in these places and adapt to different cultures.

[Self loading bear]

The helicopters could also be repurposed as roundabout swings and parallel swings.
NASA has done some preliminary investigations but there is room for improvements.

NASA swing test (https://youtu.be/nMa2Txdvo_E)

SLB

[piravlos01]

If you own a helicopter:
1) Sell it
2) Get your fixed wing license

If you don't own a helicopter and you just have a helicopter license:
1) Get your fixed wing license

If you can't, see that by bellsux:
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/582994-best-source-helicopter-job-openings.html#post9474271


There is work for helicopter pilots out there but It's probably very far from your own country, you must be willing to live in these places and adapt to different cultures.

haihio, give us your lights and let us know where these jobs are. Many colleagues and I have been left without a job for more than a year, and nobody will hire us. We have applied to companies from Newfoundland to Malaysia. We are willing to travel and adapt. Thank you.

[riff_raff]

There are a couple examples where out-of-work pilots took advantage of cheap surplus aircraft to create a successful business. Recall Flying Tigers?

[Agile]

I think its wrong to say that all standing opportunity are filled with people more suitable or hungry than you.


Remember the business school saying " the propensity of the consumer to consume is infinite"


Namely the consumer does not know what it wants until its presented to him.


I can think of many airports where travelers are not considering helicopter transfer, because there is no such service (or is marginal and thus expensive). Once it becomes available the mentality change, the opportunity becomes.


Trying to keep the thread positive and inspiring to dreamers.

[ka26]

I've always wondered why "banner towing" is not used at all in europe. There could be a lot of job if you find a sponsor like Coca Cola or Guinness or something else flying up and down along the turstic coastline destinations in spain, italy or grece during summer season.
An R44 could be enough to sling a banner of big dimentions like 40 meters × 10 meters.
Any thoughs?

[Bravo73]

I've always wondered why "banner towing" is not used at all in europe. There could be a lot of job if you find a sponsor like Coca Cola or Guinness or something else flying up and down along the turstic coastline destinations in spain, italy or grece during summer season.
An R44 could be enough to sling a banner of big dimentions like 40 meters × 10 meters.
Any thoughs?

Yes.

Like most times in aviation, aeroplanes are cheaper. You see plenty of those pulling banners up and down European beach resorts.

[Ascend Charlie]

We tried banner towing for a while in the 90s, but the restrictions on overflight and proximity to crowds, plus the noise annoyance factor, let it die a slow death. And big wind days while flopping along at 40kt meant we didn't make it to the end of the desired display area, before having to turn around again.

We also did helicopter RPT between an urban centre and the international airport, the only helo RPT in the country, and the only single-engine. Sadly, the desire for porky passengers to carry massive suitcases, strollers, and even a sewing machine, meant that the weight and bulk space was filled before our wallets. Also, it had taken 5 years to get it approved, and in that time they built a freeway nearby which reduced the travel times to the airport. Lasted for 6 months, another painful death.

[TWT]

$150-200k/year for a drone/UAV pilot in oil,gas,mining.Interesting.....

WA drone pilots earning up to $200,000 in the mining, oil and gas sector (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/wa-news/wa-drone-pilots-earning-up-to-200000-in-the-mining-oil-and-gas-sector-20160830-gr4qin.html)