Ski Resort work

[Busdriver01]

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered - i've searched through and couldn't find anything, but that could just be human error..!

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about, or is a ski resort helicopter pilot? I just got back from a week in the french alps and realise a pipe dream of mine is to hand back the keys to the airbus and live in the mountains full time (I have already lived in the mountains before, so I know that part is good, but I wasn't doing the flying bit too). I saw a lot of mountain helicopter work going on and my mind started wandering...!

- Is it harder to get into than other types of helo flying? (I can imagine there are very few jobs, and lots of locals waiting to take them?)
- Do you enjoy it?
- Is the pay sufficient for a mountain lifestyle, where prices are notoriously high?
- Is it just a pipe dream - should I keep hold of the airbus keys?!

[binzer]

You’ll be sick as a dog dropping all those skiers off and having to fly back to base whilst they have all the fun in the powder…. Bit like a porno cameraman

[Longdog]

I used to do Heli-Skiing here in Canada at Mike Wiegle Heli Skiing. It has to be some of the most demanding flying one can do. Think about it, the heavier it is snowing, the better the skiing, the more bums in the seats, the more money for the operator, which means your always flying with a max load.
The winds in the mtns can be your best friend one minute, and turn into your worst enemy the next.
Your always getting blasted by cold wet air as the doors open, and your constantly wiping moisture off the inside of the windshield, as the heaters have to be off for takeoff's and landings.
Your either pulling max tourque to get a group off a landing and up the hill, or bottoming the collective to get back to the bottom as quickly as possible, as time is money.
On a average day, think 40-50 landings and the same for take offs, if your flying 3 groups, and some operators will fly 4 groups I have heard.
On the other hand, it can be the most rewarding flying one can do, because it is so challenging, not everyone can do it well. You have to be a good mtn pilot, have several thousand hours, incredibly good judgment when it comes to knowing wx in the mtns, you also have to know how to say NO, and stand by your decision, whether it wx related, weight related, or whether the landing or pick up is just too difficult for todays wx.
On a Blue bird day, almost any one can do it decently, but when the wx closes in and the snow starts to fall, or the spring temperatures start to warm the air up and they want glacier landings all day, it is challenging.
My advice, go talk to some of the pilots doing the flying, buy them a coffee or beer, and get the real story.

[helonorth]

On a average day, think 40-50 landings and the same for takeoffs,

Good to know.