SierraEcho

Hello!

I am new to this forum but not new to pprune. I am a Swedish CPL-H pilot with around 220 hrs total time. Rated on R22, R44 and the Bell 206 (around 40 hrs on the 206). No IR rating nor the funds for it. I was wondering what the current situation in the Nordic countries is for a lowtime pilot?

Guttn

I`m not a heli-pilot, but from where I stand the situation looks good for F/Os. With a slight modification; it looks good if you have some IFR time. Don`t know who`s hiring at the moment, but you might want to check Norsk, HS, Lufttransport, EHC

Beech Driver

The marked for RW pilots is currently very good. That is of course if you got the hours (passed TT1000), and a little bit of IFR experience. Lufttransport need a lot of RW pilots, especially experienced pilots, with IFR time.

BD

SierraEcho

I know that the offshore market is good but without the instrument rating it's a long shot on my part. I was looking more into the aerial work part of the business. I live in Sweden and wonder if it's better to look for a job elsewhere and in that case where can a low time pilot start?

Guttn

EHC maybe?

Torcher

Good times in Norway for IR/RW pilots. Apply for a job in CHC, Norsk etc. Only snag is they want 1000 TT+. Apply for job, go do the interview/tests for a job, get the GO/NO GO, then fork out the money for IR hrs needed. Some younger low time IR pilots gets jobs in UK sector with 200+ hrs. Companies give them typerating for a 3 year commitment. After that they migrate back to Norway.

Torcher

2beers

As a former Flight Operations Manager for a smaller swedish helicoptercompany, my only advise is to do lots of calls, get in your car and go out and meet the people you want to work for/with. Do some background research first on the net so that you know what the company is doing before contacting them. Have your CV printed (many copies) and bring it with you when you hit the road.
At first they will not seem that interested but if you are a nice and likeable fellow willing to do the dirty work for almost free to begin with, you might have a chance. There are almost no-one with 1000hrs unemployed in Sweden right now, so if they need the job done and you are available, you might have a chance.

I would check out nordicrotors for company-info. Even if it hasn't been updated in a long time it is still a very good place for initial information about companies and links to websites.

Good luck!
/2beers

The market is better than it ever has been, but that doesn't meen it's very good. The only way to get a chance is to be known. Either by the guy hiring you or a colleague of his recomending you. So get out and get to know everyone! The business is very small and there are feuds going on between companies that are 20+ yrs old. So watch your tongue while making friends and don't say too much about other companies unless asked directly.

SierraEcho

Thanks for the tip, I think I might actually have to do that. Sending a piece of paper through the mail doesn't do much good since it's a small business, personal contact might be more effective.

SierraEcho

Well as the market has now turned for the worse I was wondering what to expect from the rotor side of the situation in Sweden and other Nordic countries. What are my chances of finding work with my experience (see first post). Worked for one season and not much has happened since. Is the outlook for a job become worse?

Hanguren

I know that Airlift in Norway, operating 17 helicopters inland throughout Scandinavia, earlier have employed some lowtimers on contract as "copilot" (doing the loadwork, assisting in lifts, and some flying to/from jobs), with later promotion to pilot. I am not sure if that is the case today, but I suppose you have already checked...?

SierraEcho

Checked! I know people working there and there were gonna be layoffs during the off season.

JimbosJet

Is the current economic situation likely to affect the demand for North Sea helo pilots greatly? With all the political/military troubles in other oil producing regions is it likely that the North Sea oil fields will be cutting production at this time?

Excuse me if my fuzzy logic is indeed just that, I don't claim to know a lot about oil production/demand, I'm just curious about pilot demand as a potential commercial helo pilot myself.

Blademan

G'day all. Middle East offshore driver here, looking to move to Norway for family reasons. FAA ATP 2000hrs 1000 offshore twin 1500 pic. Looking for info on Jobs, license requirements, conversions bla bla bla.

Thanks all