Age Concern: Am I too old?
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I'd have said,
week one
day one,
but hang in there Al,
I met a dude just yesterday,
52 not out, and finalising his CHL.
He has a good chance and he might just get there,
get your CHL, then post.
good luck
tet
week one
day one,
but hang in there Al,
I met a dude just yesterday,
52 not out, and finalising his CHL.
He has a good chance and he might just get there,
get your CHL, then post.
good luck
tet
Al, if it's any consolation, with 6000+ hours on helicopters I am bored senseless with my tedious job too 
But as others have said, a CHL is a good starting point to let you change your tedious job for mine.
But as others have said, a CHL is a good starting point to let you change your tedious job for mine.
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Follow your dreams?
Being a professional heli' pilot is one of those jobs that from the outside is the be all and end all of jobs. After a while it is like every other job. Just a job! You have to keep it interesting for yourself every day with some boredom prevention tool / system.
Having said that, if you REALLY want to do it then follow your dreams until they become a reality. Run out of money?......get some more then keep going with a view to a CPL and then keep studying for your ATPL H, sweep hangar floors, network etc etc etc.
Mate, NO ONE is going to give you a job with 100 hours on a PPL, they just can't as you don't have a licence and to be frank you have virtually no experience either.
I'll say it again. You have to REALLY want it as a career cos you are going to have to spend a small fortune, drag your family around the world for years looking to get the next rung up the ladder. Be careful what you wish for 'cos it's a very long and harsh road.
Unless you are fully prepared for the long road then keep saving your bickies and enjoy the pure fun aspects of being a ppl because every flight you do will be fun.
Also,be VERY wary of sharks who will spin you all sorts of
rubbish to get some training dollars out of you with the vague promise of a non existant job in the distant future. They are out there and will use your money to keep their hours ticking along...beware!
Good luck either way.
Having said that, if you REALLY want to do it then follow your dreams until they become a reality. Run out of money?......get some more then keep going with a view to a CPL and then keep studying for your ATPL H, sweep hangar floors, network etc etc etc.
Mate, NO ONE is going to give you a job with 100 hours on a PPL, they just can't as you don't have a licence and to be frank you have virtually no experience either.
I'll say it again. You have to REALLY want it as a career cos you are going to have to spend a small fortune, drag your family around the world for years looking to get the next rung up the ladder. Be careful what you wish for 'cos it's a very long and harsh road.
Unless you are fully prepared for the long road then keep saving your bickies and enjoy the pure fun aspects of being a ppl because every flight you do will be fun.
Also,be VERY wary of sharks who will spin you all sorts of
rubbish to get some training dollars out of you with the vague promise of a non existant job in the distant future. They are out there and will use your money to keep their hours ticking along...beware!Good luck either way.
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CHL?
I use it all the time, medical renewal etc.
why jibber on forever when the shortened more descriptive version is better.
E.G. SLAVE --- = --- Trainee Helicopter Pilot,,?
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Al,
I commend your desire to become a Helicopter Pilot. nothing wrong with that.
You will get a Job in UK Offshore with absolute minimum hours within a reasonable time frame provided you have the following:
CPL(H)
But your application will be ignored as long as there are others on the table with CPL(H)+IR
Therefore, to ensure your application is giving the consideration it deserves you really need CPL(H)+IR
The UK Offshore industry has no additional requirements to operate offshore as co-pilot other than a CPL(H), and IR and an appropriate Type Rating. The Type Rating will be given to you by the Company that employs you.
The helicopter Offshore Industry changes rapidly and feast becomes famine in very short order. Get qualifiied and then apply constantly.
Age is immaterial. 4 years ago we took on a 56 year old pilot with very little commercial experience and no offshore. A bum on a seat is a bum on a seat.
Hope this helps.
I commend your desire to become a Helicopter Pilot. nothing wrong with that.
You will get a Job in UK Offshore with absolute minimum hours within a reasonable time frame provided you have the following:
CPL(H)
But your application will be ignored as long as there are others on the table with CPL(H)+IR
Therefore, to ensure your application is giving the consideration it deserves you really need CPL(H)+IR
The UK Offshore industry has no additional requirements to operate offshore as co-pilot other than a CPL(H), and IR and an appropriate Type Rating. The Type Rating will be given to you by the Company that employs you.
The helicopter Offshore Industry changes rapidly and feast becomes famine in very short order. Get qualifiied and then apply constantly.
Age is immaterial. 4 years ago we took on a 56 year old pilot with very little commercial experience and no offshore. A bum on a seat is a bum on a seat.
Hope this helps.
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Helimutt : Were you an instructor previously (ie: lots of hours) or straight from 'school'. ?
Double Bogey : Semi reassuring words - thanks for the input.
I myself am 37 - currently mid ATPL(h) exams - hoping to do CPL(H) either this year or next (probably next) - I am currently balancing the no rush no jobs - with the desire !....
Al Smith : Depends what you want - ATPL exams are little money, just time and effort - yet puts you one step closer to the dream while still making up your mind, saving money and learning - without "significant" outlay !
OK you wouldn't do them if you had no plan of going commercial....
Regards
Double Bogey : Semi reassuring words - thanks for the input.
I myself am 37 - currently mid ATPL(h) exams - hoping to do CPL(H) either this year or next (probably next) - I am currently balancing the no rush no jobs - with the desire !....
Al Smith : Depends what you want - ATPL exams are little money, just time and effort - yet puts you one step closer to the dream while still making up your mind, saving money and learning - without "significant" outlay !
OK you wouldn't do them if you had no plan of going commercial....
Regards
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It really depends on your level of commitment towards the profession.. I started at 30 with a PPL flying as a weekend hobby; 9 years later went for my CPL, left a well paid management job to start at the bottom again, as a "slave" dragging my family around the world as mentioned earlier in the replies; experienced all types of flying good and not so good, but 13 years later now on Puma offshore... would I do it again? NO for monetary reasons, YES for self achievement which drives me all the time
Don't expect to have a confortable retirement life (savings) if you choose to be a heli pilot as the income does not reflect what you will spend training up to acceptable employment levels
Most of the Offshore twin drivers I have met, flown with, are ex military, started their careers at a young age, then joined the civilian world upon exiting the Forces; these guys are doing ok for income; but if you start from the civilian side straight away, life can be monetary difficult..
So moral of the story for me: if flying is as important as breathing, then do it BUT if you look at it as a career at an older starting age, then NO
Don't expect to have a confortable retirement life (savings) if you choose to be a heli pilot as the income does not reflect what you will spend training up to acceptable employment levels
Most of the Offshore twin drivers I have met, flown with, are ex military, started their careers at a young age, then joined the civilian world upon exiting the Forces; these guys are doing ok for income; but if you start from the civilian side straight away, life can be monetary difficult..
So moral of the story for me: if flying is as important as breathing, then do it BUT if you look at it as a career at an older starting age, then NO
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Any Changes in the Heli industry in the Last Year?
Hi Guys
I am a newbie here and I would like to know more about the Helicopter Industry. You guys seem like a friendly bunch so I thought I would sign up and ask a few questions.
I notice that this thread was very busy in the first couple of years but there have been no new updates in the last year? Why is that?
Please can you guys tell me if there has been any change in the employment prospects in the last year or are Heli pilot jobs still difficult to find?
I have been a Helicopter enthusiast for many many years and I am seriously looking into a career change to Helicopter Pilot.
I am 34 years Young and will be in a position to start training for my CPL and CFI in a year’s time when I am 35. I will also add that I am married and have a 5 month old Daughter.
My big question is "Is this too late to be starting out as a Commercial Helicopter Pilot??"
A friend of mine who is a Heli Broker told me I am a little too old to be starting out, plus I have the “baggage” of my family for me to support and for a potential employer to consider. Is this True?
I realise that after training I will have to instruct for maybe 18 months - 24 months to build hours and instructors salary is nothing to shout about.
So another question I have is how many hours does an average instructor actually work in a week?
Do they actually get 40 hours flying or is it 10 hours flying and 30 hours class room, paper work, odd jobs? (Hours were a guestimate)
I am guessing that the average Instructors salary is around 30-40K per year?
Would it be possible to hold down another part time Job at the same time to boost the income to keep my daughter in diapers and the wife’s sewing machine in thread?
I have searched this forum for threads about the current job situation in the industry but all the threads I found seem to be a few years old?
The age old question, are there any jobs out there at the moment? (or more importantly for me in 18 months time?)
Most of the training schools are saying that all the Vietnam Pilots are all retiring, the industry is growing and there is a shortage of Heli Pilots. Is this still true or are they just encouraging you to sign on the dotted line?
Lastly, assuming that you all don’t say “no way man your far to old to start in this game!”
Would it be a good idea to get my CPL and CFI plus some other qualification like Long Line/VR immediately?
Or wait until i have built my hours instructing to a reasonable amount then do the Long Line/VR training?
Same question go’s for the Instrument Rating and CFII?
I am assuming that if you get your instrument rating right at the beginning no company will hire you for an Instrument rated pilots position until you have 1500-200hrs plus, by which time you will need to do your instrument training again?
Sorry for the long thread and lots of questions but I am very seriously considering this change of career, I am currently a Project Manager working for a specialised construction company working 60-70 hours a week in the Middle East for 75Kusd and I’m not enjoying it at all. My wife is very supportive of a career change as long is its reasonably feasable!!
Thanks in advance for any and all feed back
Ben
I am a newbie here and I would like to know more about the Helicopter Industry. You guys seem like a friendly bunch so I thought I would sign up and ask a few questions.
I notice that this thread was very busy in the first couple of years but there have been no new updates in the last year? Why is that?
Please can you guys tell me if there has been any change in the employment prospects in the last year or are Heli pilot jobs still difficult to find?
I have been a Helicopter enthusiast for many many years and I am seriously looking into a career change to Helicopter Pilot.
I am 34 years Young and will be in a position to start training for my CPL and CFI in a year’s time when I am 35. I will also add that I am married and have a 5 month old Daughter.
My big question is "Is this too late to be starting out as a Commercial Helicopter Pilot??"
A friend of mine who is a Heli Broker told me I am a little too old to be starting out, plus I have the “baggage” of my family for me to support and for a potential employer to consider. Is this True?
I realise that after training I will have to instruct for maybe 18 months - 24 months to build hours and instructors salary is nothing to shout about.
So another question I have is how many hours does an average instructor actually work in a week?
Do they actually get 40 hours flying or is it 10 hours flying and 30 hours class room, paper work, odd jobs? (Hours were a guestimate)
I am guessing that the average Instructors salary is around 30-40K per year?
Would it be possible to hold down another part time Job at the same time to boost the income to keep my daughter in diapers and the wife’s sewing machine in thread?
I have searched this forum for threads about the current job situation in the industry but all the threads I found seem to be a few years old?
The age old question, are there any jobs out there at the moment? (or more importantly for me in 18 months time?)
Most of the training schools are saying that all the Vietnam Pilots are all retiring, the industry is growing and there is a shortage of Heli Pilots. Is this still true or are they just encouraging you to sign on the dotted line?
Lastly, assuming that you all don’t say “no way man your far to old to start in this game!”
Would it be a good idea to get my CPL and CFI plus some other qualification like Long Line/VR immediately?
Or wait until i have built my hours instructing to a reasonable amount then do the Long Line/VR training?
Same question go’s for the Instrument Rating and CFII?
I am assuming that if you get your instrument rating right at the beginning no company will hire you for an Instrument rated pilots position until you have 1500-200hrs plus, by which time you will need to do your instrument training again?
Sorry for the long thread and lots of questions but I am very seriously considering this change of career, I am currently a Project Manager working for a specialised construction company working 60-70 hours a week in the Middle East for 75Kusd and I’m not enjoying it at all. My wife is very supportive of a career change as long is its reasonably feasable!!
Thanks in advance for any and all feed back
Ben
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Am I Too Old?????
Please be as brutally honest as you like!!!
I have a friend who is 45, lives in the UK and is trying to decide whether or not to pursue a heli career over here.
A little history - He currently has a a FAA CPL/Instrument/CFI/CFII around 570 hours (R22/44) with about 70 on a jet ranger. This has been over a period of 10 years and is now back in the UK after unsuccessfully trying to stay in the USA because of visas etc. Last flew just under a year ago.
At his age is it worth going for the JAA CPL(H), or will companies view him as over the hill in preference of the younger pilots.
He does get some dispensation for having a foreign license for the CPL flight training and for the IR conversion if what i read is correct but would still be a large chunk of change.
Anyone here done this?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks
Pete
I have a friend who is 45, lives in the UK and is trying to decide whether or not to pursue a heli career over here.
A little history - He currently has a a FAA CPL/Instrument/CFI/CFII around 570 hours (R22/44) with about 70 on a jet ranger. This has been over a period of 10 years and is now back in the UK after unsuccessfully trying to stay in the USA because of visas etc. Last flew just under a year ago.
At his age is it worth going for the JAA CPL(H), or will companies view him as over the hill in preference of the younger pilots.
He does get some dispensation for having a foreign license for the CPL flight training and for the IR conversion if what i read is correct but would still be a large chunk of change.
Anyone here done this?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks
Pete
Last edited by zimbizee; 18th Jan 2013 at 13:56.
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Age concern?
.... and just to add twopence worth ... DRK here is 81 this year and still working in the industry and making the living I want. Three hours MD 369 today and a first solo for my client. Then a holiday break ... resuming the task late February. "Its a wonderful life" as some singer said. DennisK.
ZimBizee: ignore DK, he is a freak of aviation nature. He defies the laws of medicine and physics!
Normally your mate should be fine. His 'clients' would probably prefer the maturer CPL professional
BUT he has to get to that professional stage first!
And to do that he has to remember a basic rule of thumb - it's going to cost him a significant sum of money and (based on statistics) he will not see a decent return on his investment for many many years - if at all.
If he is doing it as a vocation - fill yer boots. If he wants to support a wife and 2 kids - forget it
Normally your mate should be fine. His 'clients' would probably prefer the maturer CPL professional
BUT he has to get to that professional stage first!
And to do that he has to remember a basic rule of thumb - it's going to cost him a significant sum of money and (based on statistics) he will not see a decent return on his investment for many many years - if at all.
If he is doing it as a vocation - fill yer boots. If he wants to support a wife and 2 kids - forget it
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Is 32 a realistic age to start training?
I started briefly in my mid twenties but unfortunately had to stop.
Now I can easily find the capital and keep my business running/ making money while I train so I can afford to take a 1/2 months off a few times a year.
My concerns are as follows..
- Is there an modular route that would allow me quickly achieve my PPL in the US and to hour build in the UK. This may be more expensive but if I can stay closer to home my business is less likely to suffer.
- Could you detail the difficulty and time needed to pass the ground exams.
- Is age a problem and if it is what can I do to improve my chance. How much will it cost to achieve my CPLH and hour build plus get my IR rating.
Now I can easily find the capital and keep my business running/ making money while I train so I can afford to take a 1/2 months off a few times a year.
My concerns are as follows..
- Is there an modular route that would allow me quickly achieve my PPL in the US and to hour build in the UK. This may be more expensive but if I can stay closer to home my business is less likely to suffer.
- Could you detail the difficulty and time needed to pass the ground exams.
- Is age a problem and if it is what can I do to improve my chance. How much will it cost to achieve my CPLH and hour build plus get my IR rating.
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PPL in the US 4 weeks 50 hours maybe $18000
hour build US 3 or 4 weeks at a time to save money and time 100 hours (4 weeks) maybe $25000 or
hour build UK 100 hours (6 months) maybe £25000
CPL £10000
MEIR £50000
if you can spare the time to go to the states i'd do FAA CPL and IR as part of hourbuilding, it should work out a bit cheaper and easier when it comes to the EASA CPL IR conversion
just my humble opinion and figures off the top of my head
Chester
hour build US 3 or 4 weeks at a time to save money and time 100 hours (4 weeks) maybe $25000 or
hour build UK 100 hours (6 months) maybe £25000
CPL £10000
MEIR £50000
if you can spare the time to go to the states i'd do FAA CPL and IR as part of hourbuilding, it should work out a bit cheaper and easier when it comes to the EASA CPL IR conversion
just my humble opinion and figures off the top of my head
Chester
