Well adjusted helicopter pilots
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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Sorry, Flypro, just wanting to prove I'm not as stupid as I look / sound / write (probably just as well I'm not 
)
I thought it was plein to see. The pun / pein was intended, sorry if it has become a pain.
) I thought it was plein to see. The pun / pein was intended, sorry if it has become a pain.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Malaysia
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SE7EV,
I suggest that the different attitude you describe stems from our understanding of the temporary nature of the companies we work for and the generally low calibre of the management rotary aviation is able to attract. As a result we spend our lives building up a large CV file full of possible contacts and employers. It's like a game of musical chairs - make sure you're sitting down when the music abruptly stops.
In a bid to keep ahead of the distressing number of company shakeouts and takeovers many of us have become even more international than our fixed wing "colleagues", finding work all over the world. This is real survival and it breeds a certain self reliance; it also of course is a humbling experience when you realise that your fond beliefs in the superiority of your home country's training and standards are so much bull****.
So the more we travel around the world, the more companies we work for and the more professionals we meet. At this stage we begin to realise how little we actually do know about other people and Human Factors takes on a whole new dimension we must master; most fixed wing pilots lack this depth of experience. If they go abroad after early retirement they are treated to expatriate lifestyles and great privilege. This is directly the opposite to the helicopter pilot's life; from the pilot doing survey work in the bush in Oz to the guys and girls in the North Sea there is no room for attitude.
Obviously there are some pilots in the airline industry who do not would also fit into our world (but clearly would be better off by not doing so!); we welcome you to our pages! Sadly you will also discover that we too are more than human...
Many younger helicopter pilots go fixed wing during the expansion phases of your industry, and good luck to them; they generally enjoy the better terms and conditions offered but miss "real" flying and people. If it's a "job" they're after, then they will be satisfied; wives and young families can be sited in the comfort of the the suburbs of the big cities and properties will get more valuable etc etc. Speak to the wives of senior North Sea Commanders and senior 747 Captains and their lives are in stark contrast.
I suggest that the different attitude you describe stems from our understanding of the temporary nature of the companies we work for and the generally low calibre of the management rotary aviation is able to attract. As a result we spend our lives building up a large CV file full of possible contacts and employers. It's like a game of musical chairs - make sure you're sitting down when the music abruptly stops.
In a bid to keep ahead of the distressing number of company shakeouts and takeovers many of us have become even more international than our fixed wing "colleagues", finding work all over the world. This is real survival and it breeds a certain self reliance; it also of course is a humbling experience when you realise that your fond beliefs in the superiority of your home country's training and standards are so much bull****.
So the more we travel around the world, the more companies we work for and the more professionals we meet. At this stage we begin to realise how little we actually do know about other people and Human Factors takes on a whole new dimension we must master; most fixed wing pilots lack this depth of experience. If they go abroad after early retirement they are treated to expatriate lifestyles and great privilege. This is directly the opposite to the helicopter pilot's life; from the pilot doing survey work in the bush in Oz to the guys and girls in the North Sea there is no room for attitude.
Obviously there are some pilots in the airline industry who do not would also fit into our world (but clearly would be better off by not doing so!); we welcome you to our pages! Sadly you will also discover that we too are more than human...
Many younger helicopter pilots go fixed wing during the expansion phases of your industry, and good luck to them; they generally enjoy the better terms and conditions offered but miss "real" flying and people. If it's a "job" they're after, then they will be satisfied; wives and young families can be sited in the comfort of the the suburbs of the big cities and properties will get more valuable etc etc. Speak to the wives of senior North Sea Commanders and senior 747 Captains and their lives are in stark contrast.
Gosh,
Someone is reading my mail....my brief Resume runs to three pages now....rehired by some companies two or three times even....sometimes I left them...sometimes they left me....sometimes they left the industry....try getting a security vetting when half your employers no longer exist....your former residences have disappeared....your friends, references, and places of employment have gone to the four winds and in some cases have no forwarding address. Usually though....someone at the new place knows you...knows someone that knows you...or in some cases...your reputation precedes you.
A dear friend who has spent more years living overseas....married a lovely German lady...resides near Munich and loves "hot" beer...once told me while quaffing green tins of below sea-level beer under the shade of a Mango tree in Nigeria....helicopter pilots live where the road ends and go from there doing their work. His description is so true in most cases...from Barter Island to Eagle Pass...Stornoway to Sumbrugh....to Moga....to the Escravos...to Bobo and five miles up Three Mile Bayou....to Unga....it is a life that some people only read about. Enroute I spent half my money on whiskey and women....the rest I just plain wasted!
Someone is reading my mail....my brief Resume runs to three pages now....rehired by some companies two or three times even....sometimes I left them...sometimes they left me....sometimes they left the industry....try getting a security vetting when half your employers no longer exist....your former residences have disappeared....your friends, references, and places of employment have gone to the four winds and in some cases have no forwarding address. Usually though....someone at the new place knows you...knows someone that knows you...or in some cases...your reputation precedes you.
A dear friend who has spent more years living overseas....married a lovely German lady...resides near Munich and loves "hot" beer...once told me while quaffing green tins of below sea-level beer under the shade of a Mango tree in Nigeria....helicopter pilots live where the road ends and go from there doing their work. His description is so true in most cases...from Barter Island to Eagle Pass...Stornoway to Sumbrugh....to Moga....to the Escravos...to Bobo and five miles up Three Mile Bayou....to Unga....it is a life that some people only read about. Enroute I spent half my money on whiskey and women....the rest I just plain wasted!
Howcanwebeexpectedtoflylikeeagles
whensurroundedbyturkeys
A true story;-
An exec pilot is escorting his client (a chairman of a large UK blue chip company) through an airport terminal towards his spotless leather lined aircraft when the client sees two helicopter pilots in coveralls and muddy boots sitting in the canteen. They were somewhat dusty as they as they had just finished a long day underslinging.
The client turns to the exec pilot and says "Captain, who are those filthy pilots?
" Oh don't worry about them Sir, they're working class pilots"
An exec pilot is escorting his client (a chairman of a large UK blue chip company) through an airport terminal towards his spotless leather lined aircraft when the client sees two helicopter pilots in coveralls and muddy boots sitting in the canteen. They were somewhat dusty as they as they had just finished a long day underslinging.
The client turns to the exec pilot and says "Captain, who are those filthy pilots?
" Oh don't worry about them Sir, they're working class pilots"
Join Date: May 2002
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Had a BIG laugh of HughMartin and Floats Armed posts 
..
Well, if you can't become a helipilot, you can always fly FW, thereby that industry gets a wider representation of the population (and I'm ready to get smashed by FW pilots now for that comment
) - it's like everyone can get a driverslicense, but not everyone can learn to drive off-road ..
Haven't pilots in the FW industry for a looong time been seen as cool hard men of steel that could handle anything and still are seen like that in some part of the population? They can shack the stewardess just by their present. That probably attracts sometime - ehh - different personalities of students that I don't think are seen in heli's ..
But with the present of Low-fare airliners and most Flagcarriers following them, it's now just a busdrivers job with ****ty pay in the beginning in a long tincan at high altitude that can takeoff, go from A to B and land - that's it ..
I experience when I go out with FW students and people ask what we do, that they can totally relate what a FW pilot is, but saying I'm RW, they look more like a questionmark - yes pilot, but helicopter ?????????? - but where, how, what do they fly ..
I get the impression heli's never had the same glorie and God thanks for that - I know heli's are the coolest, funniest, exciting and tuffest to fly ..
Said from one who recently converted his religion (piloteducation) from FW to RW
..
..Well, if you can't become a helipilot, you can always fly FW, thereby that industry gets a wider representation of the population (and I'm ready to get smashed by FW pilots now for that comment
) - it's like everyone can get a driverslicense, but not everyone can learn to drive off-road ..Haven't pilots in the FW industry for a looong time been seen as cool hard men of steel that could handle anything and still are seen like that in some part of the population? They can shack the stewardess just by their present. That probably attracts sometime - ehh - different personalities of students that I don't think are seen in heli's ..
But with the present of Low-fare airliners and most Flagcarriers following them, it's now just a busdrivers job with ****ty pay in the beginning in a long tincan at high altitude that can takeoff, go from A to B and land - that's it ..
I experience when I go out with FW students and people ask what we do, that they can totally relate what a FW pilot is, but saying I'm RW, they look more like a questionmark - yes pilot, but helicopter ?????????? - but where, how, what do they fly ..
I get the impression heli's never had the same glorie and God thanks for that - I know heli's are the coolest, funniest, exciting and tuffest to fly
..Said from one who recently converted his religion (piloteducation) from FW to RW
..
Last edited by madman1145; 24th Oct 2004 at 13:40.
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Gentleman Aviator
Yes, helicopter pilots are different. I'm speaking mainly from a military perspective, but I believe it holds true for all rotary drivers.
In the past I was involved in the "streaming" of military pilots, that is, deciding whether they would go fast jet, multi-engine or helicopter (and I know the military system is different now!). Then the idea was the helo pilots were "spotted" off the course, and the rest divided on pure ability between fast and pointed and the rest.
So what selected a heli pilot? Generally maturity beyond their (young) years and an ability to think for themselves. As someone once said, "There's no navigator or fighter controller to tell you what to do, and there's no TAPs (approach plate) for every field and clearing in Europe!"
So maybe the ability (or desire) to be in a part of aviation where you can and must make more of your own decisions makes the difference. But as to whether that means "well-adjusted" I don't know.
Certainly not at the parties.........
In the past I was involved in the "streaming" of military pilots, that is, deciding whether they would go fast jet, multi-engine or helicopter (and I know the military system is different now!). Then the idea was the helo pilots were "spotted" off the course, and the rest divided on pure ability between fast and pointed and the rest.
So what selected a heli pilot? Generally maturity beyond their (young) years and an ability to think for themselves. As someone once said, "There's no navigator or fighter controller to tell you what to do, and there's no TAPs (approach plate) for every field and clearing in Europe!"
So maybe the ability (or desire) to be in a part of aviation where you can and must make more of your own decisions makes the difference. But as to whether that means "well-adjusted" I don't know.
Certainly not at the parties.........
