How much do helicopter pilots earn?
HeliFirst
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If you fly for nothing you call it your 'Hobby'. Lucky you!!
If you fly for money you are a Professional Pilot.
Sad to say 'One man(woman) with a Hobby will one day want a job'!!
need we say more??
If you fly for money you are a Professional Pilot.
Sad to say 'One man(woman) with a Hobby will one day want a job'!!
need we say more??
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Are you really worth nothing ??
Let's say for argument sake, that someone takes a flying position that pays nothing. That person goes out and gains hours and valuable experience. They go out and learn to sling, water bucket, vertical reference, confined areas. Now they have 1,000 hours or so and decide that flying for free isn't feeding them, and the bloody landlord would really like to be paid. So they walk in to see the boss about getting a raise to siut their qualifications. What do you think the answer will be ?? Um, perhaps NO. After all, that person was performing all of these duties for nothing. Why should they get money for something they agreed to do for FREE.
There is a temptation to work for free to get a foot in the door. If you are a professional pilot, you must be paid for your duties.
Cheers
There is a temptation to work for free to get a foot in the door. If you are a professional pilot, you must be paid for your duties.
Cheers
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I agree with Randy_G
Name another industry which provokes even discussion on working for free just to get your foot in the door?
Whirlybird is right about solidarity but it aint going to happen. I do vaguely remember a few years ago, all the PHI pilots threatened to or I think even stopped flying until their wage increase demands had been met.
What would happen if all pilots worldwide threatened to stop flying until everybody was promised the minimum award rate for their relevant experience?
Name another industry which provokes even discussion on working for free just to get your foot in the door?
Whirlybird is right about solidarity but it aint going to happen. I do vaguely remember a few years ago, all the PHI pilots threatened to or I think even stopped flying until their wage increase demands had been met.
What would happen if all pilots worldwide threatened to stop flying until everybody was promised the minimum award rate for their relevant experience?
Mark,
Australia has a quaint system of "Awards", which dictate minimum pay rates, allowances, leave, leave loading (yes, you get paid extra to go on holiday, 'cos the unions figure that you lose out on overtime. Don't get overtime? So what, still get 17.5% loading
) and other working conditions.
These awards are promulgated for each industry, and are binding upon respondant employers. Always a bone of contention between Labour Unions and Liberal Governments, Federal efforts to replace Awards with Enterprise Bargaining is continually stymied by the labour influenced employment courts, Labour State Governments, and other interested parties.
Re working for nowt, it can and is a continuing PITA in the FW GA industry here. Too many operators unscrupulously take advantage of young hopefuls, either not paying them, or breaking promises of payment. This, of course, allows them to operate at a lower than normal charter rate, which then puts pressure on the honest operators, who need continuing work to stay viable.
A never ending quandary, with the variation in the helicopter industry of the rich man's toy syndrome: convince a prospective private owner that his new toy can be put out to work, then undercut the opposition at unrealistic rates until the owner twigs that he's not making enough to cover costs, and pulls out. In the meantime, the operators are cutting costs to remain competetive, and the whole local industry suffers. No profit to reinvest, no decent salaries for pilots, cut price maintenance, the list goes on and on.
And we only have ourselves to blame
Australia has a quaint system of "Awards", which dictate minimum pay rates, allowances, leave, leave loading (yes, you get paid extra to go on holiday, 'cos the unions figure that you lose out on overtime. Don't get overtime? So what, still get 17.5% loading
) and other working conditions.These awards are promulgated for each industry, and are binding upon respondant employers. Always a bone of contention between Labour Unions and Liberal Governments, Federal efforts to replace Awards with Enterprise Bargaining is continually stymied by the labour influenced employment courts, Labour State Governments, and other interested parties.
Re working for nowt, it can and is a continuing PITA in the FW GA industry here. Too many operators unscrupulously take advantage of young hopefuls, either not paying them, or breaking promises of payment. This, of course, allows them to operate at a lower than normal charter rate, which then puts pressure on the honest operators, who need continuing work to stay viable.
A never ending quandary, with the variation in the helicopter industry of the rich man's toy syndrome: convince a prospective private owner that his new toy can be put out to work, then undercut the opposition at unrealistic rates until the owner twigs that he's not making enough to cover costs, and pulls out. In the meantime, the operators are cutting costs to remain competetive, and the whole local industry suffers. No profit to reinvest, no decent salaries for pilots, cut price maintenance, the list goes on and on.
And we only have ourselves to blame
Whirly, shame on you. After all you have done, all the blood sweat and definitely tears...now you're telling me you'd work for nothing.
If thats not the quickest route to splitting the industry, I don't know what is.
Taking someone on for nothing is also the quickest way to an accident. What standards does this 'volunteer' have. The employer wouldn't care...goods came cheap...you get what you pay for.
Don't pay 'em anything, feed them on McDonalds, no life insurance, no pension, max out their FDP...wham you've got the makings of the accident pyramid developing, methinks.
For christs sake show some respect for the industry and do away with that appalling attitude of throwing your qualifications down the pan. Get a solid wage for your solid efforts
If thats not the quickest route to splitting the industry, I don't know what is.
Taking someone on for nothing is also the quickest way to an accident. What standards does this 'volunteer' have. The employer wouldn't care...goods came cheap...you get what you pay for.
Don't pay 'em anything, feed them on McDonalds, no life insurance, no pension, max out their FDP...wham you've got the makings of the accident pyramid developing, methinks.
For christs sake show some respect for the industry and do away with that appalling attitude of throwing your qualifications down the pan. Get a solid wage for your solid efforts
The Original Whirly
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Thomas,
Actually, personally, I wouldn't. But I wouldn't blame anyone who did. Quickest route to splitting the industry? I've only been around five minutes or so, but it looks pretty dog eat dog anyway to me. And do an individual's standards depend on what they're paid? Worrying idea, that.
In any industry, you may need to get work by undercutting the next offer. If you don't do it, someone else will. If you ALL decide that you don't want to do that, you get together and get unionised. But you can't have it both ways. I'm just being logical, that's all.
Actually, personally, I wouldn't. But I wouldn't blame anyone who did. Quickest route to splitting the industry? I've only been around five minutes or so, but it looks pretty dog eat dog anyway to me. And do an individual's standards depend on what they're paid? Worrying idea, that.
In any industry, you may need to get work by undercutting the next offer. If you don't do it, someone else will. If you ALL decide that you don't want to do that, you get together and get unionised. But you can't have it both ways. I'm just being logical, that's all.
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TC,
Before you pile on the scorn to Whirly stop and think for a moment................I to disagree with Wirly's second opinion but put yourself in a newbies shoes for a minute, you have just put everything you own into your training and you are desperate to get hours, someone offers you a job for either nothing or next to nothing, what do you do?
Here is the kicker it seems that you have two options.
1. Take the job, build hours, while protecting the biggest investment you have ever made (staying current) with the hope of eventually moving on and making enough money to support yourself.
2. "Do the right thing", tell the potential employer that they are cheap advantage taking B^$%!&*S and you will not work for nothing and two seconds later they offer the job to someone else and the end result is you get to watch that big investment slipping away.
The point I'm trying to make is before anyone goes pointing fingers, what choice do newbies really have? and we were all newbies once and I'm damb well sure that we have all worked at some time or another for beans.
The solution
Firstly let me make it perfectly clear that I am most definitely not a union fan, I grew up in the UK in the 70's and 80's and I think I witnessed just how disgustingly destructive bad unions can be.
But is there really a realistic alternative?
O.K If this turns into a big union discussion, fine, but lets keep it intelligent, it does not need to degenerate into the kind of slanging matches that are visible on another forum.
Jiff
Before you pile on the scorn to Whirly stop and think for a moment................I to disagree with Wirly's second opinion but put yourself in a newbies shoes for a minute, you have just put everything you own into your training and you are desperate to get hours, someone offers you a job for either nothing or next to nothing, what do you do?
Here is the kicker it seems that you have two options.
1. Take the job, build hours, while protecting the biggest investment you have ever made (staying current) with the hope of eventually moving on and making enough money to support yourself.
2. "Do the right thing", tell the potential employer that they are cheap advantage taking B^$%!&*S and you will not work for nothing and two seconds later they offer the job to someone else and the end result is you get to watch that big investment slipping away.
The point I'm trying to make is before anyone goes pointing fingers, what choice do newbies really have? and we were all newbies once and I'm damb well sure that we have all worked at some time or another for beans.
The solution
Firstly let me make it perfectly clear that I am most definitely not a union fan, I grew up in the UK in the 70's and 80's and I think I witnessed just how disgustingly destructive bad unions can be.
But is there really a realistic alternative?
O.K If this turns into a big union discussion, fine, but lets keep it intelligent, it does not need to degenerate into the kind of slanging matches that are visible on another forum.
Jiff
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Replace the word "helicopterpilot" with lawyer or Doctor......should put things in perspective !!
Difference is, they don't inflict themselves with low selfworth or desperation due to inflated expectations.
The pilot willing to work for free is usually the pilot who will fly when everybody else would refuse!!
Difference is, they don't inflict themselves with low selfworth or desperation due to inflated expectations.
The pilot willing to work for free is usually the pilot who will fly when everybody else would refuse!!
Much as I dislike unions, I'm afraid that they are the ONLY way that you'll get industry-wide minimum pay and conditions.
As a profession, Acting is a classic area where there are a near infinite number of people willing to work for free: to "get their foot in the door", to "get known", to "build the CV", etc. Similarly, musicians. How did they sort themselves out ? Equity and the Musicians Union. Anyone hires a non-union actor or musician, or tries to pay them less than the industry minimum, everyone walks. Result ? Anyone who wants to tread the boards for a living gets paid. Not a lot, but they get paid.
Unless and until something like that happens in the helicopter industry there is no way whatsoever that you will stop people flying for free - they need the hours, the operator wants to make a profit, everyone's happy. Fulminating about it bringing down standards or reducing the going rate for everyone else won't help.
As I say, I'm not advocating "Rotary" the helicopter pilot's closed-shop, but there is no other way.
Another thing. What constitutes "flying for free" ? I've ferried a number of aircraft between School and Maintenance organisation in the past, for nowt. Does that make me scum stealing the bread from the mouths of starving CPLs, or a nice chap helping a CFI slope off home early ? And to be honest, if I could pick up some ferry flights now, I'd take them, to get my feet off the ground and to reduce the cost of the mountain of hours I need before an insurance company will allow me to earn some money.
As a profession, Acting is a classic area where there are a near infinite number of people willing to work for free: to "get their foot in the door", to "get known", to "build the CV", etc. Similarly, musicians. How did they sort themselves out ? Equity and the Musicians Union. Anyone hires a non-union actor or musician, or tries to pay them less than the industry minimum, everyone walks. Result ? Anyone who wants to tread the boards for a living gets paid. Not a lot, but they get paid.
Unless and until something like that happens in the helicopter industry there is no way whatsoever that you will stop people flying for free - they need the hours, the operator wants to make a profit, everyone's happy. Fulminating about it bringing down standards or reducing the going rate for everyone else won't help.
As I say, I'm not advocating "Rotary" the helicopter pilot's closed-shop, but there is no other way.
Another thing. What constitutes "flying for free" ? I've ferried a number of aircraft between School and Maintenance organisation in the past, for nowt. Does that make me scum stealing the bread from the mouths of starving CPLs, or a nice chap helping a CFI slope off home early ? And to be honest, if I could pick up some ferry flights now, I'd take them, to get my feet off the ground and to reduce the cost of the mountain of hours I need before an insurance company will allow me to earn some money.
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"- they need the hours, the operator wants to make a profit, everyone's happy. "
Especially the operator, who's laughing all the way to the bank !!
"As I say, I'm not advocating "Rotary" the helicopter pilot's closed-shop, but there is no other way."
Sounds very much like advocating if there's "no other way" !!!!!
"What constitutes "flying for free" ? "
Doing any type of flying, that's not for leisure !!
"I've ferried a number of aircraft between School and Maintenance organisation in the past, for nowt. Does that make me scum stealing the bread from the mouths of starving CPLs, or a nice chap helping a CFI slope off home early ? "
Basically you keep feeding the evil circle !! Your probably a nice chap, but doing yourself a huge disfavour....people(operators) do seem to remember the suckers out there....I think they call it the casting couch in a profession mentioned above !!
And even lowtimers get jobs, especially the ones showing "character" ! And I don't mean the scum stealing freeflyvers who would do anything for a 0.2 of hobbs time !!
Especially the operator, who's laughing all the way to the bank !!
"As I say, I'm not advocating "Rotary" the helicopter pilot's closed-shop, but there is no other way."
Sounds very much like advocating if there's "no other way" !!!!!
"What constitutes "flying for free" ? "
Doing any type of flying, that's not for leisure !!
"I've ferried a number of aircraft between School and Maintenance organisation in the past, for nowt. Does that make me scum stealing the bread from the mouths of starving CPLs, or a nice chap helping a CFI slope off home early ? "
Basically you keep feeding the evil circle !! Your probably a nice chap, but doing yourself a huge disfavour....people(operators) do seem to remember the suckers out there....I think they call it the casting couch in a profession mentioned above !!
And even lowtimers get jobs, especially the ones showing "character" ! And I don't mean the scum stealing freeflyvers who would do anything for a 0.2 of hobbs time !!
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Interesting discussion.
Assume for a minute that this "ideal" union gets up and running, how do you sort out who gets hired ?? There are what, a hundred new pilots produced each year here in Canada, with a similar number in the UK. Who gets hired first ?? If there are only 20 low timer jobs in the UK, and a similar number in Canada, how will the hiring work ?? Will it be given first to the guys who graduated 10 years ago, but couldn't get a job. Or will it be only for those with shiny, newly minted licenses of that year, and tough luck to those who graduated last year, or 5 years ago.
What about personal initiative, and attitude ?? There are people out there who spend a lot of time and effort to getting that first job. Quite a few succeed, because of this attitude and perseverance. But with a union these are quashed because everything depends on your seniority number. How would you like to have spent days, weeks, months cultivating contacts, and a job is just about to be offered, only to have the employer tell you that they have to give it to someone with a lower seniority number. Well that's how it will be if there is a union.
What about the companies that choose to opt out of the union ?? Or are you proposing that all companies be forced to become unionised ??
Food for thought.
Cheers
Assume for a minute that this "ideal" union gets up and running, how do you sort out who gets hired ?? There are what, a hundred new pilots produced each year here in Canada, with a similar number in the UK. Who gets hired first ?? If there are only 20 low timer jobs in the UK, and a similar number in Canada, how will the hiring work ?? Will it be given first to the guys who graduated 10 years ago, but couldn't get a job. Or will it be only for those with shiny, newly minted licenses of that year, and tough luck to those who graduated last year, or 5 years ago.
What about personal initiative, and attitude ?? There are people out there who spend a lot of time and effort to getting that first job. Quite a few succeed, because of this attitude and perseverance. But with a union these are quashed because everything depends on your seniority number. How would you like to have spent days, weeks, months cultivating contacts, and a job is just about to be offered, only to have the employer tell you that they have to give it to someone with a lower seniority number. Well that's how it will be if there is a union.
What about the companies that choose to opt out of the union ?? Or are you proposing that all companies be forced to become unionised ??
Food for thought.
Cheers
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"........and a job is just about to be offered, only to have the employer tell you that they have to give it to someone with a lower seniority number. Well that's how it will be if there is a union."
Think you misunderstand the whole seniority thing. Nobody with less senority gets to do the cherrypicking, it's the other way around. Basically the system helps the "working man" getting a fair shot at, for example, a possible command, and NOT the guy kissing a** !! And the benefit for any operator is, that people just might stick around a whee bit longer, if it's a fair, nobiased system ! Selection should be done by ability, not your familieties or "knowing" the right people up the ladder.
And only a Union can deliver that !
Think you misunderstand the whole seniority thing. Nobody with less senority gets to do the cherrypicking, it's the other way around. Basically the system helps the "working man" getting a fair shot at, for example, a possible command, and NOT the guy kissing a** !! And the benefit for any operator is, that people just might stick around a whee bit longer, if it's a fair, nobiased system ! Selection should be done by ability, not your familieties or "knowing" the right people up the ladder.
And only a Union can deliver that !
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Just wondering whether you've worked in a union before. Any that I've had the misfortune to deal with, were all based on seniority, not ability based. You had to have the minimum qualifications, but it was all based on what number you were in seniority. They also tend to protect the, shall we say less enthusiast employees. In talks with friends in the airlines, they've seen people with lesser ability (according to their training pilots, not their own opinions BTW) get better routes, and a/c because of the magic seniority number. No-one has answered my first question of who will decide who gets hired first ??
Unions can help, by having a unified voice in negotiations, however decent mangement will win over unions every time.
Cheers
Unions can help, by having a unified voice in negotiations, however decent mangement will win over unions every time.
Cheers
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I worked with unions before, but I think we are talking to different worlds, Europe (me) vs. Canada(you).
We have a nice thing in most of Europe called labour laws.
Unions are not seen (mostly) to be the enemy, but to work in sync with the operator. Most larger operators with no union usually get into the "management by fear" rutine.
"decent mangement will win over unions every time".
Drugs are bad, m'kay ;-)
W/regards to who gets hired, a standard test, interview and simride is used. Top of class gets the job, if they meet they requirements. In Europe of course .
Smaller operators with no ethos.........any dumbnut who will work for free !!!!
The smaller operators I worked for in the past (US) hired on ability. The "others" I didn't even bother sending a CV.
And that was in the good old days with pilots a plenty, and I was a hungry lowtimer.
Still got hired though !!
We have a nice thing in most of Europe called labour laws.
Unions are not seen (mostly) to be the enemy, but to work in sync with the operator. Most larger operators with no union usually get into the "management by fear" rutine.
"decent mangement will win over unions every time".
Drugs are bad, m'kay ;-)
W/regards to who gets hired, a standard test, interview and simride is used. Top of class gets the job, if they meet they requirements. In Europe of course .
Smaller operators with no ethos.........any dumbnut who will work for free !!!!
The smaller operators I worked for in the past (US) hired on ability. The "others" I didn't even bother sending a CV.
And that was in the good old days with pilots a plenty, and I was a hungry lowtimer.
Still got hired though !!
Rotordk,
I'm not 'advocating' the union idea - advocating kind of implies I'd be standing there on the Picket line, warming my hands over a Brazier shouting "scab" at anyone who passes by. Nononono.
You can basically have two situations:
1) Free market: essentially like now, where some operators take the p!ss, some low timers get more and more overdrawn, some manage to finagle their way into paying jobs and some grab hours any and every which way they can. Or,
2) Very controlled: closed shop, one out all out and all that. Get a CPL, get a "Rotary" card; work for free, lose the "Rotary" card.
Any kind of half way house is effectively situation 1, with a few operators (the Good Guys) being screwed by the bods cutting corners hither and yon (you'll recognise them, they're the ones wearing the black hats).
As for who gets the job. We return to acting, who gets the part ? The one best suited ? the one most experienced ? the one that's the best sh@g ? Probably each and every one, depending on the people involved. Ditto flying - that's what interviews and CVs (resumes) are for.
Again, I don't put this forward as a solution to all ills, or necessarily as my preferred way to go; it's just the only way that _everyone_ will get paid for doing "any type of flying, that's not for leisure" (thanks rotordk, for clearing that up).
I'm not 'advocating' the union idea - advocating kind of implies I'd be standing there on the Picket line, warming my hands over a Brazier shouting "scab" at anyone who passes by. Nononono.
You can basically have two situations:
1) Free market: essentially like now, where some operators take the p!ss, some low timers get more and more overdrawn, some manage to finagle their way into paying jobs and some grab hours any and every which way they can. Or,
2) Very controlled: closed shop, one out all out and all that. Get a CPL, get a "Rotary" card; work for free, lose the "Rotary" card.
Any kind of half way house is effectively situation 1, with a few operators (the Good Guys) being screwed by the bods cutting corners hither and yon (you'll recognise them, they're the ones wearing the black hats).
As for who gets the job. We return to acting, who gets the part ? The one best suited ? the one most experienced ? the one that's the best sh@g ? Probably each and every one, depending on the people involved. Ditto flying - that's what interviews and CVs (resumes) are for.
Again, I don't put this forward as a solution to all ills, or necessarily as my preferred way to go; it's just the only way that _everyone_ will get paid for doing "any type of flying, that's not for leisure" (thanks rotordk, for clearing that up).
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"Again, I don't put this forward as a solution to all ills, or necessarily as my preferred way to go"...
I've been reading your post a few times now, but fail to see your solution in any of it.....care to explain whatever you meant to put forward ??!!!!
I still don't see your point w/regards to senority......The way you explain it, guys who been in the company the longest ( senority ), shouldn't have a pick a the better routes, but should purely be based on what then ? Ability ? Working extra for no extra pay ? Dating the CEO's daughter ? Lotto ?
Longevity in any company shows loyalty, and should be rewarded. Without set rules (union), abuse and intimidation could quickly become your daily nightmare. Just look at the current EMS scene in the US, or the GOM or the North Sea or ............
I never believed the guy last in line at any cinema should get the best seats. Unless he owns it !
I've been reading your post a few times now, but fail to see your solution in any of it.....care to explain whatever you meant to put forward ??!!!!
I still don't see your point w/regards to senority......The way you explain it, guys who been in the company the longest ( senority ), shouldn't have a pick a the better routes, but should purely be based on what then ? Ability ? Working extra for no extra pay ? Dating the CEO's daughter ? Lotto ?
Longevity in any company shows loyalty, and should be rewarded. Without set rules (union), abuse and intimidation could quickly become your daily nightmare. Just look at the current EMS scene in the US, or the GOM or the North Sea or ............
I never believed the guy last in line at any cinema should get the best seats. Unless he owns it !
I don't think one should hang one's hat on 'seniority' per se. The main objective of the union would be to get a fair wage for a fair day's work. We already see the minimum wage for 18yr olds in this country, the union would see to it that there would be a minimum wage for helo drivers. Companies that can't hire due to these charges, would go under - good, cuts the wheat from the chaff. Eventually the market would stabilise and we as an industry would all benefit.
Until then, parts of this profession will continue to attract cowboys and freeloaders. Helicopter pilots will be treated like taxi drivers, here today gone tomorrow.
The proof of the pudding is with Bristows (recently)...look what the union did here!
I personally can't see it happening, and until then can we ever compare ourselves to doctors and lawyers????
I would suggest that the helicopter profession isn't perceived by the public as respectable as the above
Too many 'dirty tricks' going on.
As an aside: does anyone know how many helo pilots there are in the Uk:
(a) in total (employable, not retired)
(b) ATPL
(c) CPL
(d)PPL
Until then, parts of this profession will continue to attract cowboys and freeloaders. Helicopter pilots will be treated like taxi drivers, here today gone tomorrow.
The proof of the pudding is with Bristows (recently)...look what the union did here!
I personally can't see it happening, and until then can we ever compare ourselves to doctors and lawyers????
I would suggest that the helicopter profession isn't perceived by the public as respectable as the above
Too many 'dirty tricks' going on.
As an aside: does anyone know how many helo pilots there are in the Uk:
(a) in total (employable, not retired)
(b) ATPL
(c) CPL
(d)PPL
Rotordk,
"I don't put this forward" is, I suggest, fairly self-explanatory. I'm not advocating, "putting forward", offering to start up, fund or in any way run such a union. I'm simply stating what I perceive as a fact: unless there is put in place the sort of arrangement I mentioned, the situation is not going to change. As long as people are _allowed_ to work for free/below "market" rates, they will. And as long as operators are _allowed_ to let people perform "non-leisure" flights for free, they will. Simple market economics dictate this - supply and demand and all that. There will always be a steady stream of newbies all bowing down to the great god Hours. Plus there'll be the old, bold bods who've been there, seen that, done that and moved on, but like to get airborne every now and then, to Keep Their Hand In. That is how it is.
There is the obvious downside of such a closed shop, just look at the print workers of Fleet Street for how it can go horribly wrong (sorry non-Brits). But, whilst shaking your heads and tutting at these, the epitome of all that was bad in unionisation, bear in mind that those guys were getting paid a fortune!!!
"I don't put this forward" is, I suggest, fairly self-explanatory. I'm not advocating, "putting forward", offering to start up, fund or in any way run such a union. I'm simply stating what I perceive as a fact: unless there is put in place the sort of arrangement I mentioned, the situation is not going to change. As long as people are _allowed_ to work for free/below "market" rates, they will. And as long as operators are _allowed_ to let people perform "non-leisure" flights for free, they will. Simple market economics dictate this - supply and demand and all that. There will always be a steady stream of newbies all bowing down to the great god Hours. Plus there'll be the old, bold bods who've been there, seen that, done that and moved on, but like to get airborne every now and then, to Keep Their Hand In. That is how it is.
There is the obvious downside of such a closed shop, just look at the print workers of Fleet Street for how it can go horribly wrong (sorry non-Brits). But, whilst shaking your heads and tutting at these, the epitome of all that was bad in unionisation, bear in mind that those guys were getting paid a fortune!!!
The Original Whirly
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From the CAA website: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/175/srg_fc...ofessional.PDF
As of 31/3/00:
a) Total helo pilots - 3999
b) ATPL - 1471
c) CPL- 144
d) PPL - 2384
Working for nothing? Who should work?
Where do you draw the line? Last weekend, someone was trying to say I shouldn't be instructing, since I had a reasonably paid career anyway; I might be taking the job off someone who had no other work and had to pay off their debts. Well, I considered arguing that I made sure I had something to fall back on and hadn't borrowed tens of thousands before I did it; that I couldn't afford to fly helos any more unless I got paid for it... but I thought better of even arguing. In what other profession do you have to prove your need before your so-called colleagues think you're entitled to a job? Where else is being capable of turning your hand to only one skill considered a virtue?
That's why I say if someone wants to work for nothing to get a foot in the door, good luck to them and I hope it works. No, I wouldn't do it. But I did spend the day helping doing promotions for the school, hoping in the long run it might stand me in good stead, and it wasn't even as much fun as flying. So is that working for nothing, or good PR?
These are complicated issues. Think before replying.
As of 31/3/00:
a) Total helo pilots - 3999
b) ATPL - 1471
c) CPL- 144
d) PPL - 2384
Working for nothing? Who should work?
Where do you draw the line? Last weekend, someone was trying to say I shouldn't be instructing, since I had a reasonably paid career anyway; I might be taking the job off someone who had no other work and had to pay off their debts. Well, I considered arguing that I made sure I had something to fall back on and hadn't borrowed tens of thousands before I did it; that I couldn't afford to fly helos any more unless I got paid for it... but I thought better of even arguing. In what other profession do you have to prove your need before your so-called colleagues think you're entitled to a job? Where else is being capable of turning your hand to only one skill considered a virtue?
That's why I say if someone wants to work for nothing to get a foot in the door, good luck to them and I hope it works. No, I wouldn't do it. But I did spend the day helping doing promotions for the school, hoping in the long run it might stand me in good stead, and it wasn't even as much fun as flying. So is that working for nothing, or good PR?
These are complicated issues. Think before replying.