Training, hours building and first job prospects in America
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Buffalo, NY
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I have been keeping Chesapeake in mind. My girlfriend can transfer her job to Richmond VA, which is close to the Chesapeake HEli field.
I'll email him bout that 0-CFI ad. Its only bout 4 hrs from baltimore area too.
acqiring time in acouple different helis was another concern of mine. Ex. Going from getting PPL in a Bell 47 to CPL and CFI in R22. What is the min time u need to train others as CFI in a certain type?
in other words, i dont want to train in a Bell and move to another school where they fly r22s and have a problem not having hours in the type that schools flys.
I'll email him bout that 0-CFI ad. Its only bout 4 hrs from baltimore area too.
acqiring time in acouple different helis was another concern of mine. Ex. Going from getting PPL in a Bell 47 to CPL and CFI in R22. What is the min time u need to train others as CFI in a certain type?
in other words, i dont want to train in a Bell and move to another school where they fly r22s and have a problem not having hours in the type that schools flys.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Insurance drives that scenario. Usually, you need 200 hours in Robinson helicopters if you want to instruct in R22's. I'm not exactly sure on that, and I could be wrong.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Denver, CO and the GOM
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For most, you are not wrong RD - there are only a very few R.22 schools that will let you teach without 200 hrs in the Robbie (insurance). However, some of the schools will do what they can for you by letting you do photo flights, ect. Still, it might take awhile to get to that 200 hrs...
Join Date: Jan 2004
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One more thing i came acrossed in the forum, weights of students and CFIs.
I weigh 232 right now and i am 6'2" tall. I read there could be trouble getting a job as a CFI if you weigh more than 200. I do plan on coming down in weight but more like 210-220. Any truth to these posts u think?
I weigh 232 right now and i am 6'2" tall. I read there could be trouble getting a job as a CFI if you weigh more than 200. I do plan on coming down in weight but more like 210-220. Any truth to these posts u think?
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
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Weight is not a problem in the Bell 47. Depending on the model as long as the two crew weigh less than 550 pounds together away you go. That is with full fuel too. The Robinson is much more weight critical.
Regarding CFI's. I own Dutch Country Helicopters in Pennsylvania. I employ American and British instructors. I get resumes through the post all the time from European pilots. They usually follow the same path. They have trained somewhere in Florida or California and want a job with me with around 150 - 200 hours. The answer is no. To be honest it is a bit of a cheek to give their money to another flight school and then ask me for a job. If you come to me and train for your licence I will probably give you a job as a CFI, if you fit in. You will get at least 1000 hours in a couple of years.
Finally, a load of rubbish has been talked about the cost in the USA. At the moment we charge $200 per hour, all in. That is £109 at todays rate. A private will cost you 40 x 200 or £4371. A commercial from scratch would be 150 hours x 200 or £16,393. If you have fixed wing time (100 hours) that is reduced to 50 hours in a helicopter for a commercial or £5464.
You don't have to convert an FAA licence to fly G registered helicopters. It is an ICAO licence. Most flight schools in the UK will tell you that but it is untrue. The JAR compliant licence is the way to go. You can then fly anywhere in the world unlike the JAA licence.
This is not an advert, I hope this helps.
Regarding CFI's. I own Dutch Country Helicopters in Pennsylvania. I employ American and British instructors. I get resumes through the post all the time from European pilots. They usually follow the same path. They have trained somewhere in Florida or California and want a job with me with around 150 - 200 hours. The answer is no. To be honest it is a bit of a cheek to give their money to another flight school and then ask me for a job. If you come to me and train for your licence I will probably give you a job as a CFI, if you fit in. You will get at least 1000 hours in a couple of years.
Finally, a load of rubbish has been talked about the cost in the USA. At the moment we charge $200 per hour, all in. That is £109 at todays rate. A private will cost you 40 x 200 or £4371. A commercial from scratch would be 150 hours x 200 or £16,393. If you have fixed wing time (100 hours) that is reduced to 50 hours in a helicopter for a commercial or £5464.
You don't have to convert an FAA licence to fly G registered helicopters. It is an ICAO licence. Most flight schools in the UK will tell you that but it is untrue. The JAR compliant licence is the way to go. You can then fly anywhere in the world unlike the JAA licence.
This is not an advert, I hope this helps.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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USA Helicopter Company
Hi Guy's
Anyone done any training with the UK Flight Training based in Long Beach.
would appreciated any comments towards JAR licencing.
Many Thanks
L B
Anyone done any training with the UK Flight Training based in Long Beach.
would appreciated any comments towards JAR licencing.
Many Thanks
L B
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Re CFI Weight :
The limitation is diven by the CG/Total Weight issues associated with the R22. For other training helicopters the issues aren't always that bad.
However, the R22 is the most common training helicopter and as such if you can't instruct in it you limit job opportunities for yourself.
In an R22 I'd say a good weight for an instructor is going to be around 180lbs. Much more than this and you won't be able to accomodate all the students who turn up. I also know someone who although having completed his IR training in an R22 has found that none of the local examiners are able to check him out since his and their combined weights are too high...
r.
The limitation is diven by the CG/Total Weight issues associated with the R22. For other training helicopters the issues aren't always that bad.
However, the R22 is the most common training helicopter and as such if you can't instruct in it you limit job opportunities for yourself.
In an R22 I'd say a good weight for an instructor is going to be around 180lbs. Much more than this and you won't be able to accomodate all the students who turn up. I also know someone who although having completed his IR training in an R22 has found that none of the local examiners are able to check him out since his and their combined weights are too high...
r.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Looking for a Good Helicopter School in the US?
Hey Every1,
I'm a 19 year old student pilot, Helicopter that is. I am currently finishing up my PPL.
I am looking for a helicopter school in the US which have a great school and working helicopters?
I'm also looking at the the New York State or Florida.
Thanks alot for your help guys.
I'm a 19 year old student pilot, Helicopter that is. I am currently finishing up my PPL.
I am looking for a helicopter school in the US which have a great school and working helicopters?I'm also looking at the the New York State or Florida.
Thanks alot for your help guys.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Ireland
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Florida (Hai) or Oregon (Hillsboro), where to train and to live
I'm a 41 yr. old male PPL(A/IR) from the Netherlands. I've decided to make a career-change from IT director to Helicopterpilot. I have only 3 options to go for my training because I need a J1 visa. HAI, Hillsboro or Heliflight. I'm coming to the US taking my wife and three children. After getting the CPL/CFI I want to build hours in the US and then go to either Canada or Australia.
The point is should I train in Florida or Oregon. My wife likes Florida the best, but I see advantages in Oregon (weather, mountain flying etc.)
Does anyone has recommendations also on the outlook of getting the first CFI job in FL or OR?
It's not a question of doing it or not just where to start?
The point is should I train in Florida or Oregon. My wife likes Florida the best, but I see advantages in Oregon (weather, mountain flying etc.)
Does anyone has recommendations also on the outlook of getting the first CFI job in FL or OR?
It's not a question of doing it or not just where to start?
My humble opinion is that you have got this completely the wrong way round. You are either:
Very wealthy.
Have a job to fall back on if/when it all goes wrong.
Stupid.
Stupid and naive!
If you are waffling on about 'nice' places to live because your wife fancies it...what the hell is your priority here???
A job flying helos, or a nice view for your wife and kids
Very wealthy.
Have a job to fall back on if/when it all goes wrong.
Stupid.
Stupid and naive!
If you are waffling on about 'nice' places to live because your wife fancies it...what the hell is your priority here???
A job flying helos, or a nice view for your wife and kids
Join Date: May 2001
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The fact is I'm married and have a wife and children and they will have to make sacrifices as well. But it's also my responsibilty to take care of them.
I wanted to know if anybody had an opinion on the training conditions and job prospects.
I did not ask an opinion on whether I should do it or not and there is no issue here on the money or backup plans. I said I will go fly helicopters anyway.
I would like some serious advice here.
I wanted to know if anybody had an opinion on the training conditions and job prospects.
I did not ask an opinion on whether I should do it or not and there is no issue here on the money or backup plans. I said I will go fly helicopters anyway.
I would like some serious advice here.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: UK/AUSTRALIA/NZ
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Wesp
Just my 2 cents worth.
Hour building in australia is extremely difficult due to immigration rules etc. Working holiday visa's are available to anybody <30. The only other way to work is to be sponsored. You can only be sponsored as a foreigner if there is a high demand for pilots and Australian citizens cannot fill the positions. Unfortunately this is not the case for low houred pilots and probably never will be.
As for location, it is important to enjoy where you train especially if you have family considerations. You will probably find the leading helicopter training schools offer a similar if not the same standard of training. Therefore if the wife likes Florida then that might sway you.
Good luck.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Hour building in australia is extremely difficult due to immigration rules etc. Working holiday visa's are available to anybody <30. The only other way to work is to be sponsored. You can only be sponsored as a foreigner if there is a high demand for pilots and Australian citizens cannot fill the positions. Unfortunately this is not the case for low houred pilots and probably never will be.
As for location, it is important to enjoy where you train especially if you have family considerations. You will probably find the leading helicopter training schools offer a similar if not the same standard of training. Therefore if the wife likes Florida then that might sway you.
Good luck.
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Ditto to Thomas coupling's statement.
Imagine somebody saying I'm a 41 yr. old male and decided to become an IT director even though I have only ever turned on a computer a couple of times beforehand,
and I am going to drop everything and move country and culture, and bring the wife and kids along for the ride, weather they like it or not!
The mind boggles.
Imagine somebody saying I'm a 41 yr. old male and decided to become an IT director even though I have only ever turned on a computer a couple of times beforehand,
and I am going to drop everything and move country and culture, and bring the wife and kids along for the ride, weather they like it or not!
The mind boggles.
Join Date: May 2001
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For a lot of people it seems 41 is too old for anything else than the current job. I think I've still got most of my professional life still ahead of me. I made a career and don't want to continue this for another 25 years.
There is alot more in life than money alone. When 2.5 years ago my 6 years old son was killed I got a completely different view on life.
By the way I toured through Europe by aeroplane more than 100 hours and I know what flying is. We made trips from Holland to Ireland, France and Germany sometimes more than 2200 miles in 2 weeks. Of course it's different to working professionaly and in helicopters but I'm not a complete and utter fool.
We are also fed up with living in the Netherlands and would leave anyway. But sitting in office everyday either here or in a different country wouldn't make much of a difference would it.
By the way don't forget I worked for 17 years in IT making average weeks of over 70 hours a week.
Still in this high paying job I work more than 70 hours.
It's not coming for free in this type of business as well.
I don't say I don't want to work hard.....
There is alot more in life than money alone. When 2.5 years ago my 6 years old son was killed I got a completely different view on life.
By the way I toured through Europe by aeroplane more than 100 hours and I know what flying is. We made trips from Holland to Ireland, France and Germany sometimes more than 2200 miles in 2 weeks. Of course it's different to working professionaly and in helicopters but I'm not a complete and utter fool.
We are also fed up with living in the Netherlands and would leave anyway. But sitting in office everyday either here or in a different country wouldn't make much of a difference would it.
By the way don't forget I worked for 17 years in IT making average weeks of over 70 hours a week.
Still in this high paying job I work more than 70 hours.
It's not coming for free in this type of business as well.
I don't say I don't want to work hard.....
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Good for you, Sir.
I imagine autosync and Mr. Coupling were born to be helicopter pilots with a right to dictate who may join their exclusive club?
You're never too old to start anything new. You may have a harder time than someone younger but my experience is a maturer pilot is more likely to stick with a company and bring some important wider experience of life to the job.
I would recommend HAI purely as I attended that school and it's done me no harm at all. 6 years on and going strong.
As an instructor I took pupils from 0 hours to a CPL (FAA and CAA) aged from 17 to 52. There are also advantages to having a wife and kids with you too. Having support at home and someone to bore with your tales of your first steps to a licence is invaluable.
Good luck to you. Go for it. I would have been an accountant now if I hadn't done what you're about to do.
I imagine autosync and Mr. Coupling were born to be helicopter pilots with a right to dictate who may join their exclusive club?
You're never too old to start anything new. You may have a harder time than someone younger but my experience is a maturer pilot is more likely to stick with a company and bring some important wider experience of life to the job.
I would recommend HAI purely as I attended that school and it's done me no harm at all. 6 years on and going strong.
As an instructor I took pupils from 0 hours to a CPL (FAA and CAA) aged from 17 to 52. There are also advantages to having a wife and kids with you too. Having support at home and someone to bore with your tales of your first steps to a licence is invaluable.
Good luck to you. Go for it. I would have been an accountant now if I hadn't done what you're about to do.
Last edited by The Governor; 22nd Apr 2004 at 17:56.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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I'm probibly in no position to comment on your situation only having a PPLH. You obviously enjoy flying being a seized wing pilot so why not go for it. I spent months looking at different schools to train at in the US and having done my PPL training there, I'm in the middle of sorting things out to go back on a J1 visa for two years. As you say, you've got the support of your family behind you which is a must, you want to move from your country to try something new, you have the money to do it so why not? With regards to your age, well thats someting again I cant comment on because I'm yet to reach employment level, but maybe someone will take this as being a plus? I would have thought if your self funded all the way through and dont need any additional training then maturity is a good thing.
I've had a lot of advise given to me on this forum, some what I've wanted to hear and some I'd rather have not but all the comments have been appreciated. I think its better to go into something knowing the full facts rather than being blinkered. Know the pitfalls and hopefully learn by other peoples experience. At the end of the day its your decision. I'm a believer that if someone wants something that badly, eventually they'll get it.
LB
I've had a lot of advise given to me on this forum, some what I've wanted to hear and some I'd rather have not but all the comments have been appreciated. I think its better to go into something knowing the full facts rather than being blinkered. Know the pitfalls and hopefully learn by other peoples experience. At the end of the day its your decision. I'm a believer that if someone wants something that badly, eventually they'll get it.
LB
Join Date: Feb 2003
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There are not too many people out there dreaming of becoming IT Directors.
There are however, plenty of people dreaming of becoming a Helo pilot . That's the difference I see.
You are lucky to have a wife willing to support your dreams.
Best of luck with it.
There are however, plenty of people dreaming of becoming a Helo pilot . That's the difference I see.
You are lucky to have a wife willing to support your dreams.
Best of luck with it.