Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
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Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Any pilots out there or anyone involved in flying 'copters who could give me advice or even a trial flight? I am looking into the possibilities of training to be 'copter pilot! Thanks 
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Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Well, you have two options. You can choose the military aviation or become a civilian pilot. I you want to become a civilian pilot just go to the closest helicopter flight school and go for a trial lesson. If you like it and have the money, go for your PPL (private pilot license). You can also start directly to train for becomming a professional pilot (integrated course)....Anyway, go for a trial lesson and the people at the flight school will give you more information.
The military route I don't know to much of, so somebody else have to give you some advice on that.
Good Luck!
The military route I don't know to much of, so somebody else have to give you some advice on that.
Good Luck!
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Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Click this link for lots of advice about becoming a helicopter pilot:
Frequently asked training questions
All helicopter schools offer trial flights.
I can't think of anywhere in Berkshire, but there are two good schools at Wycombe Air Park (between Marlow and High Wycombe): Helicopter Services and HeliAir.
Frequently asked training questions
All helicopter schools offer trial flights.
I can't think of anywhere in Berkshire, but there are two good schools at Wycombe Air Park (between Marlow and High Wycombe): Helicopter Services and HeliAir.
Last edited by Heliport; 13th Jan 2006 at 21:36.
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Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Depending on where you are in Berkshire, you could try Fast at Thruxton (near Andover), OAT at Oxford or Elite at White Waltham.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
hello man , I'm a Cfi and commercail pilot in USA . I first went a done an intro back home in dublin to check it out and then got my ppl b 4 i came to Florida to complete mw course . how far do you want to take this training? private or all the way . I had a student who flew with me for hour building and he was from UK and he done his JAA Commercial and he was useless and he donje the whole cousre with the best school in UK.
I recommend a few hours back home and a medical to make sure you not wasting money .and USA is the place where ya got to be the flying is priceless .
I recommend a few hours back home and a medical to make sure you not wasting money .and USA is the place where ya got to be the flying is priceless .
Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
as you noticed me spelling is bad on my msg , i fly better than i spell . 
Last edited by Heliport; 15th Jan 2006 at 09:11.
Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Yea i hope to visit and work there in NZ in future .
You can'nt beat USA for the Flying , the exerience you get out here is amazing . I am doin a photo mission around usa in a R22 for a Geo mapping and the airspace experience is and flying conditions are invaluable. I done my private back home in dublin and thought i was excellednt until i came out here and i was devastated . but they were'nt long getting me to standard. NZ is too far away anyways . there is a lot of people out here from UK . My boss is from there and most of our students .
You can'nt beat USA for the Flying , the exerience you get out here is amazing . I am doin a photo mission around usa in a R22 for a Geo mapping and the airspace experience is and flying conditions are invaluable. I done my private back home in dublin and thought i was excellednt until i came out here and i was devastated . but they were'nt long getting me to standard. NZ is too far away anyways . there is a lot of people out here from UK . My boss is from there and most of our students .
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Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
Are there many jobs going once qualified? and what sort of money can you earn? (if not a crude question) and not at all why I want to do it but would be good to have an idea.
Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
yeah man , you will have to choose a school which will give you the chance to get hired . your first job will be instruction and it's a whole lot of fun teaching . and meeting new students . it's very rewarding . your student has the controls most of the time but you get them off him when your showing him stuff and fixing the mess they get you into .
average pay depends on the state you choose . $15 -$20 I think . and you could make a decent living with a few full time students . flying and one on one brieifings help add to pay package . sometimes you will get the intro flights and they are fun cos you get to show them how the machine works and try to get them hooked so they come back for more madness.
average pay depends on the state you choose . $15 -$20 I think . and you could make a decent living with a few full time students . flying and one on one brieifings help add to pay package . sometimes you will get the intro flights and they are fun cos you get to show them how the machine works and try to get them hooked so they come back for more madness.
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Re: Helicopter Pilot - where to start?
If you live in the UK and have two A levels with a GCSE in maths go and join the services. You also have to have undefined "Leadership" qualities which implies that other people may follow you out of more than mere curiousity! 
If you get in, the selection process itself is difficult enough to re-assure future employers that you are worth having and you will usually come out with an excellent range of experience.
Expect anything over GBP 30,000 to start with...and the North Sea is paying experienced people £70-80k
If you get in, the selection process itself is difficult enough to re-assure future employers that you are worth having and you will usually come out with an excellent range of experience.
Expect anything over GBP 30,000 to start with...and the North Sea is paying experienced people £70-80k
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Wadsy
Contrary to our "learned" friend above.
Firstly, I would be surprised if the military take you as direct entry at 36. It all depends on how short staffed they are.
Secondly, don't think for one minute that jobs will be thrown at you once you come out of the military. There are many companies that shy away from ex-military pilots due to the lack of commercial experience. In the civilian world, there are the harsh realities of cost effectiveness at every turn and some (not all) ex-mil pilots have a hard time of accepting this fact. Don't get me wrong, flying skills do not come into this equation.
It can be done but as you said, go for a trial flight and you will see how wonderful these contraptions really are.
No real answer unfortunately.
Contrary to our "learned" friend above.
Firstly, I would be surprised if the military take you as direct entry at 36. It all depends on how short staffed they are.
Secondly, don't think for one minute that jobs will be thrown at you once you come out of the military. There are many companies that shy away from ex-military pilots due to the lack of commercial experience. In the civilian world, there are the harsh realities of cost effectiveness at every turn and some (not all) ex-mil pilots have a hard time of accepting this fact. Don't get me wrong, flying skills do not come into this equation.
It can be done but as you said, go for a trial flight and you will see how wonderful these contraptions really are.
No real answer unfortunately.
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There's no way I'd consider the military. I'm too old, too unfit and I've already been down that road many years ago and decided it wasn't for me!
At my age, in the forces one would/could be in a senior position, not starting out. I know they want people 18/22 ish!
I'd be looking to have a go first, chat to a few pilots, see what the employment prospects are, what the job's like, expected income etc. Then get checked out medically before starting serious financial commitment.
Does that sound like a reasonable plan?
Cheers guys
Wad
At my age, in the forces one would/could be in a senior position, not starting out. I know they want people 18/22 ish!
I'd be looking to have a go first, chat to a few pilots, see what the employment prospects are, what the job's like, expected income etc. Then get checked out medically before starting serious financial commitment.
Does that sound like a reasonable plan?
Cheers guys
Wad
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Certainly does Wad! Just remember, if you ask 10 helicopter pilots the same question, you'll get 12 answers!!
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
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Hi Wadsy,
Are you up for a lifestyle change?
You make 36 sound very old and you admit to being unfit. Are you thinking of sacrificing a successful career in something else to join the helicopter fraternity? Is your lack of fitness likely to lead to an early loss of the ability to qualify for a medical certificate and hence make the financial risk of taking an expensive professional pilot’s course too high? Do you have a wife and young family that are going to factor into the equation? Many people find the dedication needed to pass the professional pilot’s ground examinations the first, or even second, time very stressful. And that includes ex-military pilots who are trying to qualify for a licence whilst ducking and weaving so that they don’t get hit by all the jobs being thrown at them.
If you have what it takes to be a professional helicopter pilot (mostly money), don’t worry about future remuneration. If you are reasonably personable, any job will earn you enough to live on, but it will not be enough to make you rich (unless you have criminal tendencies).
If after your trial lesson you make the decision to go ahead you will need to think about getting (and staying) reasonably fit and creating a living environment for yourself that is conducive to harder work than you have probably done for a few years. After that is over then the real fun starts.
As to overseas work the question must be where will your passport allow you to work because that is the only place you will be able to get work without a wealth of experience. Five years later you might be able to secure a job in more exotic locations.
And remember the comment about “10 pilots = 12 opinions” is true. Check everything; trust no one; if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!
Good luck!
HA
Are you up for a lifestyle change?
You make 36 sound very old and you admit to being unfit. Are you thinking of sacrificing a successful career in something else to join the helicopter fraternity? Is your lack of fitness likely to lead to an early loss of the ability to qualify for a medical certificate and hence make the financial risk of taking an expensive professional pilot’s course too high? Do you have a wife and young family that are going to factor into the equation? Many people find the dedication needed to pass the professional pilot’s ground examinations the first, or even second, time very stressful. And that includes ex-military pilots who are trying to qualify for a licence whilst ducking and weaving so that they don’t get hit by all the jobs being thrown at them.
If you have what it takes to be a professional helicopter pilot (mostly money), don’t worry about future remuneration. If you are reasonably personable, any job will earn you enough to live on, but it will not be enough to make you rich (unless you have criminal tendencies).
If after your trial lesson you make the decision to go ahead you will need to think about getting (and staying) reasonably fit and creating a living environment for yourself that is conducive to harder work than you have probably done for a few years. After that is over then the real fun starts.
As to overseas work the question must be where will your passport allow you to work because that is the only place you will be able to get work without a wealth of experience. Five years later you might be able to secure a job in more exotic locations.
And remember the comment about “10 pilots = 12 opinions” is true. Check everything; trust no one; if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!
Good luck!
HA
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HA
I'm not saying I'm unfit my civvie standards, but by military standards and by what I know I'm capable of then I am. ( I would say I'm a young 36!!)
I work in a school at the moment and it's ok but I long for something different. A mate said he was trying to make the move from teacher to pilot and the helicopter pilot thing just hit me. I've been up in 2 or 3 military choppers and really enjoyed it, so I thought that's gotta be worth a go. As I said before trial lesson first and see what happens!
Girlfriend(partner!) to consider (very supportive) but no kids to worry about. I wasn't too concerned about the income (I asked only to get an idea) - just want to do something that I'll enjoy!
I don't know if possible but I was thinking of traing in NZ then seeing if I could get work there. Rather hyperthetical at the moment I know given that I haven't tried it yet or had a medical!! still that may be the dream!
Plenty more research to be done!
Cheers guys
Wad
I'm not saying I'm unfit my civvie standards, but by military standards and by what I know I'm capable of then I am. ( I would say I'm a young 36!!)
I work in a school at the moment and it's ok but I long for something different. A mate said he was trying to make the move from teacher to pilot and the helicopter pilot thing just hit me. I've been up in 2 or 3 military choppers and really enjoyed it, so I thought that's gotta be worth a go. As I said before trial lesson first and see what happens!
Girlfriend(partner!) to consider (very supportive) but no kids to worry about. I wasn't too concerned about the income (I asked only to get an idea) - just want to do something that I'll enjoy!
I don't know if possible but I was thinking of traing in NZ then seeing if I could get work there. Rather hyperthetical at the moment I know given that I haven't tried it yet or had a medical!! still that may be the dream!
Plenty more research to be done!
Cheers guys
Wad
