What are the job prospects for new CPLs? (MERGED)

[Flingingwings]

With those hours I reckon offshore rotary is your/your friends only option.

[helimutt]

Ok then Franz, if it's not the poster but a friend of his, wouldn't you think that someone with the experience he speaks of would know where to look, or at least have a better grasp on what position he could expect?

Call me Cynical!

[Whirlygig]

Hey Cynical (not sure your new name suits you!), you're not the only one to be thinking along those lines!!

Reading previous posts can usually give one some insight!

Cheers

Whirls

[wwingrotor]

I have TT 700, MP/ME 500, IR, ATPL theory, JAA CPL(H)
Any chance for me finding work?

[R1Tamer]

Well if we're all touting for business here's my ten penneth

JAA CPL(H) & SEIR(H) with ATPL(H) Theory & FAA CPL(H) & FAA IR(H) & FAA (CFI) and UB40. I'm expecting shortly to get an IVA a CRB and maybe I could top it off with an ASBO.


R1tamer

[helimutt]

Not many higher hours CPL's give much of a sh*t about the low time newbies because they've been there themselves. There are one or two about who will try to help out but hey, surely no-one said this was an easy career to break into with limited time and no money, or did they. Maybe due diligence wasn't carried out before even starting on this route.

Lets not have any more posts about newbies looking for work. I maybe did it in the past myself but knowing what I know now, get some flying experience by instructing etc, network, and most of all, don't whinge!!!!

oh, and if you haven't got the money then why start in the first place. Also, please don't work for free.

[Paul_tail rotor_Wint]

"Also, please don't work for free."


You don't work now flying for free, that's old school!
You pay them.Paying for fuel is how its done now with the competition to fly.

And no I haven't yet, I'll be getting another loan to become an Instructor.
Number 2, you don't need the money. Here i can get any sized loan "interest free".

Paul (CPL-H) TT: 164Hrs

[helimutt]

There's no harm in chasing a dream. I did it. Just be careful that those around you aren't badly affected by your singleminded determination to succeed. If you don't try it, you'll never know. I was prepared to take the risk if it all went pear shaped.
All you're doing is spending someone's money which you can't take with you when you die. You'll pay a lot more in taxes over a lifetime.

There will nearly always be a need for offshore pilots, for the near foreseeable future anyway. Think about what uses helicoters are put to. Will these be necessary/affordable in major recession? There'll always be those not affected by money issues who can afford to fly corporate but as it's generally a luxury it'll no doubt tail off a bit this year. The onshore boys will probably agree with that right now.
Cash strapped air ambulance/police forces might not be able to afford to run the heli's.
Instructors wil get less work as fewer people have any money to learn. The housing industry boom provided lots of people with surplus cash for ppl's/ self ownership etc. That must definitely be dryng up right now. Ask an instructor if things are quieter than this time last year.

Weigh up the pro's and con's. If you're 40yrs old, married with kids and a mortgage and looking for a career change, i'd advise strongly against it. If you're 20+, got the money to do it, no ties, then hey, why the hell not. Go have some fun trying.

[S76driver]

People have gone into the training with wife and kids and come out smiling, although you do need their strong support. I started my CPL training at 33 and managed to secure a job with less than 300 hours. My IR was paid for, and I was lucky enough to get 3 twin type ratings too. If you want it bad enough and are willing to put the network time in ( I went to Aberdeen twice to hand my CV over personally), the rewards are fantastic!! I love my job, but I don't call it a job, I get paid to fly. There's nothing like logging your first hours, knowing your getting paid, instead of putting your hand in your own pocket! Also, the people that think your mad for starting, watch their face when you succeed

[helimutt]

Seems the predictions are beginning to come true.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=328511

[Messerschmitt]

Europe EU job prospective

Hello guys.
Since the job opportunities for low timers in Canada is at it's very worse I was wondering what are the job prospective in the EU for low timers.

AFAIK the minimum time required for a JAA licence is 155hrs with 50 PIC, so I would have to do an additional 50hrs of which 12 as PIC (since currently I have 105 hrs with 38 PIC) and do all the 12(?) exams for JAA correct? Also I am pretty sure an IFR rating would be mandatory for job opportunity.

I would like to ask the seniors working in EU what is the path I would need to follow to find a job in EU.
Also tips as the country in which to get the best hr/EUR, etc.

In case it's worth mentioning I would love to end up working in the North Sea or Air Ambulance but of course in the beginning willing to do anything necessary.

Thank you

[madman1145]

Do you have a workpermit to work within the EU border ??
If not, it's a no go ..

- madman

[HillerBee]

It's the same all over the World. No hours no job. However Canada is probably one of the best places, where you can start out as a 'hangar rat' and work your way up. And having said that is Canada there are plenty of jobs for 500 hour pilots, which wouldn't be the case in Europe. Obviously the licensing system in Europe requires you to have a JAA CPL(H) which would cost you deerly.

[heli-mad]

....the thread..so you wanna be a helicopter pilot...gives the answer to your question.

It is the same everywhere, sometimes is who you know...

Good luck

[Messerschmitt]

Regarding first reply, yes I have a country citizenship who is part of EU therefore I am allowed to work in any EU country.

I have read posts regarding working in the north sea as a co-pilot, would achieving the required hours for the JAA licence + IR be enough to sign up with a company there?

Wage is irrelevant for me, as I really don't care until I will get myself some decent hours, but the question is, how exactly to break the ice in Europe? I have read the topics there Heli-Mad but as usual those are only general topics. It does not adress how to break the ice.

Canada is a no-go, as I have done 4 road trips totaling about 20k kms knocking on doors and nothing came up.

[whack_job]

Stay in Canada and don't give up.

Keep going on road trips as long as you can afford to, however, PICK YOUR TARGETS, don't waste your time going and seeing a company that moves drills or flights forest fires (one is a highly skilled task, the other has contract minimum experience as required by the different forest fire agencies)

Look for companies that operate pistons and maybe a jetranger or two.

[whack_job]

I forgot to mention PICK YOUR TIME OF THE YEAR, the first hiring peak is around FEB, MAR, then re peaks for fires at the start of MAY

[Bubblecopter85]

Another newby seeking guidance?

Hi,

I hope im not just adding the same question to the pot here.......

Recently left career to pursue the flying bug and my plan is as follows..........

Currently undergoing ATPL(H) doing distance learning from home. Self flying my way up to 155 hours to complete my CPL. Currently mainly in R22's, but am also in the middle of Jetbox rating. At the moment am planning on going straight into IR once I have done my CPL and ATPL(H) ground work.

If all goes according to plan it would put me on 250 hours (ish) with B206 and AS355 rating, approx 65 hours of which would be on turbines.

I'd really appreciate some feedback ref what my chances are of being employed with a mere 250 hours. I have asked around most people I know in the idnustry, however I'm never sure whether they're working me from the professional angle as they want my business.

Would it be better to scrap the IR in favour of spending a year or so trying to scrape some commercial hours together?

I'm only mid 20's and single so would ideally be looking offshore in the medium term. Just need to know the best way of getting there.


Any thoughts appreciated!

[Camp Freddie]

mr bubblecopter,

Would it be better to scrap the IR in favour of spending a year or so trying to scrape some commercial hours together?

that is a real bad plan, your chances of getting commercial hours are low.

either get your FI and build your hours/experience and do your IR further down the line, or take a greater risk and do your IR now and hope the offshore boys are hiring (but you need to be clear what you are going to do if they arent)

regards

CF

[GoodGrief]

I do not understand why the hell these 200 hours guys want to get into the offshore flying straight out of school.

Is it greed? Big money, or the fact that you have fewer working days than days off per year?

It is surely not for the love of helicopters or being interested in flying helicopters with all the things these machines can do.

[duck and cover]