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

[Whirlygig]

Because it is one of the few rotary jobs where low-houred / IR'd pilots can actually get a job; a job which will provide experience in order to be able to move on the the more interesting and diverse pilot roles.

Cheers

Whirls

[MyTarget]

Also a chance to get 600+ twin hours per year and earn high enough wages to pay off the huge loans taken out to get their CPL H IR...........

[Droopystop]

Mr Bubblecopter,

Admiable coming on here and asking around. Don't forget to ask around the potential employers (and I don't mean flying schools that do a bit of commercial on the side). Get the BHAB book and phone around the bigger companies. Talk to the hirers and firers.

[windowseatplease]

Also a chance to get 600+ twin hours per year and earn high enough wages to pay off the huge loans taken out to get their CPL H IR...........

Agreed. Also they look at what a cr*p deal instructors get (£20,000 pa and usually bugger all prospects/progression).

Oh, and some people just don't want to be instructors and all they've ever wanted to do is 'bus drive' on the north sea.

In an ideal world, low-time CPLs would be hired as onshore co-pilots, or do photo/survey flights, but that doesn't happen in the UK, and as said before, most of them have £30,000+ of debts to pay off.

[S76driver]

Offshore was my first commercial job with the bare minimum of hours and no IR...but hey, who else will pay for an IR, type you on some of the most popular workhorses around, pay you a good salary, give you more than enough time off a year, and not give you grief for flying when the weather is crap.

Beats any 9-5 job hands down...and I've been there!

As for the work, I love it, gaining invaluable experience from the captains, and landing on a small rig at night on weather minimums is quite a challenge for any pilot (in my opinion anyway).

Yes, some people will find it monotonous, and there are more glamorous and exciting jobs out there I'm sure, and maybe one day I will try something different but, for now, I love helicopters and I love my job, go for it.

[JimbosJet]

Another what if scenario I'm afraid please bare with me...

I'm a JAA ATPL(A) holder with 4600 total, 4300 jet airline pilot with 450 hrs command experience 737. 33 yrs old and am currently unemployed thanks to the economic crisis.

I've always had an interest in helis and now that I have some considerable time off I wonder if it maybe an ideal time to take the plunge and use the time to get more qualified. I figure the FW job industry is pretty crap atm and is unlikely to pick up for at least a year. I have another reason to go down the heli route which I wont go into here but does provide an extra incentive lifestyle wise (and no its not a job offer or contact!)

So from this thread I gather I will need to do 105 hrs hrs building, 30 hrs CPL(H) and a turbine transition (10hrs??)

Is that correct?
How about ground exams, what subjects will I have to do?
Roughly how long/much is this likely to cost (in Europe) (I appreciate thats a length of string question, but roughly)
Does my FW IR count or do I have to do a Rotary IR?
Will my background and FW hrs count for much when it comes to trying to get an Offshore job?
Whats the general feeling on tiltrotor aircraft in Europe, are they going to be adopted by operators?

I'm not looking to tread on anyones toes, so no PPRUNE style warfare please, just sound advice if you can muster it, many thanks.

<PS edit> What's a typical roster pattern for offshore flying and can anyone suggest names of commercial heli operators in Norway (I have a few, just wondered if there were any more)?

[JimbosJet]

bump - anyone willing to comment please?

[bleepup]

I think you will find all your answers in LASORS....haven't been down this route so i wouldn't know good luck.

[TeeS]

Hi JJ, sorry but I am not much help on the specific requirements that you will have to meet, only Lasors, CAA or wiser members of Pprune can answer those for you.

We have recently seen a few very experienced airline guys join us (though they did have previous helicopter experience.) It is recognised that they bring with them a huge amount of ‘modern’ procedural flying knowledge and experience that we are keen to tap into.

Can you give us a clue as to what part of the UK you are in?

Cheers

TeeS

[Trochilidae]

Pimp your CV

I've read and heared it over and over now;

Sorry not recruiting, sorry not qualified enough, sorry to low on hrs, sorry eyes aren't in company colours... whatever, you get where I'm going.

As a newby to the commercial helicopterindustry, low on hrs but with Cpl and IR it's next to impossible to find a job to jumpstart my flying career.

With my main goal in hindsight "Offshore" and limited funds what's the best way to go about? I would like to know how I can best pimp my CV for when these lean times come to an end.

Should I invest in a twin rating which pretty much is limited by the depth of my pockets and if yes which type?Or just any?
Or am I better off investing in MCC, HUET, First aid and whatever other courses that are recuired?
Increasing my hrs? Also an option but are the operators impressed with an additional 60 hrs SE piston or 20 SE turbine?


Any helpfull advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Troch

[HillerBee]

Investing in a Twin Rating is not very usefull, read the story about our ex-military guys with 2200 hours IR and twin rating who can't find a job.

In the current economic climate nothing works I'm afraid, there are simply not enough jobs. There's an abundance of experienced pilots so basically you can't do anything. The only thing you can possible do is get a FI rating and get your hours up that way, but then again the flight training industry isn't exactly booming either. I know it doesn't help but it is all there is to say really.

[ShyTorque]

Or am I better off investing in MCC, HUET, First aid and whatever other courses that are recuired?

Troch, I wouldn't buy a course with an expiry date; an expired course attendance certificate means little to a potential employer. They will send an employee on the required courses and offset the cost as a business expense.

At least flown hours stay in your logbook forever.

[S76driver]

Offshore

Trochilidae

What IR do you have if no twin rating? Was it done on the 206.

If offshore was your objective, have you been and visited the 3 companies or do you just post/email your CV. If you havn't then maybe you could organise a trip and see them all, and personally hand them your CV, it stands you out from the rest. I heard that one of them was looking for pilots, and with an IR you are much better placed than I was.

Hope things turn out okay for you and never give up.

[Trochilidae]

Thanks for the input guys.

Although not much wiser it does kick-start the thinking process again.

Troch

[7heaven]

traing or not to train? that is the question

hi all,
many thats to heli, lots of info but i need more if possible.
I love flying blah blah blah, and been going on different websites, schools, forums etc for the past 3 years (yes, many many many hours of reading,) i got used to the different names, initials etc too.

I have £110000 to spend on training, to do ppl, cpl/atpl, ir, type etc.(sorry to all the pilots about this, i know you shouldn't pay for the ratings and hours or doing it for free. i also know that the jobs should got to the more experienced pilots too).
( i only have 1 hour in helicopter and one in fixed wing and love more rotary side).
Simple question without making too many people offended is

Which one (if any) should i do to obtain a job that pays over £20000+ in UK/Europe in this recession once i obtain all the ratings?
chances of work if i did do 250 hours with a IR and type etc?

I have no family to support and willing to go anywhere? I know some schools offering work after training with them but i'm very sceptical about this.

I don't fancy investing this money in a business (done that), just want a new career.
Any info would be brill, cheers

7heaven

[dragman]

If there were no jobs for doctors, I bet people would still go to med school.

[Riddo]

100k to train, dam which craft to fly help?

Looking for replies from pilots / recruiters who are currently working or recently employed in IRL or U.K. in heli or fixed wing..
Please, I know the situation is **** for employment now so no need to tell me to stay at my present job forever!!!! Don’t need to much negativity cheers..

Quick background: 32 yo mechanical engineer based in Ireland.
I am working now earning 52K euros, and planning to start training to become a pilot in the U.K. and Irl. Calculated to have 35k debt when done in <3yrs.
@ Heli 115,000 euros to get trained. Up to CPL/IR TT 250
@Plank 100,000 euros ready to apply for Ryanair (incl t rating 35k) TT 250

Outcome: **** all jobs at the moment yea, it will take me approx 2.5-3 yrs to be done.
Not sure which to fly, favourite is Heli but not much work in Irl.Most Irish heli's at Grand Canyon now. SAR work possibly, heard there were 5 or so qualified pilots with IR turning up at gate every week to seek work, a lot of ex RAF guys there too lots of competition to get in. Before I can apply need to log hours in North shore.
What is the situation now re N.S. I presume lots of pilots applying there too, chances in 2/3 yrs??? (Saw post re CHC requirements.)

Ryanair main employer in Irl, Aerlingus goosed, lots of pilots from Aerlingus with hrs looking for work- no shortage! O’Leary’s dubious re order for 200 hundred 800N.G's is uncertain...
Don't mind moving abroad for 1-2 yrs will probably have too..
Anyone please?

[Droopystop]

Sorry but the best advice at the moment is don't give up the day job, get a ppl, see how you like it. Do your own research on the job markets - don't ask here - go to the horses mouth.

If a non flyer were to read your post, they would be the numbers simply don't add up. But since I am an aviator, I understand the dilema.

[rabidcat]

First job and 'getting in to the heli industry'

This is a fairly simple/general question:

I understand it is very difficult for the beginner copter pilot to land a job in the industry if they don't get hired by the school they trained for. Is this fact or fiction, maybe a bit of both?

I was thinking, if I didn't land a job, after all of this time and effort and investment, what would I do? All I can come up with is to join the military and hope they let me fly a copter. I am not sure I will ever be cut out to be an instructor anyhow, so I have been looking for alternatives, and the options looks grim so far. What do you guys say?

[timex]

I've no idea about the civil side of Rotary flying tbh, but from what I've seen jobs are few and far between. As to the Military, even if you have got a flying license of some sort this doesn't mean you are certain of a flying job should you join. Looks like you'll have some fairly serious decision's to make
, Good luck.