Financial aid for CPL(H)
Blithe
I find your comment
"Which is a bit like a milkman complaining about the early starts."
shows total lack of what being in the Armed Forces is all about. I joined the RAF many moons ago with the intention of protecting my country from a foreign aggressor and would have fought as best I could.
The Wars in the Middle East are not against foreign powers that wish to invade our country, they are political wars that El Presidente Blair has forced is into with no idea whatsoever of how to extract us from what is developing into a nightmare. No wonder that our volunteer Armed Forces have had enough of being posted sandyside on an increasingly regular basis. The exodus is just beginning and will get worse. I know many Service Pilots who are rapidly preparing themselves for the move into civilian life.
The offshore operators are beginning to recruit direct entry captains from this pool of Military Pilots which means that jobs for low houred non IR pilots are going to be harder to come by.
HF
I find your comment
"Which is a bit like a milkman complaining about the early starts."
shows total lack of what being in the Armed Forces is all about. I joined the RAF many moons ago with the intention of protecting my country from a foreign aggressor and would have fought as best I could.
The Wars in the Middle East are not against foreign powers that wish to invade our country, they are political wars that El Presidente Blair has forced is into with no idea whatsoever of how to extract us from what is developing into a nightmare. No wonder that our volunteer Armed Forces have had enough of being posted sandyside on an increasingly regular basis. The exodus is just beginning and will get worse. I know many Service Pilots who are rapidly preparing themselves for the move into civilian life.
The offshore operators are beginning to recruit direct entry captains from this pool of Military Pilots which means that jobs for low houred non IR pilots are going to be harder to come by.
HF
Hummingfrog, are you saying that we'll have direct entry Captains flying offshore to rigs with little or no offshore training? No line training? Interesting if it's true but slightly hard to believe. I know of one company where direct entry captains wouldn't be welcomed very well. Even the present contractors who want to be salaried captains are having to start out as FO's where I work.
Helimutt
It is already happening. I know one ex - RAF pilot who has been recruited as a direct entry Captain.
It doesn't take much training to explain what we do offshore to an experienced Captain. It is not as if we do anything too difficult - fly straight and level for a couple of hours, descend and land on rig - take on fuel, pax and, of course, food then fly back to airfield. Slightly more difficult at night or in cloud but not beyond the capabilties of an ex-mil pilot with a few thousand hours in a more demanding environment
It will come before long as the number of suitably able company co-pilots dries up. My company and another in Aberdeen has to use contracting captains at present to fill holes in the flying program. Once BALPA is convinced that no company candidates are available then watch this space.
HF
It is already happening. I know one ex - RAF pilot who has been recruited as a direct entry Captain.
It doesn't take much training to explain what we do offshore to an experienced Captain. It is not as if we do anything too difficult - fly straight and level for a couple of hours, descend and land on rig - take on fuel, pax and, of course, food then fly back to airfield. Slightly more difficult at night or in cloud but not beyond the capabilties of an ex-mil pilot with a few thousand hours in a more demanding environment
It will come before long as the number of suitably able company co-pilots dries up. My company and another in Aberdeen has to use contracting captains at present to fill holes in the flying program. Once BALPA is convinced that no company candidates are available then watch this space.
HF
Last edited by Hummingfrog; 20th Apr 2007 at 09:07.
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Dont borrow to Train
I'd recommend any young person interested in becoming a commercial helicopter pilot to think long and hard about what they really want, why they want it and what alternatives would suffice. Then they should plan how they can achieve it.
I believe it is a very bad idea for a young person [with few assets] to consider borrowing the money [from a source that must be repaid ;] [parent discounted because they should know better].
Fooling yourself you will simply get a job at the end of training can leave you bankrupt and without options.
It is not difficult to become an unemployed commercial helicopter pilot [unless medical lets you down]. Its a lot of fun doing the course. It just takes a lot of money and some aptitude and you get given a slip of paper in return (note, you may have no money left now and cant afford any flying).
However, it is VERY HARD TO GET A JOB as a commercial helicopter pilot because there are so few jobs and so many candidates.
So, if asked, I would emplore 'would be' commercial pilots to ask themselves "Why do I have to have a career flying helicopters?". If the answer is only "so I can get to fly helicopters" then being a commercial pilot may not be the easiest way to do that. (It could be the hardest way). Then ask "Is the idea of my own helicopter in my own backyard an alternative outcome that would suffice?" You certainly get to fly helicopters that way!
What I am trying to say is that it could be a whole lot quicker and easier to attain 'your own helicopter' by avoiding training as a commercial pilot!
Training for commerical AND getting a job needs heaps of money, effort, determination, dedication, doing without etc etc.
(If you are young the biggest things you may lose are an alternative career and getting on the housing ladder)
If you put even half the effort and determination required to be a commercial pilot WITH a job into another profession you would probably be very, very successful.
So I say why not choose a good 'normal profession' earning decent money with the aim of flying in your spare time - flying where you want to go and when you want to go!
I think many wise commercial pilots would agree - be a latent helicopter pilot first! Unless you have a rich daddy or a guaranteed job waiting for you - Get another career and buy a house as priority number one because it is guaranteed to help you later down the track get where you want to be [borrowing capacity or capital gain].
Then, when all else in your life feels secure, buy a share in helicopter, buy your own if you must or build your own from a kit. In most countries you can learn in your own kit-built helicopter with an instructor. Some kit helicopters are really quite good. e.g. Rotorway, Safari. Mind you - the cost of a kit is similar to a used, certified ship like a Bell 47 or Enstrom so unless you relish building one why not invest in an old classic and benefit from the proven safety record [and expensive parts - thats why sharing maintenance costs is so good]
Private flying can keep you happy and if it doesnt - then consider the add-on training to commercial level once you've tried private flying - the time and money is not wasted. I spent 20 years flying privately for fun before going for commercial and I now supplement my fun with the odd bit of charter work and joyflights. Most of the time its fun but sometimes the public mess you about and the fun wears off real quick. Anyway its all I really want for now. Maybe instructing when I have some experience to teach! I am real glad I have another profession to fall back on. Flying is more fun when you have the option.
OOW
I believe it is a very bad idea for a young person [with few assets] to consider borrowing the money [from a source that must be repaid ;] [parent discounted because they should know better].
Fooling yourself you will simply get a job at the end of training can leave you bankrupt and without options.
It is not difficult to become an unemployed commercial helicopter pilot [unless medical lets you down]. Its a lot of fun doing the course. It just takes a lot of money and some aptitude and you get given a slip of paper in return (note, you may have no money left now and cant afford any flying).
However, it is VERY HARD TO GET A JOB as a commercial helicopter pilot because there are so few jobs and so many candidates.
So, if asked, I would emplore 'would be' commercial pilots to ask themselves "Why do I have to have a career flying helicopters?". If the answer is only "so I can get to fly helicopters" then being a commercial pilot may not be the easiest way to do that. (It could be the hardest way). Then ask "Is the idea of my own helicopter in my own backyard an alternative outcome that would suffice?" You certainly get to fly helicopters that way!
What I am trying to say is that it could be a whole lot quicker and easier to attain 'your own helicopter' by avoiding training as a commercial pilot!
Training for commerical AND getting a job needs heaps of money, effort, determination, dedication, doing without etc etc.
(If you are young the biggest things you may lose are an alternative career and getting on the housing ladder)
If you put even half the effort and determination required to be a commercial pilot WITH a job into another profession you would probably be very, very successful.
So I say why not choose a good 'normal profession' earning decent money with the aim of flying in your spare time - flying where you want to go and when you want to go!
I think many wise commercial pilots would agree - be a latent helicopter pilot first! Unless you have a rich daddy or a guaranteed job waiting for you - Get another career and buy a house as priority number one because it is guaranteed to help you later down the track get where you want to be [borrowing capacity or capital gain].
Then, when all else in your life feels secure, buy a share in helicopter, buy your own if you must or build your own from a kit. In most countries you can learn in your own kit-built helicopter with an instructor. Some kit helicopters are really quite good. e.g. Rotorway, Safari. Mind you - the cost of a kit is similar to a used, certified ship like a Bell 47 or Enstrom so unless you relish building one why not invest in an old classic and benefit from the proven safety record [and expensive parts - thats why sharing maintenance costs is so good]
Private flying can keep you happy and if it doesnt - then consider the add-on training to commercial level once you've tried private flying - the time and money is not wasted. I spent 20 years flying privately for fun before going for commercial and I now supplement my fun with the odd bit of charter work and joyflights. Most of the time its fun but sometimes the public mess you about and the fun wears off real quick. Anyway its all I really want for now. Maybe instructing when I have some experience to teach! I am real glad I have another profession to fall back on. Flying is more fun when you have the option.
OOW
The Original Whirly
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outofwhack,
That's probably one of the best posts I've ever read on here.
It should be required reading for every CPL(H) wannabe who doesn't have the funds to get a commercial licence and another job to fall back on.
That's probably one of the best posts I've ever read on here.
It should be required reading for every CPL(H) wannabe who doesn't have the funds to get a commercial licence and another job to fall back on.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Aw gee thanks for the complement on my post Whirlybird.
I hasten to add I was a 'latent helicopter pilot' for over 15 years of flying and occasionally instructing in fixed wing gliders and power planes (restricting my rotary aspirations to just radio control models) but it was a conscious decision when I was a starting out - to work in another field and save the dosh rather than struggle trying for a flying job. Its been a long road getting here but 4 weeks ago me and the bank bought a shiny refurbed Bell47 and I absolutely adore it! Things come to those that wait eh?
Funnily another hurdle appears - some people that dont know me categorize me as some I.T rich kid who just got interested and went out and bought a helicopter straight after the course! If only they knew!
..... and my car is over 12 years old
- I'd rather have my money in a machine that performs magic!
OOW
I hasten to add I was a 'latent helicopter pilot' for over 15 years of flying and occasionally instructing in fixed wing gliders and power planes (restricting my rotary aspirations to just radio control models) but it was a conscious decision when I was a starting out - to work in another field and save the dosh rather than struggle trying for a flying job. Its been a long road getting here but 4 weeks ago me and the bank bought a shiny refurbed Bell47 and I absolutely adore it! Things come to those that wait eh?
Funnily another hurdle appears - some people that dont know me categorize me as some I.T rich kid who just got interested and went out and bought a helicopter straight after the course! If only they knew!
..... and my car is over 12 years old
- I'd rather have my money in a machine that performs magic!OOW
