Salaries

[R22_EGNH]

Ok, don't blame me for asking this (no I'm not only motivated by the money before anyone asks!) but how much can one expect to earn in a first job after training, North Sea for example ?

How about after that? How long does it take to become captain and how much can an average pilot expect to earn?

Obviously, this will vary from pilot to pilot and so all I'm asking for is a rough guide.

Thanks,

R22_EGNH

[4ftHover]

There are quite a few posts on here re salaries if you run a search.

I would expect you'll be looking at FI after training to build hours with North Sea work some 3000 hours down the road.

Sure some guys on here will provide better details than myself.

Best of luck

[SFHawk]

Hi there,

Entering the North Sea with CPL IR you can expect around £40k as First Officer. The companies differ in progress but where I am you can expect around £5k-£10k hike in salary when achieving Senior First Officer after approx two years. After that, if you've not gone stir crazy from looking at the sea all day, it's the waiting game for a command.

SFHawk.

[Bladecrack]

I would expect you'll be looking at FI after training to build hours with North Sea work some 3000 hours down the road

Not anymore, skip the FI, do an IR, and go N. Sea with 200 hrs +/-, why waste all that time and effort instructing for crap pay (like I did) when you can get a decent job with a salary, holidays etc etc

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by Bladecrack

Not anymore, skip the FI, do an IR, and go N. Sea with 200 hrs +/-, why waste all that time and effort instructing for crap pay (like I did) when you can get a decent job with a salary, holidays etc etc

Ever heard of 'putting all of your eggs in one basket'?

[Bladecrack]

Yeah, but if your gonna spend that sort of money I would go for the option with the best chance of success, the odds are better...

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by Bladecrack

Yeah, but if your gonna spend that sort of money I would go for the option with the best chance of success, the odds are better...

Exactly. And the odds of getting your first job with a CPL/FI are much better than with a CPL/IR!


Have you forgotten Camp Freddie's 'High risk/high reward, lower risk/lower reward' formula?

[helimutt]

waiting for a downturn anyone? it'll happen.

salary offshore? what? you want paid aswell?
sheesh.

[Bladecrack]

Bravo73,

CF's formula is a good guide, and yes there is work out there for FI's (Ive just turned down some FI work cos I can't fit it in) however I know at least half a dozen guys that have done IR's in the last 6 months, with different experience levels, and every one of them has secured a good job shortly after completing their course! I don't know any CPL/IR holders that can't get work at the minute...

BC

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by Bladecrack

I don't know any CPL/IR holders that can't get work at the minute...

I do. There was a thread recently about this very topic ie 'CPL/IR with 200hrs but can't get a job in the NS. Help.' There were 2 people that I sent PMs to with suggestions for alternative areas of work. (And bear in mind that those 2 were the 'vocal minority'. I'm sure that there were others in the same position who were reading the thread.)

But the outcome was basically this: with a CPL/IR and 200hrs, your ONLY option is the NS.

There are other (onshore) operators who are now employing CPL/IR co-joes. But none of them are interested in 200hr newbies; they want a few hundred (if not a 1000hrs) experience first.

So if somebody really wants to give themselves the best chance of employment, I would do the following: CPL then FI. Work for 12 months as FI. (TT now 700-1000hrs.) Do IR. The world's your oyster!

[offshore_taxidriver]

CPL/IR +/- 200 Hours

Are there any more opinions on CPL/IR +/- 200Hours? my crippling indecisiveness does not help things either.

[Helipilot1982]

I have a cpl/ir with 240hrs rotary TT and have just started a type rating for one of the North Sea operators - It took me 6 months to secure a job and start my type rating after my IR so my opinion may be a little biased!!!

but...

It worked for me - maybe i was lucky (i dont know). If you want it - go for it and dont let anybody tell you otherwise. If your a little apprehensive about working on the North Sea then excercise caution as the money may be better spent on an FI course.

HP1982

[Camp Freddie]

Those of us with long memories will read comments like this:-

Not anymore, skip the FI, do an IR, and go N. Sea with 200 hrs +/-, why waste all that time and effort instructing for crap pay (like I did) when you can get a decent job with a salary, holidays etc etc

and realise how dangerous this advice is, sure it has worked recently for a while, but like the property market the NS job market is cyclical.

I was one of the last of around 40 people to be hired by one of the NS operators earlier this decade, shortly after I joined they stopped hiring and did not hire again for 3 (yes THREE) years, whether they had an IR or not.

Bravo 73 has it about right when he says

Ever heard of 'putting all of your eggs in one basket'?

and helimutt knows the score when he says

waiting for a downturn anyone? it'll happen.

its all a matter of how dangerous you are feeling today, right now I would do the low risk route and when I had more experience get the IR, but then I am not much of a gambler, I have met too many gamblers who have lost there shirt.

regards

CF

[ROTORVATION]

Certainly seems there has been a big influx in the North Sea operators taking on 200hr CPL's with IR's; most of my friends have secured positions in the last 12 months.

Agree also with Camp Freddie that going along the FI route is without question the least risk to yourself. Just a pointer though, I've been instructing now for 2 and a half years, have 2000 hours r22/r44 time, and in my first year was fortunate enough to earn 35k, and 36k in my second financial year. And this year..... I've earned absolutly scratch! The general public are tightening their belts, and it's having a big knock on with instructional work.

Also if your married as I am, being an instructor means you have to work EVERY weekend, cause that's when the bulk of your income is earned. Do it for long enough and you'll get annoyed that you will never see your mates of a weekend, or spend any decent amount of time with your partner.

Get your Ir, and get yourself offshore - you will go to sleep each night feeling secure that you know exactly how much your going to earn that month. Agreed, you will do shifts, but atleast you can plan ahead knowing what days you have off, and you won't work EVERY weekend!

If I had half an opportunity, I would be getting my IR behind me - anybody got 50 grand they don't want? - I'll have it!

[Flingingwings]

HP1982,

To get you're situation into context.............
How much work did you get within that six months???? Any from an operator you had no prior history with??? Any IMC or relatively complicated SP flights????

Not a dig. We know each other, but the low hours +IR route is very high risk

With very low hours and a new IR just about the only option is offshore and if that's not your 'cup of tea' and/or you're unsuccessful, to be blunt you're almost guaranteed to be stuffed

I'm no fan of an FI's pay and conditions, but concur that the safest current route is FI but with lower rewards. I'm not even going to speculate on the credit crunch and how that will affect flight training

Like B73 I know several lucky (and/or very lucky) pilots employment wise. I too know some with IR's that are struggling for work.

There are no guarantees, you simply have to 'go' with the risk you consider acceptable.

CF - you any ancient 'pirate' connections perchance????

[ManOnTheSticks]

I got my CPL & IR late last year. with the minimum number of hours. within 5 weeks of getting the IR I had 3 job offers, 2 from N sea operators and one from an on shore company. I took the latter, multi crew & multi engine scheduled flights as it was closer to home. I count myself very lucky, I never imagined myself in this position the whole way through my training.

I guess the FI/IR & N sea debate is also down to personal choice. I never felt comfortable with the fact that 'fresh out of the box' I would be teaching someone else to fly and operate a helicopter when I had no real experience myself. I know there are those who do, but it just wasn't for me.

If you know where you would like your career to go, thats great, investigate all the options and do what you feel comfortable with. Above all, network and get yourself known, there is a lot of competition for jobs and you stand a much better chance if you have a good reputation.

All the best

MOTS

[windowseatplease]

There is a LOT of IR holders around looking for work, and the North Sea aren't recruiting like they used too.

[Flingingwings]

Seems my memory is as good as CF's, HM's and B73's.................

MOTS,

Again, only to get things into context for those trying to make this decision. You're earlier posts about job hunting from December seem to paint a slightly more stressful story....................

CHC advert

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The advert originally had no minimum hours requirement, this has only been put on in the last couple of weeks.

Having got the CPL/IR and applied for work over the last few months, I was wondering how many others there are in the same situation ie, low hours (300hrs TT) but all ready to go when someone gives us the green light?

and

I have applied to all the Major companies in ABZ but so far nothing has come of it. There is a finite amount of times you can ring them before they get annoyed & there is a fine line between persistence and harassment! I agree about the grounding etc

or this from early January 2008

Interview Prep

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Just preparing for a forthcoming interview with CHC and after some questions I had in another interview, I wondered if anyone can supply me with (or guide me in the right direction of finding!) the following info;

Who is their main customer? (lots listed on the website)
Where are and how many platforms do they serve?
What is the average flight time to the furthest platform?
According to the CAA website they have 16 as332/mkII, how many operate from abz?
Last but not least! What are the differences between the puma and mkII? Not had chance to get close to any yet!

Thanks in advance for any help given! I have tried hours of searching but the info above has eluded me!

Cheers

MOTS

I'm not trying to flame you, or dampen a success of which you should be rightly proud BUT for those having to make this decision IMHO a totally fair and balanced view is essential and simply getting an IR is no guarantee. There will still be anxious and stressful times before the first job offer arrives

It is a major decision which way to choose and sadly whichever way any of us chooses some of us simply won't be lucky enough to get the job

FW

[wardy20]

IR Cost

Folks, this may be a stupid question, so apologies in advance. But how much are we talking about to do an IR?

Cheers,
Wardy

[Flingingwings]

Wardy,

If you're talking about the UK for an initial ME IR and initial twin rating (AS355) a realistic figure including test and other accomodation and CAA fees is about £45-50K