Would you Rather Fly Helicopters Purely For Leisure?
Cool as a moosp
Join Date: Aug 2001
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My day job is airlines and I fly helicopters for fun. The former pays for the latter.
organ donor and others put it into perspective, that I get to fly my toys around, but unless you have serious money you are unlikely to be able to afford to fly the top professional machinery around. So when I take pleasure in my R44 I see Super Pumas going over and always think what it would be like to have a go in one. The challenges of the professional rotor pilot are supreme and unlike anything that the private pilot can attain.
That said, I remember on this forum some years ago a recommendation to a newbie to fly as many types as you can. I am still trying, and each one gives me a further challenge and understanding of the job of a professional ATPL(H) even though I will never attain that level.
So I guess I fall into the "get a job and fly Private" brigade, but it will never get you to the levels of professionalism, on the serious machinery, doing the real stuff that helicopters can do.
What is still confusing to a bear of little brain is why you get more for flying radar vectors to an ILS in a 737 than lifting casevacs off a wired road in night IMC at the end of a shift.
But that is another story...
organ donor and others put it into perspective, that I get to fly my toys around, but unless you have serious money you are unlikely to be able to afford to fly the top professional machinery around. So when I take pleasure in my R44 I see Super Pumas going over and always think what it would be like to have a go in one. The challenges of the professional rotor pilot are supreme and unlike anything that the private pilot can attain.
That said, I remember on this forum some years ago a recommendation to a newbie to fly as many types as you can. I am still trying, and each one gives me a further challenge and understanding of the job of a professional ATPL(H) even though I will never attain that level.
So I guess I fall into the "get a job and fly Private" brigade, but it will never get you to the levels of professionalism, on the serious machinery, doing the real stuff that helicopters can do.
What is still confusing to a bear of little brain is why you get more for flying radar vectors to an ILS in a 737 than lifting casevacs off a wired road in night IMC at the end of a shift.
But that is another story...
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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I don't agree that flying someone else's private helicopter is a good choice. He will wake up one morning and the market has taken a downturn, and sell the helicopter with no notice, leaving you unemployed. If you plan to fly for a living, fly for a company whose core business is flying, not for one (or an individual) which flies as a sideline. I've seen it happen many times.
However, flying for private owners has certainly kept the wolf from the door for me for the last 7 years. Yes, if the heli goes, so does the pilot, with a months notice, btw, as per my contract. Three months with the last employer and in that case it was me that made the decision to move on. I could always move elsewhere, just like any other job.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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What is still confusing to a bear of little brain is why you get more for flying radar vectors to an ILS in a 737 than lifting casevacs off a wired road in night IMC at the end of a shift.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Age: 74
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Flying for leisure
Quote:
I don't agree that flying someone else's private helicopter is a good choice. He will wake up one morning and the market has taken a downturn, and sell the helicopter with no notice, leaving you unemployed. If you plan to fly for a living, fly for a company whose core business is flying, not for one (or an individual) which flies as a sideline. I've seen it happen many times.
Do not believe the Queen has ever had to sell any helicopter when times are rough.
Join the military lots of fun flying for free!!
I don't agree that flying someone else's private helicopter is a good choice. He will wake up one morning and the market has taken a downturn, and sell the helicopter with no notice, leaving you unemployed. If you plan to fly for a living, fly for a company whose core business is flying, not for one (or an individual) which flies as a sideline. I've seen it happen many times.
Do not believe the Queen has ever had to sell any helicopter when times are rough.
Join the military lots of fun flying for free!!
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,577
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Join the military lots of fun flying for free!!
Join Date: Feb 2005
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the excitement eventually wears thin.
But I do still get a lot of fun out of other people having me fly for them.
