Helicopter training for injured ex-military?
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Helicopter training for injured ex-military?
I'm new to this, so apologies if this has already been asked elsewhere, but I couldn't find any other information. I found out about this forum from google and thought I could get some advice from the professional pilots on here?
Has anybody heard of this : Wings for Warriors - Home
And they're on youtube too - search for 'wings4warriors' to see several videos.
I've come on here today to see if they're genuine? I can't find anything else out online.
They appear to be a charity for training injured ex-military to become commercial helicopter pilots. On one of the videos, there is a guy who wants to become an air ambulance pilot once he's got his licence. From their website, they say they need donations as it costs upto Ģ80,000 to train each person. I'm assuming that they train the pilots in the little robinsons first and then train them in the bigger machines so they can get jobs?
I'm asking as my ex-army brother was medically discharged 4 years ago after a knee injury in Helmand Province and we (the whole family) have been trying to get him to do something worthwhile ever since. Adapting to life on civvy street has been a major challenge. He wants to work, he wants to do something more worthwhile than stacking shelves or driving drunks in taxis or the other dead-end jobs he's had. If he could train to be a pilot and get a flying job, that would be so much better. We live in the south west of England but my brother lives in the midlands, but that won't be a problem if he does go for the training and the family can help support him with donations and fundraising (but nowhere near the Ģ80,000 required).
Just wondering if all this is too good to be true?
Thanks for listening.
Phil
Has anybody heard of this : Wings for Warriors - Home
And they're on youtube too - search for 'wings4warriors' to see several videos.
I've come on here today to see if they're genuine? I can't find anything else out online.
They appear to be a charity for training injured ex-military to become commercial helicopter pilots. On one of the videos, there is a guy who wants to become an air ambulance pilot once he's got his licence. From their website, they say they need donations as it costs upto Ģ80,000 to train each person. I'm assuming that they train the pilots in the little robinsons first and then train them in the bigger machines so they can get jobs?
I'm asking as my ex-army brother was medically discharged 4 years ago after a knee injury in Helmand Province and we (the whole family) have been trying to get him to do something worthwhile ever since. Adapting to life on civvy street has been a major challenge. He wants to work, he wants to do something more worthwhile than stacking shelves or driving drunks in taxis or the other dead-end jobs he's had. If he could train to be a pilot and get a flying job, that would be so much better. We live in the south west of England but my brother lives in the midlands, but that won't be a problem if he does go for the training and the family can help support him with donations and fundraising (but nowhere near the Ģ80,000 required).
Just wondering if all this is too good to be true?
Thanks for listening.
Phil
Paco,
It sounds like a noble venture.
One question.....what happens after they get their License? Any support for finding them jobs?
I would hope they are fully aware of the job market, competition for jobs, and the usual difficulties low hour, freshly license pilots have in finding jobs.
I am not trying to criticize the effort.....just think it fair to ask if that is being done.
It sounds like a noble venture.
One question.....what happens after they get their License? Any support for finding them jobs?
I would hope they are fully aware of the job market, competition for jobs, and the usual difficulties low hour, freshly license pilots have in finding jobs.
I am not trying to criticize the effort.....just think it fair to ask if that is being done.
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Yes, these guys are fully aware of what's going on. They are just finishing off their ppls now, but we started them off on commercial theoretical knowledge from the start*.
I should mention that these are not military pilots - mostly infantry at the moment.
Phil
*I know they need a PPL first, but they're not officially DL students until then. I just mean they are being intensively taught.
I should mention that these are not military pilots - mostly infantry at the moment.
Phil
*I know they need a PPL first, but they're not officially DL students until then. I just mean they are being intensively taught.
Last edited by paco; 25th Jun 2012 at 14:04.
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definately genuine, the guy in charge, M.R. Comes highly recommended from one of the CAA senior medical officers. I was talking to M.R. Last week about whether i could assist him in his efforts as i have a couple of false legs myself and it may inspire a "disabled" person if he is being taught by a "disabled" pilot. chester 
It sounds like a very admirable cause.
I try and donate a bit to Help for Heroes when I can. But I think that the lion's share my donations are now going to go towards W4W.
How about we organise some sort of Rotorheads fund raising scheme that can go towards W4W? What about that book based on the 'Rotorheads around the World' photos? Maybe any money raised from that can go towards this cause.
I try and donate a bit to Help for Heroes when I can. But I think that the lion's share my donations are now going to go towards W4W.
How about we organise some sort of Rotorheads fund raising scheme that can go towards W4W? What about that book based on the 'Rotorheads around the World' photos? Maybe any money raised from that can go towards this cause.
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Thanks everybody - this sounds brilliant. I have forwarded all details to my brother and the comments from this pprune forum too. Really appreciate your kind help.
Best regards
Best regards
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Hello again all
After posting my other "thank you" message earlier, I came across some private messages that I didnt know I had. After reading them all, I'm having some doubts now.
I wont specify who sent me the messages or what they said specifically, but the common thread was along the lines of "its a very tough market, employers want 1000's of hours experience, mostly on turbines and especially for air ambulances/police, wanting 500/1000 hours of twin turbines and there is no way an ab-initio newly qualified pilot with 0 working hours is going to get a job, despite spending upto Ģ80,000 on their training" and I had 2 other comments of the lines of "some people will do anything to prop up their training business and that registering as a charity and getting other people to pay for ex-soldiers training is a new one on them, they are selling a dream and the guys in training will have a rude awakening after their family, friends and miliary buddies have donated, raced and parachute jumped to raise funds to help their loved one and then be totally unemployable, whilst the training school move on to train the next batch of hopefuls"
One commentor stated that a CPL licence in the UK costs around Ģ45-50k and wonders where the Ģ80k quoted figure comes from?
I just dont know what to think. Would appreciate comments?
After posting my other "thank you" message earlier, I came across some private messages that I didnt know I had. After reading them all, I'm having some doubts now.
I wont specify who sent me the messages or what they said specifically, but the common thread was along the lines of "its a very tough market, employers want 1000's of hours experience, mostly on turbines and especially for air ambulances/police, wanting 500/1000 hours of twin turbines and there is no way an ab-initio newly qualified pilot with 0 working hours is going to get a job, despite spending upto Ģ80,000 on their training" and I had 2 other comments of the lines of "some people will do anything to prop up their training business and that registering as a charity and getting other people to pay for ex-soldiers training is a new one on them, they are selling a dream and the guys in training will have a rude awakening after their family, friends and miliary buddies have donated, raced and parachute jumped to raise funds to help their loved one and then be totally unemployable, whilst the training school move on to train the next batch of hopefuls"
One commentor stated that a CPL licence in the UK costs around Ģ45-50k and wonders where the Ģ80k quoted figure comes from?
I just dont know what to think. Would appreciate comments?
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Canīt say anything about the price tag on a CPL/IR training course in the UK-but they are right.
HEMS services in most countries require a minimum (!) of 500 military flying hours or 1500 hours "civil" rotary experience.
Although i appreciate everything that is done FOR our "wounded warriors"-donīt forget that being a soldier in combat does not automatically move you up the long waiting list of highly experienced pilots desperately looking for a job...
HEMS services in most countries require a minimum (!) of 500 military flying hours or 1500 hours "civil" rotary experience.
Although i appreciate everything that is done FOR our "wounded warriors"-donīt forget that being a soldier in combat does not automatically move you up the long waiting list of highly experienced pilots desperately looking for a job...
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Phil, we all support the idea, however the private messages are not being nasty, just realistic. They will not be 'unemployable', its just they will not walk into police and ambulance jobs. They will have to do what other civil pilots do, working their way up the ladder over years of 'ups and downs'.
Don't change your mind over the thank yous, actually thank them for telling you the truth. There are some thieving cynical people out there who will see pound signs. Luckily the majority are not like that, it just seems like the bad ones always seem to get involved.
Get the Douglas Bader spirit, never give up and you can prevail, just be realistic on the timeline.
PS. The quoted price for a CPL seems cheap if you include the IR.
Don't change your mind over the thank yous, actually thank them for telling you the truth. There are some thieving cynical people out there who will see pound signs. Luckily the majority are not like that, it just seems like the bad ones always seem to get involved.
Get the Douglas Bader spirit, never give up and you can prevail, just be realistic on the timeline.
PS. The quoted price for a CPL seems cheap if you include the IR.
Last edited by jayteeto; 27th Jun 2012 at 07:48.
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Yes, it's a very tough market, but from where I sit, nearly half the industry will have to retire in the next 2-5 years as the industry is top heavy with senior captains. There's plenty of work around even now.
As for "some people will do anything to prop up their training business" - the charity isn't a training organisation.
As mentioned before, all the candidates are fully aware of the situation, but they have the spirit that the British Army is made of. I don't think that situation is likely to put them off.
Phil
As for "some people will do anything to prop up their training business" - the charity isn't a training organisation.
As mentioned before, all the candidates are fully aware of the situation, but they have the spirit that the British Army is made of. I don't think that situation is likely to put them off.
Phil
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Dear All,
Many thanks for taking an interest in 'Wings for Warriors' and the work we are doing.
I am the Director/Founder of the charity and so if there are any questions please email me direct at [email protected] or call me direct on 07760 154074.
I usually find it more accurate to go direct to source to quash any rhumours. That said, I thought I'd shed some light.........
I started the charity with a man, who is now a very close friend of mine named Billy Sewell. Billy was shot multiple times in Afghan, lost a leg, shattered his pelvis and lost 87 units of blood (approx ten times normal body volume).
His dream had always been to fly helicopters and so I arranged it. We then took it further before carrying on to help others.
To all the ney-sayers out there I will tell you this with 100% conviction.....SOMETIMES A DREAM IS ALL A PERSON NEEDS! Are we trying to help these guys live or just exist?
Yes jobs are tough etc etc, however a few years ago people were telling me not to bother too. I wonder if I'd have done half the amazing things I have today if I'd listened to them?!
And yes, we do network down on their behalves as we 'build them up'. One of my guys is already working as a flight instructor and the others have paid ground crew work whilst they train.
There is no legal obligation for the boys to pay anything other than donate their time and emotion. Wings pays me no wage and certainly I am not a training organisation. I am a flight instructor who is using my skills and expertise to help others, instead of feather my own nest.
If in doubt, I am also governed by trustees, which include Billy's Wife (representing family interests and fairness), a Chief Police Officer (representing moral integrity) and a senior Commando Doctor (medical interests and pyschological wellbeing).
I will continue to dedicate myself to these men and women for as long as I draw breath. Any help we can get is always appreciated and goes DIRECT to the boys, not into the Director's golfing fund (I hate golf).
Please visit www.wingsforwarriors.org.uk for any more information you may require.
Alternatively, if you're still not convinced, come and talk to me in person.
Thanks for your time.
Mark
Mark Radcliffe
Director
Wings for Warriors
07760 15407
Many thanks for taking an interest in 'Wings for Warriors' and the work we are doing.
I am the Director/Founder of the charity and so if there are any questions please email me direct at [email protected] or call me direct on 07760 154074.
I usually find it more accurate to go direct to source to quash any rhumours. That said, I thought I'd shed some light.........
I started the charity with a man, who is now a very close friend of mine named Billy Sewell. Billy was shot multiple times in Afghan, lost a leg, shattered his pelvis and lost 87 units of blood (approx ten times normal body volume).
His dream had always been to fly helicopters and so I arranged it. We then took it further before carrying on to help others.
To all the ney-sayers out there I will tell you this with 100% conviction.....SOMETIMES A DREAM IS ALL A PERSON NEEDS! Are we trying to help these guys live or just exist?
Yes jobs are tough etc etc, however a few years ago people were telling me not to bother too. I wonder if I'd have done half the amazing things I have today if I'd listened to them?!
And yes, we do network down on their behalves as we 'build them up'. One of my guys is already working as a flight instructor and the others have paid ground crew work whilst they train.
There is no legal obligation for the boys to pay anything other than donate their time and emotion. Wings pays me no wage and certainly I am not a training organisation. I am a flight instructor who is using my skills and expertise to help others, instead of feather my own nest.
If in doubt, I am also governed by trustees, which include Billy's Wife (representing family interests and fairness), a Chief Police Officer (representing moral integrity) and a senior Commando Doctor (medical interests and pyschological wellbeing).
I will continue to dedicate myself to these men and women for as long as I draw breath. Any help we can get is always appreciated and goes DIRECT to the boys, not into the Director's golfing fund (I hate golf).
Please visit www.wingsforwarriors.org.uk for any more information you may require.
Alternatively, if you're still not convinced, come and talk to me in person.
Thanks for your time.
Mark
Mark Radcliffe
Director
Wings for Warriors
07760 15407
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I forgot to add....80k is our target figure for each student.
This will allow us to equip them with the best possible tools to place them into the market.
I.e. CPL with IR.
We are ALWAYS looking to bring this figure down and have indeed already achieved successes with the help of Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training providing ground school amongst others.
If you have any productive ideas on how we can be more cost effective we are always open to ideas.
Thank you.
This will allow us to equip them with the best possible tools to place them into the market.
I.e. CPL with IR.
We are ALWAYS looking to bring this figure down and have indeed already achieved successes with the help of Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training providing ground school amongst others.
If you have any productive ideas on how we can be more cost effective we are always open to ideas.
Thank you.
Congratulations for what you are doing.....these young folks deserve all the help and assistance they can get. They justly deserve support as they have carried a heavy burden for the rest of us during very trying times.
They have certainly done us all proud by their service and the courage they demonstrate to us daily as they cope with the aftermath of their being wounded.
It is a very good thing you are doing!
They have certainly done us all proud by their service and the courage they demonstrate to us daily as they cope with the aftermath of their being wounded.
It is a very good thing you are doing!
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Thank you Mark for taking the time to respond personally. I strongly agree with the comment you make about "sometimes a dream is enough" as my brother is lost. Civvy Street has not been a friendly place.
I've given him the details of your website and the link to this pprune thread.
Best regards
I've given him the details of your website and the link to this pprune thread.
Best regards
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Well done Mark. It is good to see that the Army spirit and support that I remember so fondly has found a worthy cause in civvy street. I wish the guys luck but I somehow think that they won't need it.
Mark R, you are to be commended for what you are doing - good luck to you and your colleagues.
However, I would re-iterate what a couple have already said, having spent 14yrs in the trade (Police/HEMS).
None of your 'graduates' will get a job in this industry. It is very important they grasp this. To become one of the above, pilots need a wealth of flying experience garnered over many many years and many thousands of hours. There IS NO SHORT CUT.
Provided your candidates are fully aware that this is the case - no-one will get hurt in the making of their futures.
What they should benefit from is a leg up into the industry in general. I know of a paramedic who sold his house to get started with NIL hours and got picked up by the oil industry flying offshore with a CPL(IR)[Just short of Ģ100,000 it cost him). So it could happen.
MOST 'self helpers' end up doing FI jobs on an ad hoc basis and waiting to clock up hrs becoming more attractive to the bigger players.
Phil the drill, it is essential you brief your brother about this before he takes off down that road.
To ALL "injured" wannabee pilots - your first visit is to an AME to check out if the injury will prevent the issuing of a Class 1 medical for aviation activities in the commercial world. GOOD LUCK
However, I would re-iterate what a couple have already said, having spent 14yrs in the trade (Police/HEMS).
None of your 'graduates' will get a job in this industry. It is very important they grasp this. To become one of the above, pilots need a wealth of flying experience garnered over many many years and many thousands of hours. There IS NO SHORT CUT.
Provided your candidates are fully aware that this is the case - no-one will get hurt in the making of their futures.
What they should benefit from is a leg up into the industry in general. I know of a paramedic who sold his house to get started with NIL hours and got picked up by the oil industry flying offshore with a CPL(IR)[Just short of Ģ100,000 it cost him). So it could happen.
MOST 'self helpers' end up doing FI jobs on an ad hoc basis and waiting to clock up hrs becoming more attractive to the bigger players.
Phil the drill, it is essential you brief your brother about this before he takes off down that road.
To ALL "injured" wannabee pilots - your first visit is to an AME to check out if the injury will prevent the issuing of a Class 1 medical for aviation activities in the commercial world. GOOD LUCK