When did you first gain command?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wherever the wind takes me...
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When did you first gain command?
I just wanted to ask everyone here; at how many hours did you first gain command of a multi crew helicopter?
Have most of you gone the route of single pilot to multi crew, and thereby getting a lot of PIC? If not, how many hours did you spend as a co-pilot before moving up? What are the different policies of the major operators? I understand it is a question of need, but I am looking for an average based on your experience.
Thank you...
DD
Have most of you gone the route of single pilot to multi crew, and thereby getting a lot of PIC? If not, how many hours did you spend as a co-pilot before moving up? What are the different policies of the major operators? I understand it is a question of need, but I am looking for an average based on your experience.
Thank you...
DD
First Army Unit had a 500 Hour Minimum in Country for PIC (about 750-850 hours total time)....or as seats opened up due to vacancies. Then new PIC's were paired with experienced Co-Pilots....as much as possible. That generally meant about four to five Months in Country before moving up. We averaged about 100 hours flying per Pilot per month.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
On my first tour with approx. 350 hours TT. The RAF operated "multi-crew", 6.7 tonne helicopters but normally manned them with a single pilot and a crewman (or navigator) back then. The policy later changed (for GW1) so both front seats were always occupied.
Like ShyTorque I was let loose, on task, by the RAF as a Single pilot Captain ( with an experienced crewman) on the Wessex 2 after the usual RAF fixed wing training and helicopter training/conversion. I had about 95 hrs on The Whirlwind 10 (single engine turbine) followed by about 82 hrs on the Wessex (twin turbine). I can still remember vividly the EX Spearpoint of 1976 where I began 36 yrs of productive flying service!!
HF
HF
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wherever the wind takes me...
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DauphinDude If you are where I think you are you are going to have to get a lot more hours than the above are descibing.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mmmmm ...
I vaguely remember I had about 2500 hrs when the company I worked for let me loose in their SA330J (steam driven Puma) as captain albeit with a senior co-pilot .... that was in 1982 ... to this day I still wonder just what they were thinking !!
I vaguely remember I had about 2500 hrs when the company I worked for let me loose in their SA330J (steam driven Puma) as captain albeit with a senior co-pilot .... that was in 1982 ... to this day I still wonder just what they were thinking !!
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: West coast Australia :)
Posts: 238
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3000 hours, six years in the company and having flown Oil and Gas on the AS332L and then SAR on the S61N before returning to Oil and Gas to get a command on the AS332L. That should narrow it down for you as to which company as it is based in ABZ.
Si
Si
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Mmmmm ...
I vaguely remember I had about 2500 hrs when the company I worked for let me loose in their SA330J (steam driven Puma) as captain albeit with a senior co-pilot .... that was in 1982 ... to this day I still wonder just what they were thinking !!
I vaguely remember I had about 2500 hrs when the company I worked for let me loose in their SA330J (steam driven Puma) as captain albeit with a senior co-pilot .... that was in 1982 ... to this day I still wonder just what they were thinking !!
We also had one captain who was only 21 years old!
During Confrontation in Borneo in 1966 brand new helicopter pilots were coming out to Labuan and one harrassed squadron training pilot would take them on. Two weeks later they were flying over half of the jungles of Sabah; single pilot in a single engined Whirwind with primitive maps and no navaids.
That situation continued from February to October: No accidents, no losses.
That situation continued from February to October: No accidents, no losses.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: In the shadows
Age: 80
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
6 November 1965. At 20 years 6 months old and 379 hours total time cleared single and two pilot command of Wessex - anti-submarine role front line carrier based in the Far East.
