General advice on training and job prospects
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Newcastle UK
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General advice on training and job prospects
Hi.
I took a helicopter taster session last year and loved it. Recently started researching how to become a helicopter pilot. Lookng on the web looks like it wil take about £70k and 12 months to achieve CPL from zero. My local flight school do PPL and CPL, also noticed Bristow do anintegrated CPL. Is this cost about right?
The other apect i've been looking at is employment after training. This is proving more diffiuclt. Odd bits and pieces when I do searches but doesn't appear to be much or likely I'm looking in the wrong places.
I'd appreciate any genetal advice on how others trained and how they got their first job. I have no connections in the industry so feeling a bit lost.
Thanks
I took a helicopter taster session last year and loved it. Recently started researching how to become a helicopter pilot. Lookng on the web looks like it wil take about £70k and 12 months to achieve CPL from zero. My local flight school do PPL and CPL, also noticed Bristow do anintegrated CPL. Is this cost about right?
The other apect i've been looking at is employment after training. This is proving more diffiuclt. Odd bits and pieces when I do searches but doesn't appear to be much or likely I'm looking in the wrong places.
I'd appreciate any genetal advice on how others trained and how they got their first job. I have no connections in the industry so feeling a bit lost.
Thanks
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Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Some of the conversations are a little old and was hunting more upto date information. I've added to some of those existing threads, hope this is ok.
You've come to the right place. Welcome.
There is a sticky thread at the top of the forum: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/122...e-posting.html
Some of the threads might feel a bit out of date now but make a brew and start ploughing throw the various links. If you've still got any questions after reading that lot, fire away. Unfortunately, things are currently quite tough in the industry worldwide and there are currently lots of helicopter pilots out of work. But don't necessarily let that put you off.
There is a sticky thread at the top of the forum: http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/122...e-posting.html
Some of the threads might feel a bit out of date now but make a brew and start ploughing throw the various links. If you've still got any questions after reading that lot, fire away. Unfortunately, things are currently quite tough in the industry worldwide and there are currently lots of helicopter pilots out of work. But don't necessarily let that put you off.
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Hi GTC, if you flew in a helicopter that makes you a ROTORHEAD. Bravo 73 has put it in clear terms. It is just not a good time at the moment for many commercial pilots. However, things change quickly as they have done in the past. By the time you have made it through your training it could be a whole new world.
Good Luck and welcome to ROTORHEADS. We can get a bit feisty at times. Don't let that put you off.
Good Luck and welcome to ROTORHEADS. We can get a bit feisty at times. Don't let that put you off.
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Hi GTC,
I hope this doesn't infringe any forum rules by posting this but I believe Northumbria Helicopters based at Newcastle International Airport are holding an Open Day, this Sunday the 29th of January where pilots, instructors and current students will be on hand to answer any questions from prospective PPL students. So feel free to pop along, I hear they are even supplying bacon sandwiches!!!!! I did try to PM you but that facility was unavailable.
Good luck with whichever path you choose.
K77.
I hope this doesn't infringe any forum rules by posting this but I believe Northumbria Helicopters based at Newcastle International Airport are holding an Open Day, this Sunday the 29th of January where pilots, instructors and current students will be on hand to answer any questions from prospective PPL students. So feel free to pop along, I hear they are even supplying bacon sandwiches!!!!! I did try to PM you but that facility was unavailable.
Good luck with whichever path you choose.
K77.
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Welcome GTC!
Sadly, the market in the UK at the moment is pretty pants. Redundancies left right and centre are flooding the ''pilot pond'' with fish that are a far more attractive catch than a newly qualified low hour pilot.
That said, there are still lots of students, and friends of mine, that go over to the states and train, get their FAA CPL CFI/CFII, become instructors and rack up a lot of hours. They either do it through instruction, or working for tour companies, one guy that I trained with is flying the Canyon in an EC130, getting all important turbine time.
There is definitely a way to still get that job as a pilot, but I don't think that the UK is where you should look.
Sadly, the market in the UK at the moment is pretty pants. Redundancies left right and centre are flooding the ''pilot pond'' with fish that are a far more attractive catch than a newly qualified low hour pilot.
That said, there are still lots of students, and friends of mine, that go over to the states and train, get their FAA CPL CFI/CFII, become instructors and rack up a lot of hours. They either do it through instruction, or working for tour companies, one guy that I trained with is flying the Canyon in an EC130, getting all important turbine time.
There is definitely a way to still get that job as a pilot, but I don't think that the UK is where you should look.
"Just a pilot"
"The other apect i've been looking at is employment after training. This is proving more diffiuclt."
I can teach a monkey to fly. I can't make a monkey an aviator. (US Army instructor pilot, "encouraging me in 1968)
Employment after training is the most difficult part of the process. There are many routes from zero to employment, but not much certainty, it depends on your ability to take advantage of opportunities.
If you don't have a sponsor and a job waiting for your qualification, the next best choice is instructional employment at the school that trained you. After that, teaching flying at another and/or various flight schools. You can begin the long process of learning to really fly while teaching, make contacts and establish a reputation.
Or, work and fly as financially feasible. I know people who bought almost every hour to the level of general employability, scavenged hours, or bartered time for other skills. I know people who established their own flying businesses to build time.
This is a poor time to be in the helicopter business. The biz may continue to decline, especially in view of novel alternatives (drones, for instance); or if you're a determined contrarian, this is the time to become employable in a couple, maybe ten years when business expands and/or attrition opens a seat. The new pilot who will take that seat is starting now.
Most who start will quit for one reason or another. The only thing certain is that you won't fly for a living if you never start the process.
I can teach a monkey to fly. I can't make a monkey an aviator. (US Army instructor pilot, "encouraging me in 1968)
Employment after training is the most difficult part of the process. There are many routes from zero to employment, but not much certainty, it depends on your ability to take advantage of opportunities.
If you don't have a sponsor and a job waiting for your qualification, the next best choice is instructional employment at the school that trained you. After that, teaching flying at another and/or various flight schools. You can begin the long process of learning to really fly while teaching, make contacts and establish a reputation.
Or, work and fly as financially feasible. I know people who bought almost every hour to the level of general employability, scavenged hours, or bartered time for other skills. I know people who established their own flying businesses to build time.
This is a poor time to be in the helicopter business. The biz may continue to decline, especially in view of novel alternatives (drones, for instance); or if you're a determined contrarian, this is the time to become employable in a couple, maybe ten years when business expands and/or attrition opens a seat. The new pilot who will take that seat is starting now.
Most who start will quit for one reason or another. The only thing certain is that you won't fly for a living if you never start the process.
A quick look at any aviation job site will show the sad state of the industry. Literally hundreds of jobs for fixed-wing and airlines. Next to none for rotary. The decimation has been the worst that I had seen in 30+ years of flying and will take years to recover - if at all - now that UAV's are taking over many traditional 'starter jobs' If you want to fly then look at the more dependable and easier FW route.
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Many years ago I made a post about the link of offshore helicopter contracts/rates and the price of crude. I was told there was no link I was an idiot.
How the world has changed!
How the world has changed!
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I'm in the same boat as you. Jobs are not as freely available as our fixed-wing cousins. However, there will still be helicopters in 10-20 years so someones got to fly them
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I think what Sir K was suggesting, and what I was agreeing with, is aeroplane jobs are far more plentiful than helicopter pilot jobs, and if you had a choice, embark on an aeroplane flying career rather than a helicopter flying career.
Hey pprune, I'm looking for any pointers towards a reasonably priced MCC-IR course in EASA-land. I'm based in Germany but of course willing to travel. Heard good things about Aviation Academy in Romania but can't get hold of them via mail or phone. Will finish my IR in April/ early May so any time later than that would be great. A Sim-buddy to split the bill would be great too of course.
Bye
'
Bye
'
Last edited by muermel; 23rd Jan 2023 at 17:18.
Hey pprune, I'm looking for any pointers towards a reasonably priced MMC-IR course in EASA-land. I'm based in Germany but of course willing to travel. Heard good things about Aviation Academy in Romania but can't get hold of them via mail or phone. Will finish my IR in April/ early May so any time later than that would be great. A Sim-buddy to split the bill would be great too of course.
Bye
'
Bye
'
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Hey pprune, I'm looking for any pointers towards a reasonably priced MMC-IR course in EASA-land. I'm based in Germany but of course willing to travel. Heard good things about Aviation Academy in Romania but can't get hold of them via mail or phone. Will finish my IR in April/ early May so any time later than that would be great. A Sim-buddy to split the bill would be great too of course.
Bye
'
Bye
'
The following users liked this post: