IR - Uk Company - Aircraft
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 2
Before thinking about doing the IR, find out how many of the previous students in the last year now actually have secure jobs and how much are those jobs paying.
Don't believe companies when they say there is a coming shortage.
They want a market saturated with unemployed pilots and could not care less about how you pay off your massive loans.
Don't believe companies when they say there is a coming shortage.
They want a market saturated with unemployed pilots and could not care less about how you pay off your massive loans.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Omnipresent
Posts: 380
Also consider what aircraft you’ll end up with an IR on. Heli Services use old 355’s and a 109C, not current types for someone chasing a job. Starspeed and Babcock use 135’s so you may get advanced to a hems p2 position if not offshore. Both these companies have high success rate in students getting employed after, sometimes within. Castle use modern AW109 and are the feeder school for Bristow. Go figure.
Last edited by Hedski; 26th Nov 2019 at 07:07.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: north or south
Age: 46
Posts: 534
Go with the H135 or AW109 , the old twin squirrels are well passed its use by date for IFR.....
Starspeed would be on the top of the list, but winning the NPAS training contract could be tricky to get a training spot.
Starspeed would be on the top of the list, but winning the NPAS training contract could be tricky to get a training spot.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: London
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by haihio
in my current job I fly old 355’s but I did my IR on the 135 at Bond, now Babcock, do yourself a favour don’t do the IR on the 355.
I was very happy with the Type rating and IR course provided by Bond.
I was very happy with the Type rating and IR course provided by Bond.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: north or south
Age: 46
Posts: 534
Originally Posted by heli87
can I ask why you say don’t do it on a 355?
Go and drive an old 1980 astra van
Then Hire a Tesla Car ...... H135
Seriously unless you have flown them both ...go with the 135 or a 109e
Last edited by ersa; 27th Nov 2019 at 02:41.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: italy
Posts: 132
At the time when I was choosing ATO provider I had never flown either and I was more interested in saving some money. the quotes I got from the major ATO’s in the UK where similar the difference was that I would get less air time if I choose the 135 as more training can be done in the FTD.
Elly that was working there was also very good at her job, and the last time I was there for my renewal she had already quit and although the instructors are good it does make a difference when there is someone like her handling all the other things.
ersa has pretty much pointed out the main reason why not to do it in the 355.
Elly that was working there was also very good at her job, and the last time I was there for my renewal she had already quit and although the instructors are good it does make a difference when there is someone like her handling all the other things.
ersa has pretty much pointed out the main reason why not to do it in the 355.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: London
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by haihio
At the time when I was choosing ATO provider I had never flown either and I was more interested in saving some money. the quotes I got from the major ATO’s in the UK where similar the difference was that I would get less air time if I choose the 135 as more training can be done in the FTD.
Elly that was working there was also very good at her job, and the last time I was there for my renewal she had already quit and although the instructors are good it does make a difference when there is someone like her handling all the other things.
ersa has pretty much pointed out the main reason why not to do it in the 355.
Elly that was working there was also very good at her job, and the last time I was there for my renewal she had already quit and although the instructors are good it does make a difference when there is someone like her handling all the other things.
ersa has pretty much pointed out the main reason why not to do it in the 355.
It seems Elly is now at starspeed
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: England
Posts: 45
It seems Elly is now at starspeed
Starspeed and Heliservices are to me the best at the moment they both have great and competent people.
Don't underestimate AS355 unless you are specifically targeting offshore then indeed IR in a glass cockpit would make more sense to me
