A great opportunity or a trap for the unwary?
A great opportunity or a trap for the unwary?
This advert appeared on indeed.co.uk recently:
“Ever considered a career as a Helicopter Pilot?
Northumbria Helicopters are launching a ground breaking future Helicopter Pilot scheme.
£65 - £300 a Day
No Experience Necessary
Northumbria Helicopters
Headquartered at Newcastle International Airport, we the only Helicopter Company with bases and operations in every region of the British Isles.
We are currently searching for our pilots of the future through practical evaluation sessions in the coming weeks for a brand new future pilot scheme which will put candidates at the controls of a helicopter for 20 minutes with one of our in house instructors followed by an interview on the ground.
The scheme offers up to 4 successful candidates a range of funding options for our CAA Approved Helicopter Pilot Training Courses including the opportunity to work for our organisation on a full or part time basis to gain valuable experience of UK flight operations based at Newcastle International Airport whilst training for your Private Pilot License (PPL) or funding for up to 50 percent of your PPL training with possible further support for the right candidate(s).
Becoming a Helicopter Pilot is a dream job for many people and for the right candidates this unique opportunity will certainly take you from zero to hero
If you are interested in coming along and taking control of our modern Cabri helicopter followed by a formal interview, you will be asked to cover the cost of the initial evaluation at £125 + VAT and the flying time will count towards your PPL.
For more information regarding this scheme we recommend attending our free open evening where you will be able to have an informal chat with our team.
Please contact us by email with your CV and details as to why you would like a career as a Helicopter Pilot.
Benefits:
Salary: £300.00 /day”
https://www.indeed.co.uk/m/viewjob?jk=51e5291ede06f10d
This sort of thing has appeared before. So, is it a great opportunity for aspiring helicopter pilots or a trap for the unwary?
“Ever considered a career as a Helicopter Pilot?
Northumbria Helicopters are launching a ground breaking future Helicopter Pilot scheme.
£65 - £300 a Day
No Experience Necessary
Northumbria Helicopters
Headquartered at Newcastle International Airport, we the only Helicopter Company with bases and operations in every region of the British Isles.
We are currently searching for our pilots of the future through practical evaluation sessions in the coming weeks for a brand new future pilot scheme which will put candidates at the controls of a helicopter for 20 minutes with one of our in house instructors followed by an interview on the ground.
The scheme offers up to 4 successful candidates a range of funding options for our CAA Approved Helicopter Pilot Training Courses including the opportunity to work for our organisation on a full or part time basis to gain valuable experience of UK flight operations based at Newcastle International Airport whilst training for your Private Pilot License (PPL) or funding for up to 50 percent of your PPL training with possible further support for the right candidate(s).
Becoming a Helicopter Pilot is a dream job for many people and for the right candidates this unique opportunity will certainly take you from zero to hero
If you are interested in coming along and taking control of our modern Cabri helicopter followed by a formal interview, you will be asked to cover the cost of the initial evaluation at £125 + VAT and the flying time will count towards your PPL.
For more information regarding this scheme we recommend attending our free open evening where you will be able to have an informal chat with our team.
Please contact us by email with your CV and details as to why you would like a career as a Helicopter Pilot.
Benefits:
- Flexible working hours
Salary: £300.00 /day”
https://www.indeed.co.uk/m/viewjob?jk=51e5291ede06f10d
This sort of thing has appeared before. So, is it a great opportunity for aspiring helicopter pilots or a trap for the unwary?
So they seem to be offering trial lessons to drum up business...
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I very rarely post here nowadays, but honestly this sort of thing makes my blood boil.
If you think that paying £150 for a twenty minute air experience flight is good value then crack on; it will be interesting to see next year whether they've made good on funding some training for four, or, indeed any, number of pilots.
If you think that paying £150 for a twenty minute air experience flight is good value then crack on; it will be interesting to see next year whether they've made good on funding some training for four, or, indeed any, number of pilots.
If they attempted to evaluate my potential in a helicopter in 20 minutes, they'd probably come to the same conclusion I did. This guy should never be let near one again and I've stuck to fixed wing ever since.
And I think £150 is bloody dear for a little toy !
And I think £150 is bloody dear for a little toy !
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I'll confess to being slightly curious as to what 20 minutes on the controls will allow anyone to "evaluate". Some candidates may have some rotary experience, but most will not, so we're comparing apples to aardvarks here. If you've got the money, there's probably worse things to spend 150 quid on, but it isn't going to be very meaningful for anyone concerned.
Sorry - what will the job exactly, that earns 300 GBP per day with a PPL?
A good few years ago a friend had a Jetranger and after taking off he was in the hover and said I am going to let you have some control. I took the collective and the cyclic, he covered the pedals and said after ten minutes I was a natural.... So I suppose it could be done in twenty minutes to assess if someone is capable of going further. Not sure it helped either that I was a fixed wing PPL (well in the hover that is). Sadly I am probably too old now to take up any offer. I have to add, I have been to Northumbria Helicopters and on first apperance looks very professional
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This scam errr I mean scheme (I love the word ‘scheming’) is the reason they say aviation attracts sharks. If you just want to have a go in chopper for 20 mins with the added bonus something might come of it and accept it just for that then go for it but to say it’s an evaluation flight 😂. Something just a bit funnier would of been to watch me a 10000hr Airbus Captain trying to hover 3 years ago when I had a try for 15mins. The instructor said I was good...TBF I was and a legend at it too, for up to about 7 seconds on each attempt 😂😂.
Not sure about the value of the flight but maybe it says something that the RCAF and RAF both evaluate 'potemtial' pilots in a short simulation and without actually letting them near and actual aircraft. As far as I learned from my kids, (four of whom attended 'Selection' the handling part of the process accounted for about twenty minutes in which they were asked to 'fly' a (fixed wing) circuit on instruments three or four times. Being shown their tracks and the miscues being pointed out the assessment was on their 'improvement.'
(Three of them passed and are now helicopter pilots.)
Not saying anything about this actual offer but twenty minutes flight time would rule out a whole host of the wannabes.
(Three of them passed and are now helicopter pilots.)
Not saying anything about this actual offer but twenty minutes flight time would rule out a whole host of the wannabes.
Hi Pilot Mike
Sadly I cannot help being able to learn things quickly and went on the learn much more. I flew with various heli pilots regularly and god forbid one of them became incapacitated I would at least of had a chance. Not a heli but a friend managed to land a fixed wing when the pilot became ill, he did so with a small amout of instruction saving the pilot and himself. I did my first solo Fixed wing after Just 8.45 hours. Some have it some don't... I have done all the Fame bit but thats another story ! I have not written an Autobiography but my father has and its a great read.
Sadly I cannot help being able to learn things quickly and went on the learn much more. I flew with various heli pilots regularly and god forbid one of them became incapacitated I would at least of had a chance. Not a heli but a friend managed to land a fixed wing when the pilot became ill, he did so with a small amout of instruction saving the pilot and himself. I did my first solo Fixed wing after Just 8.45 hours. Some have it some don't... I have done all the Fame bit but thats another story ! I have not written an Autobiography but my father has and its a great read.
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Pretty easy to see how every de-brief would go. “You should absolutely be considering a career as a helicopter pilot! I recommend this to very few people but you definitely have what it takes to get to the very top of the profession. I have some loan firms here so if you’d just like to sign here, here and here we will get your training scheduled straight away!” Next!
Pretty easy to see how every de-brief would go. “You should absolutely be considering a career as a helicopter pilot! I recommend this to very few people but you definitely have what it takes to get to the very top of the profession. I have some loan firms here so if you’d just like to sign here, here and here we will get your training scheduled straight away!” Next!
How True......
Better red than ...
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£300/day salary is an unusual way to quote “salary” which is usually annual amounts. Day rate perhaps? How many days are guaranteed, doing what and when (post training to CPL FI perhaps)
Last edited by helicopter-redeye; 29th Nov 2019 at 17:56. Reason: Shelling error
I agree, but as I mentioned earlier - how will they be earning this money with a PPL, which is what is being offered?
I suspect that it would be £65pd as a PPL Ops Assistant/Receptionist/hangar sweeper.
Then once the ‘successful’ applicant has paid them for all of the CPL/FI training, they will get £300pd as a freelance FI(H).
Then once the ‘successful’ applicant has paid them for all of the CPL/FI training, they will get £300pd as a freelance FI(H).
Better red than ...
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A day, or by the hour? If it’s contract nobody is paying when there is no demand. So maybe 300/day is a “target” or “best rate” oN a good day, or is it an average, but over what period?
Either way, if feels like there is money to be spent before money is earned, but how much.
caveat emptor (as my Latin master used to say)
Either way, if feels like there is money to be spent before money is earned, but how much.
caveat emptor (as my Latin master used to say)
