Job Prospects in UK / Conversion
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Job Prospects in UK / Conversion
Good evening gentlemen!
I need some advice from those flying in the UK as my wife just signed a job offer in London and we'll have to move there next year - meaning I've got to find a job there (EU citizen, right to work would be secured through a spousal visa).
8 years ago I changed from a full time flying job as Chiefpilot for a small outfit in East Africa with sideline EMS work as a paramedic to the opposite scenario when we had to move back to Europe for family reasons. While I tried to keep my pilot licenses current (FAA CPL(H) IR / CFII + East African CPL(H)) by freelancing once or twice a year in East Africa, the covid meltdown was the last straw that finally broke the camel's back (but hey, never had such job security as in EMS during the pandemic...).
Before that I collected some 1850 hrs on an FAA CPL(H) / IR & CFII and Tanzanian CPL(H) doing a range of flying from utility work in the US to many years of hot & high bush flying in East Africa; most of it on the R44 (plus the ubiquitous R22 & S300 time from school and a whopping 75hrs on MD-500E with Class A ext. loads for survey work) as well as a bit of instruction.
Considering that I'll have to convert one of my licenses either way to work in the UK (medical vs. flying) I'm actually considering that I may as well get back in the saddle as I do miss flying helicopters more and more by the day. My question to you gentlemen is this: does it seem a viable option to convert to a UK CAA license in terms of cost, job prospects, pay, license conversion to convert / fly in the UK (esp. now that it's not useable for any EASA country anymore) and how would you recommend going about it? We're looking to relocate to anywhere within 100km of London and are free to choose (wherever would be best suited also in tems of flight schools / operators etc. if I go that route).
I need some advice from those flying in the UK as my wife just signed a job offer in London and we'll have to move there next year - meaning I've got to find a job there (EU citizen, right to work would be secured through a spousal visa).
8 years ago I changed from a full time flying job as Chiefpilot for a small outfit in East Africa with sideline EMS work as a paramedic to the opposite scenario when we had to move back to Europe for family reasons. While I tried to keep my pilot licenses current (FAA CPL(H) IR / CFII + East African CPL(H)) by freelancing once or twice a year in East Africa, the covid meltdown was the last straw that finally broke the camel's back (but hey, never had such job security as in EMS during the pandemic...).
Before that I collected some 1850 hrs on an FAA CPL(H) / IR & CFII and Tanzanian CPL(H) doing a range of flying from utility work in the US to many years of hot & high bush flying in East Africa; most of it on the R44 (plus the ubiquitous R22 & S300 time from school and a whopping 75hrs on MD-500E with Class A ext. loads for survey work) as well as a bit of instruction.
Considering that I'll have to convert one of my licenses either way to work in the UK (medical vs. flying) I'm actually considering that I may as well get back in the saddle as I do miss flying helicopters more and more by the day. My question to you gentlemen is this: does it seem a viable option to convert to a UK CAA license in terms of cost, job prospects, pay, license conversion to convert / fly in the UK (esp. now that it's not useable for any EASA country anymore) and how would you recommend going about it? We're looking to relocate to anywhere within 100km of London and are free to choose (wherever would be best suited also in tems of flight schools / operators etc. if I go that route).
There is work in the UK onshore market at the moment, with quite a few HEMS pilot jobs coming up.
You don't mention any twin time - which would be a showstopper for HEMS units that all have minimum amounts of twin time required, as well as I/R and minimum amounts of actual I/F.
As regards converting - don't known the exact rules but you should expect a fair bit of flying, all the ground exams and if you want an I/R you'll need to do it on a twin (they might give you a couple of hours off for your FAA I/R).
It will be expensive. You don't say how old you are but bear in mind that single pilot public transport has a mandatory stop of 60 years in UK and EASA (may or may not change) so you need to consider if you have the earning potential in however many years between now and age 60 to earn back what you invest. Converting to a UK paramedic qualification is likely to be cheaper and allow you to work longer. Also - your earning potential as a paramedic with a few overtime shifts is not that far from what a HEMS pilot will make (after the taxman has taken his 40%) and more than a VFR R44 pilot is likely to get.
My experience of HEMS operations is that a background as a paramedic might not be an advantage - you might have to work hard to convince them that you would be able to focus on the flying and not get involved in or distracted by the medical stuff.
Also - and i say this constructively (and without any kind of woke agenda) - There are a lot of women flying helicopters now so addressing yourself to "gentlemen" twice in your original post is a bit naive.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
OH
You don't mention any twin time - which would be a showstopper for HEMS units that all have minimum amounts of twin time required, as well as I/R and minimum amounts of actual I/F.
As regards converting - don't known the exact rules but you should expect a fair bit of flying, all the ground exams and if you want an I/R you'll need to do it on a twin (they might give you a couple of hours off for your FAA I/R).
It will be expensive. You don't say how old you are but bear in mind that single pilot public transport has a mandatory stop of 60 years in UK and EASA (may or may not change) so you need to consider if you have the earning potential in however many years between now and age 60 to earn back what you invest. Converting to a UK paramedic qualification is likely to be cheaper and allow you to work longer. Also - your earning potential as a paramedic with a few overtime shifts is not that far from what a HEMS pilot will make (after the taxman has taken his 40%) and more than a VFR R44 pilot is likely to get.
My experience of HEMS operations is that a background as a paramedic might not be an advantage - you might have to work hard to convince them that you would be able to focus on the flying and not get involved in or distracted by the medical stuff.
Also - and i say this constructively (and without any kind of woke agenda) - There are a lot of women flying helicopters now so addressing yourself to "gentlemen" twice in your original post is a bit naive.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
OH
You don't need to do your IR on a twin. Vantage Aviation do it on a single. However, since you have no twin time it would probably be a good idea to do the IR on a twin to build that part of your CV.
I think in terms of investment Vs return, you're unlikely to get one in a short term time frame from doing an FAA to CAA convex, twin rating and IR. I know a guy in Babcock who has converted an FAA CPL IR but I think he had a big wedge of twin time already (he was employed directly from his performance during the conversion - something to think about in terms of where you do your conversion).
EASA has decided to extend Single Pilot HEMS to 65 so I think you can reasonably expect the CAA to do the same already doing it just for HEMS is likely to be questioned
I think in terms of investment Vs return, you're unlikely to get one in a short term time frame from doing an FAA to CAA convex, twin rating and IR. I know a guy in Babcock who has converted an FAA CPL IR but I think he had a big wedge of twin time already (he was employed directly from his performance during the conversion - something to think about in terms of where you do your conversion).
EASA has decided to extend Single Pilot HEMS to 65 so I think you can reasonably expect the CAA to do the same already doing it just for HEMS is likely to be questioned
