I am in US training at the moment, and it is costing a very similar total amount with flights etc. My advice would be to do your PPL in the UK, sit your JAA CPL exams and then go out to the US and do their IR and CPL as part of your hour building. That way you get used to UK ATC, navigation and weather, before coming over here. Otherwise when you go back to the UK to do your CPL, your Nav, ATC etc will be nowhere near the standard needed. That is how i have done it anyway, if you want any advice, or some pointers as to the better schools, and JAA exam stuff the just PM me.

Hey Helirally, I'm currently going through the exams and have a couple next week, Air Law and AGK! Interesting to hear how your doing it.I've had people suggesting that route to me previously. Where are you hoping to work once your training is complete? Or could I answer that, anywhere that you can!!:)

Where are you training?

Best place to start work, Uk or USA?
 

Hi all

First time on this forum, looks pretty good. I'm hoping someone can advise on where the best place is once you get your CPL and want to start working. UK or USA?

Here's the deal, I'm hoping to start training for my CPL (from scratch)early next year, I'm considering either going JAA, FAA (or dual license if my budget will stretch) with an FI rating (again hopefully). As I understand it's ideal to train in the theatre you intend to work in (UK if you want to start in the UK).

I know that I definately want to live and work in the States sometime, maybe even stay there indefinately (had enough of the crappy British summers). The country and the work you can get as a pilot there (if you're lucky) greatly interests me.

But my quandry is as a newly graduated, wet behind the ears pilot with minimal experience but hopefully an instructor rating, will I be better off starting out in the UK/Europe or the US?

I've posted this question on helitorque (apologies if you're reading this again) as I want to get opinions from as many peeps as possible. A few guys on there made a very good point that if I'm looking for FI jobs the states would be best simply because it's such a large country, hence more opportunities and the FAA actively encourage people to fly.

Also I've been told that globally the FAA is more accepted than the JAA license. Can anyone comment on this? It's contrary to what I've been told before, but if it's true will almost make my mind up about which to choose. If I get an FAA what countries can I work in with it?

Sorry for going on for so long and thanks if you're still awake/reading. :-) I'd be very interested to hear from anyone from both sides on the pond.

Are you legal to work here? You cannot simply just come over to live and work.

Helicopter Pilot, Where in the World to Train? USA, CAN, UK/EU, SA, AUS etc?
 

Hello great people of PPruNe! Long time reader first time poster. I want to start off by saying this is a great site and I've truly enjoyed reading about your advice, you guys Rock :rockon:

I've been wanting to be a Helicopter Pilot for far too many years and can now finally do something about it. I apologies for writing what a million other people have put but I hope to get some great advise and assurances. So my questions are as follows.

1) I'm 32 from the UK but work as a contractor abroad and have a house in the US so I guess thats my home although I rent it out... I'm not tied to it so I'm happy to train anywhere in the world, where would you suggest? and why?
2) Should I do it as a package to get my CPL with IR etc? or do one in one place like a PPL and then the CPL in another? IR in another? Instructors etc etc
3) I dont mind where I work afterwards either but should I be looking at joint JAA/FAA integrated courses? or do one and then the other if and when I need it? I would love to fly Offshore in Norway at some point, but am happy to spend time elsewhere before I get there clocking up hours. I hear there is more work in the US at the moment... Apparently...
4) I finally have the funding for this and am hoping to do my CPL and instructors in a year, I've seen mention of modular learning but am a little unsure if this is something I would do. Would I be able to do this or should I just do everything I need to in one go?
5) The school I've already been looking at is Bristow in Florida because a friend of mine just graduated and is flying pipelines in Pensilvania, plus he has a house there I can rent. I've also read very good reviews about it, He's from Scotland and did his FAA and instructors course and probably one or two others. What schools do you recommend depending on the answers to the other questions? and do you recommend this as an all in one stop shop?

I took a flight a few years back (2004) in Redhill UK and loved it. I was told by the instructor I had a natural ability (hopefully he was being genuine). This is something I am going to do but want to make all the right decisions before I even start!

So if you had to do it all over again knowing what you know now, had no ties to anywhere, the funds to pay for it (obviously not bottomless I do have some limits) and the time, how would you do it?

It was either this or motorcycle racing, again something I've wanted to do from childhood. Mind you I can still to this after I finish training.

Thanks in advance!
Rossco

Hi there

Try bristow Helicopter academy, they train many cadets for various Heli operators around the world there.

Helicopter Flight Training - Bristow Academy Inc

Or go to the Rotorheads Forum and look at So you want to be a Helicopter Pilot :ok:

Thanks guys,

I appreciate the steering in the right direction, I have read a lot of info on the forum (and other forums), the reason I posted was because most stuff in that link you sent Senior Pilot is pre 2006. So nothing has changed over the years? Apart from a world wide economic downturn which probably had a direct effect on the industry and all the places that teach. So basically I'm asking if it is all still relevant (if it is I will bow out gracefully) or have things changed?

Looking forward to some sarcasm on the next post. :ok: and please delete this whole thread if I'm mistaken about the info. It is a very good read though.

Thanks Senior Pilot
Rossco

Most of that is still relevant. A few points that may be relevant:

Train where you want to work. Entry level jobs are probably more common in the USA, but it's tough everywhere right now. That said, it'll take you a while to get fully trained up, so things might be picking up a bit by the time you're qualified. Crystal ball time.

If where you ultimately want to end up requires you to do a JAA IR, there's not a lot of point doing an IR in the USA, unless you need that too. Pretty much everyone I've ever spoken to about this says that the FAA IR is so different from the JAA IR that you might as well just do the full JAA IR instead of trying to convert it.

If you can afford the all-in-one-hit, integrated course, that's probably the better route, as it'll mean less training time overall. Current estimates for zero to CPL+IR in the UK are around £80k (you can reduce that a bit by careful shopping around). Bear in mind that if you do an ICAO CPL that you later want to convert to a JAA CPL (required to work anywhere in JAA-land), you will need to do the complete set of ground exams - this is 9 or 14 papers, which require an amount of work. Quickest I've ever heard of for someone blasting through those is 6 months, but most people take a bit longer. You can do the flight training in a month, if you have a decent school and can get the CAA to produce an examiner.

I'm assuming you have residence (or at least a work permit) for wherever you want to work?

Helicopter Flight Training - Bristow Academy Inc

Why do you want to end up flying offshore in Norway?

Thank you for moving this thread to here, much more apt.


Pandalet, I hear you on train where you want to work, money is a bit of a factor and I'm not a big fan of the UK, personal reasons. Right now the US is looking like my best option, I love it there and want to see some of it before I decide to relocate again. But dont want to box myself in with jsut an FAA qual, the more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards JAA/FAA integrated.

chcoffshore, Thanks for the Bristow link, thats seems to be a lot of peoples preferred school. Norway is just an amazing country imho. I have good friends there and really enjoy the place. I use to work offshore as a seismic navigator on ships and my mate that lives in Norway still does this, so i would like to continue in the offshore field as it gives a lifestyle I enjoy.

Hello all,

Rossauk: I have been researching for 2 yrs , nearly finished PPLH in Dublin and going to Bristow this Jan for combined JAA/FAA course.Handing in work notice soon-mech engineer- It is the way to go, i just came back from Aberdeen visiting CHC, Bristow and Bond and have talked with Search and Rescue pilots in Ireland..I'm going to fly Off shore so this course is best. Higher chance of employment after training, and highly thought of school..its what i have gathered so far and have done loads of research !!
Decided to take the plunge and go train this january.

Job prospects - Jan to nov course finished, if cant get job in States possible some time build at Boatpix then back to U.K. for I.R. Prospects looking bit better for N.Shore in yr and half..i.m told- no gurantees in this life..
Whatever way you look at it , its darn expensive so bite the bullet and go for it..
Anyone else considering January course?

All the best.

12 months ago after a similar visit to Big Duke's I was told that the North Sea employment prospects were going to be better in the 3rd Quarter of 2010. Unfortunately that prediction doesn't look like it is going to come true. So now the industry is quoting another 18 months... doh! Learn the first thing about this industry, no one knows what is going to happen in the future.

Please accept a word of caution in todays climate: there is a lot of luck required to break in to your first job in the North Sea. The CPL(H) training is going to be hard work and perhaps the most amazing adventure you are ever going to have. However, there is a lot of heart ache come the end of the courses when you have spent £80,000+ and still can't get a job. Be aware that at the moment there are at least 40 (probably more like 60) JAA integrated pilots that are hoping to get work in the North Sea. Most have no more than 200hrs+IR but quite a few have more than 500hrs+IR. There are ways you can increase your luck by personally knowing people on the inside and having something others don't have like more hours but even this hasn't helped a lot of people. Unfortunately even having a JAA IR doesn't really mean much anymore. In the long run the flying while training is great and is guaranteed as you are paying for it... getting the job is not guaranteed.

I sincerely wish you all the best and hope for all of us that things do change in 18 months.

PT

Sent you a P M

Can You help me please
 

Good morning Messrs, my name is Michel and I’m Switzerland.
I’ve already read the post named:
“So you want to be a Helicopter Pilot ..........”
“Would you become a Professional Pilot again?”
and others…all very interesting! Thank about these beautiful forum!

I’ve already done Fix Wing and Rotary Wing test flights (2 test flights for the Fix and 7 for the Rotary) and I haven’t doubt…Rotary Wing is my “life” (dream).
To be sure that my dream could be possible, I’ve already tried and pass the 1st class Medical Examination.:)

However,
I have 35 years old and a budget around 90k chf (~110k euro).
I know that I’m really lucky to have this budget but I also know that isn’t so much to do that.:(
I’m looking for a school but really isn’t so easy. Looking other posts I’ve found these:
Bristow Academy
TwinAir
Do You have some advice about? Can You suggest me a school around the world?
I would like to find a school that can give me a good training but without entry skill tests (as math, physic, …) if possible.

I know also that whether I want to be competitive at my age I need to invest more on my training than also to consider:
double licence FAA&JAA (than more money for conversion from FAA to JAA), ATPL, FI, IR, ME, Type Rating

Lot of money more…the money that I’ve aren't enough…doesn’t it?
Can we consider ~80k euro to obtain a CPL license (FAA and JAA) and other ~60 for ATPL, FI…and so? Do You have some fresh informations about the actual costs?

I know that perhaps the Fix Wing career should be easier, less expensive, and with a bigger salary (maybe, I don’t know the actual Fix Wing situation) but…what can I do?! I Love the Rotary one!!;)

Thanks in advance about Your support and advice…I really need Your help!! :O Please

You have the conversion factor wrong, 90k CHF are only 74k €.

Get FAA & JAA certificates/licences. Whereever you want to fly on this planet, the JAA is **** to deal with, FAA is much easier to work with in other countries (very few exceptions).
The JAA is really only good for Europe (exceptions apply).

Remember, you need to buy at least 200 hours if you want to work as instructor on Robinsons, so adjust your calc accordingly.

You are right sorry, my budget is wrong, the right one is in Euro (than ~135k chf)!
I leave near the border with Italy and always I'm making confusion.:bored:

Do you think that I can erase the FI from my budget? Actually the instructor job isn't my focus on but, whether I need it to rise the hours to find a job as I would like, ok...(I would like to work in taxi, executive, charter or similar (with passengers)). Do You think that's impossible without lot of hours as instructor?:sad:

Thank for your reply

If you want to turn 135kCHF into the most flight hours, then it is probably best to go to the US. The more flight hours, the better. I´d recommend doing CFI as well because you can do more hours until your visa expires. After that, you can do a JAA conversion. Also note, the Swiss CAA features a FI(H) course which is sponsored by the taxpayer.

PPL(H) Licence in the USA
 

I'm wanting to become a professional commercial helicopter pilot, but because of the immense cost in the UK I'm looking into doing it in the USA. I have a lot of questions, so please bear with me!

A flight school in the US quoted me £50,000 ($80,000) for the PPL, IR, CPL and Instructors rating and said it would take about a year. Is this a good price and realistic timescale (another quoted half the price and time, is that too good to be true)?
They told me the only realistic way to build hours in a helicopter is to become an instructor, is there any other ways? Are there many instructor jobs here or would I be better off staying in the US?

So when I'd come back I'd need to convert my licences and do a night rating i guess, is this a hard thing to do? How long would it take and cost? Once I'd done this and had a high amount of hours would I then be able to apply for jobs? (My dream job is SAR/Air Ambulance, would it then be possible?)

Finally, I would undertake a UK medical to make sure I could do it, would that then be valid in the US or would I have to take another?
And realistically, how do people afford this!? It's such an incredible amount of money!

I know I have a lot of questions, but I really have no idea how people really do this and because its such a huge investment, I want to do it right.

Thanks in advance.

Start here:
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/253...ter-pilot.html

Use this as guidance for pricing and timing:
Tuition And Fees - Bristow Academy Inc - Helicopter Flight Training

Add 1200 to 1500 per month for living expenses, reserve for health insurance, reserve for job hunting, etc, total min. $25k.

R125,

Keep an eye on this thread. Bristow haven't released anything yet!

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/513...me-2013-a.html

Also check out the Helicentre at Leicester Airfield. They started doing their own scholarships in 2012!

Helicentre Aviation : Helicopter Pilot Training, Utility, Charter, Tours, Lessons and Gift Experience Flights - UK - Leicester, Midlands and Nationwide

R125
 

This question gets asked so often and my answer is always the same - Where do you want to fly once you qualify? If you want to fly in the US, train there - If you want to fly in Europe - learn here! Many people have gone through the mill and so much depends on which flying school you choose. My advice would be go and visit some helicopter schools in the UK and talk to the instructors there. Then try and find some people who have been and trained in the US and hear their experiences.

Remember to assess the advice you get carefully and don't get taken in by promises - companies will often promise everything to encourage you to train with them but jobs are never guaranteed and only a few will get job offers.

The worst scenario is if you sell up everything to go to the US and then run out of money before you finish. The main thing to remember is that whatever you are quoted for training in the US will be optimistic and there will be usually be hidden extras. It may appear to be cheaper in the US but you need to add tax (on everything you spend there), the costs of accommodation, transport, flights and licence conversions which you might not necessarily have to pay if you train at home. That lot evens up the balance sheet considerably. You also have the opportunity to work here whilst you train which may not be possible under your US visa.

I wish you the very best - most of us once stood where you are now and we appreciate your conundrum!

Do any PPL(H)/CPL(H) have any experience learning in Hungary? Specifically Budapest? I've found an interesting looking school there which I'm currently waiting on a quote from for my PPL(H).

It's this place: http://www.helikopter.hu/

I think this is the school that have asked if one of my instructors and I would do some teaching for them !
I would be careful to make sure that nothing gets lost in the translation ! I have just come back from teaching / examine in a nearby country and the standard of flying from instructors / professional pilots was woeful !
Pays your money you takes your choice

Thak you for replying. Where do you instruct at the moment? Do you have any specific concerns about safety or quality of instruction?