Why I like it...
 

Being able to further Igor's dream and seeing the smiles on multitudes of faces when our aircraft pull them to safety.....

....................not having to pay for the fuel...............................

Never being to old to learn from this industry. I used to ride as a jockey and have riden many different horses. Helicopters are just the same. They all look alike but all act differently! Its a great leveler!!

I Love my 500' office. :ok:

I enjoy being challenged constantly. A helicopter is a very unforgiving machine. It needs constant attention from all who fly and from all who fix and service. All the answers to all the questions are never in all the books. Every day a new challenege arrives on my door step. I interact on a daily basis with people of varying experience, yet all have something positive to offer on a particular problem or concern. The helicopter industry isnt just a job, its a state of mind; an attitude to succeed at all costs.

I hope to be involved with Helicopters until the day I die.

Flying for free would be it... yes, but flying itself is nr. 1. The pay is bad :bored:, so the only thing i keep thinking about while at work would be to hover:} A very unnatural thing for a human. Those damn hover thingys make me come back to work over and over again, just like living a dream :ok:

I'll think about money later...

the flying, the flying....and the flying. :ok:

Helicopter flying sure beats the heck out of flying a desk (or a plank for that matter), and it is more mentally rewarding too........
By virtue of their ability, helicopters operate into far more varied and challenging places than fixed wing, and this seems to bring about generally more interesting types of chaps and chappess.

Mmmm ...

This thread reminds me of the joke about the sadistic helicopter operator and the maschochistic pilot ....


The maschochist pilot shouts "pay me, pay me!" ...........



And after quiet consideration the sadistic operators quietly says .............






"NO!"


;) ;) :ok:

"to sit in an OGE hover, caressing an antiquated looking stick with imperceptible millimetric inputs; coaxing an equally aged looking lever and dancing the feet on a couple of old metal plates; looking below at the world and feeling so blessed compared to every other unfortunate earth laden individual struggling away beneath us; it's just sheer joy"

R1tamer

Spin....

You left off the best bit....."and the helicopter pilot loved it!":E

I would say the best part of working in this industry is the history. Things seem to change so fast that what we fly or work on today can be a part of history tomorrow. I'm still a young guy but I can already read a helicopter history book and point out pioneers that I have met and worked with and aircraft that I have wrenched on and flown that are just museum peices now. It is a small industry people wise and we can all say that we have helped to make it whatit is today in one way or another.

Happy Holidays

MaxTork

I'm just in it for the chicks and the money !!!!!

Why I enjoy being part of the helicopter industry? Ummmmm… Good question Ned-Air2Air!!!

Sadly I have come to the conclusion after nearly 40 years in vertical flight that the answer is “not a lot”. I have read all the previous posts and yes I recall that feeling but not very recently.

I fear that it might take less time than it took me for the new generation that ‘wishtobeflying’ represents to become disillusioned. It won’t be that long before he / she realizes that as quick as the aid is taken into a stricken site there are people carrying it out to sell on the black market; that all the hilltops have been fitted with a radio tower; and that there is no longer a need to haul logs down mountains because all the jungles and forests have been stripped bare. Sure it could be a whole lot worse, and it will probably happen sooner than you think.

The people? Well as someone once said there are three kinds of people in helicopters, mercenaries, missionaries and misfits. I guess I have now grown into the latter category.

There used to be a time when it was fun, but I think those days have long gone in most areas. Perhaps it is me and it is time that I got a real job and started flying for fun? Perhaps that is what keeps Mr. Lappos and alike so positive.

Maybe it is because I am no longer getting enough good flying, or enough of anything except the bureaucracy and bull of modern aviation. This environment where you are no longer able to do something unless the regulations say that you can, and the “An aircraft shall not fly unless…” mentality, is the death of the industry by a thousand cuts.

Don’t send me a calendar... send me a couple of doses of whatever SASless is on!!!

What I enjoy most about the Heli industry...

I call my 'work' a job that many day dream about... I fly the cameras that take the photos of scenery that people only see in magazines... I have a job that is transportable to any continent and almost concievable locale on this planet.... I have a work schedule that lets me spend almost half of my year with my wife and son.... I could go on but....


U.

The challenge and beauty of operating your (corny as it may sound) well-loved machine in some of the most spectacular environments on Earth - jungle, snow, mountains, desert, beach, plains, islands, reef.
Shutting down in some bush pad, and as the blade comes to a stop, thinking 'Well, look at where I am - who else could get here?'
Having a plan for the day that goes out the window in the first 5 minutes, but thinking on your feet and making it all work so that when you finally shut down for the last time that evening you've got it all done and had fun to boot. 'Flexibility - the helicopter pilot's watchword.'

SASless

You'd better send whatever you're on to SHortshaft as soon as possible to stop him from writing everything twice. I think he may be on burnout.......

Stirring two little sticks for several years to convert about 1.6 million litres of kerosine into noise, heat and vertical pursuit!

No profound thoughts here. I have to agree with this of course:
Plus...it beats working for a living. :cool:

Hi Ned, long time out and busy but a free calendar is tempting...:O
I think flying is the main reason but you can add some tips, if you keep the flying to the level that is always fun and not enough to get you very tired or bored..., if it's done in a beautiful scenary, and you`re doing the type of flying you like (to me firefighting and mountain rescue mostly and some slingloads...) just great :D
If you add a good paycheck you take care of your family expenses and the posibility of living and working doing all that at home .... what else do you need but a small tour every once in a while???
I've got all that and feel I'm a very lucky person, actually I wouldn't switch jobs with many people for a lond period but I know I work in a spot where many pilots would like to be.
Feels good to be back.
Good luck to everybody and enjoy yourselves at least once a day.
Buen vuelo:ok:

The flying.

The constant learning.

The people (most of them anyway, though my first flight school tried to stitch me up whilst I was in the states).

The scenery.

The stories (with more learning).

And many more...