Sas,

Long time no read. Yup, life is just full of "If Onlys". :ugh: I recall my younger son when he was 12 telling me that when he grew up he wanted to be a helicopter pilot like his Dad. My answer was the predictable one: "Son, you can't do both".:)

Cheers,

NEO

NEO,

I just spent six weeks in the mountains seeking Deer, Elk, Black Bear, and Cougars to murder....although in some cases with the Cougar it could be a form of self-defense.

Saw each of the critters....at night or standing in the middle of the paved highway thus critters 1....the SAS, zero for the season.

Some how Nigeria seems more like a bad dream than a place I spent quite a bit of time not so long ago.

US Cavalry has some very good body armor and kevlar undies in their catalogue....perhaps you might consider investing in some of their products.

A right and a privilege:
 

Fixed or rotary pilot, electrical engineer or electrician, ship’s captain or deck hand every profession has it best and worst job stories. Hang around bars were the oil patch hang out (and they are in every corner of the world) and you will hear each and every one complaining about something. Hang out in bars where the Wall Street geniuses hang out, you know the ones that got 300K bonuses this year!! and you will also hear them complaining. Where ever you hang out or what ever your profession or job is you will hear complaining. It seems to be one of our human failings…whining! So enjoy…it’s everywhere and everyone is doing it…a right and a privilege in a free society. Now that I have moralized, just remember only you can make a change and you have one of the potentially most interesting jobs in the world...keep it in perspective.

Damn right I would.

RN Wings 1964, radial engines to glass cockpits since then.
16,000 + hours, bag always packed, cv at the ready.
I'm opionated, quarrelsome, regularly poor and will accept anybody's free meal(I've flown to Vma with the best of them).

Forcibly retired from active flying I now drive a sim training young plank drivers; I don't try to convert them. Fixed Wing people are OK but not like us...(honourable exceptions of course Nick). I've enjoyed my Helicoptering in many countries with many nationalities; they have greatly enriched my life and I take this opportunity to thank them all.

Damn right I would.

Got bored after a reading a few pages of this thread and no one had actually answered the question posed. So I jumped to here.

So I will answer it.

YES.

For those who have forgotten what the original question was, it was " Would you become a Professional Pilot again?"

YES! I would do it again.

skadi

Answer to the original question: No, absolutely not.

Why and why not? :confused:

You guys are just killing me with this !!!

If you're a) - over the whole thing - stop doing it.

If you're b) - loving it (regardless of the variables and options) - keep doing it.

One recipe isn't going to work for everyone either way.

a) If you're over it - what are you doing spending so much time on this forum bitching about it.

b) If you're loving it and getting so much satisfaction, income and freedom from it - use all of the above to go and enjoy them.

Would I do it again ?

Left lucrative career at 34 (5 years ago) to pursue CPL(H), did the very hard yards, then some slightly less hard yards, now enjoying flying, conditions, environment and variety of missions - money's a struggle - but tolerable (with family).

Answer : Yes - in a heartbeat.

Flying is too lovely a thing to do for a living. I have found it just mucks it up. Work at the thing that pays well and is tolerable so you can enjoy your muse for what it is on your own terms.

Confirmed Santos Dumont Afficianado

The RAF in the early 1970's sent the best pilots and the worst navigators onto helicopters. Flying the Harrier was next in the pilot pecking order folowed by the lightning and F4. The 4 jet stuff was for the under achievers !

Wouldn't trade it for the world.;) I would only have done it sooner was I given the chance again.:ok:

Helihunter you are spot on :D

I would ABSOLUTELY do it again!
 

Well,

I somehow feel the need to post something in this thread. After reading all these depressing stories of people that (in my humble opinion) seem to be very negative about flying, I thought it was time to respond.

First of all, for all those that whine and complain..... Get another job! If you don't, to me that means that there must be something keeping you there. Either the pay (which apparently is awful if I read the stories here), the fact that you can call yourself a pilot, or just the fact that you don't have to sit at a desk all day every day. Either way, if it is that horrible (whichever occupation you are in), get another job and stop whining!

Now my experience. I was fortunate enough to have enough life savings to pay for my entire course without having to borrow money. And that makes all the difference in the world to me. It means I won't have to pay off my debt for the next .... years. The pay is bad? Well, if you have 150.000,- euro + interest to pay back, then yes. Your salary will mainly go to paying off your debt. And as far as people that would want to start a career in aviation to make a lot of money, before you have a return on investment, you'll be retired. So don't do it for the money. Someone once said to me:"The only way to make a small fortune in aviation is if you started out with a large fortune." And I believe that is very true.

Also, if you are in it for the glamour of being able to call yourself a pilot, and have visions of walking down an airport with stewardesses, don't become a helicopter pilot, but become a fixed wing pilot. No glamour here, but hard work.

If after all that you are still reading, you must have some interest in flying. I did, and took a test flight. Within the first few minutes I KNEW this was what I needed to do. And I also knew it would be a lot of hard work. Lots of studying, and sleepless nights. But, every minute I spent up there flying around made all that hard work and effort seem to disappear! I absolutely love flying! If you don't, then please don't pursue a career as a pilot. Every time I feel myself getting bored (because those days will come!), I realize that I am one of the lucky few to make a career out of something they love. And furthermore, I realize that at the very least, I am not sitting behind a desk! No offense to those that do, I am simply not suitable to do a desk job. And if you keep that realization, you will be fine.

Each of us probably spends more time with their colleagues and at our job then we do with our wife and children. That being said, you might as well pursue a job that will make you happy and pays the bills. If you don't, then please stop moaning and complaining! Your life, your choice as far as I am concerned.

Flying is fantastic! In my opinion. No one can state that it is a fact that it isn't, or that other people are naive. That is just their opinion. And whatever anyone may say, if you are happy with what you are doing, you may be naive, but you're definitely a winner over those that are unhappy in their careers/lives! And whomever is reading this and contemplating becoming a pilot, you have to make your own opinion whether or not it is for you. I would suggest you start with a trail flight lesson somewhere, and take it from there. At least you'll know if you have vertigo! :)

So to make a short story long: YES! I would absolutely do it all again!

Such a great post Dutch! :ok:

Objection, your honour!

The question is "would you do it again?", this is not about whining.
Our dutch friend said "flying is fantastic". That is the good part about the job. A year has about 2000 working hours, so when one flies 500 hours a year it means 1500 hours have to be filled with something else.That might well be sitting behind a desk.
We do not know for how long our friend has been in aviation.

When the uninformed noob is questioned about what field of helicopters he wants to be in the 2 favourite answers you'll get are
a) "Rescue pilot"
b) "Offshore flying"

Those two are the ones where the decent money is and the good working hours are.
The rest of us works 60 to 80 hour weeks illegally, is on duty 330 days per year and makes less money than a brick layer in a 40 hour week.
There is no time for family and the divorce rates are high.

Lot's of us are still in it because it's too late to bail out after two decades or more in the saddle.
With 150k Euros in your pocket you're better off buying a house so you never have to pay rent again and the bank can't touch you because you have NO loan. Come Friday noon you go home, get on your motorcycle and ride into the weekend.

This is not about whining...

GoodGrief, I know you're right too. My expression was related to the fact that this post is one of the few positive. And for those who, like me, still has to start training, it is important to hear words of "comfort." Then, of course, the reality is always different, always the worst. The important thing, though, is that somehow we know it can be done.

Been in it for 34 years now as a VFR pilot. I had a beautiful career, loved most of it (but let's be realistic here, nothing is perfect) Most of the people I have worked with in this industry were great.

I am still in it because that is what I want to do and I still like it.

Would do it all over again.

JD

YES! After 30+ Years
 

Yes! Seven years HEMS was most rewarding especially with the best med crews in the U.S. at LIFE REACH. 25 years Mosquito control flying where you basically strap your helicopter on and fly by the seat of your pants SOLO. Ag turns still make me smile. It doesn't get any better than that.

my take
 

Greatest job in the world. If I win the lottery I quit!

(probably but a MD500 for personal use)

Cheers

Perhaps Piano lessons and a job playing in a bawdy house would have paid better with much better fringe bennies.:E

If I had known then what I know now....I would have finished University...gone fixed wing in either the Air Force or Marine Corps...then done a law degree and stayed in the National Guard.

But....hind sight is so accurate.

The flying life was good to me in a left handed way....lots of travel...met some great people...saw and did things most people just dream about.

The industry has made some improvements over the years....usually against its own desires....pay is better, working conditions are better, and one can almost count on retiring at some point. None of that was the case in the old days.

I'm 25 yrs old, making more money than most guys at my age, going to places most people would never be able to and I'm never bored with my job...

No regret at all so far...

If I could start again when I did - maybe. If I had to start today - no way in the world.

plenty of opportunities
 

Shortage of pilots will hit Asia hard - AviationPros.com

Cheers

"Objection, your honour!"
 

Well,

I do believe I disagree a lot with this comment.

The question was answered by a lot of people, who in my opinion are whining. If you read some of the previous post, you'll find lots of complaints from people who should just stop complaining, and go do something about it already. You can't really tell me that you think their posts are not whining. Or you must have been reading something different from me.

"Your friend" has been in aviation for many hours, so don't you worry about that. I hope to be there for many hours to come. However, experienced or inexperienced, it really doesn't matter. The fact still remains, if you don't like what you are doing (whatever job you have!), go do something else. It really isn't that hard now is it?

And of course a lot of "noobs" (in my opinion a condescending term for people, especially those that take an interest in our industry) want to get in aviation because of HEMS, SAR of offshore flying (the latter being the biggest employer in the helicopter industry, so not very unrealistic in my opinon). So what? That doesn't mean they won't be very happy flying as an instructor or corporate or any other job for that matter. They might even get to be one of the few that actually makes it to HEMS or SAR. Good for them! If it is your dream, go for it, rather then complain about your current situation, but changing nothing about it.

"The rest of us works 60 to 80 hour weeks illegally, is on duty 330 days per year and makes less money than a brick layer in a 40 hour week.
There is no time for family and the divorce rates are high."

Please... The rest of us? Where did you get these "facts" from? If you want to express your opinion, then fine. But please don't go talking about "the rest of us", because that is simply not true. If you are one that works more hours than legally allowed, you should consider doing something else. Because in my opinion, you are a hazard to yourself, the aircraft, the public and the industry! I think a brick laying job would probably suit you better than flying, so I suggest you go do that. It obviously would make you a lot happier and all of us a lot safer!

"Lot's of us are still in it because it's too late to bail out after two decades or more in the saddle."

To this I say: It must not be bad enough then. Because if it was, I would still rather go do something else than stay at that job and be miserable. It is never too late to bail out if things were bad enough! Besides, if it took you 2 decades to find out that you hated it........ Let's just say I think I would find out a little sooner than that.

As far as DotMark goes: A lot of us are very happy doing what we do and we do it safely and legally! Go to a company, ask around and you will find that most pilots you will talk to are very happy in their job. I have! Sure, it isn't all good. Money could be better. Sometimes it gets boring (even though at the beginning stages that would be unimaginable), but to me it still beats sitting at a desk (or laying bricks!).

"With 150k Euros in your pocket you're better off buying a house so you never have to pay rent again and the bank can't touch you because you have NO loan. Come Friday noon you go home, get on your motorcycle and ride into the weekend."

Again, I did not say the money was fantastic (especially if you have a loan), but it isn't bad either. But don't get into aviation for the money. If that is your motive (which was GoodGriefs motive I suspect), you will end up unhappy without money. Go do it for the love of flying, because you hate the thought of a desk job or because your knees are too bad to lay bricks.

Again, start with a trial lesson, because you might not even like it up there. And if you do..... Make your decision. No one else can do it for you. If you want to give it a go, then do it. Times will get tough, money most certainly will be saying goodbye to you, but if you are like me... The reward of flying makes it all worth while. Then again, if you are like GoodGrief, it most certainly will not. But the grass is always greener on the other side for some people. Whatever you decide, the choice is yours!

Good luck with everything!

Would you become a Professional Pilot again?
 

Yes It has been a great life. ;)

updates please..
 

Any new thoughts on this? Here we are a couple of years later & now my boy is thinking of flying helicopters for a living. I can't fund it all so he'll be taking out a loan.

Rule #1: No loan!

In a New York Minute!
 

Ive been flying for 32 years, I don't make as much as my friends in banking and finance but I'm a lot happier. I have yet to meet a person who, when they learn that I fly helicopters for a living doesn't say they wished they had a cool job like mine.

If you're not happy as a helicopter pilot I believe that you can't be happy doing anything, this stuff is fun! I've flown in the military(got paid to fly low and fast and shoot stuff),EMS(got paid to help people and sleep too), and corporate(great facilities, first class equipment, and perks), each of them had good and not so good things going on but I can't imagine doing anything else. I have had co-workers who were very unhappy doing the exact same thing I was enjoying, they were always feeling slighted, cheated, unappreciated, underpaid, etc, etc.

Attitude is everything! There are people who would trade places with us in a second, I try to keep that in mind when I am tempted to complain!

My standard line is "I can't believe they pay me to do this"!

From a North American point of view; It was the best decision I ever made and I'd certainly do it again.

It has had its ups and downs - so to speak.

Just finished flying after 45 years since my first solo. Probably should have chosen fixed wing as a career that has some progression, because choppers certainly had no progression for the first 35 years I was in it. At least these days, the companies are big enough to offer some chance to improve your lot, but in the past there was nothing left in the piggy bank at the end of the pay cycle, and nothing went into superannuation.

My son at age 17 said he would like to follow me into aviation (as I had followed my father, uncle, brother and brother-in-law) but I told him to get a real job. Luckily he listened and is now wildly successful, so maybe he can support me in my old age.

Choose carefully
 

"...It has had its ups and downs - so to speak.....
My son at age 17 said he would like to follow me into aviation (as I had followed my father, uncle, brother and brother-in-law) but I told him to get a real job. Luckily he listened and is now wildly successful ...."

Bingo! Life is all about choices, and every choice involves tradeoffs. With each choice, you get some things and give up other things. Its important to have as full an understanding of the tradeoffs involved with this kind of choice as possible. Its also important for the individual making this choice to know himself/herself well and know how such a choice fits with their values, personality, lifestyle, goals, etc. There is much more to such a choice than doing something that seems "cool." For many, if not most, at age 18 or so, cool trumps everything else. As we grow older and wiser, our notion of what is "cool" expands greatly. At age 18, flying a Sikorsky S-76 seems way cool; by age 35, cool also includes becoming CEO of Sikorsky.

All of this to say that choosing a career is a lot like choosing a wife. There are many possible choices and one needs to choose carefully and thoughtfully. (It is almost certainly easier to change wives than to change careers!) For starters, read the pilot salary surveys in Pro Pilot magazine. Pretty sobering, IMHO. This is an intensely personal decision with possibly life long consequences. Choose carefully.


http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps00e82cce.jpg

Do it again?
 

I'm not a pilot but have met and flown with many all over the world. I've never met an unhappy pilot yet and all seem to be happy with their careers, some learnt their trade in the military and then went commercial and some did it the hard way!

Have never met a pilot yet with career regrets.

OK, my turn:

I'm a 34 year old business world professional making $280k pa with a secure job, superannuation. Chances are in another 10 years I could be making double that. Sounds great right? Not really, I work nearly 60hrs pw, sit at a desk or in meetings most of the day, encounter liars, cheaters, self-interested people on a daily basis and often have to make people redundant (good people).

In short, my job is causing me a lot of stress and I'm a bit over it. I could set up a situation through contracting where I could work 2-3 days per week and still make reasonable coin, but allow more time to pursue an alternative career / interest that I would love to do. Introducing the CPL - something I wanted to do out of school but couldn't afford. Had a few lessons over the years, and I'm now in a fortunate position to be able to afford to go for it.

So, if I did this, my business contracting gig would not be flexible i.e. I would need to stick to certain days of the week most probably. Let's say it's 2-4 years from now, I've got my CPL I've clocked up enough hours. What's the likelihood of finding a commercial flying gig that I could balance on my other 3 or so days of freedom? Utopia / fantasy land...?

Being driven, determined etc as often recommended throughout this site is not an issue for me. Without going into a big spiel, I've topped my class at uni, recovered from being wheel chair bound, ran my company at 19 yrs with 10 staff, been CPO for a $3bn company at 29yrs and more.

Lastly, sorry if this post sounds a bit arrogant - I wanted to cut to the chase and have an honest discussion.

Many thanks, I look forward to your responses.

Still get butterflies of excitement every time I hit the starter. Wouldn't change a thing about my career as I'm still living the dream.

You'll find a lot of those in the helicopter business.
And, I have had 70 and even 80 hour weeks.
Get your PPL and fly when YOU want.

Listen to goodGrief... :ok:

Macstar,

I am an Aussie businessman and heli pilot.

PM me if you like and we can chat.

There is no way you can make the money you want in helis, but you CAN go flying. And flying helis IS THE BEST.

Arrrj

If I could have started my own career over again, with the same progression...more or less...then sure, I'd do it again.
But looking back to starting flight school 13 years ago, and realizing how incredibly lucky I have been to end up where I am today...I would have to do some soul searching before recommending it to someone else.

It took an amazing amount of luck, hard work, being at the right place and the right time, and knowing the right people to succeed.

At the same time, the feeling of wonder and excitement one gets from looking at the world from a helicopter is unbeatable. And after landing, I always turn around and look back at the machine, thinking "I just flew that". Be it a 300CB or a 76, same feeling. I doubt you get that from a cubicle...

Helicopter pilot? Probably Yes.
North Sea pilot? Certainly Not.

I don't care about the money, I care about having a nice and easy life. No, the North Sea is not offering it. It does offer the money, but that's all about it. When you are young, it's probably ok. As you get older (and wiser) you will probably wonder "what am I doing up here".

It sounds like you're working for the wrong company.