Also 'not true' from my experience.

Ye gods - some real stereotyping and prejudice going on here!

Maybe people need to accept that are positives and negatives to both ex-military and purely civilian pilots. In my short time in the commercial world I've already seen amazing self-improvers and shoddy ex-military and vice versa.

Seems like the OP is pretty bitter about something and some have risen to an obvious stirring of the pot!

Can't we all just get along? ;)

Paco and B73, I think you have just bitten!

In my experience there are good and bad pilots from both camps.

Grumpytroll has described a scenario in the US which also applies as a generalisation of the way it is in the UK also, especially in the mid nineties onwards with regards to trainers and training.

Where I currently work we try and maintain a balance between former mil and purely civilian pilots as both groups have something to bring to the job and we all have something to learn from each other, we regularly swing from 60% mil / 40% civ to 40% mil / 60% civ and it causes no issues.

The one thing the military training system does have to it's advantage is the ability to chop people who are not suited to flying as a career, the civ world does have a problem with a few who just threw money at the problem.

Most probably. And not for the first time. :O

I would rather have a mix of experience than flying 1 hour 15,000 times.

VeeAny -worth noting (for the record!) that the UK military system chops a lot of people who are very well suited to a career in aviation, as well as those who aren't. Most 'choppees' are actually have the potential to become pretty competent aviators, but have a stumbling block that would cost more than the allotted hours to overcome.

Also worth noting that recently a lot of 'choppees' are not, in fact, that, but merely 'surplus to requirement' , hence a very good strike rate getting jobs with other major aviation employers (Cathay, BA, Flybe and the RCAF to name a few). Admittedly not rotary but pertinent to the thread as they were a fairly 'safe bet' for those employers' training schemes.

What a beautiful day for a fishing trip. Methinks we will catch loads today ;)

In today's employment world one of the most important requirements is that your new employee needs to be flexible

Self improvers are usually more flexible than a ex mil pilot

And I don't mean someone who flouts safety procedures or employment laws and anti Union

Also the willingness to do other things when there is no flying to be done