R44 v Jet Ranger
 

Faced with the decision of wanting to complete a conversion on to the R44 or the Jet Ranger, what would people choose with a view to employment commercially at a later date? What are the opinions of those who have either rating (or both) and work commercially?

JET RANGER JET RANGER JET RANGER!!!

Definately the JET RANGER!!!!

good luck to ya ;)

ps: JET RANGER

If you're definitely going to fly for a company with a R44, then save the bucks, but if you can squeeze even a few hours, do the jettie.

Are you in Europe or N America?

Phil

Are you getting the rating in order to get your ATPL issued from a military ticket?
If you are aiming at a pure commercial post (i.e no instruction) you are limited to non seasonal work (pipeline and powerline) and the Jetranger is the only choice.
If you are heading for Police / Air ambulance then at least you will have had experience on Allison engines - Twin squirrels and BO 105 are the older generation aircraft used and both use Allison powerplants.

As stated above JET RANGER! There is no question as you will require Turbine time to advance any further. Not to mention, depending where you are located, the 206 is generally accepted as the "work Horse of the Light industry.

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

Jetranger.
Case dismissed.

I dare say that Lu will agree ...

Cheers http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Go with the Jetranger, the safest single engine aircraft in the world.

Does the Hughes 500 get a look-in? I'm currently keeping up 3 type ratings:

Hughes 269 (which I trained in)
Hughes 369 (Allison turbine machine)
B206B JetRanger and LongRanger

Is the H500 one useful?

500D/E is definately useful for L/L jobs. I think it may cost a wee bit more for the training.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to advance.

OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

PS The bottom line is "Skids are for Kids!"

Everybody, let's not forget that it depends a lot on how many hours he has plus in which market or area of this world somebody is flying. In the North American Market (or let's say U.S., because Canada is a bit more relaxed) the money wasted on Jet Ranger time is probably better spent on something else, like an instrument rating etc.

Let's face it, if you are a low time commercial pilot, your chances of getting straight into turbines are fairly limited. Many companies in the US however are implementing R44 and are quite happy to let you fly them- so, that's kind of the stepping stone into turbines for later on.

Don't worry about spending money on the Jet Ranger because it has an Allison 250 Engine.
Contrary to what others have to say here, it won't help you at all to get into Twin Squirrels or Bolkows, etc just because ot is the same engine. Trust me, I know.
Though, I have to agree, an Allison is an Allison.

Good luck.

Thanks very much everyone, that's all useful info. One of the factors that I had considered was that the R44 is cheaper to run than the Jet Ranger (OK you also lose one pax and a bit of luggage space aswell in the R44). This has led more commercial companies to turn to the R44 as a substitute to the Jet Ranger. I wonder if Jet Ranger time abroad (I am in the UK)is as expensive as R44 time here? Any thoughts anyone?

ShelldrakeSpin

Send me an e mail with your address I can give you a very competitive quote on Hughes 500 time, remember a good D cruises at 135 kt bit quicker than 206 or 44 and therefore much cheaper per mile covered !

If you have the luxury of money, do the Jet Ranger. In fact if your really have the luxury do it at a factory school. Its a duble whammy which makes you more attractive.
Robinsons fill a certain need in todays world, but you dont have to be part of it.
Sort of like that date you had once and want to forget............Somebody mentioned 500s, which brings up another good point in todays market if you want a job. Look into Eurocopter (factory school), it seems everyone is going that way and MD 500s are soon destined to be in the Museums(Mcdonnell and Douglas died years ago and the company keeps getting sold to benefit parachuting Execs). Good Aircraft, dont get me wrong, just bad marketing above the Sales staff.

Jet Ranger as wisely stated above...Turbine time... If you can afford it fly to Los Angeles stay in a backpackers and fly the 206b for $110/hr flying newscrews at Van Nuys a/d in the San Fernando valley.Good luck

Ask anyone 'what's a JetRanger, they'll know. What's an R44? - who knows?

I don't think you will find too many customers with 100 lb loads to sling!

Need I say more?

Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

PS. Pistons are for Poofdas and Skids are for Kids!




[This message has been edited by offshoreigor (edited 07 December 2000).]

Frankenstein says "Got to start somewhere Igor" ... An R44 is a piston engined Robinson 2 blade semi rigid, bloody awful Helicopter, which is only in the air because its cheep like the budgie.

Guys,guys,(or should I say Gals) the R 44 is an alternative to the 206 if you don't need the 5th seat.But unlike the turbines you can't hurt it too much because the drivetrain can handle the full engine power.And it will sling more than 100#.Aerial Recon outside of Edmonton (that be Canada) has operated them for @ 7 years now doing God knows what. But if you have the $$$ to waste go ahead,

PLEASE STOP!!!!!

Are we talking about Helicopters or Kiddie cars?

You can't be serious about a Robbie of any model being a serious contender to anything other than a VW Beetle can you?

Come on people, let's get serious. Have you heard of any 150K per year Robbie drivers? Yes it's a great trainer, but and that's a BIG BUT! They are not a serious Commercial Helicopter so PLEASE STOP THE INFATUATION WITH A STUDENTS TOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cheers, OffshoreIgor http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif

Actually I do not know any body that makes 150K. But there are more and more operators out there that make good $ with an R44 and don't have the cost associated with the turbines. It's pretty simple R44= $300K @ $400?hr: 206=900K @ 600/hr. who's going to make more with less?

Lu: SN #24 in R22 POH adresses low RPM and subsequent fuselage contacts.