If we knew the answers to that one, we'd all be millionaires! It's hard for any beginners to get a job in any industry - try being a junior lawyer!

All you can do is what you feel inside. Do you wake up in the morning eating sleeping and drinking helicopters? Then do something about it! This is the sort of thing that is not dealt with by thinking. If destiny rules that you are going to end up flying helicopters, then it will happen despite the opposition.

If it's any help at the moment, yes, jobs are relatively scarce, but almost any Chief Pilot will tell you that the quality isn't there. You need to add to your employability in some way - one tip we give all our students is to learn a language, preferably Spanish. The firemen on the ground will not be speaking Aviation English!

Phil

Tell them to learn some catalan aswell, might need it to work in the North East!!

Cheers!

How in God's name does one learn aviation spanish or Catalan for that matter? Seriously...

I have given some consideration to going in to a law enforcement field as well and maybe pursuing a GIS degree (which would def come after landing the first job). Law enforcement, I know I would have to put in a couple years as a beat cop probably, but I could pursue either a GIS degree during that time, or maybe spend some time at Bell taking a few of those $3-4000 5 day courses learning their turbines. The GIS degree I was hoping would give me an edge in to the fire fighting/survey/long line sort of job. Not sure if a handful of turbine hours would help keep me proficient and give me an edge in to flying a law enforcement copter or not...

A wise instructor, who is having the same employment issue, once told me that if you want to go the military route, you have to be willing to be a soldier first and foremost, and a pilot second. Military is my last choice because I simply don't want that much structure and a tied in commitement. I eat, sleep, and drink helicopters 24/7 and I want to be a pilot for the travel and experience and the flexibility. The military doesn't sound like my cup of tea, especially with no guarantee of flying no matter what certs you hold.

Just thinking out loud, but would love some feedback. Thanks

Got to agree with Phil. I;m a longline pilot and firefighting pilot, got lots of time doing it, but no GIS degree, no Bell 10hr course, just a lot of real world field experience, and hard work. I;m also expat Brit, but get to fly fires and drills in many places, mmmm.... wonder why, cos I picked up on the language, go figure

Don;t kid yourself, a 10hr turbine course at Bell or a GIS degree isn;t gonna buy you a seat in this industry. Right time at the right place and alot of hard work, and getting down and dirty, maybe if your lucky.....:ugh: Good luck anyways.

I didn't figure a handful of hours in turbines with Bell was going to get me in anywhere, just thought it may look interesting on a resume. Maybe like, "hey this guy is really trying..." I dunno...

The reason for the turbine time was more because it would be fun and interesting, although a silly expensive way to keep the knowledge and skills up (taking $4k worth of a turbine class for a few hours). I am trying to anticipate a time when there is this large gap between training and actually landing a job as a copter pilot. Let's face it, I am grasping at straws here and not sure instructor is my kinda gig. :ouch:

Ah and the GIS degree rationale. The way I worded that was sort of bad. I know you don't need or even really use any kinda GIS degree for firefighting. I have merely heard that some of the work that crosses with firefighting and such can utilize a GIS degree, but it is not obviously a prereq. Surveying and the seismic stuff etc, the way i understand it, can be a stepping stone in to the fire fighting career. Mayhaps I am mistaken... Trying to figure out what can give me an edge.

I speak some spanglish, would definitely have to brush up.

Thanks for the input.

Learning to stop calling it a 'copter' will help also:)

My bad, H-E-L-I-C-O-P-T-E-R as if everyone and their grandma didn't know what I meant. We good now?:ok:

CPL (H) Jobs
 

Hello all,

I've not long passed my CPL (H) rated on the R22, R44 and B206. Any tips from current CPL's on how to find work? It's very difficult at the moment and I know almost all pilots have been there at sometime or another.

Many thanks all!!

Will it be worth it?
 

I have always wanted to become a Helicopter Pilot/Airline Rotary, but when i was 16 i couldn't wait to leave school so i decided to get a trade behind me first so i could always have something to fall back on.

Now i have matured massively and thrive on learning new skills. But basically i am bored with my current job and wish to chase my dream.

My Problem is my current CV;

Left School with the following GCSE's

English C
Maths C
Double Science C
It B
French D

NVQ Level 3 Advanced Crafts....... Carpenter & Joiner

Worked for my current employer for 10 Years (7 years Qualified)



Is There any hope for me? I would like to say that whatever it is that i do, i do strieve for perfection and a challenge does excite me and push me.

I am going to a local flying school Seminar Tomorrow, Can anybody give me a definitive answer to will it be worth investing £80k Plus Which i don't have. Is their definitely jobs out their for low hour pilots if i want them bad enough?

Please just a simpleish answer

Regards

Clark

My only advice is if you can't afford to pay for the flying lessons, don't proceed until you've saved the money. Certainly don't rely on the assumption you'll get a well paying job flying helicopters shorty after qualifying and you'll be able to afford to pay off a loan, because the reality will probably be different. But once you are financially secure then sure, follow your dream. There's nothing stopping you succeeding with the right motivation and the financial resources behind you.

will it be worth it you ask ? isnt following your dreams always ?

on the jobs. well right now it doesnt look to good, lots of people are struggling to find jobs straight after completing their ATPL/CPL. some get lucky.

dont think you should worry to much about your current cv. and if/when you start flying start building that lasting network of people that can help you get a job. and get advice from obviously.

further more there are several ways of achieving your dream. integrated ( which is from zero to hero plan ) or modular, where you do it in bits ( I am currently reading towards my own atpl )

how you want to do it, depends on : how much money you wish to wave goodbye to. time frame, ect ect.

piece of advice though. get the class 1 done before you throw loads of money into lessons, gear and books. just so you dont get a nasty surprise after spending the first 10-12k £

Many thanks guys,

gullibell, im 24, would it not be best to start training asap, as to save the sort of money that i would need to fly would take a lifetime?

Secondly, does anybody know if flyheli midlands are a good training school?

thanks

It's not just the newly qualified. Lots of people with 2000+ hours are also struggling to find work.

Depends on your time scale but now would be a good time to get your PPL. Then, assuming you get a Class 1 medical, you start hour building and studying at your leisure, all the while taking stock of the job market and opportunities. Once you have the required hours for a CPL course, you can embark on that and then decide which route you want to take i.e. FI or IR or ME or both/all.

You have time on your side, there's no rush as the job market is very slack just now.

Cheers

Whirls

UK HEMS
 

Hey, at risk of being shot, can any one give me a rough idea of what the air ambulance are requiring in hours and experience these days? Just looking for a ball park figure! :O

I'd reckon at a minimum 2000TT and 50-100 twin. If a combined police/HEMS a/c that operates at night I'd also expect 50-100 night too. London HEMS also require an IR (as do some others)

Some exceptions to the 'rule' possibly. For a better indication, perhaps contact the companies that supply HEMS pilots and ask directly (Bond,SAS etc etc)

Thanks Flingingwings, exactly the info I was looking for! :ok:

Cheers, CB

Some companies that offer both training and charter have, in the past, offered a limited amount of initial work as a quid pro quo for paying them for your CPL training and hours building. It won't be much, but it would help. PM me if you want a suggestion of where to look.

Old and Horrified:

It *is* a great position to be in if there is limited initial work available. But the newly inked CPL(H) needs to make sure that the work offered is a) well within their experience constraints, b) there's a valid and rigorous supervisory regime and c) that they investigate any insurance requirements and agreements in place before they take up offers of such work.

If not, that newly qualified CPL(H) will have a higher likelihood of ending up in a place where they shouldn't be with their limited hours.