Evil T,

It is not like you to be so far behind with information. THL gave up the twin fleet last June/July and have gone to an almost complete B2 fleet. They have had my spare B3 since then also - in QN now and just back from dinner with their CP as we are taking our B3 back at the end of the month now their new fleet is all sorted.

I stand corrected old chap, I am a little out of the loop of whats happening in NZ these days. I saw that you were in QT, give my regards to NK if you see him again before you head north. Would love another go in that B3, what a weapon.

Will do, seeing him again in the morning. Will be picking it up at the end of the month for the trip North through the Southern Alps - can't wait.

VF;


Its a lot like getting mountain time, right place, right time. I fell into twins early on by sheer luck, 25 years on I'd really enjoy some of the flying you do.


SND

Hello everyone. Great advice related to the industry - coming from very experienced professionals. Thank you for being allowed to share in the fruits of your years of experience and knowledge.

I have my CPLH for just over a year now and I got an opportunity to help establish an AOC for a company. My flying experience is obviously very low at this stage, but nonetheless I got a vote of confidence from the owner of the company after delivering his first helicopter (RH44) for him.
We are going to get a single turbine (It seems like it will be an AS350 variant) and I am going to get my type rating paid for on it.

I would appreciate advice on how to grow my experience as quickly as possible while keeping the flying safe at all times.
'Experience' is learning from a lot of small and recoverable mistakes (correct me if I'm in error please), so I thought the best way possible would be to get the type rating and then fly with an experienced and appropriately rated pilot all the time (he gets paid, I don't) until my experience on the aircraft and on the different specific jobs reach a safe level where I can fly PIC without supervision. (whether it be Part 133 ops or mountain flying or a combination thereof or even seismic work). Passenger and cargo transport might be of less concern as long as I do everything within my comfort zone (which is against the very nature of commercial ops obviously).

Personally I would prefer an experienced AS350 longline/VR, bushpilot mentor to make sure I get the most experience and NO incidents or accidents while being able to operate in the difficult and stressful situations that commercial aviation throws at us.

Does anyone have advice for me please?
It seems I have a great opportunity, but equal opportunity to mess it up if I don't manage it well.

Mostly: No experience, no job = no experience.
I have a rare chance at the opposite (have worked for it though, doing other work for this very diverse company), so I don't want to mess it up!

Thank you in advance for those of you who are helping me develop as a new pilot.

Always Green:ok:
Heli1223

Vertical Freedom, you were right. got a call from shree. very professional but said that they are already training two nepali pilots and they are looking for pilots with mountain exp. Also they seem to prefer pilots with 5000+ hrs, total exp.

Mtn time
 

Hey Safe.Fly123

Sorry to hear that Brother, hmmmmm on one side it is understandable they don't wanna invest 50+ hours of training into a Foreign Pilot who will likely leave in a year or 2. :( If Your keen for Mountain time I would try PNG, though the lifestyle is not as nice as here :hmm:

Happy Landings :ok:

Pilots for AS350B3e in Nepal
 

The AS350 is a powerful machine but IMHO 50 hours on type is just not enough experience to prepare one for this kind of job, in my books. Never mind what FTA promises to deliver.

Don't get me wrong, not trying to belittle anyone here. Although I do not have field experience, I do have time on type with additional specific training in mountain techniques and longline, but that does not even get me close to qualifying for the task. As someone said already, the margin for error is zero. So true. This type of work is not for any helicopter pilot.

Know your own limitations. Safe landings.

Thank you Vertical and thank you Reverse! I do have type experience. What I lack is mountain experience. I have asked Shree if they will consider taking me in as trainee. Give me food and a room and six months of flying with an experienced guy like Vertical.

Everytime I see your pictures, I wanna get out there....

Maybe PNG is not a bad idea.

Reverseflight, even VF had no mountain experience once....

Namaste krypton_john

Correct & I'm still a trainee when it comes to Helicopter flying & Mountains :ooh:
learn something new everyday :8

Land Happy :ok:

VF

VF - you are too modest. From your pictures it is very clear that there is little anyone can teach you.

Probably the mountains doin' the teachin'

I agree. Other than the mountains, very few people around who can teach VF much.

By the way, heard back from Shree. They are looking for experienced pilots! I am going to go to Nepal and meet those folks and see whats going on...

OmOmOm
 

Brother's I truly am just a mere trainee Pilot....there is tons & tons still for me to learn about the Mountains, navigation & Helicopter flying. I for one do not claim to know it all, nor that much, I try & learn something everyday & try & better my skills & techniques each opportunity I get to fly :8 My Life is truly Blessed ;)

Land back Happy always :ok:

VF, do you know of any helicopter company in Nepal that will hire someone with 2000 hrs as a trainee pilot? How about your company?

Is there an official channel for applying with Shree? Just through the contact link on their website?
VF, can you PM me on them.good, bad, whatever?
Cheers

G'day Safe.Fly123

For a Nepali; all of them :8 For a Foreinger; none :ooh:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Namaste nuthin

Shree; all good :ok: pay hmmmmm just OK :* Helicopter Tour & Travel Nepal-Tour Operators Nepal

Happy Landings always

Thanks VF, Ill shoot em a resume and see how OK that pay is.

Does any one know if Shree is still recruiting? I saw their bird in Yangoon and it is stunning! It is being ferried to VNKT for delivery.

[not sure how to upload pictures!!]

I am experienced and current on Squirrel. Can someone tell me what kind of salaries you can expect from them?