Thanks Phil this schools argument appears to be that companies taking you in under this legal fiddle arrangement allows you to get your foot in the door of a company whereby they then out of the goodness of their heart someday decide to pay for your type rating on an AS350 or more likely you do.

I presume they pay badly too for the privilege of going along for the ride?

To me it appears you are only there as a body to occupy the other seat. To be honest this arrangement for me is fine if there's a prospect of them paying for your type rating. But how likely is that? How much would it cost me if I ended up paying the type rating on an AS350?

The danger I see is that they pay you a pittance to occupy a seat dangling the hope they will pay the type rating then at the end of three years you either stump up or they fire you and get the next sucker in the pipeline.

All and any thoughts contributions welcome

montjuic... I think you have enough feedback to make your own mind up now, the end result is they give you a free seat in exchange for getting you signed up for the CPL.

The AS350 is not a machine for beginners.

@ersa

I am of the opinion since I have zero knowledge of the industry that I can never have at the moment enough information about the different scenarios that exist.

I really want to sign up but would love to hear from people who may have gone down this road.

Really looking for specific info as well like how much would a type rating on an AS350 cost if in the event I had to pay for it?

Do you have to be a maths genius? I hate maths by the way but like physics

An average price for a AS350 type rating would be approx 6500 euros, to give you an example on the maths required....if you have an iPad or iPhone download this free book

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mat...92113679?mt=11

@Montjuic: I was trying to send you a pm with the contact, but it seems you've blocked receiving pms here at pprune.

Please change your settings and tell me.

Thracians

That's why you should follow the advise you have been given here several times already: Get out there and meet industry insiders personally, as many as possible.
Get a first hand picture of what the business looks like in Spain. Talk not only to instructors at schools but also to the ones doing the actual aerial work. Go have a couple of beers with these guys, but always have one less than they do.
You will both get a clearer picture of reality as well as set the all important foundation for a possible career. Network, network, network.

This is just one of the things in life that cannot be solved by a thorough google search.

@whoknows good advice it's just I don't know anyone in the industry and like any industry if you are on the outside its quite difficult to break into those circles even socially.

I just feel I can't rely wholly on the information from the school alone since its in their interest to sell it to me and I am afraid they are overstating my prospects on completion of the HCPL and not spelling out the reality to me. It's all a lot of generalizations I feel

@Thracians

Thanks for that would you care to try again all and any info is most welcome I think Ive changed my settings to allow it. Maybe because I'm a newbie I am not allowed?

This is the error message I still receive:

Try sending me a private message with your email address.

Thracian