Without wanting to start the old thread about single engine IFR again there is another difference between the systems:

Maybe I am wrong here but I seem to recall a friend of mine saying that he has an FAA instrument rating which was done on a Robinson R22?

I have done my JAA IR in the UK not so long ago and have since been flying the North Sea in a Puma. If the above statement is true I wonder how much value such an instrument rating has for real IMC flying. I mean how can you gain an IR without ever been in actual IMC conditions. I have seen a number of guys doing fine during there training with screens and foggles but becoming very disorientated in cloud. And doing an ILS down to minima with a poor RVR is another story altogether. Especially in a single pilot environment. Makes me think.

If I am wrong please correct me .....

Woolf

Far from encouraging the CAA to have their current approach, many UK pilots think that the CAA is a major impediment to the development and well-being of the UK helicopter industry.

There can be a slight "drawbridge" tendency to pilots' licences but the CAA's repressive influence permeates almost every part of our business. For example, I would suggest that the UK professional helicopter flying training industry is likely to be in an even worse state in 10 years or so, than it is now (which is pretty difficult). Despite the difficulty of transferring licences and ratings, there are numerous examples where it is cheaper to get the US/CAN/AUS/NZ equivalent and then pay to transfer it than do the full licence/rating in the UK. Once the pathways are established, they will be used more frequently.

Be Honest
 

This man's 41,000 hours are a load of crap.

Take it for what it is.. a lie.. try to get in the Guiness book of Records as the biggest sharp penciller. Yes..

I do know a genuine ,mainly helicopter pilot, in the 20,000 hours bracket, but most of them were fixed wing. Anyone who says 40,000 helicopter hours and still lives is a sham.

I know a few guys in the high 20K's and one in the low 30's...all SE VFR low level stuff...spraying, seeding and pest control......[2 of them are Fixed/Rotary]

And these guys love that type of work.....however to get them to pass any exam now....not likely, way past it.

Having a few books of hours does'nt mean anything definate, except you have sat there longer than the next guy....and hopefully lear'nt a little more along the way.......but that is not assurred.

Would be interesting to see the FAA and Chief Pilots stamps in our 41K+ colleagues log book[s]....!!!

What FAA stamps.....sorry ol' bean but after the bit of unpleasntness in the 1770's which resulted partly from a thing called the Stamp Act....our FAA does not use stamps except for postage and then it is actually metered or franked.

And....alas chappie....our Chief Pilots do not own rubber stamps for certifying logbooks.....antique procedure.....doesn't carry any water here with the officials.

The FAA will on occasion compare the entries one makes when applying for new certificates and privileges (think licenses.....) and any glaring contradictions may result in an audit.

In general, we use a self certification system and entries into the pilot logbook for required items such as proficency checks, Bi-ennial Flight Reviews, Practical tests, and such.......but no rubber stamps needed, Nigel.

Whereas you folks have the fancy booklet....with all the certifications, proclamations, and documentation.....we on the western end of the salt water divide.....use the logbook for such entries, carry our credit card sized Certificates (Airman and Medical),(once again...think license), in our wallet along with our money. The only thing we have to take out of that wallet when visiting the FAA is the FAA issued items.....the money we keep.....unlike your CAA.

Air today,

I think youre being a bit hard, calling it a sham, theres a guy in NZ who logged over 20,000 hours in one helicopter, that is the one registration. It is quite feasible if that gentleman has flown his arse off the last 40 or so years. Its a long time, I know, but remember in those days commercial helicopter activities were new with few operators around than today, thus it is quite feasible to log those many hours,

SL

SASless - so your logbook audits are about as reliable as Enron's bookkeeping then!!!!

Aw Crab....what's a few billion dollars between friends? Afterall...the system punishes the miscreants right?

The latest guy to step down after being questioned about hawking Worldcom stock to investors got a 32 Million Dollar severance package.....now that ought to teach him! Don't you just love the idea of a corporation being able to tell investors they have "incorrectly" recorded 7.7 Billion dollars worth of revenue !!!

Maybe we should stick a few of these guys in those cages on poles the Brits used around the Tower of London years ago.....seems a fitting punishment in this case somehow. Maybe we ought to install them along Wall Street and the Harvard School of Business and the Wharton School !

Seems I recall some banking scandels on the east side of the Saltwater divide a few years ago....BCCI and a few others....also a guy who took a tumble off a yacht who had some financial problems too.....we just do it on a grander scale.

Hi Mr. Woolf,

Maybe I'm not reading his responses in the same color as you, but I didn't see any blatent "Brit" bashing done by SAS, other than showing some cynicism toward the CAA (which has been displayed to a certain degree by others here as well). Nor, did I see anything herein that appears overly critical or challenging toward the US by anyone else. Please, if I missed something here, tell me - I mean, it's another Friday night and I'm kicked back on the front porch with my laptop, sipping coffee, wishing like heck I had a date instead of talking about helicopters - again, so maybe my focus is a bit off. (Maybe that'd be a good one for Agony Aunt?!?)

Anyway, several of the responses have brought up a question that I've previously had, but never asked, regarding employment in other countries. Steve76 had his negative experience, SL seems to have had his, I don't know about any others per se, however I've had my share. I have to admit, looking at it from my perspective (I've done my share of hiring, firing, training and checkrides in the past to know where people come from) there seem to be a lot more pilots filtering into the US from "outside" than the other way around.

GIVEN: the US has the majority of the jobs, more aircraft, more opportunity, blah, blah, blah. Assume that issue's been addressed so let's not expound upon that point.

QUESTION: Everything being equal, do other countries/ employers do more to protect their own nationalistic interests (in this case, people) than the U.S.?

I tried for a couple of years, '97 through '99, for some advertised positions in OZ, NZ and Europe to no avail. Granted, it could have just been me they didn't want, which is OK - things worked out for the best and I'm happy and content. Just curious.

Anyway, the shooting stars are awesome tonight (four I've seen so far)

C Ya

Don't forget that the Flight Crew Licencing department is staffed by 'aviators' ie. those that are flown and never really fly - over 80% of them are ex RAF navigators, and we all know what navigators like to do to pilots!:D We should all remember that navigators are a handy race of people, it gives the rest of the crew something to eat if you ever crash.:p

If this chap is in his mid-sixties and been flying all his working life it's possible. 41,000 hours, 45 years - it works out to just over 900 hours per year on average; get a calculator and check. That doesn't sound too impossible to me.

Woolf
 

BBrrrrrrrr.....Blue sky and 28 "C"....but then again....it is winter......:rolleyes:

who would want to swap for 14 Degrees, Mist and a light drizzle ....? :D

Anyway I will be on holiday soon and then I will get myself the best sunburn ever......