Rotorheads -- I just took my first helicopter lesson today!

I've been in aviation for ~12 years now, but just committed to joining the "dark side". Took my first lesson in a brand new R22, and I have to say it kicked my ass, hahaha.

Have I lost my mind in pursuing this as a career at my "advanced age"?!?

 

Give it about 3 or 4 more lessons before you get worried. R22 is a pretty basic choppa-so if you are thinking about getting into helo flying for a job-rest assured the equipment you'll be using will be better.

 

The head of the flight school said that jobs are plentiful now for somebody pursuing a career in helicopters, and that most employers prefer civilian-trained pilots over military-trained pilots because military pilots are "too specialized". Do you think there is truth to that, or was he just playing salesman?

 

I have actually considered going this route...my grandfather's trust will pay for my schooling...but I just don't know what all is involved.

Cheers to you for going for it!

Fink

 

Ben:

Are you taking the classes over at Boeing Field? Which outfit are you going through?

I was pursuing my Private license a couple years ago, but I got out of it because I couldn't see how I would ever be able to afford the hours needed to eventually get a decent job, not just instructing. I've always been interested in helos, though. Did the guy give you any kind of timeline on how fast you could get into the workforce?

 

I just did some Googleing...I saw some places at like $300/hr. Holy shit!

Fink

 

Yeah, I started out in 2005 on a rinky-dink airport out in the middle of nowhere flying Piper Tomahawks and it was still $3000 for the ground school, books and first 40 hours of instruction. And that was through some guy who just taught it out of the house he lived at on the airport land. I can only imagine what it would cost to run though a major outfitter.

 

I would love to learn to fly especially a helo. I've been running radio controlled booms for 17 years I would hope to have a little hand eye coordination working for me.

 

When I was training for my PPL, my instructor told me that helicopter pilots were insane. Is there any shred of truth to this rumor?

 

A friend of mine once told me that airplanes fly -- while helicopters beat the air into submission.

 

Yeah, the school at Boeing Field. How fast depends on how many days a week I can fly, which depends on how much I can afford and how much free time i have with ny current job. I'm probably gonna fly once or twice a week to start and then pick up the pace once I get my add-on. Figure it will be a couple of years before I can instruct, then a couple more years of instucting before I could get a real job.

 

Yeah, I'm paying right around $230/hr for aircraft and instructor including tax, which isn't so bad considering its a major metropolitan area.

 

Thats cool man. I was a hh-60 mechanic for 7 years, and just recently started working on CV-22 Osprey(It is a tiltrotor aircraft). If you ever need a mechanic one day, I have a little bit of experience.

 

Is it the same as PPL? 40 hours minimum, or can you et through faster if you rotate in from another aircraft?

 

How many hours do you need for your license?

Fink

 

If you have a private airplane pilot's license, the minimum faa requirement for a helicopter is 35 hours...but sounds like complete the add-on in 40-50 hours.

 

think ill stick to working on them for now

 

Learning to fly helo's huh? LMAO. Remember the hover button is hidden somewhere in the cockpit...
I've only got about 3500 hours in helos and I think SOS (he's a member on here) has a few more than me. First if you have a PPL then great for you! If not go fixed wing with the PPL and maybe even Commercial Instrument as it is a whole lot cheaper. Then get your helo endorsement. Don't know why anyone would say military pilots are to specialized as we are the only ones who have the experience as a general rule. Hang in there you'll get the hang of it and flying instruments is a real treat...

 

I think he's full of shit. I've met guys with 3000+ hours who would hardly give me the time of day because they know that if I walked into the office they fly out of-Two of them would get fired so the company could hire me @ 800 hours.

Yes.

 

That's kinda hat I figured, his claim seemed a bit far-fetched.