Helicopter Pilot

[ScottyB]

Hi guys,

I am currently in 7th form and at the end of the year when I finish school I am going on a gap year. I'm going over to Canada to work on a skifield with two mates; and then in April/May 2011 we are flying over to the UK to travel around Europe.

I have always been above average at school but not in the top, top achievers. I passed NCEA L1 with Merit, NCEA L2 with achieved, due to a family ilness which at times made me lose focus on achieving with merit; and now I am on track to pass NCEA L3 with Merit. I am taking Maths with Statistics, English, Geography, French, and P.E, this year. I took Physics up until this year but really didnt enjoy it much.

When I get back, I am going to get into my tertiary study. At the moment I am a bit unsure what I should do as a career. I have always loved aviation and would really like to become a commercial helicopter. I have dreamed of operating my own chopper company that runs tours/scenics, hunting/fishing drop offs, government operations (culling, animal transportation, firefighting, mustering, etc). But I have put a lot of time into reading up about the industry and the general concensus is that there is not a heap of money in it.

My question is, should I choose to become a chopper pilot because I love it, or do I go for a career with more money, but one I wouldn't enjoy as much?

Any info/tips on becoming a heli pilot etc would be great.

Cheers,
Scotty B.

This is what I dream of doing.....

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Definitely go for a career you'd enjoy rather than one that's better paid, for obvious reasons. It's definitely not all about money. Who cares if you have a Ferrari in the driveway if it means you hate 40 hours+ of every week?

[Splitpin]

Scotty, I myself have always wanted to fly choppers and am currently completing the theory side.
Theory-wise with the flying if you are passing school at level 3 you will be fine. Like all things it is just a matter of doing the work and learning the stuff.

Have you been on or done any flying in a helicopter? If you haven't then I would go and do a trial flight first so you can see what it is like.

QUOTE

should I choose to become a chopper pilot because I love it, or do I go for a career with more money, but one I wouldn't enjoy as much?[/quote]

Unfortunitly this is a hard one to answer, and im sure that everyone has a different opinion on it. So really its something you will have to decide.
Me I am doing it for the love of flying, knowing that I am not going to make as much money as say a 747 captain.
Curtainly another opinion is to pursue another career to earn some money first to pay for it. To do your commerical licence you are looking at minimum of $80,000.

What part of nz you live in?

[ScottyB]

Thanks very much for the info guys!

I live in Christchurch.

[deaneb]

Commercial helo piloting is not an easy business to get into in NZ. You need to think about having some form of income to support you as you train. I would not say don't do it - but it takes a lot of hard work and most pilots need to go overseas to build hours needed to get a job back here. NZ aviation is a small group too, so who you knows goes a long way. As for academics - don't sweat it, you don't have to have great grades, just dollars and a personality that fits !! Ever thought about the Air Force - a lot of commercial pilots in NZ are ex military. Good pay, free training and great experience.

[ZK-MAT]

QUOTE (ScottyB @ Apr 21 2010, 05:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have always loved aviation and would really like to become a commercial helicopter.

I just couldn't resist quoting that part! Are you a transformer??

Ho ho ho

Good luck with your plans, it's really encouraging to see there are people out there who know what they want to do, AND are undertaking to get there by doing well at what they are doing now (ie school) to lay the groundwork.

All the best, you can make your dream come true

[Splitpin]

Scotty....you got some good advise from these guys....my 10 cents worth is, follow the dream , and dont let anyone put you off.....because before you know it ,10years have gone, then more .....and you just become a "gunner"....."gunner do this, gunner do that". As Mr Nike said "just do it" good luck

[nzav8tor]

You won't find many unhappy helicopter pilots... Or any kind of pilot for that matter. (Sure people will always complain about one thing or another) but a pilot is unlikely to regret taking up the profession.

My Mum thought I'd make a good lawyer but the thought of all that paper work didn't appeal. Ironically theres as much if not more paper work in a pilot's job!

The other point, very subjective of course, is the money thing.
The money is not that bad, an experienced chopper pilot flying for a charter/commercial ops/rescue company is earning 100+ or there abouts, not bad for a job that beats any desk job.

If you do manage to own your business then of course that brings certain stressors but I know of a few successful operators in Queenstown who would be unlikely to complain about their day to day existence...

Final point on this. If you look at various jobs and their income potential vs the amount of worked required and job satisfaction then for sure pilot is on the good side of that list.
Doctors, lawyers, accountants, business, marketing, IT, any management type job which required you to study for 4 years or more does not put you in the money when you graduate. Sure you'll start off ok but its going to take years to acheive a high level income, if ever.

A specialist with many years of experience may be earning 200+ but the work required over many years to get to this level is huge.

A pilot on the other hand earns buggar all for the first years but the job satisfaction is huge. Then as you gain experience the pay goes up, the job satisfaction levels off a little but the demands of the job reduce slightly due to experience. The old timers aren't pushing the brooms as much sort of thing.

Final final point, and don't say it didn't cross your mind... The chicks man, think of the chicks...

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (nzav8tor @ Apr 21 2010, 07:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Final final point, and don't say it didn't cross your mind... The chicks man, think of the chicks...

Surely flying a biz jet helps? Wouldn't be too hard to pretend it's yours

[ScottyB]

Thanks very much guys, this is awesome to get the advice.

I am still thinking about a career in the fixed wing industry...but yeah...just need swaying one way or another. I hear the success rate of a pilot becoming something like a 777 or 747 captain is EXTREMELY low...so to be honest, I would rather be flying choppers around the country I love, than flying a Beech or ATR for ever...

[chopper_nut]

I am instructing at the moment, not my dream job but I do get to fly. It is the first job I have EVER had where I want to get up to go to work. The subjects arnt hard at all. I didnt do well at school at all and I had NO difficulty with the subjects so I wouldnt worry a huge amount at being good at maths. As for running your own helicopter company, I know of plenty of operators whos owners / pilots have no qualifications in business at all. Of course extra qualifications dont hurt but dont feel that they are necessary. I have to agree with everybody here that you should go for the job you love and not try to chase money. If you persist, the money will find you.

Have you done much flying in aeroplanes or helos?

[ScottyB]

QUOTE (chopper_nut @ Apr 21 2010, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am instructing at the moment, not my dream job but I do get to fly. It is the first job I have EVER had where I want to get up to go to work. The subjects arnt hard at all. I didnt do well at school at all and I had NO difficulty with the subjects so I wouldnt worry a huge amount at being good at maths. As for running your own helicopter company, I know of plenty of operators whos owners / pilots have no qualifications in business at all. Of course extra qualifications dont hurt but dont feel that they are necessary. I have to agree with everybody here that you should go for the job you love and not try to chase money. If you persist, the money will find you.

Have you done much flying in aeroplanes or helos?

Cheers chopper_nut, excellent help.

I have done a bit in both, but havent started doing any of the actual training side of things.

Cheers

[towerguy]

heres another avenue of thought

airways is always looking for controllers
the schooling looks about right and the interest in aviation is obviously there - although to the HR weenies that doesn't always mean much.
they teach you the paper work side of things and most of it is relevant to the flying
you get posted to an airfield so get to meet the locals
once rated you are on a decent income with pretty good hours and lots of time off and an airfield at your disposal

I know heaps of pilots flying the line now ( from eagle air b1900 up to emirates b777 - both fixed and rotary) - that started their careers in a tower
and quite a few of us wnt the other way as well - started in a cockpit and wound up in a tower or radar room - and quite a few still do both.

just another avenue to think about as I said
and if you do go this way - tell them I sent you!

it beats working for a living and theres heaps of potential for work overseas!

cheers
craig
NZAA Tower

[bennz]

I have lots of respect for controllers anywhere in the world, Their job is truly sophisticated and rewarding. So salute to your Craig !

Like everyone else, I say Scotty go for your dream, If you love to do something you will love it for life and no matter what other job you do , you never feel satisfied because you left your dream job behind. Like yourself I wanted to be a pilot, but I was told the salary is not good, it is a very hard work and etc , So I went into IT , but at age of 27 I am more determined than ever to find a way to get into aviation.

Problem is I spent lots of money on IT so now I don't have enough money to start my Aviation Career. So my advice is don't waste another day and catch your dream with both hands. When you become a successful airman, you will get rewarded both financially and intellectually .

Best of luck and we will see you in a chopper flying over us one day ! I know it ..

Ben