job as a chopper pilot...

General stuff that gets thrown about when Helicopter Pilots shoot the Breeze.
John3000
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job as a chopper pilot...

Postby John3000 » Sun Jul 31 2016, 10:42

Hi guys,

Just curious to find out what type of pilot job a helicopter pilot may find and the minimum requirements to get there..???

Also what would be the average wage ??

Thanks
DAKOTA
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby DAKOTA » Sun Feb 12 2017, 08:05

If you are a new CPL I suggest talk to your flight instructor.

If you want to be a CP talk to a flight instructor.

All the best!
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aaron
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby aaron » Sun Feb 12 2017, 14:24

John3000, what a great. open ended question .
A pilot would hope to be employed in a position where as they get to fly.
Minimums are what ever the CP decides that is required to fulfill the usual jobs that come through the operation
What is it you are after? If you're after a job after getting a license, then good luck to you, that's the hardest part about flying
$$ are you will not get rich within your first 10 years
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Cleared Hot
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby Cleared Hot » Mon Feb 13 2017, 00:17

The best job as a helicopter pilot is to do another job altogether. Cleaners get paid more and have better security. If I had a time machine I would go back in time and kill the person that talked me in to it before he did it. Flying is fun don't get me wrong but the Career sucks.
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby Fwh » Mon Feb 13 2017, 01:38

Cleared Hot wrote:The best job as a helicopter pilot is to do another job altogether. Cleaners get paid more and have better security. If I had a time machine I would go back in time and kill the person that talked me in to it before he did it. Flying is fun don't get me wrong but the Career sucks.

Yeah it can get hard sometimes but that doest mean you shouldnt take the career path. You never know whats hanging around the next corner. Bad things tend to happen in this industry but also some good ones.
DAKOTA
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby DAKOTA » Mon Feb 13 2017, 05:23

John,

Don't be discouraged by the negative comments. Yes it can be a very tough industry to break into but almost everyone starts at the bottom so don't expect to be flying 412's the day after getting your wings.

However there are ways to increases your opportunities such as learning at a school that also conduct commercial flying outside of training.
Talk to as many people as possible throughout your training, a lot of jobs new pilots get aren't advertised.

Your first flying gig will most likely not be flying, some companies want to get to know you before they let you loose with there helicopters. But after that you may have the opportunity to fly ferry or scenic.
From there doors start to open up FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.

As far as pay, don't let money be your motivation, if it is save $60+K and go put it towards an investment property.

I hope you can take something from this. Goodluck!
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muppet
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby muppet » Mon Feb 13 2017, 05:27

Like this guy? Heard he was working for Bristow, but retired to San Fran... http://time.com/4555692/san-francisco-bart-janitor-salary/ :D

I guess we should not sound so cynical, there is more to life than just money. Other things are important, like job security, family friendly work hours, work/life balance, wide choice of employment options, freedom from excessive regulation, job satisfaction, work colleagues, intellectual rewards, support & encouragement & appropriate rewards etc. Depending on which fling wing career path you choose, you may get some, or none of these. I will bet you a truck load of whatever boutique brew currently reigns supreme in Osstraya that you will not find a job that has all the above. I get some satisfaction from what I do and I work with some great people. Enuff said.

In short, you will probably love flying and almost be happy to do it for free (which you shouldn't ever do!). Once you get paid for it and have been doing it a while, the 'being up in the air' novelty wears off and so the other 'normal' work expectations take over. Sadly, the industry can't seem to get past the notion that you are lucky that it lets you fly a helicopter, and as a consequence, the industry ignores many of the other drivers that most folk take for granted. In chopperland, you are often asked to do things that few other industries would tolerate. (work conditions, hours, unpaid work, risk, lack of support, etc)

However, it ain't all bad, in fact, some of the time you do stuff that is nothing short of amazing, but it is certainly a bit of an odd industry. And I am not sure how to fix it? Anyone got any ideas?
tinman
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby tinman » Mon Feb 13 2017, 06:00



His base salary is US$ 57,945. At today's exchange rate, that is AU$ 75,611. That is more than - at a guess - most GA helicopter pilots make...

:( Sure makes me feel like s#!t.
DAKOTA
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby DAKOTA » Mon Feb 13 2017, 06:46

muppet wrote:Like this guy? Heard he was working for Bristow, but retired to San Fran... http://time.com/4555692/san-francisco-bart-janitor-salary/ :D

I guess we should not sound so cynical, there is more to life than just money. Other things are important, like job security, family friendly work hours, work/life balance, wide choice of employment options, freedom from excessive regulation, job satisfaction, work colleagues, intellectual rewards, support & encouragement & appropriate rewards etc. Depending on which fling wing career path you choose, you may get some, or none of these. I will bet you a truck load of whatever boutique brew currently reigns supreme in Osstraya that you will not find a job that has all the above. I get some satisfaction from what I do and I work with some great people. Enuff said.

In short, you will probably love flying and almost be happy to do it for free (which you shouldn't ever do!). Once you get paid for it and have been doing it a while, the 'being up in the air' novelty wears off and so the other 'normal' work expectations take over. Sadly, the industry can't seem to get past the notion that you are lucky that it lets you fly a helicopter, and as a consequence, the industry ignores many of the other drivers that most folk take for granted. In chopperland, you are often asked to do things that few other industries would tolerate. (work conditions, hours, unpaid work, risk, lack of support, etc)

However, it ain't all bad, in fact, some of the time you do stuff that is nothing short of amazing, but it is certainly a bit of an odd industry. And I am not sure how to fix it? Anyone got any ideas?


Don't fall off that fence you're sitting on. :wink:
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muppet
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby muppet » Mon Feb 13 2017, 21:42

Don't fall off that fence you're sitting on.


Yep, got me there... Guess that's what happens when one tries to be a little balanced. Maybe I should just specialise in cynical. You gotta admit though, this is rather an odd industry in so many ways.
DAKOTA
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Re: job as a chopper pilot...

Postby DAKOTA » Mon Feb 13 2017, 23:47

muppet wrote:
Don't fall off that fence you're sitting on.


Yep, got me there... Guess that's what happens when one tries to be a little balanced. Maybe I should just specialise in cynical. You gotta admit though, this is rather an odd industry in so many ways.


Yeah there has been more than a few head scratching moments lol.

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