R/W Job Market?

[WRENCH]

CFI"s- What is the realistic job market currently like? Are you happy, flying enough, optimistic about the future? I just took an intro flt at Quantum and it was a blast! Way more fun than F/W (flying is supposed to be fun, but the regional airline world is not) How long does one expect to flight instruct, years, expected hours a month? What's the progression-CFI, Grand Canyon, Off Shore, News? I have no idea, but am considering a career change and think EMS or News would suite me well. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

 

[Checks]

See my other post on the subject, I would say "you are crazy!"

Stay fixed wing. Next to NYC corp, EMS is the top of the helicopter pilot positions and it isnt even as good as being a regional airline captain. Why anyone would spend large sums of cash to fly helicopters for a living is beyond me.

 

[mattpilot]

because its fun?

What would you rather do (assuming if money wasnt' a factor), go fly a big jet where you take off and flip a switch (auto pilot), or actually have your hands on the controls the entire flight?

There ain't nothing like flying a helicopter! If you haven't done so, your missing out (general reference, not refering to you) .

 

[Checks]

one of the problems is that generally you do not fly much at all, EMS might get you 10hrs a month. Plus the majority of it is VFR flying going to the same hospitals/locations over and over again which isnt very challenging(translation=bored).
Sure helicopter flying can be "fun" at first but the "fun" wears off quick. I personally have much more fun flying fixed wing to different airports, in different weather, with different passengers, and in IFR.
I love watching movies but you dont see me making a living working in a movie theater because that wouldnt pay the bills. For many, many, many years you also wont be able to pay the bills as a helicopter pilot trying to build hours.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

I would imagine that getting a RW job would be difficult. Your competition would be coming out of the military, where they have been flying turbine in all sorts of weather. It's hard to compete with that if you're coming from an R22.

Stay fixed wing and if you ever get a good left seat, fly RW for fun.

 

[psysicx]

Can helo guys make 70K?

 

[mattpilot]

Can helo guys make 70K?

why not?

A very good EMS job pays that much.

But to get up in the 80-90's range you will need to be a very experienced corporate pilot. I don't think i've ever heard about anyone making more than 100k. Althought Donald Trump's pilots (who all have in excess of 10k hours) probably make some good cash.

 

[psysicx]

I don't understand how people say thats bad money.Plus your home everyday and you get paid to sleep.

 

[weekendwarrior]

I would imagine that getting a RW job would be difficult. Your competition would be coming out of the military, where they have been flying turbine in all sorts of weather. It's hard to compete with that if you're coming from an R22.

Stay fixed wing and if you ever get a good left seat, fly RW for fun.

Not necessarily true. I have 250 hours helo time, 1000 total time right now. Not even the grand canyon will look at me for a helo job, even though they fly Bell 206's. I have about 150 hours in a 206, and the rest of my helo in the apache. All turbine helo time. R22 guys are getting the jobs, even though they have never touched a turbine.

Their feeling is, they want 1000 helo time. And, an R22 is a hell of alot harder to fly than a 206. They figure if you can fly an R22 for 1000 hours, you can fly anything.

 

[Checks]

Name the EMS job paying 70K? Where? Who? I will apply tomorrow.

No one I know of pays even close to 70K.

After 10yrs, you might make 60K.

Starting pay in EMS is about 46K(+/-5K) and goes up slowly after that.

Thats the facts.

 

[earl]

If you want to fly EMS then go for it. A typical schedule of five-12hour days on and then 5 days off is great QOL. Not everything in aviation revolves around money. I would much rather fly EMS then take a bad fixed wing job. I flew medevac for 2.5 years in the Army and really enjoyed the mission. But the QOL was horrific. If you want to fly helicopters then work your A$$ off and go for it.
DUSTOFF
D...dedicated
U...undying
S...service
T...to
O...our
F...fighting
F...forces

earl

 

[WRENCH]

Thanks Earl.

 

[mudkow60]

Checks... do you really fly helos?
10 Hours/month for EMS? Where, on the moon?
The fun wears off? Maybe for you but not for me and most folks I fly with.

 

[Checks]

Are you implying most EMS guys are getting more time? In some cases that might be true but there are very, very few EMS guys getting more than 20hrs a month. You dont time build in EMS. Looks like you are a Navy pilot, I am 3 yr EMS pilot and I have averaged 150hrs a year.

Ok, it is fun and I personally I enjoy it immensly but I am just throwing a little perspective out there. Everyone thinks I make 80K and fly 5 hours everyday.
The reality is closer to 50K and 5 hours in one 7 day shift and hoping your hospital doesnt change vendors because then it is back to the beginning again.

How many helo EMS hours do you have?

 

[mudkow60]

How many EMS hours do I have, or how many MEDEVACS have I done to civilian hospitals? Make sure you ask the right question if you want a response.


I have looked into the EMS field. It seems the hour requirements are high, but everyone I talked to seemed to love it. That is all I am saying.

 

[Checks]

I dont think flying into a civilian hospital can qualify one to you speak about the civilian EMS field. The military and civilian EMS are two totally different animals.

Anyways, maybe some of us should post some technical questions on this board to keep things going. Any ideas?

 

[mattpilot]

why does the R22 suck?

no .. that would offend to many people.

 

[GVFlyer]

why does the R22 suck?

no .. that would offend to many people.

Regardless of who it might offend, I wouldn't fly it. Back when the Robinson's cyclics were falling apart and people were routinely exceeding the allowable mast - rotor angle, I called a friend who is a GS-15 in the FAA's vertical flight division to ask about the helicopter. He said it was an okay helicopter - if you just didn't fly it.

GV

 

[GVFlyer]

why not?

A very good EMS job pays that much.

But to get up in the 80-90's range you will need to be a very experienced corporate pilot. I don't think i've ever heard about anyone making more than 100k. Althought Donald Trump's pilots (who all have in excess of 10k hours) probably make some good cash.

One of Trump's pilots has a pretty interesting history (right up there with the chief pilot of Wotan's), if "The Donald" ever had to perform any black ops- he's already staffed for it.

GV

 

[tubelo]

How many EMS hours do I have, or how many MEDEVACS have I done to civilian hospitals? Make sure you ask the right question if you want a response.

mudkow,

I have to agree with Checks on this one. Having flown Navy helos for 10 years, EMS for 2, and airline for 2, I can say Checks numbers are very accurate. I loved flying helos, but have no regrets having moved over to fixed-wing. I am away a lot more from home, but the flying is safer, and the pay potential is better. As far as the schedule, 7 day on 7 day off lifestyle may sound great, but after your 4th day of 7pm to 7am...you are tired.

 

[mudkow60]

Try a nine month cruise with 4 consecutive months at sea.


I like flying helos, and would like to do as such in some capacity. I am trying to get a main fixed wing job and a helo reserve job.

 

[tubelo]

Try a nine month cruise with 4 consecutive months at sea. .

Like I said, 10 years active navy...

I like flying helos, and would like to do as such in some capacity. I am trying to get a main fixed wing job and a helo reserve job.

Should not be hard to find a reserve helo unit. They normally have trouble filling all their billets.

Good luck.