Shortage of Helicopter Pilots?

[jeb]

Is there a shortage of pilots now? Our company is doing some financing and leaseing to a company that is a flight school and 135 operator. I was surprised at what the cost of flight training in helicopters is costing now. Their current rate is $60,000-65000.00, they claim they have full classes and a waiting list. After completion you get hired by the company and work as a flight instructor, then you can go onto other areas of the company. I ran into a Army friend who is now flying for PHI and he claims they arre short pilots now, I remember 15 years ago who PHI was advertising in alot of publications for pilots and starting pay was around 28,000. Maybe we have reached that point again.

 

[atlcrashpad]

Shortage of Helo Drivers?

There may be a shortage now, but once the Army releases it's "Stop Loss" the market will be flooded with OIF/OEF Vets. Guys with thousands of hours of flight time.

 

[nosehair]

PHI probably just lost a bunch of people to Katrina/Rita...

 

[avbug]

Our company is doing some financing and leaseing to a company that is a flight school and 135 operator...Their current rate is $60,000-65000.00, they claim they have full classes and a waiting list.

That wouldn't happen to be Silver State, AKA the Evil One(s), would it?

Say it isn't so.

 

[Checks]

I was looking for a kid to mow my lawn the other day. I was willing to pay 3 bucks to cut my 1.5 acres. I didn't have any takers. I call it a "Shortage" of lawn mowers in my neighborhood.

The kids in my neighborhood disagree.

 

[ATCT]

The company I used to work for as a camera operator is always shortr a few pilots. Their name is "Metro Networks" flying R44's for ENG. Anywho theyre outta ATL but have about 50 birds across the country in almost every city.

 

[atlcrashpad]

R44?

I don't know about the R44, but this is the only R22 I've seen that is useful. lol.... Just kidding.... A little jab at the R22 guys out there

 

[mattpilot]

The company I used to work for as a camera operator is always shortr a few pilots. Their name is "Metro Networks" flying R44's for ENG. Anywho theyre outta ATL but have about 50 birds across the country in almost every city.

http://www.metronetworks.com/ ???

So what are their mins?

 

[schoolio]

If there's a shortage of helicopter pilots, then why can't I find someone to hire me at 550 hours helo time (all turbine, 350+ multiengine)???

If there's a shortage of helo pilots, why won't insurance co's drop mins to something less than 2000 hours?

I know many military guys getting ready to retire upon completion of Iraq tours with 4000+ hours. My guess is mins won't drop anytime soon...

 

[Birdstrike]

If there's a shortage of helicopter pilots, then why can't I find someone to hire me at 550 hours helo time (all turbine, 350+ multiengine)???

Because their insurance companies would never underwrite that risk for you to be a commercial PIC at 500+ hrs. And I wouldn't let my dog fly with you at 550 hrs unless you're the SIC. Nothing personal, you just don't know what you don't know yet. But you will soon enough.

As you do know, in the helo world, 1500-2000 hr guys are considered "low-timers". You're over half-way there; do what you did to get 500 hrs one more time, then you'll have 1000 and PHI will interview you.

If there's a shortage of helo pilots, why won't insurance co's drop mins to something less than 2000 hours?

Have you seen the commercial helo safety record? Especially in EMS? It isn't pretty. If mins go anywhere, they're likely to go back up before they go down.

 

[schoolio]

Because their insurance companies would never underwrite that risk for you to be a commercial PIC at 500+ hrs. And I wouldn't let my dog fly with you at 550 hrs unless you're the SIC. Nothing personal, you just don't know what you don't know yet. But you will soon enough.

I know, my post was pretty much in jest. If there were such a shortage of helo pilots, the mins would have to drop sooner or later, supply and demand, yadda yadda yadda.

You're over half-way there; do what you did to get 500 hrs one more time, then you'll have 1000 and PHI will interview you.

What, and sell my soul back to the Army for another 7 years? HA!

Seriously tho, if I really decided to pursue a helo career, I'd look for an ANG/AF Res helo unit to join up with. Bottom line, if you want to fly helicopters for a living, don't start out as an Army commissioned officer.

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

helo pilots

PHI has been hiring a lot of CFIs in the past few years...My father flew for them for 24+ years and when he started they had few if any civilian / CFI types - mostly military pilots back then...Recently i've been told a lot of 20 somethings flying for PHI...I think about it , but I'll never fill his shoes and would rather avoid being compared to him...I'll always come up short in the flying area...

-LA

 

[psysicx]

The recruiter at Air Methods said that the mins will have to drop. They have so many openings for EMS they don't know what to do. The reason mainly is the pay. Most helo pilots try and crossover to fix wing to make the big money at the airlines.

 

[Checks]

I know what they can do...RAISE the PAY!

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

Pay @ helo companies

Pay has gone up since the 80s / 90s...PIC @ PHI just starting out can make in the 40K range without any work-over. Thats much better than at a regional as an F/O...With work-over you can easily exceed 65K or more a year. Get involved in training and you'll do even better...However, If you're like my father and want to remain a line pilot mentoring the younger pilots then work-over is the way to go and you can make an excellent living...If you want to chase money use the job as a source of income and CFI / buy time from a FBO on your week off...There are many options out there...

V/r,
LA

 

[psysicx]

65K isn't bad in certain areas but someplaces they wouldn't go very far. But if your wife was making that much also it would livable.