mjp Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 I am 35 and always wanted a career as a helicoter pilot, but always put it off. Is it worth the hassle? It sounds like income is low in the beginning, but is the income good for a pilot with high hours? I am looking for a carreer change and this might be it. What do you think? Quote
sirlandsalot Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 Like anything experience pays, but if it's money you want, there are better ways. What do I think? I think you need to think more about it Quote
SkyPilot Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 NEVER do it for the money (because there isnt any in this industry). ONLY do it if it is your passion. If this is something that you really want to do because it is your passion then being 35 shouldnt matter. Quote
Iceman Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 Hi MJP I flew airplanes but didn't start flying helicopters till I was 30, and have gotten in 11 years of flying choppers since. I was very fortunate to get a flying job right out of school mostly because I had good friends and contacts in the industry. Tim McEvoy (Transwest) is the kind man I will always remember for helping me get started. Never made any Real money until about 4 years into it. Had a couple of setbacks though and those things (accidents) can throw your time table out of wack. At 35 you have plenty time, but I would advise against it, unless you are comfortably established financially and have little or NO baggage. If you are single it will be 100 times easier, you have to become a bush monkey and dig in.. hard, there is no time for broken hearts and the stress and drama of a bad relationship. I wonder how serious you really are though, ask yourself this and contemplate honestly over it. Most of us who have succeeded and realized our dreams have wanted to fly since we can remember and are even a little obsessive about what we do. One of the easiest ways to succeed and become a professional pilot is to deeply Love and respect the machines and flying them, even under the most uncomfortable and extreme conditions. You have to be 100% Certain that flying helicopters is what you want to do, if even after all the horror stories and Sh^t shows you are still an idiot and want to fly, then go for it. Quote
Tom in Australia Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 You have to be 100% Certain that flying helicopters is what you want to do, if even after all the horror stories and Sh^t shows you are still an idiot and want to fly, then go for it. Iceman, I have been digging deep myself lately, and am in the early days of a good year of heavily researching the industry. I'm 27 and have been asking similar questions to the above. I have a wife, but no kids yet, so there is still some flexibility there for us. I know she would be very supportive, but having read a lot of comments about how hard the heli business can be on relationships, I certainly have my reservations. One thing I do know is that I just won't know until I give it a try. My heart is into the idea, for sure, or I wouldn't be bothering with the research. It's an expensive path to take, to turn around and decide if it isn't for me ... but sometimes its like that. The other night I spent several hours on Youtube, searching for, and watching, helicopter crash after crash after crash. Part of my 'testing the waters'. Anyway, onwards... I'll have some more questions to post on here soon. T. Quote
oban Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 I started my flight training one month before my 33rd birthday and i'll be (oh god!!) 42 next month. Was an auto mechanic in my past life and realized one day that "if i turn 65 yrs old staring at these same 4 garage walls i was going to shoot myself"..... Hummed an hawed for 2 yrs., driving my coworkers nuts. One day i realized that if i didn't try, i would regret it for the rest of my life. From then on it was easy, only one direction to go. Jumped in with both feet not having a clue what i was getting into. After finishing my license, packed my car and headed west. Gave up pretty much everything (including a relationship) and here i sit, in a drill camp in the NWT with my crew and an A-star with almost 4000 hrs under my belt. An incredible journey that i can't believe i've had the privilege to do. No regrets about the things i gave up as i didn't want to have any interferences but i must admit i may be a little jealous of those who were able to make it work and maintain a "social life" Best of luck any way that you decide! Quote
Ironclad Posted October 13, 2007 Report Posted October 13, 2007 "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." Leonardo da Vinci go for it! :punk: Quote
Phil Croucher Posted October 14, 2007 Report Posted October 14, 2007 We've got a girl here who is 35 plus taxes, has only been flying a few years and is nearly a skipper on a 212. If it's in your heart, do it! All careers have low income in the beginning - just try being a junior lawyer! Phil Quote
Skidz Posted October 14, 2007 Report Posted October 14, 2007 I started training at age 36 myself. Making a "reasonable" living ever since... Quote
Phil Croucher Posted October 14, 2007 Report Posted October 14, 2007 JW - yes, she is single, and a good laugh! Mind you, she says you shouldn't touch what you can't afford! Phil Quote
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