Heilcopter Pilots? Anyone?

[Wolfala]

So, hows that Bell 609 commin along?

[Gyro/T69]

Hey, What's involved for a helo solo?

[Gixer]

Originally posted by Gyro/T69
Hey, What's involved for a helo solo?

Atleast 10 hours sweating learning to stay still a few feet above one spot on the ground. From then on it's all fun.

I really can't remember how long it took me to solo, maybe around 15-20  hours, it's alot harder then learning to fly a fix wing. Since a helicopter naturally wants to throw itself into the ground. Where a plane trimmed out will fly some distance.

I could always dig out my old logbook and give a rundown of the lessons.



...-Gixer

[Gyro/T69]

Should have said, what do you have to do during the first solo in a helo?

[Dux]

First solo: Take off, do a pattern, land. Same as fixed-wing solo, pretty much.

like Gixer said, the first 8 hours or so make you wonder if you're ever going to learn it. Then, at some point, it all "clicks" and you're doing it. The trick is you have to get familiar enough at the controls where you don't have to think about it, and your body reacts subconsciously. The brain isn't quick enough to process all the inputs and then assign reactions and then send the signals to all of your hands and feet... they just have to learn what to do on their own. That's the hard part.

[CyranoAH]

TO TRY TO STAY ALIVE

[muerto]

Thank you all. All of your input is appreciated.

Gixer said:

Muerto,

You can always go for the trial flight and see what you think, if your totally dedicated you do what I did and just do a few lessons at a time work 3 jobs and after about 18mths you'll have your PPL and if you still have some cash left over can enjoy it by taking friends and family to the beach.

Main thing is not to think that you'll be able to walk into a job with a CPL and 150 hours. Unless of course your dad owns HeliJet then I'd say go for it. :-)

Best of luck.

Gixer,
I did take the trial flight.  They took my wife and I up for about 20 minutes after my interview the other day.  It was a blast, flying low down canyons and such.  Wasn't the first time I was up in a helicopter though, so I knew I'd like it.  Compared to fixed the visibility is fantastic, and there is just something about flying low (and being able to do it relatively safely) that is cool.

I've always thought helis were cool machines, but my real passion is fixed wing.  I have 200+ hours, and will be taking my IFR check ride in a few weeks; planning on starting my commercial training in early November.

I decided against doing the heli thing because:
1.  Even though it might (MIGHT) be a shortcut to a career in aviation (SSH claims they will hire you as a flight instructor and send you on whatever charter and ferry flights they can as soon as you finish their training program, and they pay a starting wage that would be $50K (after your first 6 months probationary period,) assuming you can fly 40 hours per week) until you have enough hours for them to make you a regular charter pilot) there is no guarantee of employment (understandably) and I think I can continue with my fixed wing training without going into huge dept, and for less money.

2.  The process, from application to them inviting me to join their limited program, didn't go at all the way I thought it would.  That, and an item or two on the contract they gave me to sign (they wanted me to read and sing there on the spot, I took it home to look and think over) sent up warning flags that made me feel more like I was being sold a timeshare than offered a potential future job.  (Plus had a nearly hidden fee of $3000 should I quit or they kick me out, with or without cause.)

3.  A discussion with my wife made me realize that she was willing to go along with committing all the financial resources necessary for me to get all the ratings necessary to become a commercial pilot and the hours to hopefully get a job (she knows how much I'm tired of my present job.)  So if we were willing to commit $55K to go to helicopter school, why not commit it (and actually less money will be required for fixed) to get to where I need to be in fixed wing aircraft.

Thanks for the wish o fluck, I just may need some

[Gixer]

Muerto,

Actually a fixed wing CPL isn't a bad idea as some operators mainly the bush guys operate both fixed and fling wings. So if you happen later on to knock off a helicopter CPL that gives you a better chance then the next guy and more varied flying as a bonus.

Happend to be chatting with my old CFI today over lunch and we were talking generally about the aviation industry. He mentioned a guy that has just recently finished his fixed CPL,IFR and Multi Engine ratings and landed a job for some bush operator in Africa. So you never know.

Though getting your multi engine rating isn't cheap, almost on par with helicopter time per hour and I think you need around 50 hours for a multi rating. Then there is turbine on top of that which means more hours and more classroom time.

When you reach your CPL for fixed keep in touch, my old CFI is also a 777 and currently a 737 captain. So he knows everything there is to know about commercial aviation at all levels all over the world.



...-Gixer