Interesting - Helo Pilot shortage

[ozrocker]

Here ya go Selino How's the packet coming?
Seems younger Generations not interested in flying Helos.
http://now.msn.com/money/0509-helicopter-pilot-shortage.aspx


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[B4Buster]

It's even more expensive than fixed wing training, and (atleast around here) there aren't many helo training facilities.

The few helicopter pilots I know make good money. 3 of the four I know learned to fly in the military, one paid for his training out of pocket.

[curry1]

When I was at andrews last year talking to a marine CH-46 pilot who was going to transfer into V-22s he was trying to convince me to join the Marines because they needed more pilots specifically rotor winged and apparently everryone gets a shot at pilot training if they want it.  He points at the the F-15E flying around and says "why do you want to be around those anyway?  they are loud and will mess up your hearing".    I laugh shake his hand and tell him ill think about it.   The whole time he would cover his ears when a jet would come by as it would hurt his hearing.  He is smarter than me.

[cpxxx]

Is there really a shortage of helicopter pilots or is there a shortage of people willing to train as civilian helicopter pilots?  In other words it's the flight school that is suffering the shortage of pilots not the industry. I would have thought that in the US there would be quite a few retiring military helicopter pilots. Not quite as many as during the Vietnam era. But still quite a few.

Any civilian trained pilot is going to have to compete with highly experienced and trained ex military pilots. In this country there is definitely no shortage and the best jobs go to ex military pilots. Our Coastguard, which is civilian has mostly ex RAF, RN and Irish Air Corps pilots. Any civvies they hire come through oil industry. You sure as hell won't get in with a Robinson rating and three hundred hours.

I'd say most guys interested in flying helicopters go for the military. Why pay for it when the government pays you to train?

[B4Buster]

Is there really a shortage of helicopter pilots or is there a shortage of people willing to train as civilian helicopter pilots?  In other words it's the flight school that is suffering the shortage of pilots not the industry.

I'm sure this is it. There will never be a shortage of people who want to fly.

[Tupac]

Seeing as how it cost almost $300/hour to rent an R22 almost all of the helo pilots will be coming out of the military. A helicopter add on costs almost $15000 for someone who is already a pilot. Lots of dollars.

[Tupac]

And as cpxxx said, that's Robinson time.

[pembquist]

I'm sure this is it. There will never be a shortage of people who want to fly.

Absolutely.

I recall that not very long ago a hello school in NV closed its doors with no refunds for the students who somehow had agreed to take out loans and prepay for training.  If memory serves some of the personal losses were in six figures.

Anybody know if the pay for a helo pilot would even come close to making it financially rational to pay to qualify for an entry level job?

[Tupac]

Absolutely.

I recall that not very long ago a hello school in NV closed its doors with no refunds for the students who somehow had agreed to take out loans and prepay for training.  If memory serves some of the personal losses were in six figures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_State_Helicopters

they also had a pretty big operation here in New Braunfels, and ol' Jerry lived here. He got run out of town though, and rumor has it he is hiding. (and for good reason)

Silver State had a bike built for them by OCC and was delivered here to New Braunfels.

[pembquist]

Thanks for the link. What is it about aviation there seem to be plenty of good people in it but there also seem to be a lot of scum and scams. Death freight flying, counterfeit parts, fly by night charters etc. etc.  That whole outfit at Silver State should be in jail.

[Tupac]

Thanks for the link. What is it about aviation there seem to be plenty of good people in it but there also seem to be a lot of scum and scams. Death freight flying, counterfeit parts, fly by night charters etc. etc.  That whole outfit at Silver State should be in jail.

Unfortunately it was only the very top that knew something was awry. We have a whole bunch of helicopter flight schools that popped up when Silver State went bankrupt, the helicopters were auctioned off for peanuts and folks bought them to start their own flight school.

http://home.veracityaviation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=28

notice - founded february 2008. Same month Silver State went bankrupt. My understanding is a few of the CFIs pooled their funds and bought 2 R22s and 1 R44

http://www.helitourstx.com/about.htm

I personally know Steve and John, both great guys that bought a few helicopters and started their own business.


I think all in all, Silver State going under was good. It gave lot's of people the opportunity to start a business that would have otherwise not had one. I agree that the silver state fat cats should be in jail, however.

[Reschke]

I have been told by a friend who is in the Air Force Reserves and used to fly AC-130s and now flies the MC-130s that the USAF is wanting to convert a bunch of fixed wing pilots over to rotor wing in order to fill the shortages that the USAF is going to have in the not to distant future for their rotor wing units.

[ap1102]

There is no shortage of pilots boys. Read the comments below the article. this is an ad by the helo training school to drum up business. be careful before you post this kind of drivel OP.

[ozrocker]

Mainly as noted it was for Selino, who is in the Army and trying to get into Helo School
I did not write the article, merely posted it here. Not my job to research anything, as I am not an editor
or reporter. Nor am I a Helo Pilot, or run a School.
I posted for the benefit (if any) of anyones interest.
If it gets to you that much, write the Author of original story




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[Reschke]

No there isn't a shortage of pilots at all. There is going to be a massive shortage of helo drivers in the future in all areas of the service.