Helicopter Pilot Jobs - 18 Pilot Positions Explained!!
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- čas přidán 9. 06. 2024
- There are so many different jobs a helicopter pilot can do so in this video I use my knowledge and experience to describe the many different types of jobs that you could do as a helicopter pilot! Some of those jobs require thousands of hours of experience and some you are able to get straight out of flight school.
This video tells you all you need to know about what is needed for each job and what it's like to do that job!
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If you are thinking of learning to fly ANY aircraft I highly recommend you check out 'Over 100 Ways to Save Money on Flight Training' at PilotTeacher.com
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In This Video:
0:00 Start
01:10 Flying Instructor
05:05 News Helicopter Pilot
08:14 Co-Pilot
10:42 Crop Protection Pilot
12:19 Ferry Flight Pilot
14:11 Photo Flight Pilot
15:55 Tour Pilot
18:05 Utility Pilot
19:25 Game & Wildlife Pilot
20:58 EMS Pilot
24:00 Law Enforcement Pilot
25:32 Search & Rescue Pilot
27:52 Heli-Logging Pilot
30:05 Vertical Reference Pilot
32:12 Heli-Skiing Pilot
33:57 Corporate/VIP Pilot
36:27 Offshore Pilot
37:57 Fire Fighting Pilot
Find Out How Much Helicopter Pilots Make in Each of These Sectors:
pilotteacher.com/helicopter-p...
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Whether you are a student pilot, a pilot, or just an aviation enthusiast, this channel and the website are for you. Be sure to check out some great articles about helicopters and all aspects of aviation at PilotTeacher.com
My love of aviation began at a very young age and the fascination of everything that flies still lives to this day. This CZcams channel is a mix of aircraft doing their thing or answering questions to some of the most commonly asked aviation questions.
My day job as a full-time helicopter pilot allows me to dive deep into the topics and bring you up close and personal with many aircraft and the more questions I get in the comments the more videos I can create for you to answer those questions.
Being able to fly is a real privilege and taking you along for the ride when I can is something that I love to do!
Enjoy!
Rick James
PilotTeacher.com
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Like to become a helicoptrr piolet.
Love his description of being a flight instructor. “Having somebody next to you that’s going to try and kill you and trying to stop them from killing you.” I cracked up so hard.
Thats pretty much every flight!!
I do jiujitsu. I think Ill be fine
When I went to flight school one of my instructors outlined the different ratings from the bottom up:
Private pilot certificate- a license to kill yourself
Instrument rating- now you can kill yourself in the clouds
Commercial rating- you can kill your self while someone pays you to do it
CFI- a license to let someone else kill you
Hey there! I believe it's a kind of English sense of humor because the narrator have the Yorkshire accent or something like that, may be I'm wrong :)but not so much
Tararabit
This is by far the most comprehensive list of jobs for a heli pilot. Awesome!
Glad i could help!!
Great video. I will say the pay varies MASSIVELY depending on location. For instance, where I am, the starting average pay for heli pilot is around 70k, pretty much unanimously. Average pay is around 100k. Top 10% pay around 140k. The schooling is still around 40-50k, so you can take student loans out for the 6 months of schooling, no interest for a few years, pay them off in 3-4 years, and be very set on a nice career. I am 34 and thinking about doing flight school outside of my normal job until I can license up and support myself financially by flying. It's scary to make a huge career switch from IT to flying helicopters when you have zero experience. The cost is high, even for basic learning. A simple discovery flight is 200-400 which is crazy high.
You gotta do it Jason! You will not regret it!! Be sure to keep an eye on pilotteacher.com for my new course on how to save money on flight training. It could really help you. Scheduled for release in the next few weeks!
Considering doing the same thing at 32. I work for a fire department in Socal as a Fire Inspector but becoming a Fire Pilot interests me a lot. The requirements are high though (ex. min 4,000 PIC hours.)
I'm 32 and also thinking the same thing. I always wanted to be a helicopter pilot but ended up working in film and TV
What location are you in can I ask? For those wages?
Hi guys, I just found this video and your comment got my attention @jason. I'm a UX Designer and I'm thinking about doing the same(switching carriers at 31YO). Can any of you tell me if you were able to start and how is it going? Thanks in advance!
Hoping to start school in the coming year. Been working on it for a while and preparing to move across country. I'll be forwarding this video to all the friends and family that seem to keep asking if there is even any work available for choppers. People seem to think its just a child's fantasy or strictly law enforcement and medical. Possibly a 42 minute video on the topic will calm their nerves. Thanks for the resource.
Hey Steven.
It is a massive industry once you are in it. I know many people who had no idea there were so many different types of flying jobs!
That great to hear you are starting flight school next year, you are going to have so much fun! I would suggest you check out my course at pilotteacher.com as it will help you save a boat load of cash on your training!
I moved across the country to pursue my helicopter career too! My family did not understand either but, as cheesy as it sounds, I hope you followed your dreams!
@beccacollins1107 I did. Thanks for asking! My program is a 141 school, which is part of a college, so it's a lot of academics, but I had my first actual flight with an instructor last week and am going up again in the morning. It was terrifying, but it will get better, I'm sure. Good luck to you.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video, very in-depth review! You could only get this type of review by specifically speaking with people in the industry.
Thanks Ted! Im glad you liked it. Theres lots of other videos you may find helpful on the channel. Also check out my website for more articles to help you.
I’m about 10 flight hours in but I love this channel for info! Loving flying so far, looking forward to the future!
Awesome! I remember being around those hours and still trying to get the damn thing to stay in a hover!!
Really informative! Thanks 🙏
Currently doing my commercial licence, just hoping to get a job flying when I'm done
Just keep knocking on the doors of Chief Pilots and take any break you can get. Be helpful, listen lots, know your flight manual inside out and have patience. Getting that first job can be the hardest!! Good Luck!!
This was so informative, thank you!!
Glad you liked it!
Great video with lots of information, didnt realize how many different jobs there are.
Thanks mate
And thats only some of them….
Great video, loved all of the insight. Thanks!
Hey man, thank you for making this video, very helpful!
Nice! Thanks for the comment!
Great video , great information , Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great informational video! I plan on starting my flight training very soon, wish me luck!
Oh you are going to have so much fun!! Enjoy!!!
Great overview. Well done. Thanks.
You’re welcome Dennis!
This was really great to learn! I didn't know about how many jobs there were in being a helicopter pilot! Great resource!
and this is just a small selection of them!!!
By far the best synopsis I’ve seen. Great job.
Thanks! Im glad you liked it!
Very good, educational video with not just knowledge based on flying but also including info from the specific field of flying like talking about the logging pilot and why they use them. Thank you for the video!
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for putting this video together and sharing your experience/knowledge of the industry.
You’re welcome!
Just found this channel, very informative video, thanks!
Thanks! Im glad you like it!!
Good video, I'm looking to start flight training this year and this is great to know
Glad it helped! Be sure to check out my course to help you save money on your flight training. Best $15 you will ever spend! PilotTeacher.com
Thank you for this valuable information, Great video.
Thanks Danny. Im glad you found it helpful!
Great video. Thanks so much!
Awesome! Glad you liked it!
Awesome Video Sir!
Thanks Ernest!
Great video. Watched it from beginning to end. I've always wanted to get my pilots licence and the two things that appealed to me most was EMS and fire fighting. Let's see how things pan out.
Glad you liked it! EMS is great if you have a family as your home everyday but it can be not much flying and it can take a bit to gain the necessary hours before being able to apply for that job.
Firefighting is good if you don’t mind being away from home all summer and will take considerable flying experience before you can get on fires with your own aircraft. Getting a copilot position on a firefighting helicopter can be great experience but the pay will be low for many, many years.
Both can be very satisfying and rewarding flying once you get there!! I have personally enjoyed doing both types of flying.
Very, very interresting video! Thank you 👍😁
Glad you enjoyed it Raphael!
Thank you so much sir 🙏🏻 this helps a lot
You’re welcome!
Great video!
Thanks Cole!
Thank you for the information. I enjoyed it. Will put this in action.
My pleasure Leon!
Very interesting video! Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Great video, thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent information !!!!!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!!
Great video! Looking into what a future as an aviator in the coast guard will be like. Its tough to get on but really hoping to get there one day.
If you don’t have a dream you can never reach it!!
Awesome, thanks for the insight 🤙
Stay healthy for all of us & Safety First! ✌😉
You’re welcome!
Excellent video 😊
Thanks!!
That was one of the best knowledgeable videos I’ve seen on the a-z helicopter’s videos ! Thanks mate 🇺🇸😎🍺
Thanks Tom!! Be sure to check out all the other videos I have. Lots of good stuff.
Absolutely 👍 it was very informative 🙌🏻 I just started flying the r22 . I’ve flown Cessna’s when I was 15-16😬🤐 had a older friend who had his pilots license and would take me up n show me all sorts of crazy shit !😂😂🤐 I’ve been a heavy equipment operator for almost 30 years so helicopters came easier for me because I can easily do hand n foot rotation n act as a extension of my lol body as I’m sure you know what I mean… but awesome videos & I will absolutely watch any sent to me … & would love to fly with you and pick your brain on my dime 😊 have a great weekend and safe flying… on n 1 more thing … I also enjoy jumping out of…… 😎 🪂 🇺🇸🍺😎
A profession I really respect 🙏🚁🙏
Excellent and comprehensive. Wish I heard this in school…
Glad you found it helpful!
Awesome to hear the call out to "the Cougar guys"...I'm one of them. Been at Cougar for about 5 years now and love it. You're right in that we fly in some of the most challenging weather conditions in the world but the 92 was built for it. Our training is second to none with a CAE S92 simulator right in St. John's. Our offshore minimums are 1/2 mile but like you said, essentially 1/8th (RVR600) for our LTS approval on the CATII ILS back onshore. I've flown a lot of different jobs over the years, many mentioned in your video. You're right on with all of it. I've had the most fun flying tours in the Grand Canyon with Maverick in Las Vegas. And as your life changes, it's good to know that you can move around and try different things. My schedule is 3 weeks on/off and I live in a completely different part of the country and it's a lifestyle I wouldn't trade for the world. It hasn't been easy but it's good now.
Hi Ken. I really thought about coming to Cougar but the time away from home was too much. Having the sim in St Johns must be nice, although having to go to Florida or Louisiana in the middle of a Canadian winter for sim training was a nice change!!
@@PilotTeacher It's a good shift to have when the kids fledge. Having the SIM 15 minutes from work is awesome - we get more SIM time than anyone else in the industry but yeah, I could dig FS in FL right about now.
@@KensWorldRestorations good to know. Although I still have 10 years to go until im free of the monsters!!
thank you very helpful
You're welcome!
GREAT video
Thanks Nick!
Im searching for job opportunities and I’ve always loved helicopters and that is the route I’m going for and this helped a lot
I’m glad you found it helpful!
My uncle flew army for his career. Than flew ems for over 25 years. When the local New channels pilots would be on vacation they would reach out to the email pilots. There was a few times my uncle got to fly for the news. They did lots of search and rescue. I also new other ems pilot and he flew for the coast guard for a career. Lots of great stores these guys would share.
Oh for sure! I love to sit and drink with the retired boys!!
Thanks for this video, Im starting to study for this and hopefully can get licensed before Im 25 :D
There is no rush! I know pilots who got licensed in their fifties!
Good information, especially mentioning the hours requirement and what you can get out of the positions. Is starting CPL(H) course at 28 too late for a helicopter career? As quite a lot of ppl start right after high school. Thanks!
Your age is no barrier!! I started my CPL at 26. The only time age becomes an issue is when you want to enter the military. Then your best bet would be to speak to a recruiter.
@@PilotTeacher Wonder how do ppl get into SAR field (not military, e.g. Bristow)? How many hours needed? Thanks!
@@jer_chiu SAR is not a job that pilots go into straight out of flight school. It is a difficult and demanding job and requires extensive experience before you will meet the requirements. Here is a SAR pilot job posting from Bristow. You can see you need 3000 hours and experience in a complex helicopter like the AW139 or S92:
bristow.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Careers/job/Americas--US--Louisiana--Galliano/AW139---or-S92-Search-and-Rescue-Pilot_R-0001692-1
Been my experience that late bloomers dont fare as well as some one starting in their late teens...kind of like musicians.
Thank you for the heads up I'm 18 so I vetter start now
I am too old to go for a commercial pilot job, I am mid 60s. I have been strongly considering adding rotorwing to go with my fixed wing however. It would be a challenge and fun. Thank you.
At 60 it could be very tough to get into a commercial job but you could also consider adding a CFI rating and then be able to help pass on your knowledge and have the fun of flying both aircraft!
Great video! I’m from Mexico and I’m looking for helicopter training in Chinook helicopters school on Abbotsford BC. I hope to take part with the fire fighters in te future
Hey Jorge. I too trained at Chinook many, many years ago when I moved to Canada. You may also want to check out BC helicopters who are also in Abbotsford. They have a CZcams channel called PilotYellow and the schools owner Micha is a great teacher to follow!!
@@PilotTeacher Thanks a lot! I’ll take your recommendation and check that school
Show 👏 👏
@23:40 I'm literally sitting in that building watching this video....lol
I also used to work on another nearby helicopter as medical staff.
Thats cool!!
Ayyye Sky Helicopters!
Great video! I was wondering if the jobs that require a lot of experience also require a degree. I'm in college for computer science right now and I kind of hate it, but if it helps me land good jobs in the future i guess I can stick it out.
Hi Noah,
Typically, most aviation jobs do not require a degree per se, but some jobs like to have a degree to prove you can work at the intellectual level required for the type of job posted. I do not have a degree as I went the technical apprenticeship routing and it's never been a problem. FLying experience is far more important to the employer and if you have the right experience but no degree this will be something you will have to talk about with the employer.
If you are already in a degree you may as well stick it out and begin your flight training outside of school hours, or another option is to see if you can transfer to an aviaiton-based degree at many of the colleges that offer it. Hope this helps.
Nope. Pass the ATPL exams and the checkrides and build experience, get the right contacts and you get the jobs. A lot of heli pilots don’t have degrees.
That is one information packed video. Great job! Do ex-military pilots take a lot of these jobs? How much do they affect opportunities for civilians coming through the flight schools?
Ex-military have the experience and alot of them head into EMS and Law enforcement. By the time you have the same experience for that job then its usually a level playing field at interview time.
Coming out of flight school you won’t be competing with ex-mil pilots so I wouldn’t worry about that.
Was hoping to see low level survey in the list! We do this work in Australia.
Hi Don,
I have done a lot of low level survey work bit its usually under the ‘Utility’ job title. There are companies that specialize in powerline, pipeline, rail line patrols but I had to generalize the sectors in the video or it would have been 2 hours long.
Where is the location of that landscape at @15:30 ?? Crazy!!
About crop drying: Here is a you tuber, "The Wandering Pilot" that flies a Sikorsky S-58 to dry cherry crops.
Title of video: Sikorsky S-58 Startup and Cherry Drying
There are a few of them out there doing it with all different machines.
As a 62 yr old electrical engineer, with no flight experience, apart from FS on the computer.
I sincerely do not think that anybody would employ me as a Pilot of rotor or fixed wing aircraft, irrespective of any training I received!
You might be surprised. Ive know several new pilots who were in their late 50’s or early 60’s.
Hi Sir, I am from Canada, planning to become a Commercial pilot or a EMS Heli pilot. Here are some questions I have
(In High School)
- Which will be better, Commercial Airline pilot, or EMS Heli Pilot?
-If I want to become an EMS STARS Air Ambulance Pilot (Canada), do I have to go to university?
- Is pay rate for EMS Pilot low or high?
-Will EMS Helicopter Pilot, ro Commercial pilot will still be a relevant career in 2030 (not taken over by AI and robots)?
-Is being an EMS Heli pilot a dangerous job in terms of flying?
-If I decide to go in law enforcement, will I still be able to become a heli pilot with them without military flyign experience?
-Do I start Flight school after university? (As I do want to go to university) Is going to an aviation college or university good for Helicopter pilot?
Thank you.
Afghanistan had many civilian rotor pilots, but like law enforcement, it was probably mostly former military. Great video. Very informative.
Alot of countries only hire ex-military pilots for Law Enforcement. Not sure why as I know many pilots who have much better experience than some military pilots.
Thanks for the complete video, I'm french and planning to get my commercial licence in Canada, I was wondering, and I've heard it doesn't work like in the US as far as flight intructing, most of them are experienced and you don't build your hours like this in canada ? Is it hard and common to get a ground crew job as a low hour pilot and then if the company trusts you, after a few years you'll become a pilot, is it the only way to build your hours in Canada ?
Thanks for your time
Pretty much. It will take a lot of hard work to get that first job, but depending on the company you could be working on the ground for a few years or they could get you flying right away. You will get there if you put in the work!
@@PilotTeacher thanks for the answer
I would watch the wend over production video on air ambulance economics because it’s interesting
Thanks! Ill be sure to take a look!
do they pay you to be a flight instructor? if so about how much? a range?
Utility would be my way to go. I love variation
Utility is the most diverse flying job you can have! I have been in utility for years and almost every job I learn something new from the people I fly and/or work with!!
@@PilotTeacher it really is. I now drive coaches with a diverse work availability. I talked my boss into helicopters and he might start a sub company, but i don't have my hopes up just yet. But would be nice.
I nearly started training until my mom decided to become a banshee and ruin my plans so i moved out. And with cirrent prices it is a bit hard. But i will get there eventually. Only 23 so i have plenty of time
to add a note to this: instructing will only be the first job in the U.S, nearly every other location it will be tour and charter flying. for example, australia is regarded as a pretty decent country for new pilots because of the major tourism industry but after that its hard to find work as all HEMS work is twin engine 139s or 412s requiring several thousand hours and many other certs, police is hard to get into as all are state run and as such theres only a few helis a state over the 8 states and territories. however most of the large operators for each major city will be working state wide in many industries so its possible if you got a job with one you could me doing long line, firefighting, tourism, instructing, skiing, and utility work, a major company i know of hires its students for tourism in the northern territory in light single engine turbines and also gets called upon for search and rescue when needed
Thanks for your input! I have no experience with Australia. Just the UK and US as this is also where most of my audience are based.
UK often has low time instructors. Lots of us started like this 👍
What is the helicopter called in the thumbnail. It looks awesome
Samuel that is an Airbus H135. Before Airbus bought them it was a Eurocopter EC135. A beautiful aircraft to fly! So smooth and quiet!
Hello there, great video with great information
I was just wondering I'm assuming you are from the uk I was wondering how did you end up flying in the US for work ? What did you have to do ?
Thank you
Hi Kraypher, I went to the U.S. to train using one of their training visas. At that time it was only valid for 2 years so after that I moved to Canada as I'd applied for permanent residence there and was granted it before my 2 years were up in the U.S.
If you want more information about the U.S. training videos you can check out my video on them here: czcams.com/video/jJwEZU6u_LM/video.html
@@PilotTeacher thank you very much.
Looking forward to following this channel good information!
I love your voice! You sound like the rock man from thor Ragnarok
I've been in a police helicopter that was cool the cameras was Insane could see the other side of Bristol
Hey Dan! Yes, they have some pretty cool tech on those ships. You might like this video where we get up close and personal with a police helicopter in the US and its pilot gives you a guided tour:
Law Enforcement Pilot - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know!!
czcams.com/video/utD_U8W6vrY/video.html
I had wanted to become a CRP but wasn't aware or privy to the financial resources available ! So instead after I got out of the U.S. Coast Guard I became a Tugboat Captain / Mate which in turn led me into Longshoring . Now I drive (STS) Ship To Shore container cranes which I think may incorporate many of the same skill sets ? I would like to take a helo pilot up into the crane with me and see how they do at loading and discharging a container or break bulk ship ! And then get their opinion on how well they think I might have been as a Helo pilot !!! And I'ld let them drive the crane in comparison ! Unfortunately I'm now to old to make a career transition (61.5)years old but I did used to go and take demo flights back in my thirties just for the fun of it !!! Fair winds and following seas to you brother !!! TRB
Hahaha I’ve often thought the same about the crane operators and their hand to eye coordination. Which city do you live in as I would love to have a go at container loading if I ever show up in your neck of the woods!
Vertical reference flying would be very similar to as it is all about keeping the load steady and getting acquired to the sight picture from a long distance above the load.
Chair, ,,,
Thanks.!
You’re welcome
I currently have 70 hours of Total time getting ready for checkride Fixed wing PPL and ive been wanting to make it a career and go for the airlines but sometimes I wander if I should go for Rotor Craft and become a EMS pilot. What should I do?
Thats a tough one. If you want the money go for the airlines. If you want to see the world while you fly, go for the helicopter.
I live in Northern California, there's only 2months out of the year that my backyard isn't on fire.
Oh wow that must be tough! We only have fire season for about two months here and the smoke certainly gets old real quick!
Stay safe!
Okay so I’m interested in this as a career path but don’t know where to start. Do I just take lessons until I have a lot of hours(pretty expensive) or are there schools for me to attend? And is there any advice you would give for someone just starting out?
Hi Riley,
You must have ESP as at this very moment I'm editing a video that should help answer your questions! Be sure to stay tuned for my next video ;)
@@PilotTeacher okay perfect. Can’t wait.
Thanks! Do you recommend any helicopter schools in the San Francisco bay area?
No idea im afraid. I would ask on some of the helicopter forums.
Cool! I saw my house. :-D
hello there being form Asia i have more than 1100 total flying hours 600 hrs on helicopters. if i move abroad will i find a flying jobe ?
Hello sir Im a currently a high school student from south korea and ive got a few questions if doesnt bother you.
1. Is it possible to work abroad through visas and stuff??
2. Do you think this is an adventurous, exciting career? My original desired job was an airplane pilot but ive heard that the job was a fairly one way career and that sounded rather boring. Thats why i was thinking of being a RW pilot.
3. Can you change jobs frequently?? Id love to experience a lot of different things.
4. Should i go to college? I know this a tricky question sorry
Your reply would be much appreciated
Let me help you answer these...
1. You can get visas that allow you to train in other countries. For the U.S. i have this video on the U.S. training visas: czcams.com/video/jJwEZU6u_LM/video.html
2. You can make your career as adventurous as required. I have flown in three countries, seen some amazing places and worked with people in fields of expertise I never knew existed. Adventure is there for sure!
3. You can change as often as you which once you get enough experience, just don't change too often or it can look bad on your resume.
4. Depending on where you live, college is not a requirement for a helicopter pilot. This article from my blog may help you:
pilotteacher.com/do-all-pilots-need-a-college-degree-it-depends/
My dad does the grand canyon
I know a few pilots who have flown ‘The Trench’ and they loved it!
So, is firefighting pilot the most prestigious because it was the last job listed?
Nope, just the way the list went.
As a utility pilot can you use your own helicopter as long as it fits the job you are going to do say some one owns a old sky crane and the job they are about to do is lifting something
You bet. We use ours for work at the owners camp all the time. If you start doing work for compensation then you need to make sure all your paperwork, qualifications and insurance is in place before hand.
@@PilotTeacher ok thanks for the reply and the info
can you tell us about some of your close calls?
Ive only had one or two that I would call close calls to the general public they will probably just think ‘is that all!!’ Hahaha
You could be an air show performer.
Not many helicopter performers outside of the Military!
Hi
Great Video lots of good information, I was wondering if you good shed a bit more light on Utility work done in the UK do know of any Uk based companies that do this work. For me Utility helicopter work is what a helicopter flying is all about. Flying to remote isolated locations that are in in accessible by any other means sounds a lot better than the strict regimented flying the Airline guys do. However, I cannot see that there is a great need for Utility helicopter work in the UK has pretty much everywhere is accessible by other means but correct if I am wrong on this.
Hi Sean,
You are exactly correct and this was the very reason I left the UK after getting my PPL. The amount of work there is very limited compared to here in North America.
Most of the utility work is either for offshore windfarm, powerline inspection or work for the coastguard. For much of the work the companies require high time pilots and the constant outflux of military pilots seem to fill that need.
The other problem that I'm now starting to see is the use of commercial drones for a lot of inspection work. Some of it still needs to be done by a helicopter because of the distances covered, but between most places being accessible by road and the companies that are already in place with high time pilots, there is not much 'Utility' work to go around.
If you are able to look into Permanent Residency for other countries like US, Canada, Oz then you may stand a far better chance of getting into utility.
Hope this helps.
Rick
@@PilotTeacher Thank for the reply this really helps a lot, great channel by the way
@@seanwalburn1547 thanks for the praise!
There’s one more job helicopter mustering in Australia by far the most dangerous job as if today I think 16-18 people have died
Thats the exact reason why I left it off! It is also very specialized in that you need ranching experience before you become a mustering pilot. Pretty much all of my viewers watching this don’t have that.
Crop duster, cattle mustering,
Yep for sure! I had to keep the list to the most popular jobs or It would have been an hour long!! Thanks for the comment though Jack!!
Great video!
I am 39 to turn 40 in February. Is it too late for me to learn to fly a helicopter and get a job afterwards? What do you advise please?
It is never too late to learn how to fly, however getting that first job is always the toughest. You and you family have to be prepared to move house and be on practically minimum wage for a few years while you do the grunt jobs.
Hi Rick, it seems you've flown in a couple different countries maybe? If so, could you do a video on the process of converting from U.S. (FAA) to Canada (TCCA)?
Hey Bhaggs. I thought about it but the audience is so small is was not worth my time.
Its basically do a medical, write the exam for comm or pvt and then take a few hours of flight for the conversion and do the flight test.
@@PilotTeacher thanks for the fast response! So, do another medical in addition to the FAA one (that doesn't convert over). Do companies usually assist with those "few hours of flight" before you do the flight test? I'm interested in flying in Canada but unsure if needing all the conversion requirements would disuade employers from hiring US pilots
@@PilotTeacher i just sent you a direct message on IG for easier chatting if that works for you
@@BHCJ11 nope. No company will pay for you to convert. They will only give you initial training for their company once hired and to prepare you for the PPC ride.
You have far more opportunities to fly in the US than Canada, trust me.
I live in Colorado and wanted to get into a heli skiing job but like I have no idea how much it pays and I cant find anything for pay on Google
Hey Dylan,
Colorado has lots of heliskiing and it's a great job to eventually get into but takes alot of mountain flying experience before you will be able to do it. I know heliski pilots that generally fly for companies that do other work in the summer time so most ski pilots work year-round doing fires and utility work etc.
You can expect around $40-70K for a VERY good ski season flying every day once you have the experience. Add in those pilots that have a good fire season and you can easily rack in $200K per year but I can tell you now that you will be doing nothing but flying and being away from home for that kind of cash!
How much weight can a sky crane(?) haul? I ask that Q, how to get experience without the job?
The S-64 can lift 20,000lbs although their latest model the S-64F+ is supposed to lift more but no confirmed weight yet!
@@PilotTeacher 10 tons. How much to rent, Lincoln City KS to Indiana, depends on whether I get the house there that's free, it needs to be relocated,and the exterior needs work.
Currently an Apache Attack Helicopter pilot in the Army. Not sure if ill continue to fly when I get out. Or what my skill sets transfer to on the civilian side.
Now I’m jealous! You are flying my top bucket list helicopter! Any chance of a tour round it hahaha
There are many jobs available for ex mil pilots. Law enforcement and EMS are two of the most popular as you don’t have any utility or long lining skillsets coming from an Apache.
@PilotTeacher if you ever find yourself near Fort Campbell, KY I'd absolutely bring you on the airfield and show you around and in em. Maybe jump in a sim session and fly and shoot around lol.
@apacheoperator3207 can you shoot me an email to rick@pilotteacher.com
@@SubParPilot can you shoot me an email to rick@pilotteacher.com
I am filled with regret every day that I chose the wrong career path when I was younger. I'm an IT professional now and have been for many years, but I've come to hate the work and it's a dead-end career. Unfortunately, I'm 55 now, and I don't feel that I'm in a position financially or time-wise to get a helicopter pilot's license and then the flight hours necessary to be considered employable. I just feel like I'd be getting started at about the time most people are looking to retire and I can't see many places looking to hire someone near or beyond 60 years of age that barely has any experience outside of flight school.
If you plan to fly until you are 65 and have good health i would go for it. I know many pilots flying in their 60’s, especially doing a nice steady job like tours!
@@PilotTeacher But they most likely started much earlier, not at their 60.
Does anyone in this feed know, in the US to be a heli pilot in a wildlife field, is a biology/ wildlife related bachelors often required?
Nope. You just need to meet the flying experience required when you apply for the job.
If my medical conditions (bad back and deaf on one side on 2 frequences) my dreamjob as tankhunter in the army was denied.. Funnily enough i was good enough as aerial recon observer (made me understand why the back issue was a no-go after the 5th flight)
Yeah they are not the comfiest things in the world! I swear the seats are the last thing they design!!
haha totally, with scoliosis it is even worse, the constant vibrations could be easily have been dealt with using trucker seats (we bolted some for our observers into the Bo-105. sadly i heard they now stopped using that awesome piece of machinery ._.
@@Moorhuehnchen the truckers seat or the Bo-105??
Bo-105 P PAH-1 is no longer in service in germany. plus we were not longer allowed to use equipment that is not specifically designated for a specific system anymore. Sadly the good old times are long gone and everything has to be according to the paperworks. One soldier in a neighbouring base was dishonorably discharged for eating a sandwich that was made for lunch after lunchtime. Crazy world we live in
@@Moorhuehnchen bastards!! How dare they make you ride in uncomfortable chairs hahaha and yes, the world went mad decades ago!
What about military helicopters
I thought about it Dan but I have no experience with the military so I would not be able to give the most accurate advice, however I could look into getting in touch with a military recruiter to do a military specific video!
Soooo, you can be a pilot, or you can be a fire fighter, a crane operator, a tour guide, an expensive tripod, an uber, etc etc
Or all of them over your career!
There is no limit to what you can do.
Does having an a&p license help labs jobs as a pilot?
It sure will! The only problem is you have to careful the company does not take advantage of you and make you fly and wrench for just one wage!
do you know of any pilot jobs with security clearances?
Hi Jesse. Most of the law enforcement pilots including Police, Sheriff, Customs and Border and government agencies usually require security clearances. Most other jobs will be company specific regarding background checks. I hope this helps.
I'm related to" smokey Joe Foss"- please look him up they called him the aces of aces. He shot down more enemy planes than anyone in us history-46 during ww2,HE was awarded the metal of honor.i just took my first 🚁 ride about 3 weeks ago up in the smokey mountains.it was spectacular.. I'm interested in becoming a helicopter pilot i wish i could spend all day in a heli.anybody have any advice on where to start.im hoping a good scool..Thanks!!!God bless you and your channel!! 🚁
That first flight is a moment you will remember forever! I still remember mine!!
Are you looking to stay local for flight school or are you willing to go anywhere in the country??
Nice video, very informative however @19:43 needs to point his rifle downwards... Just saying...
Hahaha I never noticed that! Unless his barrel is unchambered!
This is so cool. I’m 35 and absolutely sick of corporate America desk jobs. I’m debating on becoming a heli pilot as it looks like such a fun gig that I wouldn’t dread going to every day. Is it worth leaving a 6 figure Corp job to go into this?
Its always worth it but it could be tough going back to an almost minimum wage for the first few years while you get enough experience to get the better paying flying jobs.
It will take a long time to get back to earning over $100K!
I did.