Long Shot---- Anyone here a helicopter pilot??

[freestyle_6981]

Anyone here a helicopter pilot?...I have some questions for you. I have about 8 more months in the Army, and then possibly off to a flight school, but I don't know much about it. Any tips??? which school??? anything???

TIA- Jason

[Jefe]

I can put you in touch with a pilot if you need. I do work for Fox and 9 News helicopters, and know both of their pilots, one used to be my neighbor. Maybe I can relay if you would like. Are you talking about army flight school, or civilian? There is a school up hear at JeffCo. They are flying constantly. I can get you their info also.

[theirishavenger]

Don't know anything about helicopters but I sure know that Amelia Earhart chick from 9news is a HOT-TAY.......I'd take a bath in HER rotorwash!


got nuthin'

[denverd0n]

Took a few lessons. Never got my license. All I can tell you is that it's harder than it looks, and compared to flying an airplane it is a LOT more work!

[Yota]

Flying fixed-wing is definitely easier than flying rotorcraft. Just takes practice practice practice like anything else.

But that helps you not at all with which flight schools to attend. I would think you could find some excellent contacts through the Army.

And on that note, have to you considered letting Uncle Sam put you through flight school and all the stuff that goes along with that? Of course that probably means... what... another 8 yr commitment IF you can even get accepted?

[Pilot]

I'm a fixed wing pilot. Like the others have said, rotorcraft is totally different except for navigation, communication and the avionics. I can get a rotorcraft add on, and a few of my friends have and I've flown with them. It is awesome, like and amusement park ride, low and slow in the weeds. With fixed wing you are taught to gain altitude and stay there as long as possible to give you time in case of emergencies like and engine failure, which is rare. Altitude is your friend, but you have no reference of movement, essentially droning along until your next destination. Fun? Hell yes, but why do all my passengers fall asleep? With helos, you fly at 1,000 AGL or a just bit more a lot and its just a whole nother form of flying. Fun, fun, fun!

Go for it and get Uncle Sam to pay. Hovering is the hardest part. Its like balancing a unicycle on a basketball, but it will click all at once given enough practice. Helo instruction is damn expensive because the hourly rate for renting a helo is huge. They are very maintenance intensive aircraft. Go here for a demo flight.

http://www.rotorsoftherockies.com/training/CFIInitial.htm

Oh, shoot, just noticed you're in Baghdad. Well go there when you get back on leave. I know these guys and they're good.

A buddy of mine commands an NJ ANG Blackhawk wing and did a recent tour in Iraq. Let me know if you want to talk to him. He's a Lt. Col. and a really good guy.

[Budman]

Took a few lessons. Never got my license. All I can tell you is that it's harder than it looks, and compared to flying an airplane it is a LOT more work!

This pretty much sums up my experience in the front seat of a helo. My time in the back, and on th skids will do you no good.

I'm a fixed wing pilot. Like the others have said, rotorcraft is totally different except for navigation, communication and the avionics. I can get a rotorcraft add on, and a few of my friends have and I've flown with them. It is awesome, like and amusement park ride, low and slow in the weeds. With fixed wing you are taught to gain altitude and stay there as long as possible to give you time in case of emergencies like and engine failure, which is rare. Altitude is your friend, but you have no reference of movement, essentially droning along until your next destination. Fun? Hell yes, but why do all my passengers fall asleep? With helos, you fly at 1,000 AGL or a just bit more a lot and its just a whole nother form of flying. Fun, fun, fun!

Go for it and get Uncle Sam to pay. Hovering is the hardest part. Its like balancing a unicycle on a basketball, but it will click all at once given enough practice. Helo instruction is damn expensive because the hourly rate for renting a helo is huge. They are very maintenance intensive aircraft. Go here for a demo flight.

http://www.rotorsoftherockies.com/training/CFIInitial.htm

Oh, shoot, just noticed you're in Baghdad. Well go there when you get back on leave. I know these guys and they're good.

A buddy of mine commands an NJ ANG Blackhawk wing and did a recent tour in Iraq. Let me know if you want to talk to him. He's a Lt. Col. and a really good guy.

This is all very good info. I will add that I am pretty sure that the GI bill will pay for most of your instruction, and Tuition assistance will pick up a lot of it while you are still in.

[Rimmer]

I have given a little thought to doing the same thing, I am watching the time tick away on using my GI Bill.

Last time i saw a helicopter up close I was hanging under it on a rapelling rope.

Let me know what you find out.

BTW I know Pueblo has a flight school for fixed wing that GI Bill will cover as they are affiliated with PPC, don't know if they offer rotary wing :shrug:

[freestyle_6981]

all great information

1. There is NO possibility of myself re-enlisting.

I am hoping to get my GI bill to pay for most of it. If not my GI Bill, then voc. rehab which is through the VA. I will let you know what I find out. I figured I better start looking into it now. I will be back in September, so I have some time to search around. I have gotten in touch with rotors of the rockies, I am hoping to get some good information from them. I just don't want some desk job where I am going to be bored out of my mind, might as well be happy going to work right?

[XJeep95]

university of north dakota.

[freestyle_6981]

university of north dakota.

??????????

[Rimmer]

UND in Grand Forks North Dakota.

Forgot about them, I had a room-mate in Vocational school that went to their pilots school, I didn't know if they had Rotary Wing, but their fixed wing program is pretty big.

Winters suck tho, the great white north eh....

Grew up about an hour north of there, summers are awesome tho.

[Pilot]

All I can tell you is that it's harder than it looks, and compared to flying an airplane it is a LOT more work!

Exactly. You are always using both hands and both feet. In a fixed wing aircraft, once I establish cruise, get it trimmed up I can put my feet on the floor and fly with my little pinky of my left hand. If its smooth I can cross my arms and just sit there and watch, or just turn on the autopilot and become an aircraft "manager". :D

[freestyle_6981]

Exactly. You are always using both hands and both feet. In a fixed wing aircraft, once I establish cruise, get it trimmed up I can put my feet on the floor and fly with my little pinky of my left hand. If its smooth I can cross my arms and just sit there and watch, or just turn on the autopilot and become an aircraft "manager". :D

I like the aircraft "manager," I may look into that also, but I really have always wanted to fly helicopters, so I will probably try that first.

[Markos]

I don't have much advice to add here. I just wanted to mention that there are millions of helicoptors flying around pheonix on a daily basis. Much more than Denver. New helicoptors, police helicoptors, rescue, military. They are everywhere. Then you have all of the scenic helicoptor stuff around the state. If you are finding that the market is tight in Denver or the training opportunities are slim, you may want to take a look in Phoenix.

[MountainJeep]

One thing to consider. The reason there is currently a shortage of helo pilots is that many are on active duty or been called up from reserves to fly in Iraq/Afganistan/support. When these guys and gals come home there will be a glut of pilots.

[Jefe]

I don't have much advice to add here. I just wanted to mention that there are millions of helicoptors flying around pheonix on a daily basis. Much more than Denver. New helicoptors, police helicoptors, rescue, military. They are everywhere. Then you have all of the scenic helicoptor stuff around the state. If you are finding that the market is tight in Denver or the training opportunities are slim, you may want to take a look in Phoenix.

Millions??????

[freestyle_6981]

One thing to consider. The reason there is currently a shortage of helo pilots is that many are on active duty or been called up from reserves to fly in Iraq/Afganistan/support. When these guys and gals come home there will be a glut of pilots.


So then I need to get on before the war is over I suppose.

[Yota]

I don't think I've ever met a commercial helo pilot who wasn't trained in the military. It's just so damned expensive to get all the ratings you need in the private world. Then again, I only know a couple helo pilots. One of them flew troops in nam. That was one guy who didn't get rattled about ANYTHING. Walked around with a permanent grin as if he were always thinking "I'm alive! None of this sh** matters!"

http://www.justhelicopters.com/employment/pilotjoblisting.asp?iChannel=10000

This is an interesting site showing job postings for helo pilots. This will give you an idea of what you'll be required to get in terms of certs and ratings.

Looks like you'll at least need Commercial Certificate with a rotorcraft and instrument rating but really they seem to be looking for ATPs (airline transport pilot), which is a step above commercial/instrument. You may even decide later on that you want to instruct in order to build time. CFI requires commercial/instrument first but it helps you build (free to you) hours toward your ATP.

Check out FAR Part 61 (http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14tab_02.tpl) for certificate requirements. You might as well learn this part well because you'll be tested on it for your private ticket.

If you're serious about training you can also look at Part 91 (flight rules, etc), part 135 (commercial ops), part 141 (formal flight school rules), and part 121 (airline carrier ops). Parts 61 and 91 will be the most important in your early training.

And also you'll need to know most of the stuff in the Aeronautical Information Manual (http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/AIM/) which is actually a very interesting thing to read.

In my experience, the actual flying of the aircraft is the easy part. It's the rules and airmanship knowledge (especially the instrument rating) that is the tedious part. But it's all worth the effort if you stick to it.

[AMMOtj]

I was talking to the Army ROTC at UND who said they have a full scholarship to UND's Helicopter school. He mentioned no one applies for it, so those that do, almost always get the scholarship.

[Pilot]

I don't think I've ever met a commercial helo pilot who wasn't trained in the military.

I know some who did it commercially. They did the CFI route to build hours. Yes it is expensive and you live like a slave for a while. Some of them are flying in the Gulf to and from oil rigs. The Gulf off of the U.S., not the Persian Gulf!

[freestyle_6981]

thanks for all the good info. everyone!!! more than I though I would get

[Gunter]

I know some who did it commercially. They did the CFI route to build hours. Yes it is expensive and you live like a slave for a while. Some of them are flying in the Gulf to and from oil rigs. The Gulf off of the U.S., not the Persian Gulf!
might that be the gulf of mexico? hahahahahaha

[Markos]

Millions??????

Yes. There are so many that sometimes you can't see the light of day. :D It's like a swarm of bees. Seriously though, there are tons. Probably on par with LA. Enough to cause a crash like this:

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=101841