Q: What can a Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence holder expect to earn?

"Ken Sandyeggo" wrote in message
...
From someone who's been around the block a few times, if you pick
training and a profession based solely on what it pays, you're doomed
to miserableness. If you don't love, or at least like a lot what
you're doing, you may as well go straight to hell, do not pass "GO"
and do not collect the $200. More pay is way less desireable than
doing something you love to do. I finally got bored with my sign shop
after almost 13 years, sold it and am now almost halfway through a
course in nursing so I can work with kids, something I first thought
of about 35 years ago. The next oldest student in my class is 18
years my junior and I'm 40 years older than the youngest one. Save
working for starving wages, do what your heart tells you. Don't let
anything stop you or anyone talk you out of it. There'll be struggles
and hard times, but in the end, you'll be much richer than the guy
that slugs it out at a job he hates for 40 years in order to get a
pension......that may or may not be there when he expects it. Just
had an ex-sister-in-law that stayed devoted to ATT in Chicago for over
22 years, commuting over 90 miles per day via car and train one-way to
get there. She would have been eligible for her pension in a couple
of years and was looking forward to it. "Sorry, we're closing the
department. Here's a couple months pay and good luck in your job
hunt." (Sound of door slamming behind her). She gets diddly, because
the pension "benefit" was completely company funded, so she had no
vested interest in it at all. That sounds good when you're first
hired; a free pension. Her pension was worth exactly what she put
into it....zilch.

Ken J. - Sandy Eggo


Thanks for that, it pretty much sums up the way I feel.
However, I'm not looking into the money in order to make the decision, I'm
looking into the practicalities of a decision I've just about made.

Unfortunately the amount of money I unexpectedly came across is just barely
enough to do the course, so it won't pay for many extra hours above the
licence itself. So I'll end up spending $40K and have 105 hours clocked up.
If I can't then get some extra hours up at someone else's expense, my
current job certainly won't provide for them with a wife, kids, mortgage,
and car loan to feed. I need to be practical about it, cause the other
course of action with $40k would mean, NO car loan, HALF the mortgage, and a
wife who would then be able to quit her job and work part time - which has
been her dream for a long time. Her dream, or mine? As much as I like
doing things for ME, I love doing things for her, and so if I can't increase
my income from this dream, then I'd rather help her meet her dream.

Besides, I'm over 38, I'd be 39 by the time I finished the course, that
means trying to find work at 40, with only 105 hours clocked up. I don't see
that happening.
I would think, that 105 hours and then basically NONE, might actually hurt
far more than never having flown.

Oh well, it's given me food for thought, 45 hours less time to get the
licence, means 45 more lots of $350 in my pocket, which means more than
enough to go to the US, do the licence, come back, and also spend a nice
chunk on the Missus, but I'd need to look into the requirements once I get
back here, regarding changing the licence over.

Trentus

I would'nt fly a helicopter in Australia if i was you. They do not keep track
of hours in use, which determines a maintenance schedule. Come to the usa
Pompano Helicopters

ChopperJon2 wrote:

I would'nt fly a helicopter in Australia if i was you. They do not keep track
of hours in use, which determines a maintenance schedule. Come to the usa
Pompano Helicopters


I beg your pardon!

And don't just quote one accident report from station properties.

Whats your reasons for the statement?

r

I think 'Ops' has got it fairly wrong. In the large, Australian
operators maintain excellent records and safe machines (as is required
by law).


--
dharakos
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ]
- A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what they fly -

dharakos wrote:
I think 'Ops' has got it fairly wrong. In the large, Australian
operators maintain excellent records and safe machines (as is required
by law).


--
dharakos
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ]
- A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what they fly -



No I queried the statement below by Chopper Jon2.

The R22 which had a blade failure in Queensland is the one that comes
to mind which the hours were not recorded correctly and in doing so the
R22 main rotor blade incurred a fatigue-related in-flight separation
failure. http://www.atsb.gov.au/aviation/occu...ail.cfm?ID=294

r
.................................................. .............................

ChopperJon2 wrote:

I would'nt fly a helicopter in Australia if i was you. They do not
keep track
of hours in use, which determines a maintenance schedule. Come to the usa
Pompano Helicopters



I beg your pardon!

And don't just quote one accident report from station properties.

Whats your reasons for the statement?

r

Oops, sorry Ops - I actually meant that the person making the blanket
statement that Australian operators don't record times was wrong. Sorry
got the names a bit mixed!


ops wrote:
*dharakos wrote:
I think 'Ops' has got it fairly wrong. In the large, Australian
operators maintain excellent records and safe machines (as is
required
by law).


--
dharakos

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ]
- A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what
they fly -



No I queried the statement below by Chopper Jon2.

The R22 which had a blade failure in Queensland is the one that
comes
to mind which the hours were not recorded correctly and in doing so
the
R22 main rotor blade incurred a fatigue-related in-flight separation
failure. http://tinyurl.com/rkl9

r
.................................................. .............................

ChopperJon2 wrote:

I would'nt fly a helicopter in Australia if i was you. They do not
keep track
of hours in use, which determines a maintenance schedule. Come to
the usa
Pompano Helicopters



I beg your pardon!

And don't just quote one accident report from station properties.

Whats your reasons for the statement?

r *


--
dharakos
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ]
- A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what they fly -