Expert: Mike Hicks - 6/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi I am a 14 year old, 15 in about a month. I have always had a passion for driving things and flying things and have an interest in flying. I want to pursue a career in aviation, but I didn't want to always be traveling and gone a lot, so I was thinking about being stationary as an air lift helicopter pilot for a hospital. I also think it would be really fun and exciting. I'll be graduating in three years and just wanted a heads up on what I should do. What are the steps I should take to get into this career. A lot of people have suggested the military to begin an aviation career, but I was just wondering if you could help explain the steps and give me an idea. Thank you!

ANSWER:
Benjamin,

Hi and thanks for using All Experts. Let me start by saying the aviation field is a great way of making a living, but a hard one to break into. Like many professions it requires alot of schooling, time, money and a strong desire to see it through. The driving force behind being hired by ANY carrier or your case a hospital/air evac is experience. You must have the ratings for example; lets use your case air evac, requires at least a commercial license and sometimes a ATP or airline transport rating. If you decide to get a commercial rating in a helicopter on your own (not military) it is going to cost somewhere north of $60,000. Now the ATP requires 1500 hrs of flying time, at approx $239 per hour you can do the math. Thats why people like myself have told you, if you want to fly helicopters then the military is the way to go.

Next: again using air evac as an example, most companies require 2000 hrs of flight experience, because that's what their insurance carriers desire. If they hire someone with less, the premiums start getting higher, money drives the train Benjamin.

Still interested? ok then here's what I would do, if you decide the military is not for you, then you will need to get your private license, then commercial license, then a certified flight instructor rating. Start out by hiring on as a flight instructor to build that valuable and necessary flight time.

I hope this helps...let me know if I can be of further assistance

and thanks again for using ALL Experts

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you! That helped alot. I think I would definitely take the military route, so I was just wondering if you know how I would get into it, or what area of the military I would join. To me something like coast guard would be exciting and I would really want to look into it, but I just don't want to be in the line of fire in the military. Things like dropping off supplies and transporting soldiers is what I would enjoy, or the coast guard like I said. So really how I would get there, and then how long of a commitment it really is or just until I get my hours and experience. Thanks

Answer
Hey again Benjamin,

Ok let me be as accurate as possible, things change often in the military as far as requirements and so forth. The Coast Guard Good group of folks with an important mission, They are going to require a 4 year degree and pass their series of aptitude test, the same will apply to the Navy,Air Force and Marines. The Army (Unsure of currency) a high school to flight school program, it required fairly high GT score (IQ) and pass a series of aptitude test. Check with the local recruiter to see if it still exist. If you rather stay out of combat then Coast guard might be for you, but no guarantees on that either.  Commitment? well again varies with each service normally 4-6 years, in which time you would have your experience.  Hope this helps

Mike