Expert: David A. NewMyer - 7/26/2003

Question
Hi David,

I came by this site just by accident surfing around. I have 15 hrs of flying (as a pilot in command) toward a commercial helicopter pilot licence however I put it on the back burner (like many do) due to costs.

(as a passenger, I have many hours in both fixed wing and rotory wing - which doesnt count)

Im based in Canada. My goal is to fly on the west coast, charters, sight seeign that kind of thing.

My questions are;

1) is there any less financially painful way to fund this expensive goal? I tried the army but inorder to be a pilot in the army, you first have to become an officer and to ebcome an officer you need a degree, some 5 years, which would be too late for me.

2) Being as I want to end up in the US, is there any sense that I train in Canada? (besides the fact that I live here?

3) Im 37. Not exactly entery age. Also switching careers. I am not happy with the career Im in for 15 years but I beleive Im a natural for helicopters. First time I got in one, I felt quite at home, like I was supposed to be there (do you belive in reincarnation?) Im watching the poice helicopter go by as I write this thinking, that could be me. I realise its not a very high paying or glamourous job however to me, it would be heaven to do what I love and be paid as well.

any ideas would be gratly aprecited.

best, M/

Answer
Hi, Phil:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist.

A career change is never an easy thing to contemplate.  However, if you are dissatisfied with what you are doing to the point of sending me this message, then, I know that you are seriously thinking about this.  However, keep in mind that you need to have a plan to address the certification, experience and educational needs of the new career to which you are heading.  I am not sure I know all of those things for a commercial helicopter pilot, but, I do know that you have a long way to go to be considered marketable as a helicpter pilot.  Also, do some research into how large the helicopter flying segment of the industry actually is...even in the USA, helicopters amount to less that 10% of the total aircraft registered.  This implies that it is a fairly small segment of the aviation industry as compared to the fixed wing segment.  Check into Helicoper Association International or HAI for more information on the industry.  Another source of information is the magazine ROTOR/WING INTERNATIONAL.  I believe that they publish an annual list of training providers, etc.

To answer your questions:

1.  First of all, regarding money, there are two good sources that I am aware of for information on funds:

A.  A website:  www.AvScholars.com  This site has some good aviation career advice as well as listings of scholarship and loan programs; and,

B.  A listing of aviation scholarships totalling over $1.0 million US is kept by the University Aviation Association.   Contact them at: uaa@auburn.edu or by calling 334-844-2434 for informatin on ordering it....cost is about $12.95.

2.  With regard to where to train, yes, it makes sense to train in the USA if that is where you want to end up.  You might want to ask HAI or look at Rotor/Wing magazine for a list of locations that provide helicopter training in the USA....there are not a lot, but, HAI or R/W magazine will know where they are.  Another way to look at it is to look into what it would take to convert your Canadian training into US Federal Aviation Administration ratings.  It is possible that the process is not too difficult.  This may save you some money since you have started your training in Canada.  Also, it might be that some Canadian locations can provide US-approved training.  Check into that.

3.  Age should not be a factor in doing what makes you truly happy.  I realize that financial considerations might get in the way, but, you need to figure out a way to address the money situation and go after your goal.  An active pilot can expect, with good health, to fly to age 60 or beyond, unless the employer has a particular age limit for flying (airline pilots must retire at age 60 in the US, for example).  Law enforcement flying normally requires you to become a law enforcement official first, and then, a pilot.   Some federal agencies in the USA sometimes hire pilots and then train them in law enforcement....the US Border Patrol sometimes does this.  But, the citizenship issue will come up in that case.  A type of helicopter flying that is fairly common is flying for petroleum companies to off shore platforms or to oil and gas exploration sites in remote areas (such as NE British Columbia or into Alberta).  Petoleum Helicopters International out of Louisiana in the USA is a big employer of that kind.

Another thought is that law enforcement agencies also fly alot of fixed wing aircraft, if that appeals to you...might be a less expensive way to go.  One final thought is that, with law enforcement as well as other types of helicopter or fixed wing flying, you will need to have a BS or BA degree as a qualification for employment.  Many government agencies have this sort of requirement and I wanted you to be ready for it....I assume you have a degree.

I hope that these ideas are of some assistance.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu