If you have your heart set on helicopters, the military is the way to go. At current, the gulf-coast operators won't even take an SIC without 1000 hours of RW (at least those who are even remotely looking to hire). Try something like 2500 RW if you want to fly civilian medical air-evac.
I did the Army route. Back in 2004/2005 when I was at Ft Rucker, once you finished with the instrument phase, you could do a one day program at The Hangar or another place in Daleville or the surrounding area to take your FAA tests (it included a class in civilian/military differences) and get your paperwork for a commercial helicopter with instrument helicopter. Then when you graduated from flight school, send it in to the DPE (mine was a retired AF COL) and he, in turn, will send it in to the FAA.
I know guys who went on to gulf flying out of Louisiana - most got their minimum hours from deploying. One I know got a air-evac job after doing a gulf gig for over a year. Another I know bought a whole bunch of time in a cheap piston RW to get over that 1000 hours (after Rucker) - he got on just in time (2007) with that amount of time.
Like any flying job, it's about having the right times while being at the right place at the right time.
Good luck - and don't go paying $600/hr for an R-44!
I am not a helicopter guy, but I have some contacts who are.
One is the sister of a friend who was working as a helicopter CFI for a school in Oregon, the other was a blackhawk pilot in the Mass Army NG.
Basically the CFI is out of work and the guard pilot can only fly in the guard because there is nothing out there in the civilian world. Getting a decent civilian job requires several thousands of hours and in the guard it is hard to build the time.
Howdy Wannabe1305,
I sometimes read the "Rotorheads" section of the PPRuNe (Pro. Pilots Rumor Network) website. It's a UK based site, but lots of discussion about worldwide helicopter flying- military and civilian. There's a fair bit of discussion on there regarding the issues you are asking about for civilian helo pilots. I do know there's also lots of other helicopter websites out there. The PPRuNe website may be helpful for you as I get the impression that many aspiring helo pilots overseas do not have a lot of options as far as the military route. Anyway, hope this helps, good luck and stay safe over there.
I think the Army has a program where you can enter as a warrant officer and learn to fly helicopters for them. You have to score high enough on your ASVAB and a general aviation knowledge test. They advertise it as a high school to cockpit program or something like that - Google it and you should find all the info you need. An ex army guy at my current job recommended it to me, and it sounds like a pretty good deal. There is a 6 year commitment, and obviously they're training you to send you to Iraq/Afghanistan/Iran/Etc. On the plus side, Uncle Sam will pay for your training, and the army's not suddenly going to close up shop.
Absolutely. Positively. Great program. Wish I had taken advantage of it...not fly helicopters for a living per se, but for other reasons.
One other thing you may want to consider is landing a fixed-wing pilot position in the Army. It sounds and may be a long shot, but look into it. Also look into taking the Officer Selection Battery Test. Good luck to you.
atp
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Last edited by atpwannabe : 10-24-2009 at 06:52 AM.
If you are in fact colorblind it is not waiverable at all for civilian commercial or military aviation (and many military non-flying jobs).
The $20 million dollar question is: How colorblind are you? If you just have a little trouble with a certain color(s) you might be able to pass an alternate test. The civilian rules are changing on this, see the Pilot Health forum for more info on this.
I'm not sure, but I think they military may offer an alternative test to the color plates also.
I would work with a civilian eye doc to try to find a test you can pass, then see about doing that test with the military and FAA.
One other thing you may want to consider is landing a fixed-wing pilot position in the Army. It sounds and may be a long shot, but look into it.
The FW army jobs used to be few, and they would go to senior RW pilots who were nearing retirement and looking to build their FW resume.
But today the army is getting more FW aircraft, and it is possible to get assigned to them early in your career. I believe all army pilots are still training on RW first, and then transition to FW. This is good news for folks who are interested in the army but also want to have maximum civilian career options down the road.
I went WOFT years ago after having always flown fixed-wing. Problem is, though I barely squeaked through the vision test during my initial at Ft. Rucker, I was disqualified for it later, being just under 20/20 on their test. I get my civilain medical with no problem and don't wear glasses, but there was no getting around it with the Army. The standards for WOs are tight and non-waiverable for the most part. (Vision requirements relax once you have your wings.)
Reading what the OP is saying, I think I understand that he is facing a similar situation with the Army and is trying to get a feel for his options on the civilian side. On that point, I agree with the other posters based on what I have seen; that it is military rotor training or a narrow gate at the end of a looong, expensive road.
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