Originally Posted by
Fly Navy
RickAir7777:
I was looking for honest replies and I appreciate you being straightforward. Remember, my inquiry started when a FO for a major airline, knowing my background, said the pilot shortage may make me a potential candidate.
A few years back, a regional airline that had many former military helicopter pilots in its ranks was willing to consider me,
knowing that flying IFR in a helicopter is very similar; in fact, more challenging, than doing so in an airplane.
(I have 229 Actual Instrument hours, more than many regional applicants). They also respected that all my time
operating off aircraft carriers, with NVGs, performing multiple demanding missions, meant I could probably do just fine flying the line.
However, you are right, I do have mostly rotary wing instincts, and during emergencies, you want someone with airplane instincts!
Again, thank you for your honesty, and keep it safe, gentlemen!
I now it is hard to swallow that your overall general aviation experience isn't counted for much, but I'm willing to bet that your EMS helo job wouldn't give me a look with my background/expereince if I had 125TT in a helo.
Since you have little experience flying anything larger/faster than a T-34C (I'm assuming your FW experience is in USN Primary training only or therebouts), why would you make the statement that flying a helo in actual IMC would be more challenging? One of the things that seems to get the helo transitions I saw coming through training was often the speeds at which things happened in the FW world.
Being a multi-tasker will definitely help you with whatever type of flying that you do - that is across the board. again - do you think that my NVG time, carrier experience (limited as it is), and possibly that fact that I am use to very dynamic maneuvering would impress the chief pilot at your operation?
Now I'll tell you where you will get FULL credit for your knowledge and experience (if they are hiring again after sequestration) would be the CBP. There is an extensive thread on APC (use the search function) with a wealth of information if you might be interested.