naa3e5

I’ve been out of the cockpit (Navy H-60) for about 10 years currently running a small family business that I’m getting burnt out on, (The rumors are true family business is really tough LoL) So one of my squadron friends that I still routinely talk to is getting ready to get out and we had a good chat about me getting back in the cockpit again which honestly I’ve missed every since I’ve got out in 2010. (I looked for aviation jobs back then but they were few and far between and regionals and airlines weren’t friendly towards helos and all the helo
Jobs were taken by the army warrants)

Currently looking at aeroguards (Deer Valley in PHX) rotor transition program which will get my the remainder of the 250 FW PIC/Currency/MEL ... My cousin also flies for American who was in the squadron with me and basically said other than a couple painful years at the regionals (thinking SkyWest) She thinks it’s a good idea as I could basically let the small business run itself at this point to double dip
and compensate a bit for the lower regional salaries which aren’t even as bad as they used to be a few years ago...

One of my other squadron mates was out of the cockpit for four years just started flying for Skywest last year and is enjoying it.

Ideas? Part of me is really apprehensive because as much as I’ve missed flying since I’ve gotten out it seems pretty wild to me to go 180 and get back in but also it seems that there’s no better time than now based on current hiring trends.

Sorry for the long post thanks for any tips!

V/r - Nick


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rickair7777

Good time to do it. I've seen multiple USN helo people in the reserves spend 12-18 months at a regional and then off to the majors. The "pilot shortage" hasn't hit full bore yet, but there's a noticeable shortage at the regional entry level, and also of winged mil aviators for the majors. The legacies don't seem to want to "dilute" their culture with too many civilians, so they're grabbing as many mil as they can.

Hobbit64

Plenty of Navy Helo Bubbas in RTAG on the Facebook. You might run into some old squadron mates that could help out with LOR’s and good advice.
Good Luck!

USMCv22

Concur. As a single data point supporting this post, I had an AH-1 pilot in my legacy Indoc class who had done a mere 11 months and <800 hours at a regional before he got picked up by the legacy carrier. This was after he had been out of the cockpit for a few years. Totally doable.


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155mm

What are they charging for a RW to FW transition course? How long is it? Do they require full payment up front (Risky)? Is it a Part 141 program? Do you already have a private pilot FW? If you got a 50 hour commercial SEL and instrument airplane add-on for 1/5th the cost, would a single 135 scheduled airline consider you like Boutique or Mokelele? Would you consider a CFI at that point to get to your 250? Would you consider simply buying a small single engine airplane and continue working on the farm? A lot of things to consider! Be cautious about programs that have a nice website with pretty instructors flying glass jet cockpits! Get some good feedback from former students or just crank your training out at the local flight school!

naa3e5

Thanks for the replies everyone, I’m going to drop in on Aeroguard this week, program costs are 42k, it’s 141, but I think I can bring that down because I dont need everything they offer.

VA bill covers 14k and Rotor bonus at Skywest is 27k so at a minimum nothing out of pocket except the upfront vs reimbursement bs...


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nate5ks

Correct me if I have old numbers but I believe the RTP bonus is $20k and you get $7500 after completion of IOE for being prior military.

naa3e5

Yep spot on.


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naa3e5

So I want to correct some bad gouge the rotor transition program at Aeroguard is not a 141 program... I was confused. Thus not able to use VA currently, But according to them they are working on getting their RTP course FAA approved which would allow VA funding down the road.

Sorry all


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