Spongebob

I had always thought/heard that helo wages were bad, but on further investigation is looks like most start $45-50k.

ToiletDuck

I worked with the helo guys all last winter and their average age was up there and they were still looking for pilots then. They said there is no gap in aviation like there is in helos. One of them was actually an 8yr NWA pilot who quit to fly for a company called ERA helicopters. Esp in Alaska it's going to be picking up. However in the Gulf right now there is a big vacancy sign hanging.

LAfrequentflyer

with overtime a helo pilot can make 90K+ a year.

Many work 7 on / 7 off and have a side business.

PHI is one of the companies looking to hire.

-LAFF

freezingflyboy

I was instructing at a university with a large aviation program (my screen name is a clue). Regularly would bill 150 hours a month between ground, sim, flight instruction and stage checks. Not a bad gig.

For you guys who don't think you are making enough instructing, go find a better job! I hear you guys (speaking generally, not singling any body out) complaining about not making enough as CFIs and then turn around say us RJ drivers need to raise the bar? Give me a break. Raise your own bar and THEN tell us at the regionals what we should be doing. Those ATP guys are the worse. They get $1200/mo no matter how much they fly. You work 200 hours a month (which some regularly do there) you just made a cool $6/hr. Good for you I have even heard of CFIs working for FREE just so they can get more students and build time faster!!! If I ever heard of a freelance instructor at my airport doing that I think I would escort him to a dark corner of the ramp for "reeducation". Thats total BS. Probably the same putz who is tripping over himself to go work at GoJets...

Baronpilot

totally agree! Who the heck would work for free as a flight instructor? After all the money you invest to be just a CFI any amount of income helps. If you are a commercial pilot you should be paid for your flying.

freezingflyboy

***Says i need 10 characters to fix my typo, here ya go...***

LAfrequentflyer

Those ATP guys / gals are the ones getting to the regionals faster with more ME time and the reputation of a good school behind them.

They are a product training departments like to see.

I must admit - I'd rather work at Auburn. Nice small souther college town...<grin>



-LAFF

LivinTheDream28

that may be true, but at the end of the day, good pilots and good people come from all over. The fact is, most of us have made sacrifices while instructing to get that precious flight time. I'm sure ATP guys/gals do good work, but at the end of the day the name doesn't matter a whole lot. I was at an interview at a quality regional and there were 2 people from ATP with a good amount of flight time and neither one got the job. In fact, most people who got the job where from "unknown" flight schools. For those of us who attended the "nice small colleges", we've got the same chance as everyone else .

freezingflyboy

So I guess by your logic then its ok to go work for companies like GoJets to get to that major job faster even though they screw their employees and lower the bar for all of is? Its this attitude that hurts us all. LAFF, I know you get a hardon every time you mention ATP but just stop and think about what it means for all of us.

ToiletDuck

No sacrafices here. I think the big problem with pilots as they all know where they want to go and will do anything to get there as fast as possible. I'm taking my time and being an instructor and I'm making a good living and enjoying it. I'm only 24 and application is in at the regionals. Can't argue with that. I didn't sell my soul to get there and I've enjoyed it. I REFUSE to fly for free for someone. If you want instruction you're getting charged. I didn't go through college to sell myself short here so that I could hopefully work somewhere better later on. The journey is half the battle.