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Helos and the airlines...

The is one on this board. Marine helo pilot and now major airline Captain.

Hell if a NFO like me can do it, why can't a rotorhead?
 
The Navy/Marine Corps ones I know got their fixed wing hours in the VTs as an IP. I got FACed and had to get my CFI to get my fixed wing hours up and then flew commuter, charter and corporate before I got called up. I had 8200 hours when that happened, about 6800 of which was fixed wing(single engine, multi engine,turbojet,etc).
To state the obvious I definitely recommend getting your fixed wing hours through the military.
 
State police or air-ambulance maybe. Most of the Navy/MC helo guys I know that got out (and are still flying) are doing that sort of deal.
 
I forgot about one Navy helo driver who was hired by the DEA, I believe, and flew both helos and fixed wing. He didn't fly military fixed wing beyond the SNA experience, but thanks to his civilian government job he is now a heavy jet captain. It's not easy but it's far from impossible.
 
MasterBates said:
Looks like no airlines for me...

How does 5000 JetRanger hours play on the outside nowadays?
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Believe it or not, the hiring on commercial aviation side of things is looking a lot like the fixed-wing hiring in the 80s and 90s...all vietnam era bubbas are finishin' up...and the demand for helo pilots is starting to get louder...

~1500 PIC helo hours will guarentee you a commercial helo job (based on bubbas being hired in the last 6 months from the HTs)

As for fixed-wing, One of my former IPs when I was a stud got his ME time at PNS on the weekend using his GI Bill, then rushed a few Air Force Reserve squadrons in Dover, DE (they pick their pilots like fraternities). He now flys C-5 Galaxys and hasn't paid taxes in 2 years (hits Bahrain, Kuwait or Iraq every month, at least once). Also gets per diem (lives 54 miles from work; anything over 50 miles in the AF Reserves gives him per diem). He gets a lot of $hit for his gold wings in a lead wings world, but loves it.
 
Yes, here also... One of our 727 Standards Check Airman was a Marine Helo Pilot... Now a VERY senior Captain.. Built his time on the outside.. Corporate and Commuters.. Back in the day with the shorter Military commitments wasn't that big a deal but now with Majors hiring slowed and the Long ass commitments, still doable but happens a lot later... Nothing wrong with that but a few retreads (for lack of a better word) that I have flown can be a bit grumpy... Due to the age 60 rule they are angry that they will only get a couple or three years as Boeing Captains before they see retirement.. And they will never see left seat on a widebody.. Not all but many... But if the airlines are your dream then make it happen but the faster you can get on a seniority list the better the QOL.. My short few years $.02
 
scotty008 said:
Any of you guys know of any helo bubbas that went on to fly for the airlines?
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These days I don’t get the attraction. The pay sucks. You have zero stability. Airway flying is painful. I guess it's the sweet uniforms. :tongue2_1
 
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