Marine Helo pilot to commercial pilot?

[Physicx]

Are you allowed to sleep or watch tv since your not always on calls.And skidkid I don't think everybody thinks it boring.I know corporate pilots who go to all sorts of cool desinations working less then airline pilots.Plus they stay in the reserves and when they retire they get two checks instead of one.That is my plan if I can ever get a flight slot.

 

[ChuckMK23]

When you start your shift (12 hours) the usual routine is to do some paperwork - get weather and notams, go preflight, - as part of your preflight you almost always startt and run up your aircraft, get everything shutdown and secured, and have your aircraft ready to launch in 7 minutes from call out to getting light on the skids.

Yes we would watch a lot of tv and nap quite a bit - especially when the weather was below mins (700/2).

Or you could go down to the dispatch room and flirt with the nurses Always fun! (I'm talking about the female ones of course, lol)

 

[Physicx]

Did you retire from the Marines?And how do you like doing computer work.It probably doesn't compare to flying EMS,which would be a blast.

 

[ChuckMK23]

The technology world has been good to me - can't complain I got out at the 10-year mark - took the seperation "buyout" to the tune of almost $50k to leave active duty. Not a bad deal - the military did me right. I'm extremely grateful.

 

[E5B]

SkidKid, I feel the same way about Airlines. I'm glad there are some folks that want to do it, someone has to. I'm looking at flying helos post retirement (9 years from now) and would be happy to pull in $40K to fly a helo and have fun. Especially since my wife wants to start her career, plus retirement....I can't see it being that bad

 

[skidkid]

Im not bashing on the airlines though I know it is not for me. Im just tryign to dispell the myth of get out and you will make mad bank and everything will be great. I know myself well enough to know I could not handle being a co-pilot to a guy who didnt have military flying time so I will be avoiding the airline gig though after 20 years or so I might try and do lifeflight or something to balance my Karma out. The pay scales between military and civilian are comparable and the airlines arent getting better anytime soon though I think the industry will improve, it is forever changed by all the civilian flying schools. It used to be a military exclusive club but now there are too many people with the ability to fly and the power of the unions will diminish and salaries will go down.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Lot's of guys flying EMS and offshore are retired mil - the retirement pay plus salary makes for a good combo!

A good source of current Helo pilot openings is right here:

http://www.atlasaviation.com/jobs helo/helo jobs.htm

be sure to scroll down

 

[Physicx]

Skid you are so right.There is money is the airline market but you have to make it to that level which is not easy.Corporate flying is better in my opnion but harder to get on.If your looking for helo jobs check out jsfirm.com and do a search under rotor.Skid what job do you planning on doing once you get out the marines.

 

[skidkid]

I havent thought that far ahead I still have about 10 years to go. I ran into a former instructor from flght school at an FBO who was flying corporate and telling me how great it was but as he was tlaking he was stocking drinks in the plane for VIPs so I wrote that off too. If my investments work out I might just retire and be retired, not a bad deal at 42

 

[Physicx]

Stocking a few drinks is not bad.If you get on with a flight department flying Gulfstreams they usually have FA's doing it.It would be nice to retire at 42.How much money is that a month.And do you live on base and did you get a house when things were still cheap in Socal.Also if you retire and want to move to Texas Eurocopter is looking for maintance and demo pilots.That would be such a sweet job.

 

[Tripp]

If my investments work out I might just retire and be retired, not a bad deal at 42

Not at all...my uncle retired as a MCPO at 43 in 1994 (bubblehead/corpsman); he hasn't worked a day since. All he does is play with his grandkids and fart around on the golf course. Not a bad life indeed...

 

[Steamer71]

Beaufort SAR going out of business

Quick footnote to this thread. Most C-12 good deals just for Phrog guys are going away. Iwakuni SAR shut down 3 years ago and Beaufort SAR is shutting down 15 April. (BTW you're all invited to the ceremony)

 

[ChuckMK23]

Quick footnote to this thread. Most C-12 good deals just for Phrog guys are going away. Iwakuni SAR shut down 3 years ago and Beaufort SAR is shutting down 15 April. (BTW you're all invited to the ceremony)

That'll be "good night" for H-46D's in US service!

 

[Steamer71]

Not quite still 3 doing SAR at Cherry Point.