Egg Fried Rice Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Hey peepsIm in my first year of A levels but im retaking them cos i did quite badly last year. But i've been thinking lately 'what the hell do i want to do when im older?' I have never had any clue to what i've wanted to do. I wouldn't want to be working in an office because i'd hate that. I'm more active and me being in an office is like going back to school with a massive EMA and i want to enjoy my job aswell as my life. My uncle is working as a trader in the office based in hong kong and he has to work from 8am till sometimes as late 1am and gets home at about 2am. When i went over there to see him, he was so stressed, seeing him like that makes me think 'wtf, how can that be a good life?'So i've been thinking out of the blue all of a sudden that being a helicopter pilot would be awesome. But where do i start? i've alway loved seeing things in this world and getting out. I've done some research on it all but if anyone can help me on this matter i'd appreciate it. I know it sounds stupid but i really do want to be in the aviation sector. I've read this and it makes me believe i can do it, but money will be the issue.Article on becoming a helicopter piloti have spoken to my parents about this and they were quite surprisingly supportive.Also, i've made this thread so i can see what other peoples futures are aiming for and why? this is literally the first i've felt i can work towards something rather than being a bit skeptical about it.JK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 but money will be the issue.Article on becoming a helicopter piloti have spoken to my parents about this and they were quite surprisingly supportive.Yeah, it is expensive... also, someone I know with a helicopter license says only ~25% of people who start training end up with a license, it's THAT hard! Would be a well cool career though Great to hear your parents would be behind you too!Sorry, that wasn't much use but... :$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishy Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 I'm in the same boat as you really. Except I'm a first year. f**k office jobs, saying that there's a high probability that i will become an office monkey. I think I want to join the Royal Marines, I've not got much going for me at the moment so I guess that would be the best option, only thing is I'd be on that bandwagon which seems quite big at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Yeah, it is expensive... also, someone I know with a helicopter license says only ~25% of people who start training end up with a license, it's THAT hard! Would be a well cool career though Great to hear your parents would be behind you too!Sorry, that wasn't much use but... :$Do only 25% get through because of money issues? Health problems? or trying to actually pass it i guess like theory etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Having enough co-ordination to control 5 different things using all 4 limbs at the same time!Last time I was in one:Left hand: Up/down and twist (kinda like a handbrake that you can twist too - can't remember exactly what it was for, up/down for rear rotor angle maybe, and then the twist for the angle of the main blades... so you have one hand controlling two different properties of two completely separate parts of the helicopter )Right hand: Main 'joystick' for main rotor (360 degree movement)Right and Left feet: Counterbalancing each other for rear rudder angle(All of those are pretty sketchy 'I thinks', this was ~8 years ago...)I was allowed to control just the main stick at high speed and low speed - high speed was ok, but trying to hover is bloody impossible!Well worth trying to get some more info and a flight though, it's uber interesting Edit: Here we go! http://youtube.com/watch?v=lVlIWbJXSJk. My memory is poo it seems :$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Arnold Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 i've been thinking about this alot lately. i'm in my first year in uni, i'm enjoying it, and learning at the same time. after uni i'm going to approach many different motorsport companies with my cv. go to car shows, races, show my face and ask for jobs, basically. as long as you have a plan, just stick to it. if you have too many paths then it can be hard to find one to follow!hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted November 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Wow thanks adam, that video was interesting. that guy made it look so easy I really will have to look into this, if this turns out to be my career i'd love it! And also thanks will arnold JK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heli_flyer Posted November 14, 2007 Report Share Posted November 14, 2007 (edited) HeyIm also trying my hardest to fly helicopters for a living. I have done alot of reading about it.First off, have you ever flown before? If not, get a lesson or 2 booked before you commit to anything!To gain you Commercial Pilots Licese you are looking at just under a year full time and about £50k. Dont beleive the flight schools!To be honest though, a CPL alone is not worth a thing - no operators are going to employe someone as a pilot with minimum hours. You need about a 1000 before people start looking at you. Your only realistic options are:Join the forces, have them pay for your training and then give you a job. However, if you have had as much as a cough since you were young your not going to get in!!!Option 2 is to do your CPL and then your flight instructors rating, then spend a few years instructing to build your hours. This is going to cost you are £65k.Option 3 is to do you CPL and then your Instrument Rating - this is the route to off-shore flying. At the present, with a CPL and IR you are prity likely to get a job as a co-jo in the North Sea. However, this way is expensive..... you are not going to see much change out of £100k!! and your not even gurateed a job!!!All I can say is that there are 1000's of other people out there with CPL's and low hours so every job opening is very over subscribed! In the helicopter industry, its not what you know, its who you know!!After you get you qualifications, you would be flying back and for to oil rigs as a co-jo for many years to gain experiance! SAR or police work is many years away!My plans are: Continue working till I get enough money to gain my people. After that, beagin my theory - while working full time. Come Sept next year, off to uni to study avionics. Continue theory work. Work most of summer then do some hour building - continue this for a few years. Leave uni, get a job in avionics, continue hour building. Do my cpl course. Then, depending on the funds, do either my IR or FI. Thats the plan or dream!!I reccomend to pop into your Armed Forces Careers Office for a chat. The navy is the best option for flying helicopters.The aviation industry changes so quickly, come this time next year there maybe no pilot oppenings - or there could be loads!Good luck man! It aint going to be easy!! Unless you parents are MINTED and willing to fund you training!! lol!GordonSorry about the rubbsih speeling and punctuation......... im tired! Edited November 14, 2007 by Sgianach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted November 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Just an update etcI think the best bet to help me to become a pilot is to join the RAF. I have rung them up just now for infomation and they are going to send me a pack about it. He stated that i'd need 5 GCSE's and 2 A levels but i only have 4 GCSE's at the moment but he said if you get all your A levels this year you'll be fine. He also did a quick interview about my health and that and no problems there for now. So at the monment my goal is to achieve my A levels. JK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swize Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 Just an update etcI think the best bet to help me to become a pilot is to join the RAF. I have rung them up just now for infomation and they are going to send me a pack about it. He stated that i'd need 5 GCSE's and 2 A levels but i only have 4 GCSE's at the moment but he said if you get all your A levels this year you'll be fine. He also did a quick interview about my health and that and no problems there for now. So at the monment my goal is to achieve my A levels. JKThats what i was gonna say, you win all round in the forces to be honest. Still they dont just take anyone on to be a pilot. I have a mate whos 19 has his chopper licence etc and they didnt accept him apparntly his maths wasnt good enough got an A* at GCSE. He also tryed once again for an offshore company and still no luck.. Its f**k hard to be honest.He went out to the states to learn to fly he said even with accomodation etc it was ALOT cheaper to learn. Laters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 My uncle is working as a trader in the office based in hong kong and he has to work from 8am till sometimes as late 1am and gets home at about 2am. When i went over there to see him, he was so stressed, seeing him like that makes me think 'wtf, how can that be a good life?'JKHe probably gets paid a shit tonne of money. Like certain people who work on the stock market, they can only work for 10 or so years before they burn out and simply can't do it anymore.However, they get paid a lifetimes wage in those 10 years.Anyways, my dad has an aviation license (for planes) and has had a couple of goes as a passenger in a 'coptor. He said he found it 10 times harder than flying a plane, and said hovering was rediculously difficult.Pointless post number 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted November 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 DammmnnnLooks like my maths will be the problem I will have to speak to them about it all i guess.JK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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