drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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I've got a feeling I've read stuff posted by Ed about flight training, or did I imagine that?
I really really want to become a helicopter pilot, im going for my first lesson next week for my birthday present and if it goes well etc then I will have to start making proper plans about saving up for the training, i know its gonna be a long process etc. but out of interest, is there anyone else on here who is training, qualified or taken lessons in the past? 
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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It's expensive and you need a type rating for every different helicopter afaik.
I'd be a pilot if I had unlimited supplies of cash 
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CorsAsh
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Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
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You're right, Ed's our resident Maverick.
Oh, you're on about choppers though. It's massively more expensive as said than fixed wing flying lessons. I think it was about 4 times more for an hour's taster session over something in a Cessna for instance when I got one for my 21st.
[Edited on 09-10-2009 by CorsAsh]
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AlunJ
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Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
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i'd love to be a pilot if I had lots of cash, going to go for a trial lesson next year I hope
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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I've got a PPL for single piston engined aircraft. It lets me fly in daytime and only when the weather is good. I'm getting my night rating in two weeks so I can fly in the dark 
Helicopters are a lot more expensive than fixed wing. But I guess it's personal preference and if you can afford it then go for it because it's hugely rewarding!
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Just to put the cost into perspective. A Piper PA28 which has 4 seats and will cruise at 110kts will cost you about £140 an hour for lessons, a Robinson R44 which has 4 seats and will cruise at 110kts will costs you £480 an hour for lessons.
You wouldn't really learn in an R44 though, I think most people learn in an R22 which is probably going to be cheaper as it's a 2 seater that does about 90kts.
Sorry for the negativity. Just trying to be informative
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liamC
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Registered: 28th Feb 04
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Mate is currently on the Pilot Cadet scheme being ran by Etihad.
All paid for by Etihad, and you pay them back the 70k over the 5 years of your employment with them (Which is the minimum you have to stay with them for them paying for it all etc)
Get paid about 1200 a month to do the course, with accomodation provided as well, which is sweet.
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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A mate or mine is currently between Oxford and MK (can't remember exactly where) training to be a commercial pilot, he paid £60k up front for the course irrc.
He's already had a bit of training as a pilot in the RAF when he went to uni, but think he's starting afresh with it now.
He's been told that when he's done there will 90% be a job for him which will re-coup a fair bit of the payment i'd imagine, and it's not like they have to do anything these days anyway, so life is looking pretty good for him
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Oh dear, that's £60k your friend will regret spending.
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Cranfield cavey?
Seems like a hell of a lot to pay up-front with no guarantee of work 
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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Why's that?
I THINK that's what he's doing anyway.
He'll get the perfect thing from it no matter what, he's a bastard.
He's the nicest bloke you'll ever meet, always had fit girlfriends.
He went to liverpool uni, paid for by the RAF, learnt to fly etc... had an amazing time there, got a good degree result, then went round the world for a year or so, had an amazing time, meeting tons of people, great places, and copious amounts of drugs
He came back, and within a month or so landed a 30k a year job, company car etc... lived at home for a couple of years, saved £20k a year, and now he's doing this which he seems to be enjoying.
I came to Derby Uni, got pissed for 5 years, now i'm a postman
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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Yeah, is Cranfield judging by his facebook
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Tom J
Organiser: South Wales
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Registered: 8th Sep 03
Location: Bridgend
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i had a taster lesson in a r22, was a bit ill during the flight though after he showed me some emergency landing practices 
if i had some money its something i would love to do though
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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quote:
Originally posted by Cavey
Why's that?
There are a lot of unemployed pilots out there at the moment who have paid a lot of money for a licence that's not going to get them work until 2013-2014. To put it into context, there are airlines charging low hour'd pilots to come and work for them. WTF 
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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oh, fair enough, well he's only 26, so plenty of time left for him if he can't get any work at the moment.
I'm sure something will fall into his lap anyway, fingers crossed.
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chrex
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Registered: 26th Aug 07
Location: Brawdy/Wirral
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i wanted to do it through the Navy. always wanted to be a rotary pilot but missed out on a grade!
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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quote:
Originally posted by ed
Just to put the cost into perspective. A Piper PA28 which has 4 seats and will cruise at 110kts will cost you about £140 an hour for lessons, a Robinson R44 which has 4 seats and will cruise at 110kts will costs you £480 an hour for lessons.
You wouldn't really learn in an R44 though, I think most people learn in an R22 which is probably going to be cheaper as it's a 2 seater that does about 90kts.
Sorry for the negativity. Just trying to be informative
Thanks for the info Ed. I looked on the tiger helicopter site (the closest company to here) and they estimate the training costs to be around £70k. I've actually moved back in with my mum temporarily after finishing uni but my parents split up (again, long story) a few weeks ago so I can actually see myself living here with her for a year and saving my money to put towards the training. My gran has also said she's gonna sell a family airloom and give me the money which is absolutely amazing of her! It will all depend how the lesson goes on the 19th and the talk with the instructor, but if theres no major obstructions in my way that im not aware of at the moment then I really really want to do this
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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So you're wanting to be a commercial heli pilot? If that's the case I'd do a bit more than taking a trial lesson, it's an obvious place to start, as is having a chat to the instructor. Just make sure you do the research
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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quote:
Originally posted by ed
quote:
Originally posted by Cavey
Why's that?
There are a lot of unemployed pilots out there at the moment who have paid a lot of money for a licence that's not going to get them work until 2013-2014. To put it into context, there are airlines charging low hour'd pilots to come and work for them. WTF
Ed, do you know if the situtation is the same for helicopter pilots? I know what the instuctors will tell me next week so obviously its better to hear from someone who has real world experience.
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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U got msn mate?
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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I don't know much about rotary stuff. It's probably all different in comparison to airline flying. Have a look in the wannabes section of pprune.org, I think there is also a heli section on there. Be a bit warey on that forum, almost everyone on there is like Vibrio
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