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Ive been thinking about what I want to do in life, and I think being a helicopter pilot that flys skiers up to the top of mountains would be pretty cool. But I dont know how would I go about doing that. I was thinking that I coud join the coast gaurd and be a pilot for them, do that for a few years, than Ill have my pilot license and would be able to fly skiers up to summit peaks. The only thing is theres a good chance Ill be put in Iraq if I join, and im not doing that. So how else would I go about trying to get to flying helis for skiers?
not that I am for signing you life away, but if you are serious about it, that would be some of the best training you could get. Coasties are the ones always flying rescue missions in the mountains, like hood and rainier. I would imagine the pilot program is super competitive, and you would have to dedicate every ounce of your life to it.
Other options would be other branches of the armed forces, (which i really don't suggest, if you what to exercise you freedom in life) or go to flight schools. There is a good one in North Dakota and Florida.
Being a pilot is a lot of work just about anyway you go at it.
First of all Flying a Helicopter is about 100x harder then flying a plane, The next thing you need to realize is that in any of the armed forces including the cost guard you will never beable to have 100% choce in what you do, if you want about 90% you would have to be the top of your class every year in highschool and then do the same in whatever training they have you do. So joining the cost guard des not in the slightes guarantee that you will fly Helicopters.
There are aviation schools all over the place that you can learn at. Someone i went to high school with went to one called embry riddle i think. Just do a google search for helicopter flight schools or something. Although aviation schools generally are pretty expensive, at least you don't run into the risk of being sent overseas.
why would you send coast guards to iraq, is that not what the airforce is for, and dont you need coast guard to guard the coast fro smugglers and people drowning and stuff?
but yea in aus the armed fources are the way to go for training you get the course done then have compulsary 3 year service and then you are free to quit sounds like a pretty good deal casue im guessing aviation is pretty expensive and studying with the army they will pay you to do the course. but thats in aus i dont know about other places.
I'd do coast gaurd because like ReefSideRider said, they get the best training with rescue missions. I'd also look into something like Search and Rescue. They get good training in rescue missions, they may not get you to a pilots lisence but it will teach you all you need to know about rescue missions on foot also.
Yeah Coast Guard doesn't go to war, they protect the coast.
and do seach & rescue. So that is a good place to start instead of spending a fortune on a license that doesnt give you the experience factor you would get in th C.G.
and you dont drive a helo you fly it.
i would also really like to do this as a profession. coast gaurd does do overseas stuff, and they have been in iraq. afte ru do get your heli license, how hard is it to get a job in that field?
coast guard in irag are you shitting me? you can get a pilots license without joining the military by the way. there are different types of licenses for the dif types of copters. you should research somewhere other than NS though
i am goin to school to be a pilot and will join the coast guard in about 4 years. if you join the coast guard after you have a 4 year degree and al least your private licence you can join a guarenteed flight program. the only negative i see to the guarenteed flight program is that you need to sign up for at least 11 YEARS, but if thats what you really want to do i say do it. that is what i am trying to do.
I work as a professional fixed wing (not helicopter) pilot. I went to a small college called Daniel Webster in NH.
There are many others all over the nation. Went to NH to be able to ski though.
Civilian Helicopter Pilot's are very hard to come by. Most get all there training in the military. #1 Reason $$$$! It cost an outragous amount of money to get helicopter training.
The army does have a warrant officer program. You can apply for the aviation warrant officer, if you don't get acceptated or fail out of training you can opt out of the service (no infantry).
You have to only have a high school degree, be 18, and be willing to sign on the dotted line...
Talk to a recruiter though.
There is the coast guard academy, and that is where more than 90% of there pilot's come from. They have fixed wing aircraft (C130) as well. But they use those in aviation fire fighting, another job possibly!
Anyway this is getting to big! Just PM me and I will give any info I can!
Ok....im canadian so it might be a little different, but our programs are alot more rigerous, and out training is better ( this has been proven through FAA, and Transport Canada statistics, less crashes, better quality of service). Now you have to expect to spend over 50 grand on the helicopter hours/training alone. Your going to need at least 2000 hours before people will even hiring you. Most helicopter pilots become mechanics first because companies will hire a good mechanic, and if you have a good work ethic they will put you on the bird. Gateway Helicopter has an incredible training program, but to become a pilot for their company you need to be a mechanic first. Its hard carrer to get into.......years and years of dedication, and to tell you the truth 70% of the people don't make it.
The millitary is a GREAT way to do this fast, and will little to no money involved. In the canadian forces to get to fly anything you have to be in perfect heath, perfect uncorrected eyesight ( no contact lens), and have a year of university. You may go into battle, or into danger, but you come out fully certifyed.