Day in the Life of a Helicopter Tour Pilot

[@fox2102]

When I was a kid my house was in the flight path of Ft. Rucker. I had helicopters flying over my house every day. And I remember thinking "Man, how cool would it be to fly in one?" I become obsessed with them. I thought I'd never get to fly in a helicopter because only military guys got to do that. Granted I was probably 5 or 6 at the time. But when I was 13 my parents took a trip out west and they told me about the grand canyon tours. That's all i wanted from that trip. To this day my most vivid memory from my pre-teen days was that moment when I was walking out to that Bell 206 and I got to sit in the cockpit next to the pilot. I have sense flown on more helicopters like the huey and have made it my mission to get my pilots license. I'm almost 30 now and still haven't made enough money to get my license and enjoy it but one day I will get there.

[@paulc1014]

I'm about to be 30 and can't decide whether to get my license for fixed wing or rotor....

[@Helipilotgreg]

If rotorcraft is your end game and you have flexibility in your life, consider working ground crew for an agriculture spray company. It’s a good segue into the life with less cost. Look up Heliteam. They sometimes offer to drivers 50hrs instruction in an R22.

[@franciscopadilla3765]

Simply wonderful job!!! I love my job and the helicopters!! I am technician in maintenance of helicopters, greetings to Sundance helicopters!!

[@hoverluver]

I flew Uh-1s and CH-47Ds in the Army. I flew a BK-117 for Med Evac. Made lousy money doing Med Evac now as a Project Manager I have doubled my income.

[@CriticalAngle]

First off, excellently shot and edited video. I enjoyed watching it. I could see how some people would hear $50,000/yr and think that it's not a lot of money considering the money and time investment to reach the minimum 1,000 hours. However, you have to take into account the turbine time you are able to log. He mentioned you can log 3-5 hours of turbine time in a day. The hourly operation cost of an EC-130 is pretty astronomical. You could take that experience and all those hours racked up after a few years and be very competitive for just about any turbine job you want if flying tours isn't for you.

[@grizzlycountry1030]

CriticalAngle my concern would be getting a loan to pay for flight training and not being able to find a job.

[@jamesholt7340]

Critical Angle thats about 4 years salary for me..How the hell am i supposed to afford that,or why dont they just make it cheaper with all the trai ers now available it should be cheaper than training in a jet ranger in the 80's??

[@synchro505]

Any job where you are always "on call" can really suck. There are many industries that require this extra flexibility as far as sudden scheduling. I knew a private pilot for a Saudi prince once. All the pilots had to live in a shack in the desert and be ready to fly anywhere in the world 24/7/365. It took him almost two years to get out of his contract before they could get a replacement for him. (plus, he was a hell of a pilot and a favorite of the family) It was like trying to get out of the mob, street gang or CIA. They owned him for quite a while.

[@generalaladeen8303]

Well that shack was probably a huge palace from The Aladeen and his magic lamp

[@DMRBruteForcer]

Awesome. I’m UK and this, after a sight see tour in Fl has since been my dream. I would give my left testicle for someone to train me up and allow me to do this full time. I’m in the over 40’s bracket so I guess my time is over but still, awesome intel. Great video, informative. Gets a 10 from, Len. 👍

[@MrSkyDivine]

I will be applying here next season! can't wait!

[@tylerreeves895]

Skyler McFarland howed it go? do you work there now or somewhere else?

[@MrSkyDivine]

I work at Orbic Air at the Burbank/Hollywood Airport. Tours/Charters & the occasional instruction. I really like it.

[@Heli_Brandon]

Have fun with that

[@Jason-33W]

I know tour pilots are usually less hours to start doing it but it just seems like the type of job I would love to do. I'm just starting off with my private license right now but would love to do this. Love talking to people and interacting and love flying. Definitely something to look into once I get there. The money doesn't bother me even with me having my own cybersecurity business now. Rather do something I love than worry about the money. Unfortunately, Sundance went out of business due COVID and they seemed to have issues due to a negligent crash from bad maintenance.

[@Heli_Brandon]

TIP YOUR PILOT. They’re underpaid and tired

[@mhey1705]

If I could afford flight school I'd be all over that. I hate this job, flying choppers would be a dream!

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Matt hey same thing I keep thinking. Been looking into getting license for plane or helicopter and neither are cheap. Both would require loans and there is the what if I don't find a job question in my mind. Absolutely hate my current job.

[@mhey1705]

I got my fixed wing license when I was around 16/17. I should have perused it as finding jobs for airplanes is a lot easier. However I started with helicopters at the end of February 2017 and its so much more of a challenge and rewarding to fly that I enjoy it very much. I'm going to let it come one day at a time and sooner or later I'll find employment. A lot of it comes down to who you know/who you meet along the way. But even flying a trainer I am thankful to be learning this skill and applying it myself. Sometimes we have to do things because they bring us joy in life and not only do things to specifically make money from it. Good luck in whatever you choose, just don't look back and keep your head up.

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Matt hey - Question for you. I keep seeing that some schools will hire you after completing training as a flight instructor and I was wondering what they roughly pay for that? Currently working midnight shift with my job so I'm wondering if I could quit or if I'd have to keep a job I hate for a while.

[@mhey1705]

Depends what school and how much student traffic they get. Your income being a CFI becomes dependent on the amount of time you spend flying students. Every school is different, its a very inconsistent statistic. But its doable. Where do you live?

[@grizzlycountry1030]

I live in Chicago right now unfortunately.

[@abelkanego4910]

Very well informed video.👍🏽

[@doughball1686]

Tip your pilot!

[@pauljason3478]

Hello, I was hoping you might know if part 91 sightseeing flights (within 25 NM of same origin/destination airport) have no flight time limit per day?

[@crankychicks]

Cool!

[@aa1bb2cc3dd4]

I know this is an older video, but I'm starting to really get into helicopters, and I'm hoping to use my IT job and Army to finance my schooling and one day make the career swap! I would love to do this for a living.

[@Jason-33W]

I'm in the same boat as you. Used my GI Bill already for a degree but I'm just now switching into this career path. Using my IT biz to foot the lessons for everything and even at 40 yrs old, I'm going for it. Rather do something I love than sit behind a desk at a computer all day.

[@nm628679c]

Why is the captain flying in the left-hand seat?

[@CapStar362]

Retracted after more civil discussion took place. so you think im not a helo pilot huh? yeah okay, tell that to the people whos lives i saved. tell that to the med techs i work with.

[@nm628679c]

+CapStar362- Read your first post, thought you were a bullshitter , then read some more and decided you were telling the truth. THAT'S why l deleted. That was my second mistake. As far as l know, the captain always sits on the right, unless there's a VERY good reason not to.

[@nm628679c]

CapStar362 -Just checked out your page. l see pictures of aircraft cockpits and aeroplanes, all images computer generated. I even saw pictures that you had taken as a passenger on an airliner,but guess what? l didn't see one picture of the brave helicopter pilot standing with his machine. Hmmm

[@CapStar362]

Mark Dawson those are just extra hobbies. my Job dictates i cannot take photos ( dont ask me why, i don't agree with it either ) . No, if a bird is certified and equipped with Flight Controls on both sides, PIC can choose either side. typically PIC flies Right seat, but its not mandatory. since you came back with a more appropriate post. then ill retract mine.

[@nm628679c]

+CapStar362-Appreciate that, you're a gent. Me- 1700 hrs alouette 111 and no, l didn't know that the choice of seat was optional. Never really thought about it to tell you the truth! Makes sense, though.

[@cactusforever7198]

i get 6000 hours pic rotor craft most on 206 B111 .

[@russellvaughan1840]

sounds like a bunch of babysitting all day...

[@leeryan1969]

Being an aerial taxi driver doesn't appeal to me. It would bore the crap out of me. Now, mountain rescue...

[@Heli_Brandon]

Lee Ryan Way to be a self glorifying tool

[@cwli1]

Not worth it. Better to be the helicopter pilot in “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

[@oleandreas9628]

+1

[@d.hansel854]

It looks exciting at first but after a while it's just a job. I would think after a few months of doing the same thing it would be tiresome. That's my opinion.

[@arthouston7361]

The only antidote to that scenario is to love doing the work. To quote an old recruiting ad, "it's not just a job, it's an adventure." If you love flying, it never gets old. If you are there just for the paycheck, then yes. It would be boring.

[@Heli_Brandon]

D. Hansel After a while it’s simply painful Tip your pilot

[@dks13827]

Fly military if you qualify. Don't be a wimp.

[@Heli_Brandon]

dks13827 Most of the worst pilots I’ve ever instructed were military trained.

[@puterausman7682]

thinking to what happen in grand canyon..nope..pass..better stick to fixed wing..

[@MrSkyDivine]

trying doing an emergency landing in the grand canyon in a stuck wing and lets see how that goes.

[@puterausman7682]

Skyler McFarland emergency landing at desert next to the canyon.. did you know that grand canyon was in the high desert?

[@harrykuheim6107]

And be underpaid...