Choosing a career path is tough, and for many of those who are interested in leading a life in the sky, the dream of becoming a helicopter pilot is not far behind. The life of a helicopter pilot comes with some pretty exciting opportunities, including law enforcement, hospital patient transport, aerial photography, fire fighting, offshore oil work, and more. In fact, if an aircraft took pictures of your boat, it was likely from a copter.
Helicopter pilot demand remains high
The general use of helicopters is so varied and widespread in the U.S. that helicopter pilots are employed just about everywhere there are airports and, in many cases, may even dominate the smaller airport scene. As you may have guessed, the demand for chopper pilots is high. Plus, as companies continue to find even more reasons to use helicopters, that demand is likely to grow.
3 reasons to become a professional helicopter pilot
- Variety: In addition to the multitude of opportunities, helicopter pilots have the ability to work in a variety of industries and many even travel between industries.
- Shorter flights: Helicopter flights are usually short, in comparison to airline flights, and many chopper pilots enjoy varying flight paths versus the standard to-and-from action required for most airline pilots.
- Flexibility: Helicopter pilots can work for an operator who owns a fleet of helicopters, or they may build up enough revenue to employ other pilots and manage their own business.
What does it take to become a helicopter pilot?
There are essentially two paths to becoming a copter pilot. Many pilots receive their initial training in the armed forces, but you can also choose private FAA-certified helicopter flight schools. Most employers will require at least 175 hours of flight experience to obtain an entry-level position. Many chopper pilots enter their profession as flight instructors because this helps them earn money while they build up their flying time and experience. The more experience you have, the more employable you are and the higher salary you earn.
The good news: Not long ago, helicopter pilots needed 500 hours of flight time to be employable. The fact is that the need is simply higher than the supply of pilots. Many flight schools combine flying time with aerial photography, city tours, and other light flying experiences to allow you to build flying time while you gain experience. It’s a great time to become a helicopter pilot!
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
Gulfstream Aerospace has begun preparing the next two G500s for flight. The first completed a handful of test flights after Gulfstream announced its new G500 and G600 family last October. They flew the first G500 on May 18, 2015, and the aircraft has since accumulated more than 15 hours in five flights, reaching speeds of Mach 0.80 and heights up to 38,500 feet. The longest flight lasted more than four hours.
“The first five flights exceeded our expectations,” Dan Nale, Senior Vice President of Programs, Engineering, and Test for Gulfstream, said. “They demonstrated that our testing facilities on the ground are having very real benefits in the air, allowing us to identify and address issues before they’re ever seen in flight.”
Gulfstream has decided on a few modifications to prepare for the next round of test flights. One of the unique aspects of Gulfstream’s approach is their use of customer involvement in the process of designing new jets. Similar to the customer involvement used in agile development style software design, Gulfstream allows their Customer Advisory Team to give feedback on what they want in the end product — and it’s become a working strategy. The G650 set the new standard for a large-cabin, ultra-long-range aircraft and it didn’t happen by chance. Instead of creating a G650 replacement, which was briefly rumored, Gulfstream listened to their customer team and created a matched pair of large cabin cruisers with slightly less range and just as much speed.
These new flagship aircraft models are in many ways more sophisticated, while costing millions less. They feature the most advanced avionics in the industry, the longest and most spacious cabins, and huge windows top it off — which Gulfstream originally pioneered on the G650. The cabin appears to be designed around the windows, with one for every individual seat, leaving an overall effect of great openness to go along with the quiet ride.
Certification of the G500 is expected in 2017, with the certification of the G600 following about a year later.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
The decision to purchase a jet is about more than just cost — it’s about time AND money. The flexibility of being able to fly when and where you want is one of the most commonly cited reasons for a jet purchase, but there are many other reasons that come along with that leisure.
Warren Buffet, of Berkshire Hathaway, is famously reported to have said, “Berkshire [Hathaway] has been better off by me having a plane available to go and do deals. It’s a plus; we’ve done things I would not have done if we hadn’t had a plane.”
How do you know it’s time to buy a private aircraft? Use these four criteria to evaluate your need.
1. Efficiency and flexibility
Some private jets can fly faster than commercial airliners, but the biggest time savings comes in the avoided wait time. A commercial flight typically costs a traveler hours of wasted time, from security procedures to baggage claim.
When time is money, a private jet is the way to go. The average waiting time for a private jet is less than ten minutes to takeoff. There are no seemingly endless queues or racing from one gate to the next. When you land, your car can be waiting for you and your luggage loaded straight into the trunk.
2. Security and privacy
Good private jet pilots have impeccable safety records. They undergo rigorous training and enforce safety management systems that rival many commercial airlines. When you own a private jet, you have the ability to screen and select your own pilot and crew — and be sure that they will respect your own and other passengers’ privacy. Plus, arriving at a terminal means you are seconds away from the aircraft and can avoid attracting attention. While on board, you are free to behave on your terms and even discuss business without the risk of compromising sensitive details.
3. Reach rural or remote places
Think about your clients or partners and where they do business. Do they typically have office space right next to a big commercial airport? Probably not. That means you have to fly and drive to see them. One of the most critical benefits of owning a private jet for a corporate executive is the ability to reach smaller and rural airports — it makes a big difference in business growth and could help unlock an untapped market.
4. Mobile conference room
The ‘golden age’ of flying by commercial airlines is long gone. To them, you’re just a seat number and a soda — so you better sit down, buckle up, and behave. One of the key advantages to private jet ownership is the ability to work on the go — and even get some comfortable sleep — arriving fresh and ready for business. When you have the opportunity to collaborate away from the distractions of the office, you and your team can often come up with real solutions to the problems your organization is facing.
Real comfort in business aviation starts with a private jet.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
A drone operating over the Lake Fire in California’s San Bernardino National Forest in June caused firefighters to halt combat flying due to the risk of a midair collision. This very real danger could cost expensive air tankers and, more importantly, firefighters’ lives. As a result, the fire expanded and unfortunately gave drone flying some damaging press.
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, are inherently different from manned aircraft in terms of altitude, distance, maintenance, flight time, and operating controls, and mixing them into the aviation community is placing some complex challenges in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On Feb. 23, 2015, the FAA released a public notice with regard to UAS and continues an outreach program to spread the word about safe and responsible flying.
Know Before You Fly is an educational campaign founded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), and the Small UAV Coalition, in partnership with the FAA. It provides information for recreational flyers, businesses, and public entities on how to fly drones safely and responsibly.
Some of the recreational drone-flying safety guidelines include:
- Flying no higher than 400 feet
- Keeping your drone in sight at all times
- No flying within five miles of an airport
- Avoiding sensitive infrastructure such as power stations
Examples of commercial uses of drones include:
- Professional real estate or wedding photography
- Cinematography for film or television
- Contract photography work for mapping and land surveys
Let’s Fly Wisely, an organization of companies using drones for positive purposes in Wise County, Virginia, has been promoting the use of drones to make package deliveries, including delivering medicine to rural medical clinics.
While stories about unsafe drone flying cause negative press, lawmakers are working to find the best way to balance the needs of individuals, businesses, and media by releasing and promoting drone safety information. Simultaneously, drone flying is making a positive impact in many ways, and it’s important to keep this in perspective as the UAV trend and the opportunities drones pose continue to grow.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet. You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.
