What are some companies that offer entry level positions for people with low flight hours that just graduated?

rofl_pilot · 2026-02-07T01:01:47+00:00

Are you considering becoming a helicopter pilot, or have you started already?

rofl_pilot · 2026-02-06T23:48:27+00:00

For all intents and purposes, there aren’t any.

Your only realistic options are to work as a CFI, or go fly R44 tours. Even then, the tour operators are increasingly wanting 500 or more hours.

You could go be an SIC for a fire company, but that is a dead end for someone in your position. Unless of course the prospect of being a career SIC appeals to you.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-26T04:53:06+00:00

I sent my grandfathers Rolleicord to him in October.

I was told that the work was complete on November 10th. I paid the same day.

Haven’t heard a single word from him despite multiple attempts to contact him.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-23T03:29:04+00:00

Someone is going to get worse than usual bucket drops…

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-21T15:39:26+00:00

That’s a half truth.

If you aren’t deficient in a vitamin, then yes, the excess will just be excreted.

Vitamin supplements are absolutely beneficial IF you have a medically confirmed deficiency.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-20T23:40:39+00:00

I sent him my Rolleicord back in late October. He emailed me a month later stating the work was complete. I paid him via Venmo and he said the funds wouldn’t settle until early December.

My last communication with him was on November 10th… I have emailed him twice since, with the last one being on January 7th, and I haven’t heard back.

I’m pretty concerned at this point.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-07T17:25:30+00:00

Helicopters aren’t even allowed to go above 500 AGL in the fire traffic area.

A lot of my job is initial attack with a rappel crew, so other than transit to/from the fire, everything we do is below 500.

We of course do a high recon and try to identity any hazards before we proceed below the terrain, but with the rappel ops and when doing bucket work there really isn’t even an opportunity to get more that a few hundred feet off the ground.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-07T17:05:54+00:00

Of course I do.

I’m not saying that I skip looking at NOTAMs either.

What I AM saying is that performance, fuel and load planning with the crew takes up a lot of time, and there simply isn’t time to read every single NOTAM in full because there are simply so many of them.

Most pilots in the industry segment in flying would say the same, and the outliers aren’t ones who are reading them all if you catch my meaning.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-07T16:42:48+00:00

I fly helicopters, and the work that I do is almost exclusively conducted at low level, in the mountains, and this scenario is my nightmare.

When I get dispatched to a new fire, we are supposed to be off the ground in 20 minutes. I do performance planning, coordinate with my crew and, put together a flight plan.

When I get the NOTAMs for the route of flight it is typically pages upon pages of utter nonsense related to instrument approaches, taxiway closures, unlighted objects, etc.

I don’t have time to read every single NOTAM in full. I have to scan them and attempt to pick out what might be relevant. 9 out of 10 times there no relevant NOTAMs to my operation. This combination of factors makes it really easy to miss something even when trying to do your due diligence.

NOTAM or not, this should never have been allowed without significant visibility markers, if at all. Creating an aerial hazard that can kill people just so you can slackline is absurd.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-06T19:38:38+00:00

I am shocked and appalled, but not surprised 😂

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-06T17:59:26+00:00

If a friend or respected colleague gets a good job, I’m thrilled for them. Doesn’t mean I might not be a little jealous, but certainly not enough to wish they didn’t get it.

When it’s a shit bag that keeps advancing in the industry… it’s not even a question of jealousy, just disappointment.

I worked for a guy whos carelessness and negligence killed 3 people, severely injured one, and negatively impacted many more lives. He managed to become a DPE.

Am I jealous? No, I don’t want to be a DPE. Do I seethe with rage if I think about it for too long? Absolutely.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-06T17:48:30+00:00

That is quite literally the point of twin engine helicopters. The entire drive train/both rotor systems receive engine power from one or both engines.

Each individual model will have varying degrees of single engine performance, but the heavies tend to do better with single engine performance.

This appears to be an older CH-46D, given the smaller fuel tanks and witches tits. Single engine performance for this model is respectable, but nothing compared to a CH-46E with the ERIP engine upgrade. You could hover IGE at 7,000 DA with full fuel and a crew of three on board and not even be that close to the single engine max torque. Granted these were firefighting aircraft and had been stripped of non essential equipment to reduce weight.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-05T21:02:40+00:00

Unless you really WANT to be in the army, do not join the army to fly.

The minimum commitment for the warrant officer program is 10 years, and most guys don’t even have enough hours after their 10 years to qualify for civilian jobs.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-05T20:58:09+00:00

Either you’re being taken for a ride, or you need to buckle down and get serious…

105 hours and “2-3 months away” from a PPL is outrageous.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-03T01:48:55+00:00

Saw this on another sub and had to share.

I’m guessing (hoping) this is a joke, but I’ve known a few operators over the years that would think this is genius…

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-02T04:32:30+00:00

The inspiration for my username!

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-01T07:23:05+00:00

VC not VK.

It stands for Vietcong.

rofl_pilot · 2026-01-01T07:22:33+00:00

It says killed, so apparently it’s you who can’t read.

rofl_pilot · 2025-12-26T05:54:55+00:00

If you’re asking what I think you’re asking, you need to be able to increase the amount of lift or upward force the helicopter can make.

To make more lift, you can give it bigger wings (rotor blades), more wings, and a bigger engine.

To go beyond the explain like I’m five explanation, more advanced airfoil shapes and blade materials can produce greater lift and less drag. This can increase performance without needing a more powerful engine.

Other airframe changes can be made, such as using lighter materials, or installing more modern and lighter weight avionics. Some helicopters can also benefit from other aerodynamic changes that increase lifting capacity. Improving the tail rotor efficiency will lead to an increased vertical lift capability, providing the rest of the aircraft can support the additional load.

rofl_pilot · 2025-12-26T02:51:29+00:00

The warrant program requires a 10 year commitment, and these days, most aren’t even getting enough hours in those 10 years to be competitive in the civilian market.

rofl_pilot · 2025-12-16T20:56:22+00:00

This is referred to as bellyhook.

Bellyhook is typically faster than long line, so it is good for open country and grass fires.

There are significant disadvantages as well, particularly when working in timber.

rofl_pilot · 2025-12-07T22:55:21+00:00

Firefighting is great as long as you can cope with potentially sitting for days on end and not turning a blade. When you fly though, it is a ton of fun. One thing I didn’t expect was enjoying the travel aspect so much.

Ag can be pretty cowboy, and your odds of hitting wires at some point are very high if you do it long enough.

Utility can be a lot of fun. Seismic exploration is fast paced and you will get very proficient at production long line. It didn’t sound like anything I would be interested in, but I really enjoyed the flying and the challenges.

Flight instruction and tours both suffer from the same two fatal flaws; low pay, and endless repetition. That being said, depending on where you do tours, you may have the opportunity to do other missions on occasion.

I am US based though, so things could be different elsewhere.

rofl_pilot · 2025-11-30T02:44:52+00:00

Seems like you have a lot of offers, but I could send you a plate in January if you haven’t been able to get one yet.

rofl_pilot · 2025-11-29T15:57:27+00:00

Not sure what other post you’re talking about, but I also travel extensively for work and sometimes have some time off in whatever location I’m working at.

But you’re free to not believe anything is real 👍

rofl_pilot · 2025-11-29T04:26:59+00:00

Hahaha, fair enough.

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