fixed wing and rotary vs rotary and fixed wing??????

Bushmaster78FS said:
I I guess what I can ask is that what you experienced guys would have done in my situation?
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Here's what I did: Added a commercial SE, ME, and Inst to my existing Commercial Rotorcraft Certificate. Earned my CFI, CFII, and MEI. Instructed part time. Took my 700 helo hours at the time, added them to 500 airplane hours, and was hired at a part 135 freight company. Had 1000 ME PIC time in a year and 2000 TT. From there I could have gone to the regionals, other 135s or corporate. Most of the guys I flew with then are flying corporate-ish type jobs now. Some are regionals or air ambulance. I got out of the civilian side and eventually worked my way back to helos in the National Guard.
 
Mike, Ian, thank you guys,

MikeD said:
If you got your CFI-H, you'd have the hours to teach in that right now; but you aren't interested in RW.
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I could do the Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ and get all the rotary certs under GI Bill, but you are right I would like head back to FW. I do have a house in Phoenix area where I won't have to pay rent so economically ASU appears more appealing. Ultimate goal is to get to that right seat in SWA 737s but also I would hate to realize I had made a mistake in that direction. Say, after graduation from ASU, I will have CFI/II, for a CFI-H though, I would only need an add-on right? I could probably loan that if I have no savings left. Who knows 3-4 years down the line.
Ian J said:
Here's what I did: Added a commercial SE, ME, and Inst to my existing Commercial Rotorcraft Certificate. Earned my CFI, CFII, and MEI. Instructed part time. Took my 700 helo hours at the time, added them to 500 airplane hours, and was hired at a part 135 freight company. Had 1000 ME PIC time in a year and 2000 TT. From there I could have gone to the regionals, other 135s or corporate. Most of the guys I flew with then are flying corporate-ish type jobs now. Some are regionals or air ambulance. I got out of the civilian side and eventually worked my way back to helos in the National Guard.
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Ian, thank you for this, I might follow a route like this. NG guys told me that I might require an ETP waiver to get in, but SAO/AVN BDE Co. are interested in hiring me, they sent me a flight packet so I am going to try that route as well. Just got my upslip and FAA Class I, I mean, I am trained, ready to fly, ready to serve. I am going to push it until I hit the wall, and then maybe some more. Though can you tell me more about these freight companies? I am sure pay is low but that is not a huge concern until I get the experience.

My ASU application is in review this week and I am just hoping to hear back from HRC on my separation orders so I can start school. Man, I am ready to move on with my goals.
 
Bushmaster78FS said:
Though can you tell me more about these freight companies?
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There are a number of them out there - they generally fly smaller single and multi engine planes single pilot IFR. Check the perspective and day in the life articles on the main JC page and take a look in the OOTSK forum on JC for specifics.
 
Thanks Ian, I was just reading your article about military helo to civilian FW. When I first came US back in 1999 with a ICAO Comm. IR SE Land, the flight school I choose in OK had no idea how to convert my licenses, and as a result I kept flying and flying until they decided I was ready, but that really never came. This was a school that had flat rates for licenses, it would have been much better for me to pick a flat rate program like that and do it from scratch. Turned out FAA requirements were entirely different than what I flew overseas. Overseas, there was no night time requirement, no complex airframe requirement, etc. Long story short I ran out of funds and never completed my FW license. Lesson learned, I am starting from scratch at ASU.

Here is a question, we both fly multi engine helicopters, why don't we get multi engine annotated on our FAA license?
 
Bushmaster78FS said:
Here is a question, we both fly multi engine helicopters, why don't we get multi engine annotated on our FAA license?
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As MikeD commented, there is no distinction noted on US pilot certificates when it comes to helicopters. As somewhat of a generality, the US is more liberal than other countries when it comes to the latitude of pilot certification.
 
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