Fixed-wing to rotor-wing (helicopters)

R

Ryan

New Member
Is it possible for one to jump back and forth between flying fixed wing A/C and helicopters?

I plan on eventually pursuing my rotorwing licenses/ratings, after my fixed wing PPL, ME, Inst, Comm, ME, Inst, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, doctor of aeronautic science (just kidding bout the last part).

How do your hours transfer from fixed wing to rotorwing and vice versa??

The reason I ask this is that it seems as though being able to fly both fixed wing and choppers would give you an option that may be necessary in finding a flying job later on in life. I have flown in both and loved them equally so I wouldn't mind getting paid to fly either or both
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So I'm just wondering if it is feasible to fly both types of A/C and maintain a competetitive resume??

Any input from helicopter pilots would be great because I haven't heard much from chopper pilots, any advice or experiences shared would be appreicated
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Thanks for reading,
Ryan
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In short, yes. It's easily possible for one to be dual rated, albeit expensive.
 
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In short, yes. It's easily possible for one to be dual rated, albeit expensive.

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I've been looking into it, only half-seriously.

The place I checked out wants about $16,000 for me to add my Commercial-RH and CFI-helo, which really isn't as bad as I was expecting. I think soon I might start plugging away at it a little at a time, as funds allow.
 
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Is it possible for one to jump back and forth between flying fixed wing A/C and helicopters?

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Yes.

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I plan on eventually pursuing my rotorwing licenses/ratings, after my fixed wing PPL, ME, Inst, Comm, ME, Inst, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP,


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Aslong as you have plenty of money or some one to sponser you, you'll love helicopters.

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The reason I ask this is that it seems as though being able to fly both fixed wing and choppers would give you an option that may be necessary in finding a flying job later on in life. I have flown in both and loved them equally so I wouldn't mind getting paid to fly either or both
smile.gif
So I'm just wondering if it is feasible to fly both types of A/C and maintain a competetitive resume??



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Dad's been flying Helicopters, Jets, and Turbines for the past 28 years through the state police (he only had to pay for his PPL airplane, they paid for every other rating) and can basically get a job at any type of company he wants when he retires.
 
I have talked to a rotor CFI about doing the same thing. He is a CFIA, a CFIR, and he is working on his CFIG.

He said that about 60% of his students have their fixed wing liscense. He said that as far as basic flying skills go, almost nothing transfers to helicopters. They are a completely diferent type of machine. He said that the main advantage that an airplane pilot has is knowledge of navigation, radio procedures, and regulations. This allows you to focus on flying, and not be distracted by ATC. I think some requirements like X-country flights may be waived or reduced if you already have your PPL, but I may be wrong.

He said that for your first few hours you just can't switch back and forth. As you learn to fly a helicopter you are training yourself to react differently than is apropraite for an airplane. You have to unlearn several things while you make the transition, hopping out of a R-22 into a C-172 can make this a lot harder.

As far as logging hours, some employers think it is very valuable, but some don't even count it toward your total time. The CFIR I spoke to just loggs it as a different catagory SEL, MEL, & ROTOR.

Now all I have to do is win the LOTTO
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I'll be happy to ask him any specific questions you have if you PM me.
 
I work with a guy who flew choppers in Nam and who came back home and started flying airplanes.

My current instructor has the same story to tell.

Both of them said that it's probably easier to go from a chopper to a plane than vice versa.
 
Thanks for your responses. Its pretty much what I figured that your hours can somewhat transfer over depending on your employer. I knew that flying rotor and fixed-wing were very different as far as the actual manueavering of the A/C.

The reason I ask this is because I plan on flying corporate fixed-wing A/C someday , this won't be for a few years and thats if I am VERY lucky, anyway I have a really good connection with my local police department (my uncle used to be the commanding officer -non pilot- of the aviation unit there) so I am kinda going back and forth between my goals as to where I want to end up.

Well, first things first, I gotta get this PPL taken care of first then I'll start to worry about where I want to go from there.

Thanks again for yer responses!

Cheers,
Ryan
 
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Is it possible for one to jump back and forth between flying fixed wing A/C and helicopters?

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Absolutely.



[/ QUOTE ]I plan on eventually pursuing my rotorwing licenses/ratings, after my fixed wing PPL, ME, Inst, Comm, ME, Inst, CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, doctor of aeronautic science (just kidding bout the last part).

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Here's the order in which I did it:

Private SEL
Instrument SEL
Comm. Rotorcraft/Helicopter (You gotta have 150 hours for this so you can use a lot of your fixed wing time from the previous ratings to meet the requirements a HECK of a lot cheaper than doing it all in helicopters.) I took my Comm. Rotor/Helicopter with ~65 hours in helicopters.
Instrument Helicopter Add-On
Commercial SEL and MEL Add-On (Requires 250 hours TT so you can also use your Rotor/Helicopter time.)
Instrument MEL
Helicopter CFI
Helicopter CFII




[/ QUOTE ]How do your hours transfer from fixed wing to rotorwing and vice versa??

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Each rating will require a certain amount of PIC, Dual, TT, etc. Each will also require a certain amount of time in the particular aircraft for the rating being sought. If it's not specifically required time then it doesn't matter if it's helicopter time or airplane time.



[/ QUOTE ]The reason I ask this is that it seems as though being able to fly both fixed wing and choppers would give you an option that may be necessary in finding a flying job later on in life. I have flown in both and loved them equally so I wouldn't mind getting paid to fly either or both
smile.gif
So I'm just wondering if it is feasible to fly both types of A/C and maintain a competetitive resume??

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Well, probably not. It would be difficult to find an entry level job that would allow you to fly both aircraft and accumulate hours in both types. Not impossible, mind you, but you are wanting your cake and to eat it too. And that doesn't happen real often.
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[/ QUOTE ]Any input from helicopter pilots would be great because I haven't heard much from chopper pilots, any advice or experiences shared would be appreicated
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Okay, here's some input: Don't call them choppers.
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Personally, if you're talking about sheer fun flying a helicopter is hard to beat. And the helicopter job market right now is hotter than a pistol. But be advised that you are gonna top out in pay a lot earlier than you would if you went a fixed wing route. You just have to determine what is most important to you.



[/ QUOTE ]Thanks for reading,
Ryan
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No problem. Good luck.
 
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And the helicopter job market right now is hotter than a pistol. But be advised that you are gonna top out in pay a lot earlier than you would if you went a fixed wing route. You just have to determine what is most important to you.



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I've seen that, and never really understood why. Makes no sense to me.
 
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I've seen that, and never really understood why. Makes no sense to me.

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We used to joke that it was because flying a helicopter was so much more fun and that we were lucky we didn't have to pay our employers to fly them!
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Actually I think it's more a factor of the revenue producing capability of the aircraft. There's no way that a helicopter can churn out the hourly income that a large stuck-wing aircraft can.

It is a drag though. If I could have had the opportunity to make in fling-wing what a senior fixed-wing Captain makes I might have chosen a different path.

But then I wouldn't have gotten a five month vacation every year. So maybe I'm doing okay after all.
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Actually I think it's more a factor of the revenue producing capability of the aircraft. There's no way that a helicopter can churn out the hourly income that a large stuck-wing aircraft can.

It is a drag though. If I could have had the opportunity to make in fling-wing what a senior fixed-wing Captain makes I might have chosen a different path.



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Revenue producing capability makes sense. You figure cost of operation and/or maintenance, as compared to fixed-wing, figures in?
 
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Revenue producing capability makes sense. You figure cost of operation and/or maintenance, as compared to fixed-wing, figures in?

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Yeah, definitely. But it's an odd sort of relationship. Because of the additional operational costs of the helicopter it will produce more revenue than a comparable (load-wise) fixed-wing. So the reality is that a helicopter pilot will almost always progress up the pay scale quicker than an airplane pilot who started their job at the same time. But, as I noted earlier, that helicopter pilot will almost always hit the pay ceiling long before the airplane pilot realizes their full earning potential.
 
hmmmm..... lots to think about.

So agcatman: in your professional opinion which is more FUN to fly; helicopters/Rotor-Wing aircraft (NOT CHOPPERS
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) or Fixed-Wing aircraft??

I have also heard what you said about helicopter pilots hitting the end of their pay scale very early as opposed to fixed wing pilots waiting 35 years in some cases to max out on their pay scale. But when you put things into prespective, in todays aviation industry situation, not making the same amount as the fixed wing pilots make at the end of their careers isn't really making less money then them. Doesn't it sorta equal out if you make more $$ up front as opposed to someone who has to wait till the end of their career to make "the big bucks"

What are some figures as to what a helicopter pilot makes?? ( I understand that this is personal financial info so if no one wants to disclose what they make that's understandable but if there is a good website or something with this kind of information I would be very interested)

Thanks,
Ryan
 
I'm also very interested in this. More so, I'm really interested in how you progess up the ladder from holding a private certificate to CFI to whatever else you would do. My goal would be to fly for a hospital somewhere, but I honestly don't have any clue how feasable these kinds of jobs are to get. Is it possible to do it without the military?
 
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So agcatman: in your professional opinion which is more FUN to fly; helicopters/Rotor-Wing aircraft (NOT CHOPPERS
argue.gif
) or Fixed-Wing aircraft??

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What's wrong with choppers?
 
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but I honestly don't have any clue how feasable these kinds of jobs are to get. Is it possible to do it without the military?

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It's very possible. Only problem is the huge cost associated with the training and timebuilding in helos, hence why you see so many ex-mil in the helo field. Another big issue is type of flying. Not as many civilians as military get experience with sling loading, rescue ops, etc. The mil type get all sorts of varying experiences simply because of the nature of the job. Your average helo CFI working up the ladder doesn't receive this. Quals and real-world experience vary widely between mil/civil helo pilots....seemingly much more so than your comparable military/civilian fixed-wing pilots
 
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My goal would be to fly for a hospital somewhere, but I honestly don't have any clue how feasable these kinds of jobs are to get. Is it possible to do it without the military?

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Funny, that is what a local CFI I know is thinking towards. The company out here that runs stuff is CalStar, and it quite busy. He is almost at the CFI rotorcraft stage. But, what he was saying the other day, is this is his current thinking:

Fly in Hawaii for a while to build time. Always needed, and a good place to be. Tours, instruction.
Then go to a place on the Gulf somewhere, that I think mainly goes out to oil platforms (for building the twin-turb time, and lots of it).
Then when mins are met, apply at CalStar.

It sounds interesting, if I had the funding and maybe a little more desire, I'd go for something similar. Have been in a few rotorcraft, but never controlled one. Flew full motion UH60 sim, which was way cool. Of course, hard to hurt yourself in the sim. Think I only crashed it 3 or 4 times in the few hours in it.

http://www.verticare.com/home.htm
That is a local school, around $50k can get you 0-CFII in about a year and a half. Guy is pretty good who runs it I think. Has a heli stunt team he runs at the local airshows.


There are some really good FAA approved simulators out there for helicopters now being used. Makes it a bit cheaper and safer to get going. http://www.flyit.com/PTH.html for example.
 
I've already got one huge leg up though, and that is that I can add on a helicopter rating to my commercial certificate I'm going to earn this summer for about $16,000. Since I already have 200 hours of time, and I'm going to have the commercial done this summer with CFI/CFII/MEI done next summer, I'll have the hours I need. Then I'd just "in theory" need to add the rotorcraft stuff on and I'd be ready to rock.

But Mike has a VERY good point here, and that is that I wouldn't have the experience of mil. pilots.
 
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Okay, here's some input: Don't call them choppers.
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There is nothing wrong with choppers, some people i guess don't like them being referred to as choppers.
 
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So agcatman: in your professional opinion which is more FUN to fly; helicopters/Rotor-Wing aircraft (NOT CHOPPERS
argue.gif
) or Fixed-Wing aircraft??

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What's wrong with choppers?

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