X-Forces
Big Black Guy
Well, since Derg signaled with the old Bat-Light I guess I'll give my $.02
As he mentioned, I am former Army rotor, and I am currently airline. After leaving the service I actually never considered rotorcraft flying on the civilian side of the fence for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons, which will not apply to you, is that I never felt as if it could ever be as fulfilling as military flying. However, that aside there is a laundry list of reason I chose fixed wing flying, and airline career progression, over rotorcraft.
Let's see if I can address you post piece by piece.
Let me stop you here and address some of what you are assuming.
First off you mentioned that you were young, which if fine. However, if you intend to make career decisions you should employ maturity and objectivity.
Your comment regarding "Overall coolness" of helicopter flying made me, and probably 90% of the other professional pilots on the forum, crack up! If a primary consideration regarding a life career choice is coolness you're already a lost cause.
Most pro pilots on this site, myself included, would tell you that we would fly a C-150 around the pattern of local uncontrolled field if it paid the same as flying a B-777 on a transcon route. The coolness factor of any flying job will be relativity short lived, and then it will become a job. Not to say it can't be a job you don't love (I really like what I do), but it will become a means in which to pay your bills and feed your family.
If you think you are going to escape long hours, bad pay, rocky family life, and unsatisfying flying because you are going to fly a helicopter, you are dreaming. In the end, your job will be what you make of it.
As for your 50-60K starting salaries, well, other have already commented towards this aspect of your reasoning. Helicopter flying generally has higher starting pay, no doubt out that. What you fail to mention, perhaps because you are unaware, is that helicopter will top out MUCH lower then comparative fixed wing flying, and there is no doubt about that either.
Additionally, as a helicopter private pilot it could be years before your are anywhere near competitive for any such position that would afford you those kinds of salaries, and it will cost you significantly more to get there.
There are also far fewer rotorcraft positions to be filled throughout the country, and, as you mentioned yourself, the competition from ex-military rotorcraft pilots for such positions will be fierce. What do you think you will be earning while you are building competitive flight time?
If I had to guess the apprehension you have towards flying rotorcraft will subside with time. I can recall in IERW training we had two in the class that consistently barfed into their helmets during the first phase of training. THey both got through it and turned out to be pretty good sticks (As far as I know). I personally never had any issues, but everyone is different. I would certainly say that it is not entirely out of the normal.
At the same time, if you find that you are not getting over it after hundreds of hours of flying, you might want to reconsider.There is nothing wrong with following you gut, and ultimately if it is not for you, it is not for you. No shame in that.
It is entirely possible that aviation might not be for you. It happens, regardless of how badly someone may believe they are cut out for it. In the end it is a decision only you can make.
Not personally.
Some aspects yes, other no. I always looked towards the future, but not necessarily to get passed it. I just think looking towards the future is a normal aspect of training.
Yes and Yes
You don't need sympathy, per se, in your case. Just sounds like you have some choices to make.
Personally, I believe that your earning prospects, career prospects, and overall lifestyle would be more favorable with fixed wing flying in the long term.
Good luck.
(My personal opinions expressed above - your mileage may vary)
As he mentioned, I am former Army rotor, and I am currently airline. After leaving the service I actually never considered rotorcraft flying on the civilian side of the fence for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons, which will not apply to you, is that I never felt as if it could ever be as fulfilling as military flying. However, that aside there is a laundry list of reason I chose fixed wing flying, and airline career progression, over rotorcraft.
Let's see if I can address you post piece by piece.
Let me stop you here and address some of what you are assuming.
First off you mentioned that you were young, which if fine. However, if you intend to make career decisions you should employ maturity and objectivity.
Your comment regarding "Overall coolness" of helicopter flying made me, and probably 90% of the other professional pilots on the forum, crack up! If a primary consideration regarding a life career choice is coolness you're already a lost cause.
Most pro pilots on this site, myself included, would tell you that we would fly a C-150 around the pattern of local uncontrolled field if it paid the same as flying a B-777 on a transcon route. The coolness factor of any flying job will be relativity short lived, and then it will become a job. Not to say it can't be a job you don't love (I really like what I do), but it will become a means in which to pay your bills and feed your family.
If you think you are going to escape long hours, bad pay, rocky family life, and unsatisfying flying because you are going to fly a helicopter, you are dreaming. In the end, your job will be what you make of it.
As for your 50-60K starting salaries, well, other have already commented towards this aspect of your reasoning. Helicopter flying generally has higher starting pay, no doubt out that. What you fail to mention, perhaps because you are unaware, is that helicopter will top out MUCH lower then comparative fixed wing flying, and there is no doubt about that either.
Additionally, as a helicopter private pilot it could be years before your are anywhere near competitive for any such position that would afford you those kinds of salaries, and it will cost you significantly more to get there.
There are also far fewer rotorcraft positions to be filled throughout the country, and, as you mentioned yourself, the competition from ex-military rotorcraft pilots for such positions will be fierce. What do you think you will be earning while you are building competitive flight time?
If I had to guess the apprehension you have towards flying rotorcraft will subside with time. I can recall in IERW training we had two in the class that consistently barfed into their helmets during the first phase of training. THey both got through it and turned out to be pretty good sticks (As far as I know). I personally never had any issues, but everyone is different. I would certainly say that it is not entirely out of the normal.
At the same time, if you find that you are not getting over it after hundreds of hours of flying, you might want to reconsider.There is nothing wrong with following you gut, and ultimately if it is not for you, it is not for you. No shame in that.
It is entirely possible that aviation might not be for you. It happens, regardless of how badly someone may believe they are cut out for it. In the end it is a decision only you can make.
Not personally.
Some aspects yes, other no. I always looked towards the future, but not necessarily to get passed it. I just think looking towards the future is a normal aspect of training.
Yes and Yes
You don't need sympathy, per se, in your case. Just sounds like you have some choices to make.
Personally, I believe that your earning prospects, career prospects, and overall lifestyle would be more favorable with fixed wing flying in the long term.
Good luck.
(My personal opinions expressed above - your mileage may vary)
