Does anyone fly a helicopter for a living?

Something tells me most of these people probably have their own mode of aerial transportation. Where they just hop in their own helicopter or private fixed wing aircraft and fly home once they're finished with their job.
 
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I was working up north for a week in March 2017, doing transmission-line inspection during construction. I was in awe of these big guys (Sikorsky Skycranes?), carrying transmission towers, assembled on the ground, to the installation locations. I thought that would be an incredible job. I believe there's a remote set of controls, allowing a downward-facing pilot to set the base of the tower on the pin on the foundation. Incredible.

The photo shows a helicopter returning empty after delivering a tower to site.
 
GON said:
One of the key tasks of researching if you are a match to be a commercial rotary wing pilot is likely a flight physical.

A flight physical is about testing for many things, vision is one of the key medical items tested. Depth perception, color scales, etc. Every year thousands of men and woman that have passed a military physical with no medical issues and/ or no medical waivers and in excellent health, are unable to pass a flight physical.

I am sure @Astro14 and @Just a civilian pilot can provide ample information of testing requirements by a licensed medical professional to see if one is medically qualified to be a commercial aviation pilot.
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I am not very familiar with helicopter operations.

No clue about how stable ( how much you have to travel, work on days off, ) a helicopter career would be but it won’t pay nearly as much as an Airline Pilot. That said, it normally takes years to make descent money in the airline business unlike today. We have people going Captain at age 28 on the Airbus now, that’s was unheard of before at least in Canada with a major airline.

As far as the medical, I am not sure what’s a deal breaker medical wise today because things have changed sure I first got my medical 40 years ago ( I have never lost it , so far ).

Medical…..I wanted to be an F18 pilot in the RCAF but didn’t have the vision requirements so I went the civilian pilot route. Today, people can get into the military as pilots ( Canada anyways ) more easily vision restriction wise.

Because my airlines medical department used to be run by ex military doctors, they rejected me when I first applied ( only the medical part ) and it took a legal battle to get that ridiculous standard changed for all pilots because it had zero basis in bona fide justification.

Used to be a lot of ex military in our flight ops and medical dept , not anymore. They preferred hiring ex military and military similar standards like with medicals.
 
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The motor guy said:
Is that h135 the helicopter cujet was saying breaks down alot? So if I'm dying, you're telling me I'm on a multi million dollar pos that i have to worry could break down at any moment?😂😭
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This EC135 S/N 139 (in the crash below) was operated by BSO for the last 20 years, before that Monster.com, and before that my boss purchased it new. I suspect the engine experienced an uncontained failure of the power turbine. The pilot claimed he selected the LH engine to idle, therefore it was still being fed fuel. Of note the engines had been overhauled prematurely 3 times prior to this horrific crash.

It could be the same failure we experienced 3 times in S/N 0186, all before 1100 hours total time on the airframe and engines. The aft bearing cokes up, and the turbine lets loose. The first failure was under 300 hours since new, the second (of the same engine) was around 800 hours, and the third was the other engine at just over 1000 hours. Pathetic.

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4WD said:
Having a dog is better idea than flying helicopters … and I have been a passenger in many of those shaky machines …
(Only the dog calms my nerves)
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lol I just thought it would be cool to know how to do something a lot of people can't do. That's what makes you money. I mean it's not always about the money, but you get the point. It's hard to find a job that doesn't control your whole life. It almost seems like they either beat you into the ground, or there just isn't enough work period. Nothing in the middle.
 
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The motor guy said:
lol I just thought it would be cool to know how to do something a lot of people can't do. That's what makes you money. I mean it's not always about the money, but you get the point. It's hard to find a job that doesn't control your whole life. It almost seems like they either beat you into the ground, or there just isn't enough work period. Nothing in the middle.
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I have always tried to maintain as much control over my schedule ( life ) as a pilot.

I have given up lots of money flying a smaller passenger plane to be super senior ( I just moved up to #2 tonight …..the guy ahead of me is going on the B787 ) and get exactly the flying I want, the days off I want , and the vacation I want.

That cost me a lot but it’s been worth it.

I will never be a real pilot ( wide body ) , but that’s o.k 😉

Actually, I am almost going to be forced out and decide what other type to fly soon.
 
Just a civilian pilot said:
I have always tried to maintain as much control over my schedule ( life ) as a pilot.

I have given up lots of money flying a smaller passenger plane to be super senior ( I just moved up to #2 tonight …..the guy ahead of me is going on the B787 ) and get exactly the flying I want, the days off I want , and the vacation I want.

That cost me a lot but it’s been worth it.

I will never be a real pilot ( wide body ) , but that’s o.k 😉

Actually, I am almost going to be forced out and decide what other type to fly soon.
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Why because the other planes pay 200k year while the smaller ones may only pay $100k/year? Still plenty of money if you're wise with it.
 
The motor guy said:
Why because the other planes pay 200k year while the smaller ones may only pay $100k/year? Still plenty of money if you're wise with it.
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I have never lived a fancy life.

I drive cars that my FOs laugh at me over ( and flight attendants ) but I am thankful for what I have in life and hopefully my health too.

Growing up with a disabled older brother has been a perspective check for me.

That said, I like wasting my money on expensive oil and changing it too early😊
 
Just a civilian pilot said:
I have never lived a fancy life.

I drive cars that my FOs laugh at me over ( and flight attendants ) but I am thankful for what I have in life and hopefully my health too.

That said, I like wasting my money on expensive oil and changing it too early😊
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Some people keep their money in the bank. I have a friend who's dad had like 5 million dollars. You wouldn't have ever known it by looking at what they owned. He grew up thinking his family was poor. He passed away and his current wife swindled every last dime and my buddy didn't see a dime of it.
 
The motor guy said:
Some people keep their money in the bank. I have a friend who's dad had like 5 million dollars. You wouldn't have ever known it by looking at what they owned. He grew up thinking his family was poor. He passed away and his current wife swindled every last dime and my buddy didn't see a dime of it.
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My wife grew up dirt poor, she is a beautiful lady who also enjoys a simple life.

I am sure she won’t blow it all if I expire one day.

We have nice stuff but we don’t go nuts with buying stuff all the time.

We are very happy.
 
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