Hey I am at flight school now and I am hoping to get some opinions on which platform is better. What are the pros and cons of each (fixed wing vs. helo) in your opinions. I have no idea what to ask for, I just keep going back and forth. I know I'll get some responses that say "whatever you think you'll like best" but I mostly want your opinions and why you feel that way. Thanks.
Helo's hang it out a bit more than the fixed wing side. If you go up to Alaska, the 130 will be circling overhead of the helo doing the hoist from the pitching crab boat at night in the Bering Sea in January. Pick your poison. If your looking for what to fly so you can get a high paying airline job, go fixed wing. If you want more daring and excitement, go helo's. I've flown on both and I enjoyed both but there are definitely differences in the mindset and long term goals...
I would steer clear of the Falcon, it's a dying airframe that they keep saying is going away but still some how hangs around but keeps getting treated like it's going away.
What a can of worms this could open . Not sure about pilots, but I dont recall being asked which airframe I would like to be assigned to. As far as pros and cons, I can only speak for the poor old Falcon and say that it is a pain to work on, but I think multi jet time is gold in the civilian world if you are a pilot.
As far as pros and cons, I can only speak for the poor old Falcon and say that it is a pain to work on, but I think multi jet time is gold in the civilian world if you are a pilot.
Especially if you want to fly private charters in the civilian world. It would set you up perfectly for the G5's and Lears that all the big-wiggs are buying left and right and need someone to fly them around.
As far as pilots choosing their aircraft, some recent classes have been given a list of aircraft available and the classmates had to figure out who was going to fly what/where.
If you want to fly an aircraft and be "set up" later try fixed wing. If you want to fly an aircraft that gives you great satisfaction flying everyday, try rotary wing.
I have not piloted the falcon or the Herc but I have been along on missions before and in all honesty, I prayed someone would shoot me to end the suffering. Pure and utter boredom. But some people love it for whatever reason. Being on those flights made me realize I could never be a commercial airline pilot.
There is a joke in the aviation community that SAR means two different things depending if you are fixed or rotary.
SAR means Search and Rescue in the helo community. It means Search and Return in the fixed wing community.
Bottom line is we all have a critical job to do, it just depends on what you want out of it.
Originally posted by tankkllr: I have not piloted the falcon or the Herc but I have been along on missions before and in all honesty, I prayed someone would shoot me to end the suffering. Pure and utter boredom.
That's my biggest concern with flying fixed wing right there. I am afraid that I'll just be so bored after the 8th straight hour of flying circles over the ocean. I'm leaning more towards fixed wing mostly for the experience, but boredom is my main concern. What are the negatives of flying helos?? Also what do fixed wing pilots do on a 10 hour flight to ease the boredom?
It seems most pilots start out in helos (greater number) and, at some point later, compete (or are begged) for a fixed wing slot. Depends on the needs at that time. If you want that airline job on the outside and need those hours, the "bleed air dumpster" (herc) is the way to go. I know a few former herc pilots that are now flying G-V corporate.
Patrol can be mind-numbing, but besides solving world hunger on the ICS, we try to do training; 20 questions on systems, etc.
Unless things have changed, there are more fixed wing jobs on the outside than helo; but deregulation has not made it a pretty as it was 10 years ago. There are plenty of CG pilots flying for Southwest and love it.
I never got to meet the public like the helo guys do, but had many great years as an DM and FE. Kodiak has the most variety and WX demands. Hauling trash up there was fun. Maybe some of the Barbers Point folks could chime in...I have heard some great stories from there too. Many a flight had patrol, and cargo planned, then turned into SAR. Semper Divertus
...and some of those fish patrols were 12 hours!
It's all good, regardless of the airframe. Good luck to you!
Deployments may also figure into your decision. As a helo guy, atleast 65's, you would be on the hook to go to Hitron or ALPAT where all you do is deploy on cutters. 60 guys don't go to boats but do deploy in Clearwater (opbat) and Kodiak (Dutch, St Paul, Cold Bay). Herc's deploy everywhere (South and Central America, Carribean, Shemya, Galena, Newfoundland, Guam, Puerto Rico, Kwaj, Samoa, etc). More confused now than ever?
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