There is a possibility that the flight school closest to you will give you the best training for the markets that interest you most, but there is also a chance that it will not. Aspiring pilots should research the industry and decide what sectors interest them and where that work takes place. Heli-tours are a good way to build time, but diversifying into other flying activities might be more challenging and exhilarating. If the industry sectors that interest you aren’t particularly active in your area, it’s worth seriously considering learning to fly in a country or region where the instruction can actually prepare you for that type of work. Be very careful about attending the flight school down the road just because it is convenient.
The quality of helicopter training is not universally equal, though it seems many prospective pilots aren’t aware of this. If you aspire to charter work in the mountains, and you live in a flat country with a tropical climate, the helicopter licence you earn at home might not qualify you for the work you want to do; there is a possibility your skill level will be below the training standard required by the mountain operators. You should be prepared to do some advanced training there to elevate your skill level to match theirs. And yes, this will cost money.
Increasingly, civil aviation authorities are requiring pilots engaged in specialized activities such as hover exit, fire suppression, and all manner of slinging and vertical reference work, to have training specific to these activities. If you are an entry level pilot with exposure to many of these skills, you will definitely be more attractive to potential employers in the areas where you want to work. Including this training in an ab initio program is a cost-saving measure to be sure, and should be a consideration when choosing a flight school.
If a potential employer is actively looking for someone with the same drive and personality you have, it is conceivable that the cost for the extra training you might need to come up to their standard will be absorbed by the company. It is possible to win the lottery, too — but a better bet for new pilots would be to have proficiency in the appropriate advanced skills before you start banging on hangar doors.
Having to spend money for additional training during or after licensing is a sensitive and often restrictive issue but, for many, it is a reality as well. Inadequate training leads to despondency if you do find work on the ground at a charter company and the flying jobs just don’t come your way. As far as safety is concerned, the association between training, skill and mishap has always been a hot-button issue. It’s worth remembering that regular customers (who may have years of helicopter flying experience) often vet the pilots they fly with very carefully — and well they should, because in the wrong hands these customers are susceptible to incident.
I remember as a newer pilot being given a chance to fly with some experienced customers who I had never flown before. Looking over to where the crew boss was sitting, I was shocked to see a full summary of my flying experience on every type of job I had ever done on a sheet on his clip board. He was aware that I had noticed this and exclaimed, “We don’t fly with just anybody young man!” I made sure all of my approaches and landings from that day forward were perfect.
Let’s face it, if you have good training for the jobs that interest you, customers in that sector will probably be happy to fly with you. You will be busy, making good money and doing what you really wanted to do in the first place.
Where you learn and what you learn can have a great impact on how your career progresses. Think globally in your search for good training. The marketplace you are researching is called Planet Earth.