Future of flying with increasing fuel costs

[GNP]

I've been looking into commercial helicopter training. Since it's huge money I'm trying to cover all the angles and do all the research I can before I decide whether to take the plunge or not. One of my concerns is regarding the future of the industry with ever increasing fuel costs.

The passenger airline sector is taking a beating with high fuel costs but how about the helicopter industry? As fuel goes up, I assume that heli-skiing, sight seeing tours etc drop off but high resource prices should mean more work from heli-logging, seismic, energy companies etc as they continue with with new exploration.

I don't want to spend the money on training and get my hours up just to find myself in an industry that's rapidly shrinking due to increasing operation costs. Any thoughts?

[kingeddie]

operators charge tarrif plus fuel , So the customer bears the fuel cost in most cases , Fuel hasn't to date changed the momentum of the industry that Ive seen , and has increased over 100 percent since I started 21 years ago . actually about 130 percent
Also the difference now is that if you can spell helicopter or have seen a picture of one you will likely get a job paying over 70K after a few months and upward from there .

Jump In to the pool you can always declare personal bankruptcy ..

KE

[GNP]

I understand that fuel costs are passed on to the customer...same as any industry. As costs go up for the customer, the demand generally goes down and that was my concern.

I'm kind of surprised by this comment though:

"... if you can spell helicopter or have seen a picture of one you will likely get a job paying over 70K after a few months and upward from there ."

I've never heard that from anyone. Everyone I've talked to keeps telling me that it's tough finding work when you have low hours. I'm sure it's easier now than it has been in the past but have things changed that much??

[kingeddie]

I know five young folks who bought a licence in the past 18 months and all five are working two are over a thousand hours and all of them are making over 70K.. If you are uncertain obout our industry now than you may not have the stomach for it as it is the best it has ever been for employment and income .
Anyhow its up to you in the end
good luck .



KE

[GNP]

I'm uncertain about everything I know little about! Don't assume I can't stomach the industry because I have questions! I'm in the process of doing my research and homework so I'm not one of the people on here saying "I thought I'd be working right away...." or "I assumed I'd get paid better than this....", AFTER breaking the bank for training! I like to know as much as possible BEFORE I do it! I appreciate your input as this is all very new to me.

The people you know that are working already...did they do any ground support before they were able to start flying? Did they do turbine training or the standard Bell 47 or R22 course? I'm looking at the all turbine Bell 206 course from Chinook in Abbotsford but I'm not sure if the extra $30,000+ is worth it. If people are getting hired right away and making good money with the standard training then there's no reason to spend a bunch more for the turbine course. Thoughts?

[snoopy]

Hi there,

Can't tell you about a job because I didn't get that far yet, but I can tell you that I did my training with Chinook out of Abbottsford on the Bell 47 and was very pleased with both the helicopter choice and the school. I don't know how necessary it is to pay for the entire course on a turbine - if you had that kind of money you could buy extra/advanced training and get twice as much bang for your buck if you did it in the -47 instead of $1000+/hr in the Jetranger.

Your best bet for information is to go talk to helicopter pilots and operators in the field. Asking for advice in person will likely net you better results than anonymous replies on this forum. Also, being unlicensed is kind of like being a puppy - you can get away with being really annoying with all sorts of fact-finding and advice-seeking questions and you won't be turned away like the hundreds of job seekers who are solely pestering for employment. I don't know too many pilots/operators that don't like to give advice... Later, this can work in your favour if you build a relationship with a couple of companies you decide you might later want to work for. As you attain various licenses and ratings you can touch base with the contacts you've made and update them on your progress.

If you're really creative, and find good rapport with a helicopter operator and/or pilot, you might be able to wangle yourself a ride-along on a trip or too and actually get to see the machine in action. Warning Doing this can be hazardous to your health (and your wallet) - it's very addicting!!!

With regard to flight schools, make sure you do your research and definitely demand a highly experienced instructor. Trust me, helicopter instructing has to be the riskiest job out there, particularly when students are trying to kill you from the moment the rotor starts turning... you'll be glad of a good instructor. Most flight schools offer a fam flight where you can go up for half an hour or so and handle the controls, after a mini ground brief. I think Sky's the Limit made a post in this forum about flight training and flight school options - you might also try a pm there.

Hope this helps - and good luck with your decision making!

Cheers,
snoopy

[Notch]

As far as the oil shortage question, as you can tell by the lack of respone thats something aviation people (or most people for that matter) avoid thinking about let alone talking about. It is going to kill aviation as we know it eventually, the only question is when. I read some articles on american companies converting coal to liquid fuel and using it in there military B52's which gives a glimmer of hope, but it takes a fair amount of energy and a toll on the environment apparently.

Best case scenario would be a smooth transition to liquified coal technology. Other than that, in my personal opinion, we're on borrwed time. I'll be surpised if aviation hasn't had a major and likely permanent slow down within 20 years.

[GNP]

As far as the oil shortage question, as you can tell by the lack of respone thats something aviation people (or most people for that matter) avoid thinking about let alone talking about. It is going to kill aviation as we know it eventually, the only question is when. I read some articles on american companies converting coal to liquid fuel and using it in there military B52's which gives a glimmer of hope, but it takes a fair amount of energy and a toll on the environment apparently.

Best case scenario would be a smooth transition to liquified coal technology. Other than that, in my personal opinion, we're on borrwed time. I'll be surpised if aviation hasn't had a major and likely permanent slow down within 20 years.

I've done a lot of reading about peak oil and what the experts believe the future will look like and that's why I posted the question. No matter what industry you are in the effects of increased demand and lower supply will be devastating PERIOD. I don't want to turn this into a thread about peak oil as there are lots of forum boards for that but I'm still trying to figure out if energy companies increased use of helicopters (due to an increase in exploration, seismic, offshore etc) will offset the downturn from the other users

[Notch]

It might possibly expand heli operations directly related to oil, but I dont imagine it would be nearly enough to offset the jobs lost from companies that can no longer afford to operate.

[North Shore]

I'm of the opinion that specialty jobs will be the last to go - and helicopters are amongst those jobs. How else to get comm. gear to the tops of mountains? Exploration gear out into the boonies, etc..? OTOH, how necessary is it to visit Aunt Hilda in east podunk, via Air WestJazz?
Heli-skiing might go, but as it is already pretty much the reserve of the really rich, it'll probably stay that way..

The other way of looking at it is that oil gets that short, you'll have other, worse things to worry about than losing your job - like where your food comes from, and how do you stay warm in the winer that covers most of this country from mid-October to May..

[GNP]

The other way of looking at it is that oil gets that short, you'll have other, worse things to worry about than losing your job - like where your food comes from, and how do you stay warm in the winer that covers most of this country from mid-October to May..

I agree that food and heat are more important concerns however, even if they are in short supply, they would easier to obtain if you're employed