Career Change from Helicopter to Fixed-Wing FO

[jar]

Hi everyone,

I’m a helicopter pilot with a commercial fixed-wing license, Group 1 IFR, and around 200 hours of fixed-wing time. I currently live in Ontario and am seriously considering a transition to a First Officer role with a regional airline. Given my lower fixed-wing hours, I’m also thinking about obtaining an instructor rating if needed to build further experience in the fixed wing world.

I have a few specific questions I’d love to get feedback on:

Scheduling and Work-Life Balance:

What are typical schedules like for regional airline First Officers? Is it possible to manage a reasonable work-life balance? How long is a tour? Do you generally get back to Toronto at the end of each day?

Base Location Requirements:

I live near London, Ontario. Do regional airlines typically require you to live near their main hubs (like Toronto), or can commuting work from a place like London?
Lifestyle and Career Progression:

What are some of the major pros and cons of making this career shift, particularly in terms of quality of life and long-term career growth?

General Tips:

What advice would you give someone transitioning from helicopters to fixed-wing airline operations?

I’m trying to determine if this switch is feasible and sustainable for me before fully committing. Any insights, especially from pilots who’ve made a similar change, would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your time and guidance.

[careerpilot?]

Jar,

I'm in a very similar situation, though my questions were a little different. If you haven't already, check out some of the great advice I got from a few folks in the linked thread, might answer at least a few of your questions.

viewtopic.php?t=208983

[throwawaycorporate]

How many hours do you have Total time?

If you get on with a regional, you will work a max of 18 days a month. This is reserve or a block, and can be reduced with seniority. While on reserve you will need to be able to report to the gate within x hours. That would be best answered by others but I believe it's 2 or 3 hours, the feasibility of this in London is not great unless you've got the car packed and constantly showered/ready to leave within 5 minutes. Even then, it's tight. Once off reserve, tours are referred to as pairings and will be in general 1-4 days. Work life balance means different things to different people. There will be pairings referred to as "turns" where you get back to Toronto each day but adding the drive to/from London would become a slog quite quickly.

In London there are actually a few fixed wing operators

- Flightexec has some corporate machines based in YXU
- Diamond aircraft periodically posts ads for pilots, may be worth reaching out directly
- ITPS (Test pilot school) periodically posts job ads for pilots
- Flight schools

If you can get by comfortably with $80-$100K you could go the instructor route and become a class 1 somewhere locally. That would get you home every night even though you may work more days total.

[jar]

Jar,

I'm in a very similar situation, though my questions were a little different. If you haven't already, check out some of the great advice I got from a few folks in the linked thread, might answer at least a few of your questions.

viewtopic.php?t=208983

thanks, I did read this one. Thanks for pointing it out.

Such a hard decision! I really want to make the switch but then wonder if I am better off to just find a FO rotary job and do things that way.

[jar]

How many hours do you have Total time?

If you get on with a regional, you will work a max of 18 days a month. This is reserve or a block, and can be reduced with seniority. While on reserve you will need to be able to report to the gate within x hours. That would be best answered by others but I believe it's 2 or 3 hours, the feasibility of this in London is not great unless you've got the car packed and constantly showered/ready to leave within 5 minutes. Even then, it's tight. Once off reserve, tours are referred to as pairings and will be in general 1-4 days. Work life balance means different things to different people. There will be pairings referred to as "turns" where you get back to Toronto each day but adding the drive to/from London would become a slog quite quickly.

In London there are actually a few fixed wing operators

- Flightexec has some corporate machines based in YXU
- Diamond aircraft periodically posts ads for pilots, may be worth reaching out directly
- ITPS (Test pilot school) periodically posts job ads for pilots
- Flight schools

If you can get by comfortably with $80-$100K you could go the instructor route and become a class 1 somewhere locally. That would get you home every night even though you may work more days total.

Thanks, I will look into it.

I am at 1300 total time, 200hrs fixed wing.

Unfortunately I am not as flexible with moving as I have some other commitments that keep me close to London, otherwise this would not even be a questions.

[throwawaycorporate]

If you'd prefer longer pairings, you could consider something like cargo jet. They're hamilton based, so a few minutes closer and I believe they have pairings up to 11 days.