Gambler

You've got the idea, now just do your homework and find the best company who might be looking and for a new guy and you might as well have a flying and personal interview while you get your endorsement! Good Luck Gambler

Do what you like but you are probably more likely to be flying a Jetranger than an Astar. What about an EC120 endosement? A turbine endorsement is great but remember that the "good deal" is probably not the best way to go. If your going to get an endorsement I wouldn't go to a training only school or some guy with a lama that's only charging $700 an hour to get an endorsment. Go to a company that hires low time pilots and get some exposure. Your better off to pay a bit more on whatever aircraft they fly and get in the cockpit with the chief pilot or someone that has "the pull" to effect your future and get flying. Gambler

WHAT, I love the sling load hook up followed by the hover entry and then he watches the lift off of the load standing on the skid and then gets in! Gambler

Looks like FKHG and GKGK, two BA Astars registered in May 2006. I met Matt when the base in revelstoke was CHL. The base then turned to Kokanee and now is Arrow.

I bought mine from Vester Craig in North Carolina for $1700 CDN. That was a year ago when the dollar was much lower. As far as warranty any dealer will fix your helmet within the first year. I had a mic and volume control go and maxcraft in Vancouver warrantied the items no problem. The rigid visor cover is pretty big and the soft visor is a must for longlining. No scratching bubble windows and more clearance for longlining in an astar.

Hey Cole, 3000 hour TT helicopters, also mountain course, astar time a plus. Oh, and get in line! If you search through the website you'll find all the requirments. Good luck with your goal, it would be a great job. Take care, Gambler

My point exactly 412driver!

Peeshooter, If you were an operator and needed to hire a pilot to fly your helicopter wouldn't you hire the best possible pilot to fill the position? I would hire someone not just by hours but also professionalism, personality, work ethic, ability to work within a team, etc. If someone from another country is more "qualified" in the above areas and they get hired over a canadian then all the power to them and they are just raising the bar a little higher. Operators want the best people (no matter where their from) to fly and maintain their helicopters! Wouldn't you? There are currently plenty of available positions for experienced pilots in Canada and there is only going to be more in the future. If you have the previously mentioned qualities and most of all a good attitude there is no reason why you shouldn't be working. Just because your Canadian you shouldn't expect to be handed a job over someone from another country. This can go either way as well, an Aussie pilot may not get the job over a Canadian. In the end usually the best people are working and the bad atttitudes are sitting on the sidelines making up excuses on why they should be flying and not some other guy from outside of the country. Gambler

Thanks Downwash, I was hoping for these kinds of responses, the kind that only years of experiences and thousands of hours can pass along to aspiring heliski drivers. I'll be sure to keep my dropoff/outs and make sure I have the best approach with the current conditions avaialble. Thanks again! Gambler

Cap- Thanks for the advice, it sure is nice to see a place where people are looking out for one another and keeping everyones best interests in mind. Thanks again for all the coments and reeeaaaaaally helpful info! Gambler

Wow! 4961 Thankyou so much for your complete breakdown and great advise. Thanks to 407D and Firehawk as well. This type of advise could really save my bacon and I really appreciate the info. I'll see you on the hills! The Gambler

I have been reading this forum for a couple of years and I have decided to finally join the insanity. There seems to be a lot of knowledge out ther and I was wondering if anyone could share some heli-skiing rules to live by. I'm sure there are a lot of highly experienced heliski drivers on this forum from what I can tell, and I'm sure there are some tricks of the trade/ procedures that hopefully can be shared or PM'd to myself. Thanks/ Look forward to many more posts The Gambler