Pilots in the house?

[not5150]

After seeing the Southwest crash post, I'm wondering how many pilots are here?

I'm a private pilot/ground intstructor. I have almost 250 hours, but I haven't flown in months.

Hopefully my schedule clears up and I can get back in the air. I bet my first few landings will make quite an impact :smile:

[dw]

After seeing the Southwest crash post, I'm wondering how many pilots are here?

I'm a private pilot/ground intstructor. I have almost 250 hours, but I haven't flown in months.

Hopefully my schedule clears up and I can get back in the air. I bet my first few landings will make quite an impact :smile:

Any rotor instructors in NorCal feel free to get in touch with me for some possible business.

[AirborneLEO]

Ahh, pilot talk. Great topic, I'm curious to see how many other pilot members we have.

I fly in the Sacramento area. I fly a Piper Saratoga for a small medical company and flight instruct. I flew for American Eagle Airlines out of San Juan, Puerto Rico for a few months but had to leave due to financial hardship. I have approximately 2200 hours and have been flying for about 8 years.

Be safe all and blue skies to my fellow aviators.

[16528]

Any rotor instructors in NorCal feel free to get in touch with me for some possible business.

Ditto...

Fling wings rule!!!!

[AirborneLEO]

If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it's probably a helicopter -- and therefore, unsafe.

Kidding of course. Just had to post that since it was in a list of other funny aviation jokes that were emailed to me today.

I have respect for rotor pilots, they sure have their hands full; literally.

[pupdog]

I flew for about an hour earlier this month! hardly a drop, but it was a big thrill to me! When I was in San Diego we visited a friend who's a pilot. We all chipped in & rented a Cessna & flew out to Borrego Springs. I steered through the air a bit while our pilot read the map (forever lost!) but when it was my boyfriends turn, he 'co-piloted' a few touch & gos.

[Cameron]

I've spent a few thousand hours on flight simulator computer programs... yeah, I know... DEFINITELY not like the real thing. As soon as I pay off college loans, the first thing I'll be doing is getting my license. Becoming is a pilot is seriously the only concrete goal that I've had since childhood.
:biggrin:

If anyone needs an extra set of hands to take the controls while you are reading the map/sipping coffee/checking out the scenery below, let me know! :biggrin:

[Lucky Seven]

Any rotor instructors in NorCal feel free to get in touch with me for some possible business.

Hey DW...You thinking about getting your rotary license?

[dw]

Any rotor instructors in NorCal feel free to get in touch with me for some possible business.

Hey DW...You thinking about getting your rotary license?



Yup. In no hurry, but I think it would be cool. (Nothing beats a 70k hobby!) It would only make sense if I flew for the Department. I figure it will take about eight years flying to break even. I figure I have twenty-some more years to take advantage of the Department and I think it would be cool to get paid to fly sometime before I retire.

[4CHP]

Hi,

I flew in the Bay Area for several years, both as a student and later as a flight instructor (for about a year and a half). I decided that flying for an airline was not what I wanted after all...Here I am....

:cool:

[Lucky Seven]

Any rotor instructors in NorCal feel free to get in touch with me for some possible business.

Hey DW...You thinking about getting your rotary license?



Yup. In no hurry, but I think it would be cool. (Nothing beats a 70k hobby!) It would only make sense if I flew for the Department. I figure it will take about eight years flying to break even. I figure I have twenty-some more years to take advantage of the Department and I think it would be cool to get paid to fly sometime before I retire.

PM me. I have done some research on this.

[rich]

Do most department pilots join with tons of flight experience (military or private pilots), or do they put themselves through flight school on their off time and then apply for the flight program after they are qualified? I know the spots are limited but it would be pretty sweet to fly for the CHP.

[BE20]

I was flying for a charter company out of Van Nuys Airport before being laid off due to auto manufacturing millionaires giving private jets a bad name (well, thats only part of it). I'm currently flying a Cessna 172 out of Whiteman Airport here in LA. If anyone wants to put our money together and get wheels up just let me know. Any excuse to go flying is a good one!

[FDandH]

I was flying for a charter company out of Van Nuys Airport before being laid off due to auto manufacturing millionaires giving private jets a bad name (well, thats only part of it). I'm currently flying a Cessna 172 out of Whiteman Airport here in LA. If anyone wants to put our money together and get wheels up just let me know. Any excuse to go flying is a good one!

Are you a CFI?

[BE20]

Are you a CFI?

No, I'm a ground instructor if that helps at all. I got hired before getting my CFI so I put it on the back burner. I'm thinking about working toward the CFI again in my new found off time. I know plenty of good CFI's if you need a referral or anything. Are you in the area?

[FDandH]

No, I'm a ground instructor if that helps at all. I got hired before getting my CFI so I put it on the back burner. I'm thinking about working toward the CFI again in my new found off time. I know plenty of good CFI's if you need a referral or anything. Are you in the area?

I've been mulling it over for several years now, typical excuses, no money, no time, etc. I've flown with my dad for as long as I can remember, just never took lessons. I'm about an hour away from Whitman, when I do learn I want to learn in busy airspace.

[Chippysgt]

I have a commercial pilot's license and my rating is LTA Free Balloon. I can't go very fast but I have the right of way over the rest of you guys...:cool:

[greaser landing]

I work out of Auburn and fly out of the Lincoln CA airport. I am about 1/2 way through my IFR training and looking forward to flying for the Dept. in the future.

[BE20]

I have a commercial pilot's license and my rating is LTA Free Balloon. I can't go very fast but I have the right of way over the rest of you guys...:cool:

Chippysgt,

Can you get a private pilot license for LTA aircraft? Or, do you add the LTA rating on to a fixed wing commercial license? I have wondered how that part of the aviation world worked. Never spoken to an actual balloon driver... or drifter.

BE20

[ResQ]

I have a commercial pilot's license and my rating is LTA Free Balloon. I can't go very fast but I have the right of way over the rest of you guys...:cool:


So I got ta' thinkin'....how about a retired annuitant driving a departmental observation free balloon over downtown LA (or Central Coast, south of Hearst Castle somewhere)... moving map, FLIR, Sniper Gear, port-a-potty, cup holder...

this has potential...

oh oh! and a repeater on the bottom of the basket, to assist with all those dead spots...

...and a PA...

...and a cage (for in-custody's)...

..and...and...

[Chippysgt]

Yeah, a balloon ride might be just the ticket to sober up a mouthy duece.

Yes, you can get a private pilot license rated for LTA. My route was taking training from a licensed LTA instructor, studying the manuals, going to the FAA and filing my application, taking a very intense written test and doing a flight test with a licensed examiner. The test is just like that for other aviation classes minus the stuff about engines and airframe dynamics. On the other hand there is plenty of stuff about the know about the engineering of balloons and the special factors regarding an aircraft that is dependent on air currents for velocity and direction.

Lots of fun and I had as much fun as the customers.

[dw]

I've been mulling it over for several years now, typical excuses, no money, no time, etc. I've flown with my dad for as long as I can remember, just never took lessons. I'm about an hour away from Whitman, when I do learn I want to learn in busy airspace.Do it, do it, do it. You won't regret the gaping hole in your checking account. I did most of my training at John Wayne and +1 to the busy airspace training, it was invaluable.

[Central83]

Believe me... I know how expensive it is, but if you do have the opportunity, I think that now is the time to get those ratings and build PIC time. Relatively speaking, fuel costs are fairly low right now and there are many pilot openings throughout the state. It won't be too long before all of these highly qualified military pilots who have spent time overseas fulfill their military obligation and find their way to the CHP.

My biggest recommendation for anyone paying their own way for your rotorcraft rating is to do your research! Just because you get all of your ratings and 300 hours PIC is no guarantee that you'll become a Departmental pilot. If for one reason or another you don't make it, you've just waisted a ton of money. Chances are slim-to-none that you'll find a flying job anywhere else with only 300 hours. I don't want to paint a grim picture, but it is a big reality. I was fortunate to make it and I know several pilots who have made it with the minimum requirements. I have also known experienced pilots who did not make it.

Fixed-wing is a little different. Training is much cheaper, there are more fixed-wing flying jobs outside of the department, and you can easily rent planes for travel or hobby reasons.

If you decide to take the plunge, I wish you the best of luck. Talk to any of the Depatrmental pilots and get suggestions from them as well or go on ride-alongs (Chippies only please). I've talked with ResQ quite a bit about this and I'd be more than happy to talk with anyone else if its something you want to do.

[ResQ]

I've talked with ResQ quite a bit about this...

Tru..Central has been a ton of help. And from my perspective...now is the time. In 7-10 years it is going to be locked up. Plenty of young Army dude/dudettes that will be clearing Iraq/Afghanistan over the next couple years and putting in apps to be a new troop...once their time is up and they are eligible...it will be slim pickin's for the 300hr paid-out-of-pocket road dog. Not saying it can't happen, but I would hate to take the $70K gamble later in my career knowing the cycle (for example, all the vietnam/pamama/Gulf War fliers are finishing their careers now).

Unfortunately, I am (again) stymied by outside issues that prevent me from pulling pitch on the clock...but based on my research and contacts...there is NO better time that NOW. Hopefully, my training won't be wasted?!

Also, I would offer to those thinking about rotary wing jobs...statistically speaking this is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. You get one chance to crash correctly. There is plenty of statistical data showing high-time helo guys pranging it in with nurses and patients on board. This is not the 'land at the airport/deignated LZ, Sunday flying club duty.' The guys that are flying EMS (read:Chippies) are landing at unimproved LZ's with plenty of hazards, pushing their limits to save lives in conditions that the VFR guy/gal would feel very uncomfortable flying in, and earning their 'hero' status by getting the job done. Make sure you count the cost of really being prepared to do what others cannot in conditions that others would choose not and not get all giddy thinking it will be lolipops and sunshine once you learn to hover. I am not all doom and gloom ...just one thing that your fresh new pilot training book is not going to tell you about EMS duties and making good choices about being on your A-Game when you strap on a machine like that.

blue skies!
resq

[D]

I think Res Q did a few rides in Valley Air Ops also to get the scoop on things.
The Dept has ex military pilots and it has civilian trained pilots. Don't let the fact that there are military pilots out there discourage anyone. It takes a lot of work and commitment but I would think its well worth it.

[Flight_level010]

Pilot here if you can't tell from my scree-name

Multi/Commercial/Instrument.....around 300 TT