It doesn't happen in the EMS helicopter business, either. Bases close, change operators, etc. The company can change your schedule pretty much anytime they want to. Anybody that thinks they're going to be off for Christmas next year because that's how they're schedule falls is probably going to be in for a rude awakening.

Knowing your schedule that far in advance is definitely nice and something that just won’t happen at the airlines - along with being in your bed every night. It’s definitely not for everyone - especially those who have never had careers requiring their absence, military, etc. I believe it can be difficult for all those involved in that case. I’ve had the “in my own bed every night” discussion with quite a few friends and acquaintances and, personally, I think it’s a bit overblown. I show the example below because it can be eye-opening to those without much knowledge of the industry. My schedule next month is a good example because the math works out almost perfectly compared to a month of 7 on/7 off. I will fly 3 trips next month - all 4-day trips - for a total of 169 hours away from base. 169 hours / 12 =14.08, or 14, 12-hour shifts almost exactly. That doesn’t count commute time to the airport, but also doesn’t count commute time to your base, so pretty much even. True, you are in your own bed; I’m gone. It is a bit more nuanced though. 2 of my trips take off at 2330 the first day and land at 0400 the 4th day, so the majority of the 1st and 4th days I’m at home. That 3rd trip leaves at 2030 and lands at 0630. A few hours less than the others, but still at home for a good portion of those days. So truly gone… 6 days for the month (2 days at a time 3 times for the month). 3 trips, 19 days truly off (not counting those other 6 days of starts/ends where the majority of the day is still at home), about 25k pay with 4k into the 401k by the company. But you are very much gone from home - that is true. Also, the airline industry will always be more volatile than the RW side.

You got that going for you.

At the end of each 12-hour medevac shift....I get in my own car and go home to sleep in my own bed. I do that 7 times and then I forget about work for 7 days. My family and I know what holidays I'm working this year and the next, and the next and the next.

I don’t think there is any question which one is generally better as far as long-term career benefits. Yeah, helicopters are more “fun”, but you know what else is fun? Being only year 4 at a US legacy, being a WB FO, making 360k last year, and having 18-20 days off every month. That 360 doesn’t count 17% direct contribution into your 401k, so about 60k/year directly into your 401k regardless of your contribution. I hear people say, it’s boring, I could never do it, yada, yada, yada. Whatever. Flying is a job. Regardless of your level of passion, etc, at the end of the day, it will become a job at some point. It can be boring, but the quality of life REALLY takes the sting out of the boredom. Also, a lot of the boring comments are loudest from people who have never done it. After flying all over the world, the thought of puttzing around at 90 knots on a .8 flight, now seems pretty boring to me - in a different way. Best of luck!

I am a dual-rated commercial pilot, and I chose to focus on the rotary wing side. I recently retired from flying, coming out of helicopter air ambulance. (As an aside, my stepson is a copilot flying the Airbus 320 for Delta, so I understand that side of the business as well.). To answer your question, I think the fixed wing side has every advantage over rotary wing—better family life, better schedule, better pay (more than double.). HOWEVER—I find it boring. This is the primary upside of helicopters and it’s why I chose them. So much more interesting and fun to fly. And since I have a very successful wife, I didn’t need the money—which allowed me the flexibility to choose. I wish you luck going forward!

Hello everyone, I’ve been reading this forum for quite a while and I really appreciate the level of honesty and experience shared here, so I’d like to ask for some advice from people who are already working in the industry. A bit about me. I’m in my early 40s, based in Europe, and I currently have a stable professional and financial situation outside aviation. I’m not escaping a bad job or a difficult life. On the contrary, my quality of life is already good, both personally and professionally. I have flexibility, independence, and I value my time a lot. Aviation for me is not a last chance, but a conscious choice driven by passion. The question I’m trying to answer is not “can I make it?”, but rather which path offers a better long-term lifestyle and quality of life: airplanes or helicopters. I’m currently undecided between a fixed-wing path, starting from general aviation and possibly moving toward professional flying, and a rotary-wing path, which I find extremely fascinating but also seems more demanding from a lifestyle perspective, especially in the early years. At this stage of my life, what matters most to me is quality of life rather than pure career speed, having some level of predictability in the schedule when possible, being able to maintain relationships, sports, and a social life, not living permanently on the road or in extremely remote locations, at least not forever, and enjoying flying without it completely consuming my identity or personal life. I’m very aware that both paths require sacrifice at the beginning, that entry-level jobs are rarely glamorous, and that aviation is not a 9–5 job, especially early on. What I’m trying to understand, from people who actually live this life, is how your day-to-day lifestyle really looks after the first difficult years, whether looking back you would choose airplanes or helicopters again purely from a lifestyle perspective, and whether starting today at my age, with a solid non-aviation background, would influence your choice. I’m not looking for encouragement or discouragement, just honest, experience-based opinions. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their perspective.

I'm sure an N-Numbers Helicopter would need to be exported from the U.S. and De-Registered with the FAA. I'm wondering about In-Country Maintenance and Insurance Costs?? Puerto Rico has very limited Helo Repair Shops.

There's an easy fix, STOP USING CBD. I'm sure an OTC NSAID will work the same way CBD is doing for you

Dennis was a great guy and an excellent instructor. I took a few lessons from him in exchange for work I did at Precision Helicopters at Stark's Twin Oaks airport. I'm sorry to learn of his passing.