HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN “OH, CRAP” MOMENT?
I think if you haven’t had an “oh, crap” moment, unfortunately it’s only a matter of time. I’ve had plenty of minor ones, and I’ve had a few “thank you Jesus” ones. You play the game long enough and you will have one too. The biggest piece of advice I can give is when those moments come, hopefully you have been staying vigilant. In our line of work when “oh, crap” moments come it isn’t like making a mistake flipping burgers where you drop a patty on the floor, pick it up, dust it off, throw it on the bun, and nobody knows. When we misdiagnose an “oh, crap” moment, and then make a mistake, it can often be unforgiving or fatal.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I think the biggest piece of advice I could give to future helicopter pilots or maintenance technicians would be to have fun with this industry (It is fun!) but don’t let it become your whole life. I’ve met many people in this industry where this is all they have. You will get to see and experience some of God’s finest earth art. You will gain a perspective by being in this industry that no 9-to-5 worker can understand. That can make life complicated, but try to stay rooted in your life outside of work. We are a small community of some of the finest human beings I have had the privilege of working with and crossing paths with. Many have been life-long career friends that I still keep in touch with.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR THE INDUSTRY AT THIS TIME?
We have a lack of qualified pilots and mechanics in the job pool. Having a certificate and a pulse does not make you qualified. Many jobs require specific sets of skills and expertise, and I know in the utility sector, right now, we are short on skilled pilots and field mechanics. I know many companies are trying to bridge that gap by hiring new pilots straight out of flight schools, and doing ride-along programs. (We used to call it “meat in the seat.”)
This kind of ties into the previous question, but if you are the meat in the seat: Take that time in; ask questions! The guy sitting next to you has probably been doing this a long time, and has a wealth of knowledge from trial and error and from still being around after a long career. That experience is invaluable. Don’t just get through it so you can go do it. Learn from their stories and training flights, take your time, and get qualified slowly. This is an industry where you won’t survive if you try to “fake it till you make it.”
Do you know someone who would be a good subject for Meet a Rotor Pro? Email your suggestion to the editor-in- chief:
lyn.burks@rotorpro.com
rotorpro.com
13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91
