Where did you get this figure from?

I was a HEMS pilot for almost a decade and left to go fly corporate. I have another friend who left HEMS and went to regionals and then Frontier. So far, 2 for 2, but of course, this is a small sample. 

Nobody and I mean nobody thinks anybody does anything because of what's on here. Pay will change if they can't get asses in the seat.

I'll drink to that!

Make mine a double.

A triple Fiddy!!!!!

If you are under 40 you got over 25 years left till they boot you out of the airlines.  I did the regionals after neraly 20 years in helicopters, and did well in the training. Most helicopter pilots do. I had 4 in my class at a regional, all made it to the line. Only washouts were fixed wing guys.

The earnings over 25 years in fixed wing is so far above what you will earn in rotors, that if I was a young as you, I would go fixed wing. If I didn't have a wife that makes very high wages I would do it anyway.

Airlines are an easy in the door, but then you can get a good paying cargo job without all the hassles of flying the unwashed masses. Corporate, fractionals, lots of opportunities. 

Just my take.

Here is the calculus

If you are a solid squared away guy or gal and you already have quite a bit of Rotor time and experience, you'll likely make a very good fixed wing pilot.

1500 total time of which (I believe) 250 has to be airplane, of which some of that must meet x-country and probably night.

You'll obviously need your Multi/Instrument -

Now, with that out of the way, if the economy stays stable and or continues to grow

1.5 to 2 years in a regional - First year, if you can find a regional with a decent signing bonus, could do north of 60k - 

If you play your cards right, get into a Major or Legacy such as Jetblue, Frontier, Spirit, or United, Delta, American 

1st year in most of those is a little less than 100K ... 2nd year, 120-150 depending upon the body

Some of them the upgrade time is really low - less than 2 years ... some closer to 5 to 7 depending upon where you're based. Captain pay 200-275k a year on average.

Places like United give you 15% into a retirement plan. So make 200k, you are getting 30k free. Then they also offer a 401k

So, let's back this out and do the math

you're 40 - Get done with all your requirements to get into a regional by 41

Spend 2-3 years in a regional and go into a major / legacy - 44

5 years to upgrade to captain (super conservative) - 49

That gives you 16 years of 250+ income + excellent retirement benefits

That's a realistic view if we don't have another major crisis 

I have a friend who left a 115k medevac job, went to the regionals, got hired on with Frontier - He's up to about 140-150k now - Should upgrade to captain this year or next year, and without overtime, he'll be about 210/year ...

Caveat - You can make a lot extra if you know how to work the system, work extra, etc. 

Hopefully this helps

FYI I made the switch to corporate aviation at 42, got into a gulfstream at 44 (was a bit lucky) and more than doubled my salary. It worked for me, but everybody's mileage varies. I've considered the airlines, but I'm going to stick here for now.

Excellent right up, thank you.

And if you absolutely think you have to fly a helicopter...you can CFI on the side. 

Corp. is great until: 1st.The co.starts doing negative,Then the board's 1st decesion shut down the flt.dept.Been there done that.

2nd another Co buys your co.,they have a flt dept.yours closes.Seen Pfizer, Merck do it.

I'm NOT saying IF you get the chance to go Co. & the position suits you GO FOR it %100,if not the 14 CFR 121's are not bad place vs HAA! Know that too. 

Good luck too all & fly safe!! Cheers

wrong with chasing money as long as ur life on the home front stays stable.

Worked for me.

you guys think there's going to be some kind of shortage and pay will go up. lmao. if there aren't enough people to fill the seats of all the phoney baloney make-believe jobs, those will just go away. only the "real" jobs will be left...and there's only about 200 of them in the whole united states of helicopters. so yeah, let the youngsters flock to the airlines and more power to them. but don't think anything is gonna fall out of the tree for the true confirmed rotor bums like you because of it. 

It doesn't matter if it's one of them real helicopter jobs. It only matters if there's money in it. Lots of money in EMS. Profitablity is was makes the world go round bro, nothing else. Pay is already coming up but if you want a real career, airplanes but that's always been true. That's funny you're so naive you think there's a difference between helicopter jobs lol.

Fourty isn't too old.You can work till you are 65.Go for it.

They'll lower hiring mins before the raise salaries. 

did that bro.

there already is a shortage and pay already is going up.

Ya just spreading misinformation again speaking nonsense. Love the bonus guy. Kiss kiss 

you're 40 by the time ur 65 the retirement age may well be 67 or 70, so, ur looking at perhaps 30 years.  If you were 50 I'd say stay where ur at, financially speaking.

1st year pay until March '22 is $59.97/ hour with a 75 hour guarantee so figure about $4500/ month

2nd year pay is $112 and $115/ hr come March so easily $8500/ month second year

Those both could go up this year, too... remember, those are minimum pay for the month.

@$7500 - 15000

I'm a professional pilot and my wife is a teacher.  Therefore, we are certified experts at bitching about pay.  Here's the deal.  You're pay will go up right AFTER your employer can't generate revenue because they can't fill their already empty slot with a minimally qualified person.  Almost never before.  If think your employer will raise pay because they're afraid they might lose people in the future, you're in for a dissapointment.  Find a place where you're happy to live, doing work you enjoy, with at least average industry pay and call it good.  Let the other guy leave 1st and watch you pay go up over time.

You're getting an opportunity to grab a golden ring and get into the airline industry.

Don't waste it....