Prove Me Wrong.....

I'm being paid to sleep.  Literally.

Away from Home, paid lower than most pilots with similar amount of hours.  Getting little to no retirement saved away. 

Oh yah, having to pull lots of over time to make a good amount of money.

All the while, Single pilot, Night, Nvg, unprepared lz, wires, polls, people, cars, animals, etc.

Yep, we are doing great compared to a 21 year SIC in the regionals.

I bet when your at the bar you have the best stories.

Well, I'll answer your questions in order

1. Any "hands on" job requires time away from home. 

2. I make SIGNIFICANTLY more than most in HAA and even without the OT, I'm living very well.

3. Putting away a SIGNIFICANT amount away in my 401K every month (although the market does suck right now but that's another story)

4. I like single pilot, Night, NVG's, unprepared LZ's etc...  (It keeps me interested)

5. A 21 year old flying regionals has to go to sleep with 10 other guys in a crash pad in NJ because he can't afford a decent hotel every 8 days.

So yeah, I kind of dig my job.

1. BS

2.  Subjective,  and not provable, but most probably BS.

3.  Very proud of you.  Doesn't negate the origional post.

4.  Subjective, but BS.  You have not really done it when it was difficult, if you "like it".

5.  The only kernel of truth here.

Stroke you ego somewhere else, chief.

Why you mad bro?  Murse not make a pass at you tonight?

I am double retired, so eat a pickle, kid.

It's because of the Warrant Officers in the past like you that have killed this industry with pay.

After Vietnam there were a huge amount of pilots without degrees, or any way to go into a professional career.

Companies paid what you valued yourself at, and at the time, all of you valued yourself low, very low.

After years of people with no where to go and just flying because that's all they could do, we end up here.  

In a non professional, low class, uneducated, group of people who can't get the stuff together and the industry runs away making tons of money while putting you in harms way.  That does not make you a hero it makes you dumb, because this is not the Coast Guard or the military, or volunteer.

They are making money on your ego, and lack of intelligence.

"5. A 21 year old flying regionals has to go to sleep with 10 other guys in a crash pad in NJ because he can't afford a decent hotel every 8 days."

In five years, that kid will be making double what took you 20. I wonder how the 21 year old helicopter pilot is living.

Sleeping in bunks with 7 other guys in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.   

Helicopter flying is less glamourous than airline, period.

Pay is less, thats a fact. However, it is commensurate with total revenues brought in by the companies.

When we bitch about it, we sound like the WNBA or Womens soccer players crying why we dont make more.

If you want more $$, increase your level of education and go to the airlines, otherwise go to work, put up with the med types, enjoy driving home on a daily basis and learn how to live on less.

I would have to meet you face to face to prove it, but I've grossed $1M in the last 5 years flying HAA, and half of that came in the last 2 years. If you want me to actually prove it, what are the stakes? 

be the worst in your mind but for those who are stuck in it they just make the best of a bad thing and go on living their lives.  Better than digging ditches!

Absolutely. When I'm getting paid 150k a year (with a ltitle OT) for a VFR helicopter that's not bad

definitely bright spots in the industry.  My opinion is a lot who complain about it are less than caable of handling the situation or too young to know better.  Of course there are a few of us who complain one day and say nice things the next - human nature?

One thing I noticed in the industry is once a pilot gets some seniority and further up the salary scale the companies tend to try to slough them off somehow.  I found that annoying and pushed back on all levels when it came my way.  Experienced pilots tend to fly more than less experienced ones.

well said though not sure exactly what circumstance you are referring to generally speaking I get it.

If I was a Med Tech or a Nurse and I read this forum, I don't think I would get in a helicopter with anyone of you.  What are you guys, 17 ??

This is the big problem.

Huge amounts of baby men and women.

HAA just happens to magnify it so much.

same 

Anyone who puts down numbers like that, are just plain lying.

You are making 230K that includes you military retirement.

Again you are he problem.

Be a hater cuz your not making 200k+ 

would ya hate it more if I told you I used to be a robi ranger?

I would be surprised if you told me you weren't.

always a ranger

Your broke and fly a hawk for the guard. neat 

$230000.00 the past five years.  that  is not even $50,000.00 @ year !!!