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Msg ID: 2769075 Copilots +0/-0     
Author:New
3/23/2023 2:40:33 AM

Just got hired as a copilot for my First fire season. What am I in for?



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Msg ID: 2769078 Copilots +3/-4     
Author:Well....
3/23/2023 6:38:00 AM

Reply to: 2769075

Fighting fires?



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Msg ID: 2769083 Copilots +11/-0     
Author:Captain Bob
3/23/2023 8:10:44 AM

Reply to: 2769075

Well, kinda depends. If you're in a bucket ship with a good pilot then you'll learn how to vomit inside your flight suit but if you don't give up you'll pick up some awesome tools along the way. If it's a bad pilot, you'll learn how to take a full fuel cycle trying to hit the target. If you're in a tanked ship you'll learn how to let your mind wander and dream about doing anything else other than sitting there bored out of your mind for 8 hrs. Apart from all that, being a co joe is a fantastic way to learn how to manage the sometimes overwhelming radio traffic and how to operate safely in a congested and chaotic flight environment with an air attack who is trying to kill you. One of the best lessons you can learn along the way is that just becuase you're in a type 1 doesn't mean you have the right of way. You'll fly with guys who think that is the case. And someday, you likely will have a near miss with one of those guys. A type 1 with a good pilot is just as maneuverable as any other helicopter, as long as ego doesn't get in the way.

Have fun. Make it a point to meet other pilots and crews on the helibase. Developing relationships will make your time in the air more enjoyable. Don't let yourself become a drama queen. There are enough of those in the industry already. 



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Msg ID: 2769112 Copilots +0/-2     
Author:yes
3/23/2023 12:57:00 PM

Reply to: 2769083

the helicopter becomes less maneuverable when your get cocky and if you fly where ever you want, you will have a near miss, but that's all and have fun.



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Msg ID: 2769113 Copilots +1/-1     
Author:what I learned about fire fighting
3/23/2023 1:16:26 PM

Reply to: 2769083

listening to what I heard the fire guys talk about and then passing it on as if it happened to me.



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Msg ID: 2769149 Copilots +0/-1     
Author:Hey Capn bob
3/23/2023 6:29:29 PM

Reply to: 2769083

how much experience you got with type 1 firefighting. A total of 0.0 hours.



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Msg ID: 2769089 Copilots +2/-11     
Author:Used to be young guy
3/23/2023 8:52:04 AM

Reply to: 2769085

Unless its your job to say something or safety of flight related, keep your ears open and mouth closed. Respect and trust are earned not given. If you can do that it's amazing what you can learn. 



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Msg ID: 2769090 Copilots +17/-2     
Author:oh shut up
3/23/2023 9:06:57 AM

Reply to: 2769089

he’s not a child. Good god, what is wrong with you. 



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Msg ID: 2769092 Copilots +4/-1     
Author:Never done it but
3/23/2023 9:17:07 AM

Reply to: 2769090

I have talked to a few people that have. They did little to no flying and watched gauges and fuel. They were air sick until they got used to just being a passenger while logging. Pay was decent. I would think others have had better experiences but forget about a type rating or learning much useful unless you decide to try to make a career of it. Unless you really need a job, a faster track to the rest of the industry would be tours or the Gulf. 



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Msg ID: 2769165 Copilots +1/-1     
Author:this
3/23/2023 8:56:36 PM

Reply to: 2769089

The PIC definitely sees those wires, no need to say anything to him about them.



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Msg ID: 2769093 Copilots +1/-9     
Author:Real advice
3/23/2023 9:33:31 AM

Reply to: 2769075

Don't be annoying, or a know it all. Your job is to assist the command pilot, in whatever he asks for. Plain and simple. You need to accept the position You're in, and know what that entails. you're not in control. each person you fly with will have a different expectation of you, so being flexible and learning how each pilot likes thing and their personality is important. Biggest tip, is don't be a moron, dont get your feelings hurt, and LISTEN and don't argue unless it's critical to safety of flight, and even then, realize the guy in the left has wayyyy more experience than you do, but that doesn't mean be complacen. 



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Msg ID: 2769094 Copilots +6/-2     
Author:thanks for another reply
3/23/2023 9:42:28 AM

Reply to: 2769093

from somebody that has never done it. all the advice you can get from the pretenders on here is to shut up. maybe you'll get lucky and someone besides these losers will answer you lol



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Msg ID: 2769095 Copilots +0/-1     
Author:lol great advice
3/23/2023 9:44:50 AM

Reply to: 2769093

"don't be annoying" and assist the "command pilot" 



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Msg ID: 2769096 Copilots +4/-1     
Author:ok, we are ready for another
3/23/2023 10:02:13 AM

Reply to: 2769095

person that has never been near a helicopter in their life to tell the op all he needs to know is hes supposed to be quiet because it's only been said five times and probably twice by the same dildo



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Msg ID: 2769097 Copilots +3/-10     
Author:Crane
3/23/2023 10:02:35 AM

Reply to: 2769093

considering I've been captain on crane for last 16 years, I'd agree with all said above, but what do I know, guess I'm pretender?



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Msg ID: 2769099 Copilots +3/-1     
Author:anybody going to tell him
3/23/2023 10:19:38 AM

Reply to: 2769097

what to expect since that what he asked or does someone else feel the need to tell him how to behave again or agree with thats how he's supposed to behave



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Msg ID: 2769105 Copilots +7/-1     
Author:Reality is
3/23/2023 11:36:46 AM

Reply to: 2769097

youre going to be a sandbag. You're going to do load calcs. You're going to maybe fly some cross country. You can forget being a command pilot. And you will probably leave after your first season.



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Msg ID: 2769126 The largest group of Alcohol Dependent pilots  +15/-2     
Author:next to the former Bristreaux Legacy
3/23/2023 4:00:25 PM

Reply to: 2769075

Only a very small percentage of pilots who don't drink every night if you are lucky to find them.  Good luck dealing with the boozers.



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Msg ID: 2769161 Copilots +2/-1     
Author:Been there.
3/23/2023 8:44:24 PM

Reply to: 2769075
You're gonna love it! Lol!!!!


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Msg ID: 2769240 Copilots +0/-1     
Author:All this shows
3/24/2023 1:07:26 PM

Reply to: 2769075

Is how many of you are jealous you're not a type 1 captain. wannabes 



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Msg ID: 2769333 Was a 20 year old PC in a UH-60A at MGW +0/-1     
Author:Flying Bambi buckets
3/25/2023 4:02:46 PM

Reply to: 2769075
I love to hear how hard and world changing this job is


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Msg ID: 2769389 Was a 20 year old PC in a UH-60A at MGW +1/-1     
Author:The
3/26/2023 11:01:38 AM

Reply to: 2769333

Uh60 is built so anyone with a pulse could fly it with zero skill or knowledge.....it's the Honda civic of the type 1 world.



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Msg ID: 2769412 Was a 20 year old PC in a UH-60A at MGW +0/-1     
Author:An Army Guy
3/26/2023 3:36:13 PM

Reply to: 2769389

"Uh60 is built so anyone with a pulse could fly it with zero skill or knowledge.....it's the Honda civic of the type 1 world."

 LOL... yup.  Flew A's in the Army and that's so true.  Unless we were doing some down-low tactical flying I was bored out of my mind; take very little skill to fly compared to a 58 A/C/D.  They actually fly themselves with the new Mike models.  



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Msg ID: 2769451 Was a 20 year old PC in a UH-60A at MGW +1/-3     
Author:say wut
3/27/2023 9:08:58 AM

Reply to: 2769412

yeah, moving the cyclic in a 58 is such a challenge and is so exciting and takes so much more skill



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Msg ID: 2769478 Was a 20 year old PC in a UH-60A at MGW +1/-0     
Author:you don't
3/27/2023 4:09:46 PM

Reply to: 2769451

if you know...you know



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