Retired with 3600 hours. Looking at a HAA float pilot position. Haven't flown in 10 years. What am I up against?

If at amc, expect about 130-140k a year with no overtime outside the travel. If you live in a state without income tax, my monthly take home is around $9,500. Base closures will have no effect on you. The industry seems reasonably solid at the moment. We open bases, we close bases. That's what happens. I have no complaints. If you think you can handle the travel, it's an easy, nice paying gig. 

You'll love it. Just hire on as the lead pilot. Civilians don't know what leadership is. It's a cake walk. Just don't tell anyone you did 20 years and only have 3600 hours. 

most leads work at the base full time and have few responsibilities. nobody cares if you have 2000 hours or 2 million hours. be prepared for lots of replies like above from people that have no idea what the hell they are talking about.

Some bases and some companies are pilot eaters. High turnover is a big red flag of dramma.

for a float job you dumb dork

Do you have a pulse?

Can you complete? .06+.04 = 

Cam you rock a nomex, super cool, HAA romper?

Can you avoid the RN/Murse drama?

That's pretty much it.  You don't even really have to know how to fly.  The med crew already has that covered.

why is there so many of them on here lately. Lyn needs to ban some of these idiots. The place is turning into more of a hellscape than ever.

Same hellscape as ever before 

Your recency of flying may be an issue. AMC "requires " military or Part 135 recency in the last 2 years. However, with the need of pilots they MAY work with your lack of recency. Put the application in and role the dice. You may want to do a BFR and show your desire to return to the industry. Good luck.

that says you need any 135 experience at all.

Without previous HAA experience and no PART 135,  you're very unlikely to be hired direct into a float position. 

unless of course you're someone's buddy.

they are hiring pool pilots with no EMS experience. Why would you need 135 experience? It's as simple as it gets.

to charter. that's what the pilots call it. lol

I concur, AMC "may" work with you, but you need to do the work to get back in cockpit and show willingness. 10 years of not flying whether it be 135 or not will be a barrier that can be overcome, but don't expect to just walk in and start flying EMS, at least not at AMC. You will need to jump through some hoops. Good luck

No flying. You will show up better skilled than majority of the pilots there 

Before heading to training get some practice time in. Work on autos quick stops and slopes and be well-prepared

I can only speak from AMC obesrvations:

1) You'll be paid well due to the per diem, travel OT, etc. but remember that your float job will probably pay way more than any assigned base you hope to "settle down to".  Hard to take that pay cut for some.

2) You could get assigned a helicopter type that is not the type for the base you're hoping to "settle down at" (since as a pool pilot you'll get preference for positions that open as a benefit of enduring the suck of being a pool pilot).  They have no guarantee to let you switch later.

3) KNOW THIS: You'll work a 9/5; not a 7/7 as every HAA company makes you travel on your off days.  Consider how far you live from a major airport, if it's a regional, etc. time to get a rental/turn-in rental, etc. in your choice to do this a those hours add up; but you are paid OT during ALL of that time at least.

4) Unless your're a 58D guy or have time single-pilot in the 72 you're going to be overwhelmed; ESPECIALLY if you flew the 47.  Every EMS bird is small and squirrely requiring you to remember how to really fly a helicopter.  Learning a G430, autopilot upper modes, etc. is NOT intuitive (and I was at Rucker when we transitioned MANY guys who were current but hadn't flown those things and they sucked (and had plenty of slow instruction and hours to work on it). Also, the majority of HAA use Airbus type helicopters which are a huge mind-F from the mighty Bell, Boeing, Sikorsky fleet of the military... just learning their nuances and poorly translated pubs is PAINFUL.  

If you think you'll just wing it during the short training week given at every HAA you'll be in for a big surprise.  If you don't get some sim or actual helicopter time in you could be shooting yourself in the foot.  Even some time in a buddy's plane with a Garmin to get used to radios, the GPS, etc. could help.  There will not be a PC to "fly with" to learn the ropes.  

5) You could be assigned at a sleepy community base one or one in downtown city within Class B airspace... you don't know and things could be VERY overwhelming.  

6) You're not used to having crewchiefs/PAX be able to question your judgement the way medcrew do in HAA.  Their perception and feelings trump your experience (and dated experience at that).  It will be painful man.  

I'll probably think of more.  Many of the other posts here are spot on, actually, so take them to heart.  HAA is so hard up someone will probably take you, though, so if you're just itching to try you'll probably get a shot.  

I would recommend using your GI Bill to get your FW ratings and trying that route.  You'll get training to be up to speed and will ultimately have a better quality of life in the end.  

Or, stick with whatever staff officer experience you've gained and find a job that will pay WAY better than HAA or initial FW job and just fly airplanes for fun on the weekends because you can afford it.  

Mech said it all.

However, if you still want to go for it, apply at PHI Airmedical. They are hiring pilots such as yourself.

be in over your head in a float position.  Suggest finding a base and figure out civil flying and HAA first.