Most flights were routine, but occasionally I earned my money.

And the people were almost always positive, not jaded off-shore guys who treated the aircraft like somebody else's pickup truck.

about that.  Money isn't everything.  Bet you had more interesting experiences than sitting behind a desk.

the most time off. 

What do you want? To be in one area all the time, to travel alot, to fly IFR or utility? No one job will work for everyone. A friend of mine worked for a billionaire with aircraft on three continents. He spent four months of the year at a different location. His wife was in the medical field and got hired on as a nanny for the family so they were always together.

Between them they made $400,000US per year tax free and didn't spend a penny as expenses covered all of thier needs. They retired after 6 years still in thier 40's.

While the money sounds great it wouldn't work for me with my family situation, so to each his own.

for ya:  nothing is tax free.  There are exclusions to certain amounts of income, but the rest is taxable.  Best not to screw that one up.  Plenty do!

I have done over the years just about everything you can do with Helicopters! My favorite was ENG and the worst was LIDAR!

not off shore and it is not much of a job

The one that you enjoy doing....it will be different for you than someone else...there is no right or wrong and you have to figure it out for yourself.

the best part about the flexible and manifold tasks within flying helicopters.  Not so much a fixed wing career.

on your objectives and goals.  Corporate is a good life.  Utility interesting.  Offshore one to be experienced.  Patrol can be consistent.  HAA, tours and similar can work if personal circumstance fit but there are prices to be paid in awkward situations that tend to emerge.  

Yeah, don't have sex with the med crew. 

I never had a clue about that.  If they act like teenagers would that disqualify them for availability to copulate?  If so no pilot will ever get the legal chance.  They are so full of themselves it's embarrassing just having to work with them.

Having the intelligence and foresight NOT to be one...

the best helicopter pilot job is not being a helicopter pilot. thanks for chiming in because that makes a lot of sense bro

Over all, have to say ENG.  Decision's were al;ways accepted, was respected, & overall an exciting job. ( was a major market also )    HAA had a few issue's with the med types, but, that that was a good job also.   What you put into it, is what you're gonna get out of it.

Retired.

through a 49 year career.  Military, bank checks, Powerline, cable, pipeline, photo - both still and video, exec transport, survey, general, offshore, onshore, IFR/IMC, MLS, ILS, BC, circling, external load IMC, corporate VFR and IFR,  and HAA day/night, NVG, etc.

There ya go.  Lots of variety, travel, challenge, people, cultures, and all the rest.  Not going to happen in a FW. career that I know about, but, life is for living, eh?

Forget the wealth building and go for the LIFE building - long lost secret!!

through a 49 year career.  Military, bank checks, Powerline, cable, pipeline, photo - both still and video, exec transport, survey, general, offshore, onshore, IFR/IMC, MLS, ILS, BC, circling, external load IMC, corporate VFR and IFR,  and HAA day/night, NVG, etc.

There ya go.  Lots of variety, travel, challenge, people, cultures, and all the rest.  Not going to happen in a FW. career that I know about, but, life is for living, eh?

Forget the wealth building and go for the LIFE building - long lost secret!!

to get experince as a back course pilot 

have to stick that antenna square up the ol' whistlin' Dixie!  U'll be doin' just fihne den, on ya way to ILS heabon.

Challenging and a great sense of acomplishment. 

objects from here to there would ever give me much of a sense of accomplishment