10/10/2024
A long way from Essex.
Reached 4000 hours today during a Caribbean sunset, storm damage assessment, flight of the island it couldn’t have been more different to my 3000 hour flight which was a very cold, dark and dismal early morning flight over Central London.
4000 may not seem a lot for a commercial career of 17 years but I think of the first 10 years, working part time building hours with lots of small companies and running a small school. Many weekends spent flying all over the UK to festivals, fairs, shows and events to give people the 5 minute pleasure flight experience. Amazing smiles from so many on their first (and many their only ever) helicopter flight.
Watching my students grow and gain confidence through their training. Seeing them gain their PPL licence (and some their CPL) and continue flying to this day.
Charter work, photographic flights, VIP flights, festivals, weddings, film work, corporate flying and sometimes a flight just for myself.
10 years later it was into Police aviation for my first full time flying job which was intense but seriously fun and rewarding.
HEMS, the realisation of a dream, was humbling and seriously challenging in both skill and mind.
Back to Police because, it’s probably the best flying you can do outside the military.
And now, a bit of everything (Police, HEMS, SAR, environmental protection, government and disaster response.
Over 1400 hours Police flying with nearly 800 hours at night (more than 200 hrs NVG).
Almost 400 hours HEMS. However, when you consider our average flight was around 20 minutes long it makes for a lot of take offs and landings.
I was hooked on my first 30 minute flight in the tiny R22 and I’m still just as excited today to fly these amazing, versatile machines.
As a self sponsored improver it has been hard to fund the various courses, ratings and certificates which has been incredibly stressful at times. I remember it taking a year to fill in a single page in my log book and doing a full page in 4 days many years later.
Looking back, it’s all worth it. I don’t regret a single moment and cherish every amazing memory these machines have created.
To those just starting out, good luck, enjoy every minute and appreciate where you are.
