HAIRY 'COPTER MOMENTS

The Author describes how he managed to enter the helicopter industry without any previous experience. He had obtained a Private Pilot's Licence on aeroplanes and had a keen desire to eventually gain a Commercial Licence and try to get a job with an airline. The cost of training prohibited this route so he managed to obtain a job as an Air Traffic Plotter with a company called Bristow Helicopters. The year was 1967 and the early period of exploring for oil and gas in the North Sea. Bristows provided the necessary helicopter support to transport the drilling personnel out to to the rigs. The actual job consisted of maintaining radio contact with the aircraft and plot their positions on a desk chart. A colleague told the author that this was a dead end job with no future. Proving him wrong, the owner went on to work in other support capacities in the Middle East, Peru and Ecuador. The company subsequently commenced to train their own pilots and the author was fortunate to gain a place on the first course. On qualifying, he was posted to Malaysia to fly as a First Officer on Sikorsky S61N helicopters supporting the offshore oil exploration in the South China Sea. This involved a number of moves to Borneo and Singapore. Returning to the UK, the author went on to fly Bell JetRangers on charter flights, before moving out to Nigeria and also flying the larger Westland Whirlwind aircraft. The ensuing years saw the author move to other companies and in different parts of the world. Flying the larger twin engine Bell 212 aircraft carrying underslung loads, over jungle terrain in Papua New Guinea brought about a near disaster, is one particular incident which is related. There were a number of other lucky escapes from potentially dangerous situations included in this story. The author spent 30 yearsin the helicopter industry, 25 years as a pilot, finally logging 9000 hours flying helicopters. He initially joined Bristowsas a possible way into the market. He had no real clear idea at that time how, if at sll might work out. It was rather a gamble. Not to be put off by his former colleagues comments, he took the opportunites as they came along.It all makes an interestng story.