insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 13 - March 2016 | Page 88

EDUCATION

Sky-high university fees see students
swapping halls for helicopters
With university fees at an all-time high and many students starting courses when they’re
unsure about how they’ll use that qualification in a career path, never more has there
been such curiosity about alternative post A-level options. After all, not every well-paid
job requires a degree-level education. One such industry that’s stuck its head above the
parapet and begun to be recognised as a feasible and incredibly exciting career alternative
is aviation: helicopter piloting to be precise. Polly Humphris caught up with Spencer Phillips
and James Morrey from Brighton City Airport’s Advance Helicopters, to find out more.

Spencer Phillips and James Morrey, both helicopter pilots with decades
of experience, set up Advance Helicopters four years ago when the
company they were both employed by had to close its doors. Today, they
have grown what was one tiny office and a single, small helicopter into
a company of eight helicopters, manned by three full-time and two parttime instructors who collectively teach between 30 and 40 people to fly.

additional 100 hours of flying experience before you can achieve your
Commercial Pilots License, which requires a further 35 hours in the sky
and a payout (taking into account your 100 additional flying hours) of
approximately £30,000. Hey presto; 190 hours of flying, £45,000, and
several exams later and you’re an employable helicopter pilot.
“Typically, your first job after qualification will be working offshore; flying
crew to and from the rigs. The salary starts at £45,000 - £50,000 and the
hours suit a lot of people because you work one week on, one week off,
so effectively you’re only working six months of the year,” says Spencer.
“Most people choose to do that for five or six years then come back on
shore, working sociable hours and doing high-end, VIP charter piloting, or
search and rescue, air ambulance, or police – there are lots of options.”

Though the type of people that come through the doors at Advance
Helicopters wanting to learn to fly naturally varies, it’s an outdated notion
that a pilots license is something only adrenalin junkies, or the very rich
want to pursue.
“We’ve always had interest from people in their 20s and upwards; some
of whom have been bought a 30-minute lesson as a gift, so are trying
it out for the first time, and some of whom want to commit to achieving
their private license having tried it and loved it,” says James. “But we’re
getting enquiries now from people aged 17 and 18, and I think one of the
main reasons for that is that over the past few years, university fees have
soared and people are realising that after completing a four-year degree,
they’re going to leave with possible debts of £50,000. If you have any
kind of passion for aviation, it’s important to know that you can also get
your commercial pilots license for that.”

“We understand a lot of people won’t be in a position to learn to fly
helicopters, but some are and may have never even thought about
it as a viable career choice,” adds James. “People thinking about
going to university are going to have to find the money either way, and
we’ve noticed a marked increase in enquiries from younger people
who have realised that they can spend the same amount of money, if
not significantly less, acquiring their helicopter qualifications if flying is
something they are really interested in. It’s a much more attainable dream
than many may realise.”

Of course, flying helicopters for a career is no walk in the park – but
then, very little is that can grab you a starting salary of £50,000. So,
let’s talk facts and figures. Your initial Private Pilots License will cost you
around £15,000, and if you have the money upfront and the time to train
intensively, you can obtain that in three months, although most people
choose to work towards it over 18-24 months. Next, you’ll need an

www.advancehelicopters.com
@AdvanceHelis
/AdvanceHelicopters

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