“Go for it! Meet people with a smile and be kind. Make a plan, believe in your plan, and never give up!”
popular jobs for newly graduated pilots to build their hours. Instructor and Offshore Fast forward to October 2022. Loadmaster Eilert has now accumulat- ed 250 hours, and EHC announced an instructor position at that time. “Before I knew it, I had quit my job at Airlift and started the instructor course at EHC. In April 2023, I received my in- structor certificate and began flying with students. It was an amazing summer with many long days, lots of flying, and I felt like I was still on the right path.” In October 2023, Bristow started recruit- ing second officers, and Eilert was called for an interview and assessments. “The nerves I felt then were different from anything I had felt before. For four years, I had worked towards this exact moment, so I gave it everything I had. In addition to the interview, candidates who want to fly offshore go through tests with a flight psychologist, as well as skill tests that assess memory, multitasking abilities, logical reasoning, and more.” In March 2024, Eilert had his last days as an instructor at EHC. He achieved his dream at the age of 25. He now has a base in Stavanger, in his new role as a first officer at Bristow Norway. Here, pilot students have been replaced by passen- gers heading offshore, in a much larger helicopter, the Sikorsky S-92. And if you were to give advice to the students who come after you? “Go for it! Meet people with a smile and be kind. Make a plan, believe in your plan, and never give up!”
this is where you build valuable relation- ships with people in the industry. In addition to our full-time students, we often have experienced pilots training at the school. This might include instructor courses, instrument ratings, type rat- ings, and other training programs, giving our students the opportunity to make initial contacts with the industry during their studies. “Living in the dorm was great, but a bit intense. You’re living very close to each other, so it’s nice that everyone has their own room when they want some time alone. But it was also very motivating; we were a group that studied together, pushed each other, and helped each other through the theory subjects. I often went home on weekends, as my family didn’t live far away. But those who came from farther away often cooked dinner together on weekends and socialized,” says Eilert. Skill Test and Hour Building In September 2021, Eilert successfully passed his skill test after completing the integrated course. Since Eilert was focused on getting offshore, hour build- ing was a key priority. He needed 250 hours of flying experience to become an instructor, which would be an effective path towards meeting the requirement for offshore work. After the skill test, Eilert completed a type rating on the R22 and rented a helicopter. “I had to fly 85 hours in one year. It meant many flights with friends, family, and my girlfriend. All in all, it was a great time. While building my hours, I worked as a loadmaster in Airlift, which I highly recommend.” Eilert chose to build his hours in Norway, but we also see examples of students who go abroad to do sightseeing flights, combining hour building with sunshine, warmth, and a little adventure abroad. Many tourist destinations around the world offer sightseeing flights, which are
is a great opportunity to look around, meet the staff, and, not least, speak with other students. Many bring their parents or partners along, as helicopter training is a choice that for many is both exciting and unfamiliar. «When I was 19, I visited the school, and one of the staff members gave me a tour. She spoke about the school and the opportunities available after graduation. She also mentioned an instructor who had just left to start flying offshore. A few weeks later, I signed the contract with the school,” says Eilert, who at that time was blissfully unaware that he would follow in the footsteps of this instructor, and many others, into the North Sea. Stepping Stone to Success To start working as a first officer offshore (e.g., at Bristow or CHC), a minimum of 800 hours of experience is typically re- quired, depending on the company and role. As an instructor at EHC, you can accumulate these hours within about a year and a half, which is why many instructors find their way offshore when the big companies have openings. The school maintains a strong connection with all the companies out there, and former students and staff are represent- ed in most of them. Internationally, many former EHC students are also working in various roles, and every class includes students from other European countries who return home after graduation to fly in their domestic markets. Many of our students meet in the indus- try, and we often see former classmates becoming colleagues. Many relation- ships are built in the dorm, in what we call “a year and a half of job interviews.” Dorm and Networking Like many other students, Eilert chose to live in the school’s dorm during his train- ing. The dorm is located on the top floor of the school building, the same build- ing that houses the hangar, classrooms, and administration. Living in the dorm is both practical and useful; you’ll always find someone to study with. Perhaps just as important, many would say, is that
Eilert Blomkvist (26) First officer, Bristow Norway Graduated from EHC Norway in 2021
10 Unlock The Skies – Your Guide to Helicopter Training & Careers
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