First name: Sebastien
Age: 28 years old
Hometown: Marseille – Bouches-du-Rhône (France)
Education: AEC, CPL (H)
Helicopters: R22, R44, R66, AS350
Training start date: September 2020
When I first started out in aviation, like a lot of people, I wanted to fly the biggest planes, gain experience quickly, and, above all, live out my passion to the fullest. Today, after four years in the industry and 1,000 flight hours, I can say that the journey has been intense and incredibly rewarding, and that I’ve achieved my goal.
To summarize my career path, I started out flying the Robinson RH22 and RH44, like most pilots in training at Hélicraft. Then, I was hired as a junior pilot. The early stages of a helicopter career are slow-paced and don’t pay enough to live on, so it was a time when every flight counted, when every hour of flight time brought me a little closer to my goal: making a living from it.
During this pivotal period, which was intended to hone my skills, I decided to pursue my U.S. (FAA) commercial pilot’s license to add another valuable skill to my repertoire. The process ultimately turned out to be fairly straightforward thanks to the support of other Hélicraft pilots who had already gone through it, as well as the AEC program, which allows you to effectively review the essentials before the exam.
Little by little, alongside all that, I was able to earn ratings on other helicopters, such as the R66 and, later, the AS350. The latter represents a major milestone in a pilot’s career.
Beyond the new aircraft, one goal kept running through my mind. It’s surely the most rewarding thing I’ve done in recent years: becoming a flight instructor.
So I earned my instructor certification two and a half years after joining Hélicraft.
Passing on what I’ve learned to new pilots is truly a unique experience. Every student is different, with their own strengths and challenges, but in the end, what a joy it is to guide someone you didn’t know and see them fulfill their dream a year later!
The training has also helped me grow as a pilot: in terms of safety, the demands of the job, and even the finesse of the piloting itself.
Today, in addition to flying and teaching, I’m also lucky enough to be the chief pilot’s assistant.
It gives me the chance to get involved in operations management and pilot development. It’s another aspect of the job that helps me grow tremendously, always with the goal of improving as a pilot and instructor.
Obviously, none of this happened overnight.
Aviation involves a lot of hard work, sacrifices, and moments of doubt, too. But with every takeoff, every hour of flight, and every landing, I’m reminded why I chose this life: what a joy!
What's next? Maybe IFR certification, maybe not. One thing is certain: this is just the beginning! There's still so much to learn, so many experiences to have, and so many planes to fly.
If I had one piece of advice for anyone looking to get started? Go for it, surround yourself with the right people, and work hard!