Hi Synthium,
Like you, I wanted to learn to fly Helicopters after being in a couple for joy flights. In the early 90s I was fortunate enough to have a job in mining that enabled me to save enough $$ to go and learn to fly full time. Like you, I had no experience, but was committed enough to get through the theory and start learning to fly.
It was a lot of hard work and concentration, mastering a few different things at once. It will seem to be impossible at first, but eventually it all clicks and off you go. Must admit though, after 20 years of flying, I am still learning. Flying Helicopters is not hard, it is a task that is hard to master.
When doing my CPL, I did all my flying in a Helicopter only, so can not fly a plane at all, and have never had any interest in them. Although back then, I was able to get a complete Helicopter only course for not much more than a fixed/rotary training package. 105 hours to complete a CPL, whereas today it is up around 150 hours or so, due to new rules brought in by CASA last year.
I don't know much about Kestrel, as Im the other side of the country, but have not heard a bad thing about them, only positive.
Learning to fly Helicopters is not cheap, with the R22 somewhere from 490 to 600 per hour, that is engine on to off, so an instructor who likes to chat on the ground with engine running is just costing money. An R44 will be up around 800 to 1000 and I would be surprised to find a Jetranger below 1100 per hour. But you never know, as it is an industry that has a few operators that like to undercut. Particularly if they have aircraft that are not flying.
A friend of mine is also looking at learning to fly Helicopters, so has commented that training in the US, looks to be the way to go. Although, I'm not sure on ease of getting a job here in Aust, if you have trained else where. A lot of first jobs come from word of mouth from where you trained. Helicopter flying is a small world.
For me, flying Helicopters has been a great job, most of the time, having flown most of Australia, on different jobs, as well as a stint in Asia. You get to see some great sites and meet a lot of great people doing this job. I have stayed in the Utility/Charter side of flying and have no idea of offshore flying.
I would suggest doing your homework on flight schools, as they do make a difference. PHS in Moorabbin, often give their students a start at Ayres Rock on the tourist machines. Well worth a look.
All the best, Hope this helps.
Feel free to contact me if you are after any more info.
Greg
