Do heli-skiing pilots make a good living. I saw an advertisement for 1 week of heliskiing for almost $60,000!

Question

Do heli-skiing pilots make a good living. I saw an advertisement for 1 week of heliskiing for almost $60,000!

Answer 1

Most of that $$$ goes towards the fuel and the cost of the helicopter. They're not cheap, if you haven't noticed. $60K seems like a lot of $$$ though.

The chopper is either owned outright by the pilot (which means he pays the loan himself) or by a company (which pays the loan.)

Either way a new backcountry helicopter pilot can take home $35K-$40K a year depending on where he works and his qualifications.

Considering the cost of living in Alaska and parts of BC that's not a whole lot of money unless you are an ex-military pilot and aren't paying back college loans and flight school loans as well.

You'll survive and it's a great job, but not something you're gonna get rich doing unless you own the choppers w/o debt.

Answer 2

All pilots make reasonable to really good money.  $60,000 for a week of heli skiing is ok if its for 8 people or so.  

Wasatch Power Bird guides at snowbird charges about a $1000 a day for high season.

Low Season

Discount Rate: $770

Regular Rate: $840

Regular Season

Discount Rate: $910

Regular Rate:$980

Extra Runs:

$100 each

So you can see that your $60000 figure is way out of sink with the norm.

Good luck with this!

Answer 3

My sister is dating a chopper pilot. He is looking at flying for a company in Boise. I can let you know!!

But the price people pay for heli-skiing goes towards the cost of the machine and the insurance.

Answer 4

$60,000???  I've never heard of heli trips being that expensive.

Most heli-skiing trips I've seen advertised in BC or somewhere are usually between $3000 and $8000 per person, depending on the number of days, including all food and accomodations.  Usually it's 3, 5, or 7 days.

Not sure who would pay $60,000, that's pretty outrageous.  I think you may have seen 60,000 in regards to vertical feet of skiing, not dollars.