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Testimonials

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Inspiring Lives

Project manager to helicopter pilot

Chris's Story

For my first Success Story, I'm very proud to introduce you to my brother Chris Cooper. Last year he achieved a goal he had set himself 5 years previously: to fly helicopters for a living. His self belief and sheer hard work has been a huge inspiration to me. I hope he will inspire you too.

Tell me what you did before becoming a pilot?

I was an IT project manager for an international IT services provider. After 11 years in the job, my wife Sascha and I got a bit of wanderlust and transferred with the company from the UK out to Sydney. I managed a team of ten, looking after the computer systems of various water companies. Life was pretty cushy - the job paid well, and the people I worked with were really nice, but I was never totally happy in the role. It really tired me.

What sparked your interest in helicopters?

When I turned 30 (in July 2002), I started to reflect and realised that having friendly work colleagues was a huge distraction, an excuse to stay in my job. I was scared that I'd get to 40 and still be doing the same thing - and have wasted 10 years of my life.

I knew what I was doing wasn't right, but I didn't know what was. So I created a prototype of the sort of work I wanted to do. It had 4 elements: a more unusual structure than the regular 9 to 5; more time outdoors; related to my degree, which was in Mechanical Engineering; and excitement - I had an idea I might work with sports cars!

I was watching TV one day and there was an instructor giving a student their first helicopter flying lesson. It looked incredibly fun! I made a reckless snap decision that this was what I would do. I guess I "thin sliced" it. (thin slicing is where your unconscious flashes you the right answer. It's from Blink by Malcolm Gladwell).

I didn't overanalyse. I didn't do much research. I just had a really positive feeling that I could make this work.

What did friends and family think about your plans?

Well I was fairly guarded. Being a pilot sounds quite glamorous, and I thought people would think I was being big headed to even aim for it, when I hadn't even taken one flying lesson.

So at first people thought I was just doing it for fun. I only told Sascha my real plans - that I wanted to fly as a career. She was a little worried about money, but never less than 100% supportive. She knew I was unhappy and just said to go for it.

How did you make the transition from project manager to pilot? What were the major milestones?

I considered taking the plunge and quitting my job. But I would have lost too much money. So I stayed and worked overtime to pay for one flying lesson a week, which was all I could afford. I knew at that rate it would take me 1½ years to get my license and I was desperate to get started, but I had to keep patient and think of my family.

On 17th August 2004, after 7 exams and 105 flying hours I finally got my commercial helicopter pilot licence. In this industry, when you're starting out it's very difficult to get work that pays much at all. Luckily the company I'd taken lessons with took me on as a charter pilot. I didn't get any money to speak of, but it meant I could build up my flying hours. I needed 360 flying hours to become an instructor. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but it's the first paying job open to most pilots.

I worked there at weekends, still holding down my IT job. I'd have maybe 2 or 3 days off a month. It was a big strain as I didn't get to see much of my family - our first child, Leia, was born that November.

Progress was painfully slow: as one of many charter pilots sometimes I might only get 4 hours a month. So in addition to the weekend charter work I set up my own company Coopercopters. My boss let me use his helicopters - he got the money and I got the hours. Customers would call and I'd say "I'm afraid the only slot we have available is at 8 Thursday morning." I'd fit them in before or after my IT job!

Nearly two years later I reached 360 hours, and passed my instructor exam. I left my IT job and became a part time Grade 2 instructor for the same helicopter company I'd chartered for. It was a hard time. I had to get up at 5am and the money was really poor.

It took another year to become a Grade 1 instructor. The day I passed, I got a call from the chief pilot at Great Barrier Reef Helicopters in Cairns, inviting me up for interview. Two weeks later they offered me a job! That was April 2007. It was the best moment, even better than getting my license. It had taken 5 years but I had realised my dream.

You went through some difficult times. How did you keep motivated?

Holding on to my dream was part of it. But mainly I kept motivated by setting myself targets. I've got an excel spreadsheet with targets - like exams, number of flying hours - and the dates I planned to reach them as well as the dates I actually achieved them. I really enjoyed ticking them off. They gave me hope.

So tell me about your life now

I'm based in Cairns, flying tourists out to the Great Barrier Reef. Once we're at the pontoon, I do 5 or 6 short scenic flights, then I'm free to help myself to the fantastic buffet lunch, wander round the underwater observatory, read a book or just relax until it's time to take people back. I also do the odd charter work for film companies and wealthy individuals who want to fly out to nearby islands.

I'm back to a 5 day week, and home early between 5pm and 6pm. So I see a lot more of my family - which is great because we've recently had our second child, Eddie.

Financially we've got a way to go, but we're getting by reasonably comfortably. We're in a 3 bedroom house 8 minutes' walk from the sea. We've even had a tiny swimming pool put in!

The best thing is that I'm doing what I want. I'm happy.

And what are your plans for the future?

Right now I'm kicking back and enjoying the present. During the last 5 years I lost my hobbies. Now I'm windsurfing again, and reading up on astronomy.

My ultimate dream is to work in heli-skiing the French Alps. But I think I'd almost be disappointed if I achieved it - I'd have nothing more to work towards!


What advice would you give someone thinking of making a radical career change?

You need to have patience, to be determined and also to be realistic. Once you've worked out what you want, planning is very important. Most changes have financial consequences. I'm not as well off now, but I didn't do this for financial reasons - it was a lifestyle choice. At the end of the day, it's your life. You've got to spend it doing what you really want.

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