Mauna Loa Helicopters, Hawaii

[Wanna-be]

Hi,

I recently found a Hawaiian helicopter school at the internet, with the name Mauna Loa Helicopters > www.maunaloahelicopters.com (http://www.maunaloahelicopters.com)
I wondered wether someone has experience with that school. Would you recommend oter people to go there?

thanks!

[rotorboy]

The guy who owns it is an ex Era guy who has done real well. I havent heard anything bad. I knew a guy who worked for him early on and he had nothing bad to say.

If I was your age, I would certinaly rather go to HI and train than lets say califorina, fl or AZ. mmmh beach, pretty girls, thongs....

Call them up and ask for a list of pervious students and give them a call

RB

[heliman500]

I know the owner of the school and he is a great guy...very helpful and down to earth. I would recommend them.:ok:

[blave]

Hi,

I recently found a Hawaiian helicopter school at the internet, with the name Mauna Loa Helicopters > www.maunaloahelicopters.com (http://www.maunaloahelicopters.com)
I wondered wether someone has experience with that school. Would you recommend oter people to go there?

thanks!

I have flown with MLH quite a few times over the last five years or so, and have done some SFAR73 work with them. Most recently, in February I got an opportunity to fly their new R44 with all the toys. The owner/chief pilot/designated examiner, Ben, acted as "insurance-required on-board CFI" and I took a friend (also named Ben!) along with his new Nikon D200 camera (what a piece of optics is that!).

Headed north for the Kohala mountains
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353114-L.jpg


Lava flow just north of the Kona airport
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353113-L.jpg


Mauna Kea in the distance (>13,700' high)
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353116-L.jpg


Home of a doctor that developed one of the erectile dysfunction treatment drugs – see swimming pool!
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353119-L.jpg


Headed southeast for Waipio, not too far from Hawi and Kapa'au
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353124-L.jpg


Some of the many canyons
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353130-L.jpg

http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353131-L.jpg


WaimanuValley – headed into the gorge
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353138-L.jpg


Lahomene Falls, in Waimanu Valley
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353141-L.jpg


Waipi’o Valley
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353144-L.jpg



Getting ready to pop over the ridge, through the blue hole yonder
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353152-L.jpg


Four Seasons resort, built on top of a lava flow. This doesn't seem terribly smart to me
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353161-L.jpg


Headed North West on our way back to Kona
http://blave.smugmug.com/photos/56353150-L.jpg



Some more of the pics he took are here: http://blave.smugmug.com/gallery/1204177

That will give you an idea of the absolutely incredible environs that MLH flys in.... That was one of the "funnest" one hour flights I've had recently.

BTW my wife and I have a small home on the Big Island, about 50 or 60 minutes away from MLH (it's located "up country" about 3 miles east of Waimea/Kamuela). If you end up visiting the island to check out their operation, I will extend a 25% Fellow Pilot/Would-be Pilot Discount on the rental of it for up to one week (max 4 people). PM me for details or if you have any questions.
The back yard is almost big enough to land in. Actually it *is* quite big enough, but I'm not sure that the neighbors would be 8^). I may yet do it someday just for the "halibut".

good luck,

Dave Blevins

[aurora1827]

Also thinking about training in Hawaii - but since I'm from up north and have much more experience with -25 degree days than +25 degree days (not to mention humidity), Celsius btw... does anyone feel like describing the climate there? From a flying perspective - not from an on-the-beach-perspective.... =)

Thanks...

[hikoushi]

Great weather pretty much all the time, average about 20-23 celsius with scattered cumulus, never really TOO hot and never really cold unless you're up in the mountains; northeast trades 15-20 knots about 80% of the time in the summer which can make it pretty bumpy down low leeward of the hills, most notably over Maui. Since Hawaii is a mountainous region with abundant moisture and orographic wind, weather can develop very quickly and locally in a very short period of time, particularly on the windward side of the islands and in the valleys. If it starts to get weird, just remember which direction to turn to get over the water, and go there! But, overall, 90% of the time it's good VFR.
It's a very good place to train; if you start out here you will have trouble flying in other places due to a lack of experience with calm winds! I fly fixed-wing for a living out here, but have at times been off-and-on working on my helicopter add-on at MLH at HNL; great folks, great place. Enjoy!

[wannaflyheli]

Hi all Rotorheads

I'm an aspiring heli pilot and have been trawling through the web looking at what schools to train at based on price, advice and the FAA to JAA conversion debate. I'm liking the price of tuition abroad but worried about the new JAA regulation as I would like to eventually work in Europe, UK. I have seen Bristow Training Acadamy which states it is JAA approved and upon completion you will have a CAA JAA CPL (H). This will all be done with only 135 hours flight time.

I have also come across Mauna Loa Helicopter school, now this is not cheaper than Bristow but seems to give you more ratings. If you join their Professional Pilot Program and complete it you will get PPL(H), CPL(H), IR(H) CFI and CFII. Also during hour building they will train you on Mountain, High Altitude, External Load, Class B and Offshore. I will have done about 220 hours flying time. However this is all FAA.

My questions are,

With Mauna offering all of this is that good value ($75k MLH - $60k Bristow)?

How much of that training will need to be converted to JAA on return to the UK?

Will all of that training help me in gaining my first job ie Mountain, External etc?

Would it make more sense to go with the JAA approved Bristow training and have to pay extra for IR, Off-shore etc

Any feedback would be greatfully received.:confused:

[rotors88]

I went there earlier this year to convert my Aussie CPL(H) to the FAA ATPL(H) the whole operation has nice people working there, My Instructor - Aaron was very professional, could not be helpful enough & the owner Ben is also a top bloke. Recommend them anytime, PM if you want more specifics. Anyone interested in starting a career there; GO FOR IT, you will start on the right track...............

[TwinHueyMan]

MLH's program is pretty good... seems like Ben the Owner put a lot of thought into the whole process. As a young pilot, you definitely learn a lot flying out of Honolulu's Class B, and the overwater flight from island to island looked good on many friends resumes. Plus, the commercial side of training is much better than a lot of other places can offer, due to the availability of many very challenging landing spots in the mountains, plus the variety of airspaces (military and civil) and the high altitudes, high temperatures, and very interesting winds that come out of the mountains there. The instrument flight is also great, once you can handle their little R22 insty trainer in the winds of Koko Head, you can do just about anything.

They also have a ground instructor in Honolulu, Oliver Hanisch, that is one of the most technically knowledgeable guys I've ever met. Anything you could possibly want to know about, he can have you understanding it in no time...

Steve -- good to see ya on the board! Thanks for showing Aaron all the stuff you knew!

-Mike

[wannaflyheli]

Thanks for your replies.

Twinhueyman, do you think it is worth doing my training there and then converting FAA to JAA so I could work in the UK?

I like the sound of the level of training you receive, the varied conditions and challenges. Could set me up well for a variety of work.

I'm just wary, some people on here think it's a waste of time getting FAA ratings and then spending to convert to JAA. They reckon you don't save any in the end so may aswell complete it all here.

If anyone knows of a school in Europe that offers as much training as MLH could you let me know, I'm continuing my web search.:}

[MSP Aviation]

I flew with Barrett from MLH in Kuaui twice when I was there on vacation. Nothing but good things to say.

[darrenphughes]

They also have a ground instructor in Honolulu, Oliver Hanisch, that is one of the most technically knowledgeable guys I've ever met. Anything you could possibly want to know about, he can have you understanding it in no time... I have a good friend/former student at MLH right now. I've heard him describe the ground instructor as a "miracle worker" which I thought was kinda funny!! But judging by all the compliments he's getting, he must be good.

Wannaflyheli, I got all my FAA ratings (PPL-CFII) in California and I'm currently prepping for the JAA ATPL(H) exams. Long story short, The flying and things you will learn in Hawaii will be amazing due to the local terrain & weather. Flying out of Fresno, the mountains are right there and I gained very valuable experience in mountain flying.

Although, having said that. If I had to do it all over again, I would more strongly consider Bristow as that route will have you back in the UK ready to work(&make some money back) a lot sooner. The chances of you getting to use your FAA ratings in JAA land are few and far between. From what I've heard, You can do both FAA & JAA ratings at Bristow, why not do that. Downside is, there certainlly ain't no mountain time in Florida.

So by going to Hawaii, the extra money and time you spend will be all in the name of getting all that mountain experience and all that funky weather experience and a dab of long-lining maybe. It's a real tough decision, that I would not want to have to make again.

[ReverseFlight]

Thanks to blave for the great photos. I too have travelled more than once to Hawaii to fly with Mauna Loa and the route I flew with Ben was exactly that - no other scenery in the rest of the world compares. I have also flown in Oahu, Kauai and Molokai.

Ben is very personable and deserves Mauna Loa's success because he worked hard to make it a good business. Let that be a shining example for us all.

I had hoped to spend my career in Hawaii but one thing happened after another and I ended up in Australia instead. Oz is a great country to fly in but I still dream of Hawaii from time to time.

[RavenII]

I flew with them as well, and i can recommend it, too.

Nice people, and the scenery is unbelievable. Only problem = No J1.

I would love to go back to Hawaii and work there!

Go for it!! I loved it!

Ahh, and don't forget to take a look at the Magnum PI estate!! ;-)

[n736ff]

I live part time on Big Island and Fly with MLH a couple times a year to stay current after selling my R-22. GREAT COMPANY.

Upside: good equipment, great views, reasonable prices (considering), very professional.

Downside: (for beginner) a few Asian instructors trying to instruct in their non-native language, sometimes windy, it is warm for r-22 instruction. Biggest problem for young student would be the cost of living for several months. Ben will give suggestions but it is still expensive.

I took my initial rating there 20 years ago (before MLH) and have never regretted it.

Again a CLASS company.

[matteolo]

Hi, I'm Matteo from Italy.

Anybody went there recently?

I would like to go there for some Hours Bulding (I already have JAA Licenses).
Do you think that it is a good school also for international students??

Thanks! :ok:

[rotors88]

Hey I went there for an Instrument Rating & ATPL conversion - I found the guys there very professional yet friendly & relaxed, the owner Ben is a great guy with a positive 'can do' attitude, yet demands a very high standard from both his Instructors & students. PM if you want more details, but I have no hesitation to recommend that operation. Plus Hawaii is a picture perfect place for flying

[matteolo]

someone else??

[matteolo]

Ya you are right!

Infact I was thinking about that.
It will be very good to find also a work as instructor, but I think that it is a bit complicated...

Teo

[ÞOS]

Hi there!

Is there anyone here that have been at Mauna Loa Helicopters or at least know something about that school?

If you have something for me, please post here :)

[TwinHueyMan]

I did some training with MLH a few years ago and cannot recommend them enough. The owner, Ben Fouts, runs a great business. He is the DPE as well, and training with a syllabus that is supervised by the final authority is definitely an advantage. The instructors I worked with were very proficient and dedicated and did a great job preparing prospective pilots for commercial type operations rather than just preparing them to pass an exam. They also had a senior instructor (Doug Fronig) that had a good amount of commercial experience, rather than just a 900hr straight CFI. They use a lot of great off airport sites (at least on Oahu) for all skill levels, from SL and large to mountainous and very confined. It was very refreshing to see this in a world of risk aversion rather than risk management... Instrument training in the HNL vicinity is some of the best IFR training I've seen as well; there is nothing like holding over Kokohead VOR in their R22 instrument ship, which is well equipped as well (Sandel EHSI and Garmin 430 IIRC). Their rates were comparable with the mainland US as well. Definately a great place to train.

Mike

[ReverseFlight]

This is what I posted 2 years ago:

I too have travelled more than once to Hawaii to fly with Mauna Loa and the route I flew with Ben was exactly that - no other scenery in the rest of the world compares. I have also flown in Oahu, Kauai and Molokai. Ben is very personable and deserves Mauna Loa's success because he worked hard to make it a good business. Let that be a shining example for us all.