Originally Posted by
lr_pilot
We're in the middle of the US. Looking to get commercial license. I think we'd prefer to train in a turbine such as an MD-500 or Bell 206 since we'll be getting a turbine for our department.
Hire some high-time helicopter pilots. Cheaper in the long run than having your 45-hour cross-trained pilots making basic mistakes and bending something. Remember that helicopters are unstable little critters, and are designed to crash. It is only the steely-eyed brilliant pilot at the controls that stops it from crashing.