OK, so we can agree that both schools are experiencing challenges which scheduling, perhaps because they have overextended themselves and their facilities. I can't speak for HAI/Bristow, but I know that Hillsboro has restricted new student enrolment because of this, and is asking some current students to move their training to Hillsboro's facility at Troutdale airport where there is lots of available capacity for helicopter training and traffic patterns. Just like Runway101, I've been frustrated with pattern availability in the past, and I hope that Hillsboro's measures will improve the situation.
I haven't experienced an Oregon winter yet but I expect to lose some (ok, a lot of) flying time over the next few months. I'm OK with this; I prefer to have the experience of flying in less than optimal weather. When I made my choice of schools, I decided that doing all my training at a "fair weather" school in Florida would make me a "fair weather pilot," and I didn't want that. I would rather train in weather and terrain conditions that more closely mimic my home country and be better prepared and more educated in making weather decisions when I go to apply for jobs back home. For me the reduction of hours in the winter is an acceptable trade-off for becoming a more rounded pilot.
TorqueStripe - Pelican has a part 141 plank flying program, but their helicopter training is part 61 (from reading their website). Any training on a J-1 visa has to happen under part 141 rules, so pelican would have to develop a helicopter part 141 course and then receive approval to take J-1 students for the course. As it stands now, the State Department hasn't granted a new J-1 sponsor authorization in years, and won't for the foreseeable future.
http://www.immigration.com/newslette...ttraining.html