PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Becoming a professional pilot, and finding a job
Old 27th Jul 2002, 15:41
  #176 (permalink)  
Dick Mitten
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hay River, NT Canada
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I trained at Heli-College. The flight instructor was kind, thoughtful, thorough, and very professional. I hope to be emulating some of his approach to flying. The ground school was also very comprehensive, and their computer-based study method was EXCELLENT preparation for the Transport Canada written test. Machines are clean and well maintained.

That said, I'm not sure that it wouldn't have been better to train at a "company school". The year I trained Vancouver Island Helicopters hired all 10/11 of it's students. Mind you, it sounds like they didn't get rehired the next year... Great Slave Helicopters in Yellowknife also does some hiring of it's students. Mind you, both these outfits operate turbines only, and there's just about zero chance that they'll put a 100hr pilot in the right-hand seat.

Make sure you get trained on a robbie, not a 47. That way you'll be better prepared for your first job.

Best of luck!
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