CPL(H) Instructor recommendation?

[lynx247]

Can anybody recommend an experienced commercial or ex military instructor in the UK (any location), who is of similar calibre to Andy Gutteridge and available early next year for a JAR CPL(H) conversion?
Andy was very highly recommended, but unfortunately he has just retired.
Many thanks...

[Whirlygig]

Check your PMs Lynx!

Cheers

Whirls

[Stringfellow Dork]

I'd be grateful for any information on this topic too!

:ok:

[lynx247]

Stringfellow

I have sent you a PM with Whirlygig's recommendation.

Cheers...

[Stringfellow Dork]

Cheers lynx.

Obviously the quality (reputation) of instruction is important in the selection of a training provider but other factors are inevitably involved in a final decision (expenditure, logistics etc.). How important is your selection after the fact, i.e. are you every asked/scrutinised as to where you did your CPL (H) training? Should/does it matter so long as you passed the relevent test?

Any thoughts, opinions etc. for the selection of a CPL (H) flying course (HU269) would be really appreciated.

[lynx247]

I would prefer not to be trained simply to pass the CPL(H) Skills Test. I would rather pass well, but have my flying skills and professionalism improve more so.

Hence, I would prefer to pay more for a seriously good, and commercially experienced instructor, than pay less to be 'trained' by an hour building instructor. Very very good and experienced instructors, can provide those small golden gems of guidance that make the difference, and that is what I am looking for

Finding an excellent instructor is actually very difficult!

[Stringfellow Dork]

I would prefer not to be trained simply to pass the CPL(H) Skills Test. I would rather pass well, but have my flying skills and professionalism improve more so.


I absolutely agree! So how do you find "a seriously good, and commercially experienced instructor [that] ...can provide those small golden gems of guidance that make the difference"?

Ask here on Rotorheads and hopefully get some non-biased and well-informed suggestions! Please? Thanks guys :ok: .

[Flingingwings]

A couple of places I could easily tell you to avoid, but for what it's worth I'd recommend........

Depending upon your location and willingness to travel you'll be hard pushed to find anybody better than Mike Green or Leon Smith (or for that matter Ruth, John or Paul) both of whom can be found at Helicopter Services, Wycombe.

[gls.fly]

Lynx247

Could you forward Whirlygigs recommendation?

Thanks

GLS

[Whirlygig]

'Ere, as I feel as if my little "Billet doux'" are doing the the rounds!!!

gls.fly, I've sent you the same. The reason I haven't gone public is that I am wary of "advertising" but also there can be a little "competition" and not unknown for there to be a slanging match.

Cheers

Whirls

[lynx247]

Thank you Whirls and Flingingwings for your suggestions...

[Heliport]

There's a lot in what Whirlygig says.
We do sometimes get fairly obvious plugs by schools or their employees. Also, unless people have had a really bad experience, they tend to be loyal to where they did a course - and the loyalty can sometimes lead to a 'heated discussion'. ;)


As a neutral fact, not a personal recommendation, the two CPL(H) instructors who have been most consistently and highly recommended here are:



Mike Green & Leon Smith



(Apparently there are two Mike Greens. The Mike Green above used to be at Fast Helicopters, Thruxton but has moved to work with Leon Smith.)

H.

[SEL]

Andy G. is well into his Hawaiian shirt and shorts down on the beach, by all accounts!

Mike Green (formerly of Fast) also conducts courses at two North West airfields, if thats any use to you, and I 'think' one is due to start soon (poss Octoberish time). He can do R22 or 300.

If you can't guess where I'm on about, send me a pm.

Hope it helps

[DogfighterF22]

I know this is an old thread but the general sentiment expressed here (the desire to get the best possible training) is one that I share.

Would anyone care to PM any recommendations?

I'm looking for someone in the southeast to instruct for PPL(H). Ideally ex-military. (Was taught my PPL(A) by ex ETPS chaps and I thought the training could not be bettered).

Many thanks for any recommendations.

DF

[Bladecrack]

Well said Lurker, good advice :D

[whatsarunway]

Leon Smith, No question.

if only we could legalize cloning!

[generalspecific]

Leon Smith... best instruction I have ever had by a country mile and he has a very dry humour to boot!

[misterbonkers]

I can wholly recommend Geoff Day. Did my CPL(H) modular course with him many moons ago and there are things he taught me beyond the syllabus that still come in handy today. He also taught several of my colleagues which came in handy when applying for my current job.

[thecontroller]

What is this obsession people have with "ex-military pilots please"? There seems to be a pervading opinion in the industry like they are the only ones who can really fly. We've had people phone up for charter enquiries requesting ex-mil pilots only for their noddy racecourse drop-off. Yes, they are well-trained, but there are plenty of decent civvy pilots out there. Everyone makes mistakes, we are all human.

[paco]

The answer is probably because their standard is consistent (although the emergencies training is almost certainly better). Just a look at this thread kind of proves the point - how many names actually came out of the hat in answer to the original request? There should be loads of them!

The scariest thing that myself and my instructors have noticed is how inconsistent the standard of core knowledge is, that should apply acroos the board from PPL(H) to ATPL(H). In fact, it should not be that big a hop between PPL(H) to CPL(H).

The fact is that there are flying schools who are simply not doing the ground instruction properly. I understand that flight instructors are only paid to fly, but I don't think that is an excuse in the final analysis. I also understand that there are some students who simply treat the exams as a nuisance factor, but the amount of people who turn up at the safety meetings prove that there are people who want to learn properly, which is why we will be starting PPL(H) ground study classes during evenings and weekends at Wycombe in the very near future.

Transport Canada is very hot on basic training, and I think JAA/EASA should be too.

phil

[thecontroller]

I think it's down to three things:

1) Economics. Instructors are very badly paid. Most schools will not pay for groundschool, the instructor has to earn a living, and he needs to get the engine started.

2) The syllabus. Like the ATPL nonsense we have to learn, the stuff a PPL has to learn is largely irrevelent. I always felt it was much more important to teach my students some good inflight decision making than the finer points of flapback/specific gravity calculations/maritime air masses.

3) The students. Most PPL students are 'cash-rich-time-poor' types. They treat their helicopter lessons like a round of golf. They turn up on the hour for their 1 hour of helicopter flying, then they shoot off to their meeting/home/office, and forget about flying (and any studying you have asked them to do) until their next lesson.

I have forgotten the number of students who are only interested in flying and I have gone blue in the face trying to get them to study. Then they are ready for their PPL test and have only passed two exams. Very frustrating. But I guess it's their money.

Of course you do also get keen students who study loads (probably like the people who attend the safety evenings), but they are in the minority.

Also - most PPL students, when they get their licence, stick it in a draw and never fly again, or they fly once every 3 months in the local area. All ground knowledge has been forgotten, all that remains are the basic (probably rusty) flying skills. No confidence to go on any trips and no confidence on the radio.

[paco]

I agree with 2 of your points, but not this bit:

2) The syllabus. Like the ATPL nonsense we have to learn, the stuff a PPL has to learn is largely irrevelent.

No it isn't. if you are going to occupy airspace with people who have a certain level of knowledge, you should have it as well, within obvious limits. I certainly think that POF should be the same for PPL(H) and ATPL(H). Indeed, that's what we teach.

I hear this all the time about the syllabuses - most of the ATPL(H) syllabus will be used at some time in your career - it's just that the authorities like you to know it before they sign you off to fly anywhere in the world. Some of it is slightly irrelevant (like the inner workings of a CRT). None of it is largely irrelevant!

Now, when it comes to the questions, don't get me started! The JAA questions are a collective national disgrace when compared to say, the straightforward nature of the Canadian ones (I hesitate to include FAA one questions as there are lots of mistakes there as well).

Phil

[thecontroller]

Mmm... how many people here had ever had to navigate using a polar stereographic chart, draw the inner workings of a turn co-ordinator, or calculate the appropriate flight level according to the static air temp and headwind component?

I could go on...

[paco]

Polar Stereographic? It's on the exams in Canada, as is Grid nav. Yes, for helicopters.

Inner workings of instruments? You need to know their limitations so you can get the best information from them.

Appropriate flight levels. Good for performance!

HF radio? They use it there.

Change of Longitude? Handy for calculating lat & long in your head.

Knowledge is knowledge and when you're up against it you need it in your head, not in an exam you skipped ages ago.

Phil

[thecontroller]

Yes, but how many CPL/ATPL holders would be able to pass the exams now? Not many. The knowledge is just not there. Because the exams are just an expensive question-spotting memory game.

[Heli-Jock]

:ok:Geof Day, you wont be disappointed. Geof very accomodating. I did cpl H and instructor with him. 07703284144

[CRAZYBROADSWORD]

Tim Walker at CCAT is very good but that would mean Cabair so bring your lawyer along.

Leon at heli services is a great bloke when you get used to him.

Jerry lanchbury at Whizzard is also very good.

Phil Speechley at central is again a top fellor.

[thecontroller]

Marcus at London Helicopter Centres, Redhill.

[Dan fily]

Geoff Day IS the Man!, Leon Smith is an acquired taste! Sour!!. Dan.