Australia: Training, Licence Conversion, Job Prospects
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Macau
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Trust me, you don't want to go to Beckers. When I was there they specialised in riping off european students with promises of JAA licences. They'll feed you empty promises while they take the shirt off your back.
They're bad news, stay away.
It's my understanding that the only school outside europe that can issue JAA licence is the one in Florida.
#1 Tip - get a licence in a country you can work in, with a flight school that has a working fleet!
They're bad news, stay away.
It's my understanding that the only school outside europe that can issue JAA licence is the one in Florida.
#1 Tip - get a licence in a country you can work in, with a flight school that has a working fleet!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Mainly NZ
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Have a look at this company as well. They are a working commercial company with a small flight training school. An excellent Instructor to student ratio. The airfield they work from is at 3500ft so you will get actual limited power operations.
www.fleethelicopters.com.au
Good luck in whatever you choose
Bomb
www.fleethelicopters.com.au
Good luck in whatever you choose
Bomb
Join Date: Dec 2004
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"The airfield they work from is at 3500ft so you will get actual limited power operations"
You're funny bomb. What you meant to say was they fly underpowered helicopters that are not up to the task, forcing the poor student to fly right up to the power limit all day long without any safe margin.
Reminds me of the Rotorway factory 'flight school' in Chandler, Arizona. There, in the summer, instructor and student can often only get airborne by scraping their toy along the taxiway, searching for ETL.
It's like saying: "the airfield is located above the Arctic Circle so you will get actual adverse weather operations". It's great to learn how to deal with high DA or bad weather, but not when you just want to get in one R22 flight every day and learn how to fly it.
You're funny bomb. What you meant to say was they fly underpowered helicopters that are not up to the task, forcing the poor student to fly right up to the power limit all day long without any safe margin.
Reminds me of the Rotorway factory 'flight school' in Chandler, Arizona. There, in the summer, instructor and student can often only get airborne by scraping their toy along the taxiway, searching for ETL.
It's like saying: "the airfield is located above the Arctic Circle so you will get actual adverse weather operations". It's great to learn how to deal with high DA or bad weather, but not when you just want to get in one R22 flight every day and learn how to fly it.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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I have first hand experience of the following training providers in Australia;
Becker Helicopters : AVOID AVOID AVOID
Blue Tongue: First Class Flight Instruction ( I did my sling rating there)
Chopperline: Experienced Instructors- Recommended
Or if you are in the Sydney area try Helicopter Transport and Training at Bankstown Airport. The owner Mark is a Brit and Nik, the Kiwi instructor is a good bloke who really knows his stuff.
My opinions only but previous comments about validity of Oz CPL's in Europe are correct. I've had to do the 13 JAA ATPL(H) exams to convert mine. Not my idea of fun.
Becker Helicopters : AVOID AVOID AVOID
Blue Tongue: First Class Flight Instruction ( I did my sling rating there)
Chopperline: Experienced Instructors- Recommended
Or if you are in the Sydney area try Helicopter Transport and Training at Bankstown Airport. The owner Mark is a Brit and Nik, the Kiwi instructor is a good bloke who really knows his stuff.
My opinions only but previous comments about validity of Oz CPL's in Europe are correct. I've had to do the 13 JAA ATPL(H) exams to convert mine. Not my idea of fun.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Bomb, still with Fleet Helicopters then? Or do you just plug on their behalf?
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...97#post2909197
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...97#post2909197
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Heli Spy
Who did you do the JAA work with in the UK?
Would you recommend them?
Were you able to do any of the study by correspondence?
Did they assess your logbook and give you credit for your existing hours?
(Thankfully I already have a CAA ATPL(H) but a mate is trying to achieve the CPL(H) this UK summer and I'm a bit out of touch with who the good guys are).
Cheers, JerryG
Who did you do the JAA work with in the UK?
Would you recommend them?
Were you able to do any of the study by correspondence?
Did they assess your logbook and give you credit for your existing hours?
(Thankfully I already have a CAA ATPL(H) but a mate is trying to achieve the CPL(H) this UK summer and I'm a bit out of touch with who the good guys are).
Cheers, JerryG
JerryG,
The best people in the UK for a distance learning (correspondence) course are Bristol Ground School. But they only offer the full ATPL(H) syllabus, not the shorter CPL(H) syllabus. (Oh, avoid Dragon Helicopters' CPL(H) course although Paco's/CAPT CPL(H) course might be of interest to him - PM Paco for more details).
Also, be aware that any of the UK distance learning courses will require attendance in the UK for the pre-exam 'brush-up' course and (probably) for sitting the exams themselves.
However, the best bet for your buddy will be to get him registered on here then to get him to start searching. ATPL(H) vs CPL(H) and the various groundschool providers have already been discussed ad infinitum!
Hope this helps,
B73
The best people in the UK for a distance learning (correspondence) course are Bristol Ground School. But they only offer the full ATPL(H) syllabus, not the shorter CPL(H) syllabus. (Oh, avoid Dragon Helicopters' CPL(H) course although Paco's/CAPT CPL(H) course might be of interest to him - PM Paco for more details).
Also, be aware that any of the UK distance learning courses will require attendance in the UK for the pre-exam 'brush-up' course and (probably) for sitting the exams themselves.
However, the best bet for your buddy will be to get him registered on here then to get him to start searching. ATPL(H) vs CPL(H) and the various groundschool providers have already been discussed ad infinitum!
Hope this helps,
B73
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney
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Where to do a PPL(H) in Australia?
Hi all,
This may have been covered before so apologies if it has. I am looking at doing a PPL(H). I live in Melbourne, hold an ATPL(A) and would like to do it in Victoria if possible. Can anyone give me some advice as to good/not so good organisations to do it with? Not many to choose from I suppose so may have to go interstate.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
This may have been covered before so apologies if it has. I am looking at doing a PPL(H). I live in Melbourne, hold an ATPL(A) and would like to do it in Victoria if possible. Can anyone give me some advice as to good/not so good organisations to do it with? Not many to choose from I suppose so may have to go interstate.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
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http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...light=training
This might help! The search function isn't always the easiest to use; there is a training FAQ thread which would also help but I couldn't find it!
Cheers
Whirls
This might help! The search function isn't always the easiest to use; there is a training FAQ thread which would also help but I couldn't find it!
Cheers
Whirls
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia (mostly)
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Opt/max
Nothing wrong with PHS. I've been around a while and haven't heard any off putting things about them. Ron & Brett have contributed a lot to the industry over the years and the calibre of their instructors (Russell & Sam to name a couple) from what I have observed is very positive.These guy's actually fly (apart from instructing) and know what awaits a student after the ink is dry on his/her licence.Check it out at least
Join Date: Sep 2006
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OPT/MAX
depends if you want to make a living out of choppers or not. You will have to start again untill you get 500hrs or so then upgrade to atpl(h) and enter as a cojo?
Good Luck, also try the helicopter group, and rotorlift in tasmania
GS
depends if you want to make a living out of choppers or not. You will have to start again untill you get 500hrs or so then upgrade to atpl(h) and enter as a cojo?
Good Luck, also try the helicopter group, and rotorlift in tasmania
GS
Join Date: Mar 2006
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OPT/MAX, up late from the time on your post.
If you have worked in aviation already as a plank driver then you know what awaits. If not then be warned that it is a hard, slow and long journey.
Once you finish if you need work. Look for that now as well. Get your foot in the door and start doing loading and other 'duties' before you finish.
You have to sell yourself (not your soul as most will tell you) to be a better prospect than the other newby pilots.
I believe that the schools are sausage factories. They churn out a lot of pilots and have no care what happens to them afterwards. That's fine, but they don't tell the new student enough about what the real world is like.
So when you are looking for your first job, before you have your licence, see what the real world has to offer.
Good luck, and if it really is the dream, then go for it with both eyes open.
If you have worked in aviation already as a plank driver then you know what awaits. If not then be warned that it is a hard, slow and long journey.
Once you finish if you need work. Look for that now as well. Get your foot in the door and start doing loading and other 'duties' before you finish.
You have to sell yourself (not your soul as most will tell you) to be a better prospect than the other newby pilots.
I believe that the schools are sausage factories. They churn out a lot of pilots and have no care what happens to them afterwards. That's fine, but they don't tell the new student enough about what the real world is like.
So when you are looking for your first job, before you have your licence, see what the real world has to offer.
Good luck, and if it really is the dream, then go for it with both eyes open.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Thanks CY, I'll take that on board. I'm sure fixed wing and rotary have similar characteristics(industry wise) and similar pitfalls. I was lucky enough to avoid most pitfalls first time round, here's hoping I can do the same now. Might even get to work with you guys some day!! Thanks again
Join Date: Feb 2007
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hi,
i live in brisbane and will start training in a few months time. closest school seems to be in archerfield... can anyone give some first hand recommendations as to the quality of schools in my vicinity. have been looking around and austcopters seems close.
also, any opinions on the combined fixed-wing ppl with eventual cpl(h) courses offered. apparently they are cheaper, however i am skeptical that this is as good as they make it out to be.
i know that vicinity isn't the prime factor but it would be nice!
i live in brisbane and will start training in a few months time. closest school seems to be in archerfield... can anyone give some first hand recommendations as to the quality of schools in my vicinity. have been looking around and austcopters seems close.
also, any opinions on the combined fixed-wing ppl with eventual cpl(h) courses offered. apparently they are cheaper, however i am skeptical that this is as good as they make it out to be.
i know that vicinity isn't the prime factor but it would be nice!
Last edited by aviationascent; 1st Mar 2007 at 00:10.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Aus ATPL(H) & Twin IFR Training - HELP!
Hi peeps,
I think I've read most of the threads on training and training schools and I'm after some advice on where to train for an ATPL & IFR course....
I've completed my PPL(H) in the UK and am lucky enough to have married an Australian. We're making a permanent move out to Oz and as soon as my feet touch the ground I want to get back in the air and do my commercial licence.
The plan is to train full time and the location is unimportant as although the wife will be in Sydney she has her family and friends there whilst I am away training/working.
I have done a load of web research and when out in Sydney last visited a couple of training schools, (Bankstown, HTT & Newcastle Helis), however none of these companies seem to be large enough or have enough charter/tourist work to help the low hour pilot get some hours under their belt, which although I appreciate is never a given, but the opportunity is helpful!
I have been thinking of training with PHS because they seem to have a good reputation and I will be able to go to any of their locations if there is work available after gaining my licence. However, I can’t find any info on there website, or on many other websites for that matter on who offers both ATPL and IFR courses?
I've noticed that Kestral have a sim and do IFR training but nothing on their site about ATPL. I was hoping to do the majority of my training with one company.
Can anyone point me in the right direction please?
Many thanks in anticipation of your help.....
I think I've read most of the threads on training and training schools and I'm after some advice on where to train for an ATPL & IFR course....
I've completed my PPL(H) in the UK and am lucky enough to have married an Australian. We're making a permanent move out to Oz and as soon as my feet touch the ground I want to get back in the air and do my commercial licence.
The plan is to train full time and the location is unimportant as although the wife will be in Sydney she has her family and friends there whilst I am away training/working.
I have done a load of web research and when out in Sydney last visited a couple of training schools, (Bankstown, HTT & Newcastle Helis), however none of these companies seem to be large enough or have enough charter/tourist work to help the low hour pilot get some hours under their belt, which although I appreciate is never a given, but the opportunity is helpful!
I have been thinking of training with PHS because they seem to have a good reputation and I will be able to go to any of their locations if there is work available after gaining my licence. However, I can’t find any info on there website, or on many other websites for that matter on who offers both ATPL and IFR courses?
I've noticed that Kestral have a sim and do IFR training but nothing on their site about ATPL. I was hoping to do the majority of my training with one company.
Can anyone point me in the right direction please?
Many thanks in anticipation of your help.....
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WannaChopper ....
PHS are a good organisation as are the guys at "The Helicopter Group" at Moorabbin/Melbourne.
I think you may be trying to bite off too much trying to do your Instrument Rating so soon. By all means do some Instrument training but I think you will find the flight requirements and techniques required VERY demanding (also expensive) .... and for somebody still new(ish) to keeping a Heli right way up in VMC let alone in IMC. Having said that if you are a high time fixed wing pilot that may not be too much to ask.
Good Luck
PHS are a good organisation as are the guys at "The Helicopter Group" at Moorabbin/Melbourne.
I think you may be trying to bite off too much trying to do your Instrument Rating so soon. By all means do some Instrument training but I think you will find the flight requirements and techniques required VERY demanding (also expensive) .... and for somebody still new(ish) to keeping a Heli right way up in VMC let alone in IMC. Having said that if you are a high time fixed wing pilot that may not be too much to ask.
Good Luck
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Thanks Spinwing.
Nope, no fixed wing but hey, thats what training is for..... Point taken though.
Do I take it from your reply that both PHS & The Helicopter Group do both ATPL and IFR training?
What do you feel is most benificial to help me put myself in an employable position (apart from 2000 hrs!)
thanks
Nope, no fixed wing but hey, thats what training is for..... Point taken though.
Do I take it from your reply that both PHS & The Helicopter Group do both ATPL and IFR training?
What do you feel is most benificial to help me put myself in an employable position (apart from 2000 hrs!)
thanks