Training, hours building and first job prospects in America
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
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Just a bit of feedback...
Thanks to Mr Selfish, rotorque, Giovanni Cento Nove, and Tmflyer. I went back to Blue Ridge Helicopters today to have some more fun with the B47. With practical application of the advice posted above, the flight was much more enjoyable. Had no problems with q-stops and other maneuvers at all. She seemed to fit like a glove. Thanks for the excellent advice.
Join Date: May 2000
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H500 training near florida?
Heading to florida very soon and need to do a type conversion onto the h500 , the MD factory course is fully booked , Does anyone know of somewhere i could do this? also wouldn't mind getting the FAA PPL.
Thanks
Thanks
Join Date: Jul 2003
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High Altitude Flight Schools...
I was browsing old strings, and I thought I'd bring this topic back on top to get some recent feedback...
I don't have any high altitude experience, and I wanted to find out what you folks thought about the benefits of training at a high altitude center. I know that Guidance Helicopters uses R22BII at 5400 MSL, but with the heat in Arizona... the DA must climb much more than that.
Anyway, I'm considering training at a high altitude center for the experience, but I'm not really sure if it is worth it? Denver is around 7000 MSL, so I'm curious how the Enstroms and Schweitzers perform at that altitude. I think the R44 Raven II would do nicely at that altitude, but I'm not so sure about the R22 Beta II. Your thoughts?
I don't have any high altitude experience, and I wanted to find out what you folks thought about the benefits of training at a high altitude center. I know that Guidance Helicopters uses R22BII at 5400 MSL, but with the heat in Arizona... the DA must climb much more than that.
Anyway, I'm considering training at a high altitude center for the experience, but I'm not really sure if it is worth it? Denver is around 7000 MSL, so I'm curious how the Enstroms and Schweitzers perform at that altitude. I think the R44 Raven II would do nicely at that altitude, but I'm not so sure about the R22 Beta II. Your thoughts?
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Denver, CO and the GOM
Age: 63
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I trained with Eagle Flight Helicopters last fall/winter - 280C, it did just fine with the altitude. The 300C seems to do OK, that's what they use at Rotors up in Jeffco.
Denver Helicopter is out of business, but Mark, one of their CFI's is at Eagle Flight - good dude!
Denver Helicopter is out of business, but Mark, one of their CFI's is at Eagle Flight - good dude!
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ON A HILL
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Work in USA
Can anyone advise me?. What area of the United States would be most suitable to move to from the UK, in order to find work for husband and wife. He, research and development engineer, she, crime analyst. Must be nice area to fly home built helis. Neither afraid of hard work and long hours. Wife says it has to be warm, my priority would be room for a hel;ipad and a swimming pool and about twenty acres round it.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Need more info to give recommendation...
1) What are your salary expectations (ball-park)?
2) What kind of research & engineering do you do? I ask, because there are regions that have higher concentrations in each arena. For example, I live in an area where there dozens of Fortune 500 companies. One area has a great deal of biomedical research firms (MedImmune, Genome Research, Bayer, Physer, National Institute of Health, etc). Another area has a large number of IT companies (Nextel, Oracle, NCR, Intelix, AOL, etc).
3) How concerned are you about climate?
4) Do you have kids that attend school?
My knee jerk response would be to consider the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Areas near Raleigh have been rating in the top five places to live in the U.S. The cost of living is low, but the crime rate is low (may not be good for your wife). Income is average to below average, but really nice place to live (laid back). Acerage is available (away from coast).
If you are an aircraft research engineer, then Texas would be a good place... Dallas-Ft. Worth area or south towards Austin. Bell is based there. Brantly is based there. There are more heliports in Texas than there are airports (almost). Very hot there!
2) What kind of research & engineering do you do? I ask, because there are regions that have higher concentrations in each arena. For example, I live in an area where there dozens of Fortune 500 companies. One area has a great deal of biomedical research firms (MedImmune, Genome Research, Bayer, Physer, National Institute of Health, etc). Another area has a large number of IT companies (Nextel, Oracle, NCR, Intelix, AOL, etc).
3) How concerned are you about climate?
4) Do you have kids that attend school?
My knee jerk response would be to consider the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Areas near Raleigh have been rating in the top five places to live in the U.S. The cost of living is low, but the crime rate is low (may not be good for your wife). Income is average to below average, but really nice place to live (laid back). Acerage is available (away from coast).
If you are an aircraft research engineer, then Texas would be a good place... Dallas-Ft. Worth area or south towards Austin. Bell is based there. Brantly is based there. There are more heliports in Texas than there are airports (almost). Very hot there!
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
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On a more serious note, unless you can get a Visa, your screwed.... I have a Helicopter Pilot friend of mine who may be losing his visa due to 911 and Immigration.
Two Problems I see that you may have
1. Your Probably White
2. Your Probably Educated
It seems the policy now is that those conditions are a threat.....
Two Problems I see that you may have
1. Your Probably White
2. Your Probably Educated
It seems the policy now is that those conditions are a threat.....
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New England
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B Sousa,
Not so. If you have a Degree in a field that is sought after in the US, you can get a H-1B Visa in 15 days - if someone has a need to employ you. There are also other relatively easy and legal ways to work in the land of opportunity. The US rewards those that are suitably qualified. However the system cannot cope with the flood of 'undocumented' workers, that is for sure.
Bugdevheli,
If you don't already have some sort of right to work here you will need a capable immigration attorney. PM me if you need a contact.
Not so. If you have a Degree in a field that is sought after in the US, you can get a H-1B Visa in 15 days - if someone has a need to employ you. There are also other relatively easy and legal ways to work in the land of opportunity. The US rewards those that are suitably qualified. However the system cannot cope with the flood of 'undocumented' workers, that is for sure.
Bugdevheli,
If you don't already have some sort of right to work here you will need a capable immigration attorney. PM me if you need a contact.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: usa
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bugdevheli
This IS the land of opportunity (as Mike Hardy says)......its like Las Vegas..........if you pay ( the right attorney ) you play. Do not be scared off by the 911 national security BS...there is always a legal hole to tunnel through, especially if a company wants either of you bad enough.
Sounds like wife needs 120F in the summer, with "swimming pool and room for a pony"........try Arizona.
This IS the land of opportunity (as Mike Hardy says)......its like Las Vegas..........if you pay ( the right attorney ) you play. Do not be scared off by the 911 national security BS...there is always a legal hole to tunnel through, especially if a company wants either of you bad enough.
Sounds like wife needs 120F in the summer, with "swimming pool and room for a pony"........try Arizona.
Gatvol
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Notar fan is obviously biased towards Mesa, AZ, but consider that Nevada has no State Income Tax. For someone earning a nice living thats a lot of money....For us partially retired folks, its also nice.
Traffic in Phoenix area is just as bad as Vegas. Temperature just as hot in the summer.
BUT Vegas has great Restaurants and any store that you can imagine has one here.....
As to Restaurants, last night it was twofers at the El Cortez. Prime Rib Dinner for two $11.95. Big slab of Dead Cow, baked Potato, and salad.....Try that in Phoenix. Blackjack makes the price of Dinner go up if you dont watch out.
If the Wife is a crime anaylst, Vegas is the place, they have more crime than they can handle. Also Gaming industry has their own criminal division which pays pretty well. For an engineer, I cant say much about Vegas, but We have a major air hub here so travel anywhere is no big deal.
We do have some great airports around which offer Gliders and smaller aircraft, if your into building those small toys.
Traffic in Phoenix area is just as bad as Vegas. Temperature just as hot in the summer.
BUT Vegas has great Restaurants and any store that you can imagine has one here.....
As to Restaurants, last night it was twofers at the El Cortez. Prime Rib Dinner for two $11.95. Big slab of Dead Cow, baked Potato, and salad.....Try that in Phoenix. Blackjack makes the price of Dinner go up if you dont watch out.
If the Wife is a crime anaylst, Vegas is the place, they have more crime than they can handle. Also Gaming industry has their own criminal division which pays pretty well. For an engineer, I cant say much about Vegas, but We have a major air hub here so travel anywhere is no big deal.
We do have some great airports around which offer Gliders and smaller aircraft, if your into building those small toys.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New York
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schools near the snow
Sierra Academy (oakland) & Helicopter Adventures (Concord) both SF Bay Area and only 3 hrs drive from Lake Tahoe or 4.5 hrs from Reno ski resorts (and gambling).
Been student and worked at them both.
ENG Brit
Been student and worked at them both.
ENG Brit
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New England
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Hummingbird helicopters: http://www.hbhelicopter.com/
They're in Connecticut. A couple of small ski fields nearby with night skiing. Vermont and New Hampshire skiing is 2-3 hours away by car.
They're in Connecticut. A couple of small ski fields nearby with night skiing. Vermont and New Hampshire skiing is 2-3 hours away by car.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Hummingbird is a Schweitzer training center, but they also have a UH-12E. As soon as the Hiller is out of overhaul maintenance, I'll be heading up there to get a little experience on both.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Denver, CO and the GOM
Age: 63
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Colorado (Denver)
Eagle Flight Helicopters - EFH Website
Rotors of the Rockies - ROTR Website
Idaho (Caldwell)
Silverhawk Aviation - SA Website
Arizona (Prescott - northern)
Guidance Helicopters - GHI Website
Eagle Flight Helicopters - EFH Website
Rotors of the Rockies - ROTR Website
Idaho (Caldwell)
Silverhawk Aviation - SA Website
Arizona (Prescott - northern)
Guidance Helicopters - GHI Website
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
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Hank
Flying in the Colorado Rockies is a wonderful experience - spectacular scenery and a good opportunity to learn a little about high altitude ops.
However, I don't think there are any helicopter schools which comply with your "located (very) near some good skiing" requirement. Or, if there are, I couldn't find them. It doesn't take long to fly from the airfields to the mountains, but driving to them from ski resorts takes some time.
When I was skiing in Aspen a couple of years ago, I opted for fixed-wing - lots of f/w schools around.
I've been told since there's a helicopter school at Steamboat Springs called Zephyr Helicopters, but I don't know if it still exists.
You could try contacting Steamboat Springs Airport Manager: (970) 879-9042 or e-mail to [email protected]
Maybe Canada offers more options?
I haven't been skiing or flying in Canada but, having seen posts and pictures by Canadian pilots on Rotorheads, I'm very tempted. Check out the picture gallery and the new Rotorheads wallpaper.
Tudor Owen
Flying in the Colorado Rockies is a wonderful experience - spectacular scenery and a good opportunity to learn a little about high altitude ops.
However, I don't think there are any helicopter schools which comply with your "located (very) near some good skiing" requirement. Or, if there are, I couldn't find them.
It doesn't take long to fly from the airfields to the mountains, but driving to them from ski resorts takes some time.When I was skiing in Aspen a couple of years ago, I opted for fixed-wing - lots of f/w schools around.
I've been told since there's a helicopter school at Steamboat Springs called Zephyr Helicopters, but I don't know if it still exists.
You could try contacting Steamboat Springs Airport Manager: (970) 879-9042 or e-mail to [email protected]
Maybe Canada offers more options?
I haven't been skiing or flying in Canada but, having seen posts and pictures by Canadian pilots on Rotorheads, I'm very tempted. Check out the picture gallery and the new Rotorheads wallpaper.
Tudor Owen
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Denver, CO and the GOM
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If you are in the middle of Denver, you are (on a normal driving day)
- 01:00 from Eldora
- 1:15 from Loveland
- 1:45 from Breck or Keystone
- 2:00 from Copper or Winter Park
- 2:20 from Vail
- 2:35 from Beaver Creek
...if you aren't satisfied with this skiing, you might as well take up bowling!
Additionally, you might choose to live in the foothills - Evergreen, Chief Hosa, maybe even Idaho Springs - then you'd be one hour from the flying, but even closer to the skiing!
In general you won't find heli schools near mountain resorts - piston trainers don't do well at 8,000'...
- 01:00 from Eldora
- 1:15 from Loveland
- 1:45 from Breck or Keystone
- 2:00 from Copper or Winter Park
- 2:20 from Vail
- 2:35 from Beaver Creek
...if you aren't satisfied with this skiing, you might as well take up bowling!
Additionally, you might choose to live in the foothills - Evergreen, Chief Hosa, maybe even Idaho Springs - then you'd be one hour from the flying, but even closer to the skiing!
In general you won't find heli schools near mountain resorts - piston trainers don't do well at 8,000'...
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Silver State Helicopters - Vegas
Hi All,
Not sure if I should post this in the wannabe's sections, but here goes.
Just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with Silver State Helicopters good or bad.
I've looked at a few schools but 'my better half' wants to live in or near Vegas so she can enjoy the casinos and this seems to be the only heli school in that area.
Appreciate any comments about SSH or any other schools that you have had particulary good or bad experiences at.
I'm looking at a complete pro package from zero time through CFII.
Thanks for your help.
Not sure if I should post this in the wannabe's sections, but here goes.
Just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with Silver State Helicopters good or bad.
I've looked at a few schools but 'my better half' wants to live in or near Vegas so she can enjoy the casinos and this seems to be the only heli school in that area.
Appreciate any comments about SSH or any other schools that you have had particulary good or bad experiences at.
I'm looking at a complete pro package from zero time through CFII.
Thanks for your help.