Training, hours building and first job prospects in America
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Maryland
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Heli training in USA
Capt
There are a few schools in Baltimore, but they only fly R-22's. I live in Baltimore but I will be training at Dutch Country Helicopters in Lancaster PA which is about an hour and 20 minues from Baltimore. They fly Bell 47's and soon to add S-300's. I have only flown with them twice, with 2 different instructors, and I was very impressed with both of them. Their website is: www.dutchcountryhelo.com I'm not sure if there is a reason that you want to train in Baltimore, but Im sure it would also be a lot cheaper to live in Lancaster than Baltimore. And as you will see many opinions on this subject, I do believe the Schweizer, and the Bell 47 are better training helos than the R-22 (IMHO) and it is definately worth driving the extra distance (to me) to train in one. Good luck in your search, and maybe I will see you in Dutch country in December, or sometime after that.
Chuck
There are a few schools in Baltimore, but they only fly R-22's. I live in Baltimore but I will be training at Dutch Country Helicopters in Lancaster PA which is about an hour and 20 minues from Baltimore. They fly Bell 47's and soon to add S-300's. I have only flown with them twice, with 2 different instructors, and I was very impressed with both of them. Their website is: www.dutchcountryhelo.com I'm not sure if there is a reason that you want to train in Baltimore, but Im sure it would also be a lot cheaper to live in Lancaster than Baltimore. And as you will see many opinions on this subject, I do believe the Schweizer, and the Bell 47 are better training helos than the R-22 (IMHO) and it is definately worth driving the extra distance (to me) to train in one. Good luck in your search, and maybe I will see you in Dutch country in December, or sometime after that.
Chuck
Better red than ...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Appleby-in-Westmorland Cumbria England
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In Baltimore (Martin State Airport, on the edge of the bay) is Helicopter High. They have a web site of the same name. I guess people will have moved on since I flew there in the 1990's.
h-r
h-r
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Dutch Country Helicopters
Any ex-students out there like to PM me with details of their experiences training with DCH?
chopperpilot47's the head honcho I believe and comes across as a throughly nice bloke in his posts, I want to learn in a B47 and DCH looks like the place
Ta!
Woodgnome
chopperpilot47's the head honcho I believe and comes across as a throughly nice bloke in his posts, I want to learn in a B47 and DCH looks like the place
Ta!
Woodgnome
Join Date: May 2005
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Woodgnome
I am not an ex student, but I have flown with them a couple of times, and plan on flying with them a lot more in the future. I flew with Ryan and Darren, and was very impressed with both their skill and patience. Good luck with your training, and you definately will enjoy flying with them in the 47.
Chuck
Chuck
Join Date: Jul 2000
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I did some flying with Dutch Country Helicopters a couple of years ago while on holiday in the States and was impressed - excellent instruction, good facilities and superb customer service. I flew with the CFI, Darren Lucas - a Brit - and will definitely fly there again when I'm next in the Philadelphia/Washington area.
Lancaster itself isn't the most attractive of American cities but Philadelphia - a lovely city - isn't far away.
The countryside around Lanxaster is very pleasant and, being in the heart of Amish country, is very interesting - Witness (Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis) was filmed there. It's worth trying an Amish restaurant once, but you're unlikely to want to repeat the experience - not unpleasant, just rather bland.
IMHO (only a PPL) the Bell 47 is a superb trainer. They are rare in the UK so prohibitively expensive, but at $200 or so an hour in America, fantastic value for money.
If you go, it's also worth wandering down to Blue Ridge Helicopters in Virginia at some point. It's not a formal flight school, but a police pilot/Flight Instructor offers training in a Bell 47 at about the same price. Flying down the Shenandoah Valley and along the Blue Ridge Mountains is a truly unforgettable experience.
Lancaster itself isn't the most attractive of American cities but Philadelphia - a lovely city - isn't far away.
The countryside around Lanxaster is very pleasant and, being in the heart of Amish country, is very interesting - Witness (Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis) was filmed there. It's worth trying an Amish restaurant once, but you're unlikely to want to repeat the experience - not unpleasant, just rather bland.
IMHO (only a PPL) the Bell 47 is a superb trainer. They are rare in the UK so prohibitively expensive, but at $200 or so an hour in America, fantastic value for money.
If you go, it's also worth wandering down to Blue Ridge Helicopters in Virginia at some point. It's not a formal flight school, but a police pilot/Flight Instructor offers training in a Bell 47 at about the same price. Flying down the Shenandoah Valley and along the Blue Ridge Mountains is a truly unforgettable experience.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: USA
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Geographic Locations
You have not chosen your prospective location too wisely for this time of year, the weather here will turn for the worse soon enough which will prolong the training and also your budget.
Tucson is good for all round weather but in an R22 (i guess) your DA will be something to consider.
The weather in Baltimore (bay area) is a very difficult one to judge, the Carolinas will be a fairly good bet but in my professional opinion Florida is a great bet (Heli Adventures or Palm Beach Helicopters) which will provide good weather and expedite the whole process.
If you are coming from overseas? Consider who will give you a J1 visa (if you indeed need one).
Good Luck
Tucson is good for all round weather but in an R22 (i guess) your DA will be something to consider.
The weather in Baltimore (bay area) is a very difficult one to judge, the Carolinas will be a fairly good bet but in my professional opinion Florida is a great bet (Heli Adventures or Palm Beach Helicopters) which will provide good weather and expedite the whole process.
If you are coming from overseas? Consider who will give you a J1 visa (if you indeed need one).
Good Luck
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: England
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I've got two recommendations for Tucson from a friend and CFI who lives there:
Voyager Flight Services and
Silverstate (who are the more structured school, they finance too)
I have no idea what aircraft they fly, though I would bet they are R22's.
Tucson has perfect year round weather and is a touch cooler than Phoenix
Voyager Flight Services and
Silverstate (who are the more structured school, they finance too)
I have no idea what aircraft they fly, though I would bet they are R22's.
Tucson has perfect year round weather and is a touch cooler than Phoenix
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
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It's the head honcho here! Seriously, thanks for the votes of confidence. We really try our best. We are going to get a couple of Schweitzers really soon and offer instrument training but we will keep a couple of the Bell 47's for those people who want to train on them. Parts are finally becoming a bit of a problem to find. You can get most things easily, although they can cost a lot, but some things are really hard to find. We passed 38 students in the past 18 months without a failure so we are doing something right. Come and visit anytime!
Regards,
Chopperpilot 47
Regards,
Chopperpilot 47
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
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Self-Fly hire in New Jersey
I'm a newly qualified JAR PPL(H) and would like to hire a G-registered R22 during a forthcoming business trip to New Jersey, USA. Does anyone know where I might be able to find one?
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New York
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I doubt you'll find many/any G-reg helicopters for hire in the US, let alone Jersey - though if you were willing to do the paperwork/TSA check with sufficient notice - you may wish to chat with the following northern NJ schools as possible rental options?
Nassau Helicopters
Princeton, NJ
Helicopter Flight Services
Lumberton, NJ
Copter Pros
Lumberton, NJ
Pegasus Helicopters
Linden, NJ
Alternatively, you may wish to consider some flying with one of the school CFI's onboard (as a safety pilot). No rental checkout would be necessary in that case and only $25-40 extra an hour - not a bad option for simplicity sake.
You'll enjoy the area with nice views of NYC if you go a little east.
Regards,
NYC flyer
Nassau Helicopters
Princeton, NJ
Helicopter Flight Services
Lumberton, NJ
Copter Pros
Lumberton, NJ
Pegasus Helicopters
Linden, NJ
Alternatively, you may wish to consider some flying with one of the school CFI's onboard (as a safety pilot). No rental checkout would be necessary in that case and only $25-40 extra an hour - not a bad option for simplicity sake.
You'll enjoy the area with nice views of NYC if you go a little east.
Regards,
NYC flyer
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DCH...
I must reiterate the positive comments left on here by Tudor Owen.
I was in a difficult situation and rang DCH on the off chance that they could accomodate me at short notice. I was told to come on down the next day and we could do some flying - I was so glad I did. The guys here have an excellent attitude and offer superb training and kindly put my wife and I up in one of their homes. We did 5 hours in the B47, brushing up and covering some advanced techniques. I was suprised at the superb condition of their aircraft and their spotless facilities and also the interest shown in me actually learning something for my money. The local area is ideal for training and offers unrestricted access to many local deserted airfelds with no landing fees, of course. There is lots to do nearby including 2 massive theme parks, and a major railroad musuem. It took us 4 hours to drive down from NYC. I would highly recommend them and will most certainly visit them again. Thanks lads.
TFS
I was in a difficult situation and rang DCH on the off chance that they could accomodate me at short notice. I was told to come on down the next day and we could do some flying - I was so glad I did. The guys here have an excellent attitude and offer superb training and kindly put my wife and I up in one of their homes. We did 5 hours in the B47, brushing up and covering some advanced techniques. I was suprised at the superb condition of their aircraft and their spotless facilities and also the interest shown in me actually learning something for my money. The local area is ideal for training and offers unrestricted access to many local deserted airfelds with no landing fees, of course. There is lots to do nearby including 2 massive theme parks, and a major railroad musuem. It took us 4 hours to drive down from NYC. I would highly recommend them and will most certainly visit them again. Thanks lads.
TFS
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Florida
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nj schools
copterpros no longer exists - went bust after just 1 year.
Nassau helicopters has R22's so does paegasus
HFS has s300'c - CBI/C/CB and a jetranger. demo flight with an instructor here is $100 for half an hour. t:609 265 0822
Nassau helicopters has R22's so does paegasus
HFS has s300'c - CBI/C/CB and a jetranger. demo flight with an instructor here is $100 for half an hour. t:609 265 0822
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Reputable flight schools
Hi guys,
just wondering can anyone give me any names of reputable flight schools in Florida? Its so hard to know when your living so far away...
Thanks a mill
Roz
just wondering can anyone give me any names of reputable flight schools in Florida? Its so hard to know when your living so far away...
Thanks a mill
Roz
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: USA
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Both are good schools. PB Heli has a lot of connections in the industry and Ocean is quickly building their business. Both businesses are run by super nice compentent people.