Training, hours building and first job prospects in America

[dave_smith99]

"UK flight Training" in Long Beach CA

has anyone any experience of flying helis with these guys? i'm thinking of doing some hour-building

dave

[Skaz]

I am looking for a GOOD chopper school, in the USA. One that is held in high regard by the industry and whose graduates are sought after. A school that I can be assured of will give me excellent training and skills that will get me hired in the real world.Not some fly-by-night operator thats only after my money and full of empty promises.

I have 2600TT fixed wing, and have been doing aeromedical flying for a long time. I believe this is my vocation and would like to continue doing it, but BOTH fixed wing and rotary wing ops.

Apart from the aeromedical stuff, law enforcement, firefighting etc are ops I think would be interesting to be part of.

I know there are a few schools that conduct both fixed and rotary wing training and other ops like firefighting or charters etc., one example is Hillsboro Aviation.

Could you folks out there flying the line , doing the ops, suggest a school or company that fits the bill?

Any and all info much appreciated.

[B Sousa]

Getting a Helicopter add-on is going to be easy and cheaper than if you were starting cold. I dont know of any school that has sought after graduates. I do know most Pilots have to beat on doors to get jobs.
One school that has been mentioned here many times is Heli-Adventures. www.heli.com start there and see what happens. Most schools that I know of are out to sell you as much time as they can. They all seem to be driven by the dollar bill. Good Luck.

[Skaz]

ok , thanks Bert, been looking at them already.

Anybody know of the outfit called Celebrity Helicopters?

[Lowlevldevl]

I got my FAA rotorcraft CPL through Avia Aviation at Corvallis, Oregon a few months ago. It was a conversion from my Aussie CPL. I already have work in Australia so didn't have to look for any in the US, so can't comment there. I believe they are tied up somehow with Hillsboro Heli. I was very happy with my instruction there and having many years experience in the helicopter world already, was impressed with the way they do business.

[PPRUNE FAN#1]

LESSON #1: Terminology

A) Do *not* call them "choppers." Ever. Usage of said word will immediately peg you as a "wannabe" or outsider.

B) Do not call them "helos" either.

C) Real helicopter pilots refer to their aircraft as a "ship." Sometimes, American pilots will affectionately call their ship a "bird."

[Thomas coupling]

You still 'pop-up' and talk bo**ocks at times don't you PPrude1
Call them what you want Skaz.......
Chopper
Cab
Bus
ship
crate
helo

It's what's in your log book that counts. (if you've got one)

I interviewed a candidate recently and asked to see his log book. When it came to checking his night quals, the columns were blank!
I asked why and he said he couldn't be bothered to fill it in, but that he had 'loads of night hours and had lost track'...which is great if you are working, but what about the next position you are after?

[Lu Zuckerman]

What's in a name.

B) Do not call them "helos" either.

This is standard terminology in the U S Navy.

[Skaz]

Lowlevldevl thanks for the gen, will look them up. What were they like? Good points ? A/c operated?

PF1 sorry wont ever call them choppers

Bert been checking on Heli-Adventures, they look like a good operation . You have first hand experience of them?

What kinda ratings etc would employers look for? stuff like a mountain flying rating or endorsement?

where could you get training for ops like EMS, which is what I'd ultimately like to do on Rotary Wing Aircraft

TC thanks for the info, I see you are CP of 'Copper Chopper' like on Reality TV ('scuse the c words) and HEMS, am I right in thinking thats Helicopter Emergency Medical Service? How would one get a foot in the door of such an ops? I have been doing Fixed wing medevacs for a few years already.

[Thomas coupling]

Skaz:

You need a private income, aristocratic connections, be photogenic, sauve, debonair and be able to sell bu***hit to the Yanks.

Then, when you wake up, you need:

2000+helo hrs
200 night
500 twin [twin type rating]
mil background or a pedigree civ background ( )
CRM qual
onshore ops experience
32 fluid ounces of good luck

[diethelm]

Try Quantum Helicopters in Chandler Arizona www.quantumhelicopters.com I received a Private, Instrument and then Commercial at their facility. Very professional, strict, regimented. My instructor, who was a student there first, now is an instructor at Fort Rucker. I looked at several schools and talked to several people before choosing them and all were good references.

Three designated examiners to choose from in the area. One owns the school and is on the HAI safety committee, one is the Chief Pilot/Instructor and one is Rich Lee from Boeing.

I am happy with the value I received for the dollars spent.

[Skaz]

diethelm thanks a lot for the gen , mate, I will look them up right now.

Thomas coupling Looks like the quals you need would be the kind of thing you get during a relatively long stint at a good school that operates both single and twin helicopters (turbine)
offers courses like long line and mountain flying etc, and after that flying for a tour? or 137/5 operator?

read a thread on www.verticalreference.com and looks like this a long term goal, like 10 years or so in the making...

[t'aint natural]

I'm with Prune Fan on this one.
Choppers? I've never heard anyone seriously involved in the helicopter world who calls them that - apart from whichever Aussie bleeder named the VRPs for Bankstown.
Helos? What a horrible abortion of a word. I've heard people trying to spread that one into the UK, but thankfully it falls on stony ground.
It's a helicopter. Ship is acceptable. Old bus will do.

[Twisted Rigging]

I have a large purple 'Chopper'

However, I fly about in a nice red 'Helicopter'

[Skaz]

TC what would qualify as a pedigree civilian background ?

so what do you guys call your helicopters in casual conversation?
..." ...today I flew my ship or crate ...?"

[Thomas coupling]

A proven track record, one which could be checked on.

"Today I flew my..................arse off "

[Skaz]

TC yesterday I almost did on fixed wing....

A proven track record, one which could be checked on.

so keep detailed and accurate records in logbook (as natural) and all certificates, contact numbers etc so prospective employers can verify your creds?
ok, sound logical.

My present employer is looking at maybe buying a helicopter. They were leaning towards a MBB105 (?) but the other party is trying to sell them a EC120.

Ops manager says EC120 not have the power and performance needed for the conditions here. Airfield elevation 5600', temperature summer 20 - 38 Celsius. Can get very hot, lots of mountains in some areas, but highest of these about 9000'.

Would use it for charters and medevacs.

Any input from you guys that know about these things?

[Thomas coupling]

Skaz: what a comparison!
twin Vs single.

Running costs of old technology (1960's) Vs the latest spec(1990's)

Maintenance down time of the old Vs the new.

Customer appeal (a tired looking airframe Vs a very sleek slippery looking modern machine).

Bottom line has got to be its performance capabilities Vs running costs.

Start a new thread to find out first hand from the operators:

Hot and High, EC120 or MBB105?

perhaps?

[Skaz]

hey , what do I know, I'm still a fixed wing jockey!

do you know the crews that fly Hotel 900 perhaps?

[JFDI]

Flying training in Philly/NJ area

I'm a fresh faced (dream on!) apprentice PPL(H) with about 35 hours on R22s. I have a weekend spare on a business trip to the US in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area and I'd like to do some more dual work to make best use of my spare time.

Any suggestions of who to contact?

Am I misguided in wanting to do this?

Thanks in advance
JFDI