UK helicopter schools (Merged)
The Original Whirly
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I've heard both good and bad reports of Heliair. Same for Helicentre, and Hields, and several others. Probably the same for every school in the country, if not the world, if you ask enough people.
So how do you decide? I wish I knew. I've always said I should have done more research before I did both my PPL(A) and PPL(H). But I don't know that it would have helped if I had, probably just made me more confused. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
So how do you decide? I wish I knew. I've always said I should have done more research before I did both my PPL(A) and PPL(H). But I don't know that it would have helped if I had, probably just made me more confused. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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I did a half hour trial flight with Gary Ellson of Bournemouth helicopters last year and was impressed, he told me he would have me hovering within that half hour and he did along with several other manoeuvres.
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Heli schools UK
I am looking for info on schools in the uk i want to do a JAA heli CPL/ALTP i already have an FAA Comm in info would be appreciated
as to which schools are good/deliver on time etc
as to which schools are good/deliver on time etc
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The hard part will be the writen exams (figure if your flying in Saudi, you must already have some big numbers in your book). I did a course with Bristol ground school (advertised on this site), and can recommend them without hesitation. Enjoy the home work!
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helicopter training schools
Hi Everyone !!
I'm looking for a training school. Does anyone have any know;ledge of Elstree / Panshanger or cambridge. Has anyone trained with heliair Panshanger ? Any women ever trained there ?
I'm looking for a training school. Does anyone have any know;ledge of Elstree / Panshanger or cambridge. Has anyone trained with heliair Panshanger ? Any women ever trained there ?
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CF:
This is a minefield.
Show me any FTO in the world and I'll find you two people, one who won't hear a word said against it, the other who hates it like poison.
You'll get a subjective judgment from anyone you ask. Flying schools are like shoes. One size doesn't fit all.
In the area you're looking at, there are a number of schools. Why not visit them all? You could have fun doing it. They'll welcome you - it's a bad school that doesn't try to impress a potential customer.
It's worth going further afield, too. I think there are helicopter schools at High Wycombe, White Waltham, Denham, possibly Stapleford. Other posters here could give you a better steer.
Your first impressions count for quite a lot. If the place is clean and friendly, that's good. You're going to have to feel comfortable hanging out there, for quite a long time.
Talk to the staff, talk to the instructors. You'll often get good reports from students, because they have nothing to compare their school with. In my humble opinion, it's better to have some old greybeards around - if all the instructors look like they were recently weaned, that would put me off.
Check out how many helicopters they have, or have access to. Lots of students lose out because if a school only has two machines and one goes tech, you're jiggered.
See how long they've been in business. Bad schools don't last.
I've seen lots of people go into an FTO as if they were joining a family. You're not - you're laying out a lot of money for a professional service. Make it clear you're sizing them up, be cynical and don't accept vague answers.
There are many more good schools than bad.
You've made a brilliant decision already, in deciding to go for it. Good luck with the rest.
This is a minefield.
Show me any FTO in the world and I'll find you two people, one who won't hear a word said against it, the other who hates it like poison.
You'll get a subjective judgment from anyone you ask. Flying schools are like shoes. One size doesn't fit all.
In the area you're looking at, there are a number of schools. Why not visit them all? You could have fun doing it. They'll welcome you - it's a bad school that doesn't try to impress a potential customer.
It's worth going further afield, too. I think there are helicopter schools at High Wycombe, White Waltham, Denham, possibly Stapleford. Other posters here could give you a better steer.
Your first impressions count for quite a lot. If the place is clean and friendly, that's good. You're going to have to feel comfortable hanging out there, for quite a long time.
Talk to the staff, talk to the instructors. You'll often get good reports from students, because they have nothing to compare their school with. In my humble opinion, it's better to have some old greybeards around - if all the instructors look like they were recently weaned, that would put me off.
Check out how many helicopters they have, or have access to. Lots of students lose out because if a school only has two machines and one goes tech, you're jiggered.
See how long they've been in business. Bad schools don't last.
I've seen lots of people go into an FTO as if they were joining a family. You're not - you're laying out a lot of money for a professional service. Make it clear you're sizing them up, be cynical and don't accept vague answers.
There are many more good schools than bad.
You've made a brilliant decision already, in deciding to go for it. Good luck with the rest.
Join Date: Apr 2000
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Had some experience with Cambridge Helicopters and can certainly recommend them in terms of thoroughness and knowledge of their instructional staff. Plus the benefits of learning at an airfield with full ATC facilities, and flexible controllers used to the bizarre requests often given on training flights... Know they have had some females through on their PPL courses in the past.
Recommend a visit to all the schools you're considering. Try and chat to some of the people learning there at the time as well as the instructors...
Recommend a visit to all the schools you're considering. Try and chat to some of the people learning there at the time as well as the instructors...
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I too have experience of Cambridge Helicopters; mainly the experience that I gained my PPL(H) there. There is a definate advantage in having loads of uncontrolled airspace within 2 minutes flying time and the full ATC (and highly flexible) facility certainly makes things easier for the student. It is also helpful having the space of an airport with a fraction of the traffic.
I can't speak highly enough of the instructional staff who on many occasions went out of their way to asisst me during my training there.
Their ab initio training is done on R22 as you might imagine although they also have R44 available and B206. They now handle the training requirements for Aeromega at Stapleford so not much point looking although I am unaware if anyone else trains down there.
I can't speak highly enough of the instructional staff who on many occasions went out of their way to asisst me during my training there.
Their ab initio training is done on R22 as you might imagine although they also have R44 available and B206. They now handle the training requirements for Aeromega at Stapleford so not much point looking although I am unaware if anyone else trains down there.
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CF
Yours is a question which comes up quite regularly on Rotorheads.
As tain't natural says, you get different opinions depending who you ask.
If it's any help to you, the flight school in the areas you mention which consistently gets the most good recommendations is HeliAir at Denham.
Good Luck whichever you choose.
Heliport
Yours is a question which comes up quite regularly on Rotorheads.
As tain't natural says, you get different opinions depending who you ask.
If it's any help to you, the flight school in the areas you mention which consistently gets the most good recommendations is HeliAir at Denham.
Good Luck whichever you choose.
Heliport
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Heli Training Schools in Yorkshire?
Hi,
I'm considering starting my PPL(H), and I'm looking for a good flying school in Yorkshire. I am considering Helijet Aviation.
Has anyone studied there, heard any reports etc.
Thanks
Scott
I'm considering starting my PPL(H), and I'm looking for a good flying school in Yorkshire. I am considering Helijet Aviation.
Has anyone studied there, heard any reports etc.
Thanks
Scott
Join Date: May 2001
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heilds at sherburn
mulfiflight at leeds
heliyorks at sandtoft and leeds and humberside
and there are lots of private instructors around
send pm for any other details
steve
edited
sorry there is also helijet at leeds and i have not heard any thing bad about them either
mulfiflight at leeds
heliyorks at sandtoft and leeds and humberside
and there are lots of private instructors around
send pm for any other details
steve
edited
sorry there is also helijet at leeds and i have not heard any thing bad about them either
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Should we not??
Soz... but I learned there and I'd be back there in a flash.
I fly at HeliAir now (when I can afford it), I have no doubt they are most capable... but as far as training with them goes I can't comment.
When it comes down to it only CF can decide where seems best for his needs.
Soz... but I learned there and I'd be back there in a flash.
I fly at HeliAir now (when I can afford it), I have no doubt they are most capable... but as far as training with them goes I can't comment.
When it comes down to it only CF can decide where seems best for his needs.
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What a curious remark Up & Away. 
I didn't train at HeliAir, never instructed there and can't speak from personal knowledge about how good or bad their PPL courses are.
However, because training questions come up frequently on the forum, I make a point of noting which schools or Instructors are most oftem recommended in particular areas.
All part of the Rotorheads service to help aspiring pilots.
I would have happily recommended the school where I did my original training but it closed years ago and wasn't in the areas CF specified.
[edit]
Ah! Now I remember. (I'm not as tired this morning as when I posted last night.)
You're the flying instructor who "advised" on a previous thread that Cambridge Helicopters was the "only" place to do an instructors rating.
Independent recommendations from satisfied customers are permitted on PPRuNe. People plugging themselves or their schools is not, partly because we don't allow free advertising but mainly (in this context) because we don't want people who ask for advice being misled into thinking they are being given independent advice when it's nothing of the sort.
I didn't train at HeliAir, never instructed there and can't speak from personal knowledge about how good or bad their PPL courses are.
However, because training questions come up frequently on the forum, I make a point of noting which schools or Instructors are most oftem recommended in particular areas.
All part of the Rotorheads service to help aspiring pilots.
I would have happily recommended the school where I did my original training but it closed years ago and wasn't in the areas CF specified.
[edit]
Ah! Now I remember. (I'm not as tired this morning as when I posted last night.)
You're the flying instructor who "advised" on a previous thread that Cambridge Helicopters was the "only" place to do an instructors rating.
Independent recommendations from satisfied customers are permitted on PPRuNe. People plugging themselves or their schools is not, partly because we don't allow free advertising but mainly (in this context) because we don't want people who ask for advice being misled into thinking they are being given independent advice when it's nothing of the sort.
Last edited by Heliport; 11th Jan 2003 at 11:41.
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smyers
I don't know any of the instructors so this is no reflection on them but I know the HeliJet company and I wouldn't use them myself except for fuel.
Otherwise, I agree with md 600 driver.
[Edited after exchange of posts with Stevie Terrier]
I don't know any of the instructors so this is no reflection on them but I know the HeliJet company and I wouldn't use them myself except for fuel.
Otherwise, I agree with md 600 driver.
[Edited after exchange of posts with Stevie Terrier]
Last edited by Hoverman; 12th Jan 2003 at 13:39.
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Hoverman.
Would you like to pop in and have a coffee sometime so that we can discuss old times??
Regards.
Amended after an exchange of posts with Hoverman
Would you like to pop in and have a coffee sometime so that we can discuss old times??
Regards.
Amended after an exchange of posts with Hoverman
Last edited by StevieTerrier; 12th Jan 2003 at 19:52.
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You've got some good choices in Yorkshire.
Heilds. Some good reports here a while back
Multiflight. I've heard good reports on and off this forum.
HeliYorks. If that's Jeff Day, I've heard he's a good instructor, very experienced. If not, don't know anything about them.
Heli-Jet Aviation. IF that's the school just off the airport, owned by the car dealer, I've heard reports but won't repeat them here. If it's not the same place/same owner, can't help.
I'm only a PPL in the rotary world but I know from experience your choice of school can make a big difference to the total cost of getting your licence and to the type of pilot you are at the end of the day.
Choose carefully and very cautiously.
Stevie Terrier
Newcomers often ask for advice on the forum. I can understand you must be p*ssed off but isn't it a bit OTT to start threatening lawyers. Aren't people entitled to say 'I know the school and I wouldn't go there myself'. That can't be against the law or slanderous.
Don't we owe it to people like smyers who ask for advice to tell it as we see it? Or should we clam up? Or only say good things?
Heilds. Some good reports here a while back
Multiflight. I've heard good reports on and off this forum.
HeliYorks. If that's Jeff Day, I've heard he's a good instructor, very experienced. If not, don't know anything about them.
Heli-Jet Aviation. IF that's the school just off the airport, owned by the car dealer, I've heard reports but won't repeat them here. If it's not the same place/same owner, can't help.
I'm only a PPL in the rotary world but I know from experience your choice of school can make a big difference to the total cost of getting your licence and to the type of pilot you are at the end of the day.
Choose carefully and very cautiously.
Stevie Terrier
Newcomers often ask for advice on the forum. I can understand you must be p*ssed off but isn't it a bit OTT to start threatening lawyers. Aren't people entitled to say 'I know the school and I wouldn't go there myself'. That can't be against the law or slanderous.
Don't we owe it to people like smyers who ask for advice to tell it as we see it? Or should we clam up? Or only say good things?
Last edited by virgin; 11th Jan 2003 at 15:39.