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Old 14th Jul 2005, 17:12
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Hillsboro Aviation.

Any Guys or Gals out there training with Hillsboro Aviation in Oregon?

I am looking for any info on them as im possibly going to do some training there.

Thanks,

R22


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Old 20th Jul 2008, 16:33
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Hillsboro Aviation

Hello!
Is there anyone here who is going to attend the professional pilot program at Hillsboro Aviation in november?
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Old 25th Jul 2008, 03:31
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I am currently in the program, just finishing up my CFI right now. If you have any questions, just let me know.

Conor
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Old 25th Jul 2008, 14:31
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I was there in 2005, great place, have fun!!
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Old 26th Jul 2008, 04:22
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There's plenty German and Norwegian students and CFIs here.

if Conor can't aswer your questions (ie European angle), ask lelebebbel (German CFI) for whatever or if you feel you need Norwegian's opinion (??), ask him for some emails. lelebebbel will helpfully give you idea about the stuff.

Presume someone who's done it and works for Hillsboro Aviation would know more than someone just having sorted his visa/paperwork..

Have a look at This website - two N guys who are on their long-ish way home (in R44) from Hillsboro - graduates as well. Enjoy

Btw, if you want to speed up your training (would be strange if not), get ASA PPL Test Prep on Amazon, alongside with other suggested rotary theory reading (FAA Rotorcraft flying handbook, etc) so you can get some of it out of way. Not to mention basic aerodynamics you can grasp faster once you've got the controls. Maybe you've done so already..
If you're hardcore, you can even study ASA CPL or IR test prep and books on it. They might change few questions in the winter or spring, but..
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Old 24th Aug 2008, 14:15
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THanks for good tips.

Is there anyone here that is attending this school in November?
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Old 25th Aug 2008, 22:23
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You smuggling something or what??
You'll have plenty time to befriend folks starting the same time as you.
You obviously want something else and not first-hand, behind the scenes etc info from the place itself. You must have all the paperwork done if you have such close start date.

I guess I'm one of those who just can't grasp the idea of writing posts looking for people starting something the same time somewhere.

Not feeling alone/alienated when arriving? Well, you've got plenty guys from Norway any given time in Hillsboro.
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Old 26th Aug 2008, 23:52
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No but I'm training 13 miles south of there at Precision Aviation at Chehalem Airpark. I'm from here but we recently had a guy from Sweden get is instrument from here.
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Old 27th Aug 2008, 02:10
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Oh yes, gonna smuggle lots of brown cheese.
No its just very simple. I want to get in contact with people who plans to attend the school the same time as me...
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Old 27th Aug 2008, 02:38
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Brown cheese! Bring some extra and I'll make sure you get invited to all the good parties... (grin)

Can you get some good turkish delight as well?
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Old 27th Aug 2008, 20:28
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Kianus, that's pretty obvious after your second post..

What wasn't, was whether you just want to pat each other's shoulders virtually (alternatively, swap stories to speed up sense of camaraderie before arriving) or you're in need of some info. In which case someone in the same position as yours counts as zilch help for such..
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Old 27th Aug 2008, 20:57
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Hillsboro Aviation has been getting new aircraft









Unfortunately, just temporarily for the Oregon AirShow display. Only saw them arriving. Wasn't there day after but the choppers were just static display as I heard.
Still, bunch of Robbies from SSH remains are serving well satisfying demand.
If you stick around long enough, you'll see some fixed wing flying and some of these including the Blackhawk or two (as EMS standby) in August '09.


Yeah, these and couple more usually down in Salem if you poodle around to check them out.
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Old 2nd Sep 2008, 16:57
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The Hillsboro Airshow is awesome, was the crazy guy in his red Bi-Plane there again?
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Old 23rd Feb 2009, 22:19
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Hillsboro Info

Hi All.
Just signed up so its all a bit new at the moment!Have to say iv found out alot of usefull information on this forum!

Any way,im of to Hillsboro in september to do my ppl/cpl(H).Costing an arm and a leg as im sure you all know but im hooked and thats all i want to do.Im sure you've heard it all before.

I just have two Questions and would love any one out there that could help me out.

Is Hillsboro a good choice?I live in Ireland so im just going on word of mouth and what little info iv found on the net.Also,ill be going over on a 2 year visa and when im done training hope to instruct for the 2nd year,are schools in america taken on many instructors these days,what are my chances these days?

Thanks alot guys.
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Old 24th Feb 2009, 00:17
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And can anyone give a heads-up on the weather at Hillsboro now ? Any VMC days to speak of, or is it all sitting on the ground with rain and fog ?

I have a friend who's starting there (ab initio) in a couple of weeks' time. He'll need a lot of VMC days for circuits.
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Old 24th Feb 2009, 18:41
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Macu09 -

I think Hillsboro is a good choice, ofcourse, I am a bit biased since I did my training here, and I am now a CFI here as well.

Reverse Flight -

The weather has been improving pretty steadily over the last few weeks, although we are having a bit of weather this week. It's still VFR, but not as nice as last week (which was very nice).
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Old 25th Feb 2009, 06:40
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Macu09

If you still have the possibility i would start out on the M1 visa and do your private, then go home for christmas and change your visa to a J1 visa which gives you more time to get some practical job experience over here if you get a job and so on.
A lot of germans have done it, and a couple of others, its the way it gives you the most time here, but remember dec 31. is the last day you can apply for the J1 visa, so if you miss that date you will be in some trouble getting a new visa.

Good luck.
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Old 25th Feb 2009, 10:11
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stoey,
not exactly.

while it's good to know it's OK to get 50-70hrs (or bit more) under belt on M1 and return (even after 2 weeks holiday back home) on J1, end of this year is important as far as things do work now, for school to issue DS2019 for embassy/consulate section interview.

So, I'd go over and do M1 visa and PPL plus bit more flying while you can during summer time - you'd be able to fly your pants off. Then do the J1 thing.

You can enter the US soil next year, but until June (can't recall end or beginning of), but you have to have your form from school for visa interview for J1 printed off by NYE.

As for good/bad choice, well, I'd say positives prevail. While it's hot in summer, not as humid as Florida's summer. I spent summer in Georgia ages ago and 'no thanks'. If you have spare cash, go for Bristow Academy and hassle-free option of JAA papers.
You don't have to wait for clogged up FAA/JAA combined programme.
There've been guys who came over on J1 to do FAA and did the theory and JAA papers. Why not. Also, going FAA and distance study ATPL - something you can do thanks to the test centre in Florida and Bristow's provision of examiners now and then.

As for Oregon itself, it's great. Portland's nice city. Hillsboro is OK, student housing walkable (uh, longish) or easy peasy on bike if you're not bothered with car - useful for trips though.

Regarding chances of jobs, uhm, it's always been competitive. Just like Bristow grads, there are smaller schools elsewhere that could hire you once finished and without job offer from HAI.
Just had fresh info about last recruitment and it was 16 applicants for 2 vacancies. Not gruesome.

If I had the cash to finish up (and I'd jump for it), I'd fly as much as possible on M1 within limits - trust me, HAI's more generous than Bristow Academy if you want the details.
THEN, getting DS form for visa interview late/r this year (but with enough wisdom not to screw it timewise). Actually, you should be able to get your DS form while you're in Hillsboro in person.
Do the visa interview, give them start day in May 2010 (fly over in April as you can do so). While they may not give you the vignette in passport more than 3 months before 'start date', you can do interview way ahead. I got the paperwork out of way for my M1 that way.

This way you'd be there when most of the J1 instructors finish their stay and although there'll always be some local grads. That was my idea before my expected funding was screwed up big time ('thank you' US and UK economies etc). Plus GBP/USD rate so crap nowadays.

Yes, there's less US students signing up overall in the US, but in the end, less competition from graduates. Silver State fallout should give way by then. Current J1 schools and quite a few M1 only now, have steady influx of Europeans (read mostly Germans, Scandinavians and few or the rest). They're going to need instructors anyway.

You're just fine if you've got funding now and are not limited by other stuff.
Also, USD/EUR hasn't seen such percentual drop as USD/GBP. I also lose out on future funding in another currency.

EDIT:
I just found second 'smaller' both FW and RW school in the US that has recently sorted M1/I-20 issuance rights with US govt/SEVIS so that they could get international students. Sign of the times, I know. Less local students, need to diversify student recruitment. Should be good for on non-US folks for more options. More competition and less of M1/Florida premium.

Last edited by MartinCh; 25th Feb 2009 at 10:30.
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Old 25th Feb 2009, 18:43
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Thanks everyone for taking the time out to answer my questions,especially MartinCH,sound advise cheers.

I know the feeling,I was expecting to have alot more funding going over but the exchange rate screwed that up.Think i'll have to stick with the original plan unless the bank manager decides to help (Fat chance).Hopefully things will work out for you.

Hopefully i'll come home with between 800/900Hrs and work on converting my FAA to JAA,and keep building up the hours.
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Old 25th Feb 2009, 18:54
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Hey Macu, good to hear another paddy is taking to the skies! there's a few of us training here in florida.i'm nearing the end of my faa private and headed for commercial.Also, you couldnt have picked a better time to get away by the sound of things! best of luck with everything and if ya have any questions, give us a shout.

Wardy
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