Australia [Archive Copy]
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: UK
Age: 63
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Unfortunately you can't separate the flying from the business side of things. Unless you have the pleasure of flying at the taxpayers' expense, how an operator runs their school has a large impact on your overall training. For most people training to be a helicopter pilot is one of the largest capital outlays they will ever make, second only to purchasing a house. I have seen many guys during my training walking into aviation effectively blind (me included), reliant on their school to point them in the right direction. At any school you need to have confidence that you are not being ripped off, because if you don't the trust has gone in all aspects
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: UK
Age: 63
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Undoubtedly Tub Matheson, CFI of Chopperline
I could name others from the 14 instructors I've had, but most of them have left instruction or are overseas
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Incidentally, I have yet to have a bad instructor. I've learnt something new from everyone I have flown with; what it boils down to is whose style of teaching suits you the best. I have found some instructors are good at 'A' but not so good at teaching 'B', whilst another instructor is alright at 'B' but really great at 'C', and so on. A lot of people think you should stick with one instructor, personally I think a variety (within reason!) can help unless you are fortunate enough to find an instructor that has enough experience to be able to teach A, B, C (and D!) very well. Tub is a good example of this, IMHO
I could name others from the 14 instructors I've had, but most of them have left instruction or are overseas
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Incidentally, I have yet to have a bad instructor. I've learnt something new from everyone I have flown with; what it boils down to is whose style of teaching suits you the best. I have found some instructors are good at 'A' but not so good at teaching 'B', whilst another instructor is alright at 'B' but really great at 'C', and so on. A lot of people think you should stick with one instructor, personally I think a variety (within reason!) can help unless you are fortunate enough to find an instructor that has enough experience to be able to teach A, B, C (and D!) very well. Tub is a good example of this, IMHO
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: WHERE POLUTION IS RIFE AND THE SUN DON'T SHINE
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mark slade, professional heli's melborne.
good instructor and good guy!
and a certain mr english, unfortunately for students now no longer teaching in australia!
good instructor and good guy!
and a certain mr english, unfortunately for students now no longer teaching in australia!
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Deeper
Another to add to my "left instructing/overseas" list then!
IMHO its of limited use knowing who is a good instructor, because there is no guarantee that they won't be at a
school. Controversially, I would say that the school is almost as important as the instructor (see my earlier comments re not having any bad instructors, but there are some less-than-perfect flight schools out there).
Another to add to my "left instructing/overseas" list then!
IMHO its of limited use knowing who is a good instructor, because there is no guarantee that they won't be at a
school. Controversially, I would say that the school is almost as important as the instructor (see my earlier comments re not having any bad instructors, but there are some less-than-perfect flight schools out there).
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Qld
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Just to set the record straight, Tub Matheson is not leaving Chopperline but merely vacating the role of Chief Pilot and CFI, which is, as has been pointed out, being taken on by Ian Paull. Tub's expertise and experience will thankfully not be lost to either Chopperline or the industry and I know that Ian is looking forward very much to having Tub remain on his instructing staff as the "elder statesman" (for the want of a better description) where he will be continuing to provide exceptional instruction and passing on his significant experience for a long time yet....!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: AUSTRALIA
Age: 49
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OK the sign in does look a bit sus given the topic, but don't read too much into it - I just happened to be there when I first registered and couldn't think of anything clever and witty.
On the subject of instructors I was sorry to hear that Mr English had left Oz. Australia's loss is Nigeria's gain I believe.
On the subject of instructors I was sorry to hear that Mr English had left Oz. Australia's loss is Nigeria's gain I believe.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Australia
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Great school
thought i might throw my 2 cents worth in and can recommend Peter Holstein at Erowasp Helicopters Albion park 2hrs south of Sydney,,
very experienced Instructor with some 8.000hrs one one instructing.great area to fly in and etc etc..
Give him a call..02 425-68444
very experienced Instructor with some 8.000hrs one one instructing.great area to fly in and etc etc..
Give him a call..02 425-68444
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: australia
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Overpitched,
John Caldwell is one of the best, great background in all aspects of flying and great attitude to students.
It's a shame he can't be at the school all the time but his other commitments keep him busy.
You'll do well if you can get him to train you.
John Caldwell is one of the best, great background in all aspects of flying and great attitude to students.
It's a shame he can't be at the school all the time but his other commitments keep him busy.
You'll do well if you can get him to train you.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: AUS
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You could probably use the Brisbane contacts for Rotorlift if you wanted to get hold of John.
http://www.rotorlift.com.au/comp_contact.htm
As I said, he is the man I would go to first. He will certainly tell it to you like it is. I don't know how much training he is doing at the moment though.
http://www.rotorlift.com.au/comp_contact.htm
As I said, he is the man I would go to first. He will certainly tell it to you like it is. I don't know how much training he is doing at the moment though.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: australia
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Above the 23.5 parallel Australia
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My money would be on Howard James. He has moved back to Kununurra and I'm not sure if he is intending to Instruct. If he is and you want someone with industry experience my money is on him.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: AUS
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John is no longer running the Aeropower training school, although he may still do some training thru them. He can be contacted thru the Brisbane office of Rotorlift.
I don't think Howard James has done much outside training for quite a while and I don't think that is likely to change.
Having flown with both I would spend my money with John Caldwell
I don't think Howard James has done much outside training for quite a while and I don't think that is likely to change.
Having flown with both I would spend my money with John Caldwell
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
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Becker Helicopters
You want my advice? AVOID BECKERS LIKE THE PLAGUE!
Anybody had the misfortune to have any dealings with Becker Helicopters? I did and it cost me thousands of dollars and wasted months of my time.
Mike Becker, the playground bully from Becker helicopters, is probably the most unethical, unscrupulous, immoral bloke that I've ever had the misfortune to meet.
To recruit me from the UK I was actually told that I would be able to work in sunny Australia on completion of my CPL(H). Nothing could be further from the truth! A students visa is cancelled on completion of their course and replaced with a 30 holiday visa after which they have to leave the country. So I was recruited on a falsehood.
When I left to train with another more reputable company in Victoria I wrote a letter to CASA voicing my concerns about Becker's inaccurate course material and the quality of their theory instructor. And boy did I touch an exposed nerve.
This sent the Becker damage limitation/lie machine into action as quick you can say "Filthy Dollar"! In an effort to stifle my genuine complaints Becker tried to rescind their original letter of release to me claiming it was unauthorised. Unauthorised, by the office manager, on company letter headed paper and faxed direct to my new school. It is suddenly now invalid because I complained against him. Basically, he was trying to silence me by getting me out of the country so I wouldn't expose him for the liar he is.
My new school was bombarded with faxes and phone calls claiming all sorts of nonsense about home stay family allegations of my alleged misconduct. Luckily for me, the male in my home stay family was a retired Federal Police Officer and qualified Justice of the Peace so he refuted all the lies that Becker had sent to my new school!
His next port of call was immigration. After telling me to off and said that I was on my own he proceeded to call immigration and bombard them with lies as well. Again, fortunately for me, immigration heard my side of the story and ignored Becker, They gave me a new visa with no restrictions regarding any future school changes.
I actually found it hard to believe that this bloke was actively pursuing me 5 weeks after I had left his little school! That shows the calibre, or lack of, of the man!
Getting money back was always going to be a bone of contention as the Becker's lives are geared wholly to the pursuit of the filthy dollar at all costs. So it came as no surprise to me that money returned from my student account was 700 dollars short as my already deducted landing fees weren't returned. So it was another 3 phone calls before this eventually happened.
Despite 3 faxes and one letter from my new school, Becker never bothered his forwarding my training records - a clear breach of CASA law. But he apparently is above the law.
And there are half a dozen other administration incidents which Becker used to put obstacles in my way. Anything to make life difficult for the departing student who dared to disagree with him!
You want my advice? AVOID BECKERS LIKE THE PLAGUE!
Anybody had the misfortune to have any dealings with Becker Helicopters? I did and it cost me thousands of dollars and wasted months of my time.
Mike Becker, the playground bully from Becker helicopters, is probably the most unethical, unscrupulous, immoral bloke that I've ever had the misfortune to meet.
To recruit me from the UK I was actually told that I would be able to work in sunny Australia on completion of my CPL(H). Nothing could be further from the truth! A students visa is cancelled on completion of their course and replaced with a 30 holiday visa after which they have to leave the country. So I was recruited on a falsehood.
When I left to train with another more reputable company in Victoria I wrote a letter to CASA voicing my concerns about Becker's inaccurate course material and the quality of their theory instructor. And boy did I touch an exposed nerve.
This sent the Becker damage limitation/lie machine into action as quick you can say "Filthy Dollar"! In an effort to stifle my genuine complaints Becker tried to rescind their original letter of release to me claiming it was unauthorised. Unauthorised, by the office manager, on company letter headed paper and faxed direct to my new school. It is suddenly now invalid because I complained against him. Basically, he was trying to silence me by getting me out of the country so I wouldn't expose him for the liar he is.
My new school was bombarded with faxes and phone calls claiming all sorts of nonsense about home stay family allegations of my alleged misconduct. Luckily for me, the male in my home stay family was a retired Federal Police Officer and qualified Justice of the Peace so he refuted all the lies that Becker had sent to my new school!
His next port of call was immigration. After telling me to
off and said that I was on my own he proceeded to call immigration and bombard them with lies as well. Again, fortunately for me, immigration heard my side of the story and ignored Becker, They gave me a new visa with no restrictions regarding any future school changes. I actually found it hard to believe that this bloke was actively pursuing me 5 weeks after I had left his little school! That shows the calibre, or lack of, of the man!
Getting money back was always going to be a bone of contention as the Becker's lives are geared wholly to the pursuit of the filthy dollar at all costs. So it came as no surprise to me that money returned from my student account was 700 dollars short as my already deducted landing fees weren't returned. So it was another 3 phone calls before this eventually happened.
Despite 3 faxes and one letter from my new school, Becker never bothered his
forwarding my training records - a clear breach of CASA law. But he apparently is above the law.And there are half a dozen other administration incidents which Becker used to put obstacles in my way. Anything to make life difficult for the departing student who dared to disagree with him!
You want my advice? AVOID BECKERS LIKE THE PLAGUE!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Australia
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Helicopter Schools..
Hi everyone,
after reading the post about mike Becker etc i found myself compelled to toss in my 2 cents worth
I was once an owner operator of a small flying school and can't believe that Operators like Mike Becker are still in business.
CASA are a bunch of spineless pencil pushers ( jeezz don't get me started on CASA) LOL so dont expect anyhelp from them.
after reading the post about mike Becker etc i found myself compelled to toss in my 2 cents worth
I was once an owner operator of a small flying school and can't believe that Operators like Mike Becker are still in business.
CASA are a bunch of spineless pencil pushers ( jeezz don't get me started on CASA) LOL so dont expect anyhelp from them.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
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Yeah, I see Becker has updated his website this year with all the details of his flying instructors but in reality, 3 of them no longer work there.
Jerry English, a great guy and great instructor left last year for fresh pastures.
Tom Booth, the only Aussie who worked for Becker is now with Chopperline.
And Marcus left before I even got there last year!
By the way, Becker is a kiwi living in Australia which is fine but he only employs kiwis or people who will toe the company line, kiss the Becker ass or who are no threat to him. Employ somebody with a brain or an original thought - NO WAY!!!
Jerry English, a great guy and great instructor left last year for fresh pastures.
Tom Booth, the only Aussie who worked for Becker is now with Chopperline.
And Marcus left before I even got there last year!
By the way, Becker is a kiwi living in Australia which is fine but he only employs kiwis or people who will toe the company line, kiss the Becker ass or who are no threat to him. Employ somebody with a brain or an original thought - NO WAY!!!