questions from Ms Naive
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questions from Ms Naive
Hi Gentlemen,
This is my first post on pprune and am still very young in this industry as my total time is about 10hrs on an ultra light I helped to build, and 40 minutes on an R22.
So here we go: I am hooked on helicopters, I know it's going to be hard, expensive, sometimes discouraging, very competitive but I am decided on starting training next year in the US.
Are there any of you who did their training, or heard about Versatile Aviation in Oklahoma? They are cheap, nice talking on the phone and fly Bell47.
I tried to get some infos on some French forums but with very little success. I did not want either to put those questions on the wannabees section, because you guys fly rotors so you may know better.
Any help/advice/remark would be very appreciated.
This is my first post on pprune and am still very young in this industry as my total time is about 10hrs on an ultra light I helped to build, and 40 minutes on an R22.
So here we go: I am hooked on helicopters, I know it's going to be hard, expensive, sometimes discouraging, very competitive but I am decided on starting training next year in the US.
Are there any of you who did their training, or heard about Versatile Aviation in Oklahoma? They are cheap, nice talking on the phone and fly Bell47.
I tried to get some infos on some French forums but with very little success. I did not want either to put those questions on the wannabees section, because you guys fly rotors so you may know better.
Any help/advice/remark would be very appreciated.
Hovering AND talking
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Would this be for a private licence or commercial licence? The answers will differ depending!
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
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For flight training in the US you will need an M-1 Visa, the school has to be approved to be able to issue you a form I-94. I can't find anything on their website about VISAS.
There are a lot of issues to take in to account when you take the step to go over to the US. There are however several threads on this forum already.
Hillerbee
There are a lot of issues to take in to account when you take the step to go over to the US. There are however several threads on this forum already.
Hillerbee
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Thanks guys for your answers.
Yes that would be for a CPL, starting with a fixed-wing PPL at the same place and followed by a CFI if it goes well . They are M1 approved and I talked to them on the phone like I did with HAI, Hillsboro, and others.
I decided to go there because it was cheap (as well as living in OK), because they provide fixed wing training as well and on general feeling following those calls.
Besides that, I reckon I don't know much more.
Yes that would be for a CPL, starting with a fixed-wing PPL at the same place and followed by a CFI if it goes well . They are M1 approved and I talked to them on the phone like I did with HAI, Hillsboro, and others.
I decided to go there because it was cheap (as well as living in OK), because they provide fixed wing training as well and on general feeling following those calls.
Besides that, I reckon I don't know much more.
Hovering AND talking
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It's now down to what type of licence you require and where in the world you wish to work.
I don't believe this school is approved for JAA helicopter CPL, therefore it would be an FAA licence.
If you wish to work in Europe, then you would be probably be better off with a JAA licence.
Cheers
Whirls
I don't believe this school is approved for JAA helicopter CPL, therefore it would be an FAA licence.
If you wish to work in Europe, then you would be probably be better off with a JAA licence.
Cheers
Whirls
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Elena, welcome to the forum. Many of us here are also "hooked" on helicopters, and many can say that they still enjoy going to work every morning, especially once they get past the office building and into the machine.
My input to you would be to take care if any school asks for a lot of money as a deposit to start. I tried several schools in America, and I am very glad that I did not tie myself to one by giving them a deposit of thousands of dollars. It is only by being there, seeing the organisation, meeting the instructors and other staff that you will feel if it is right for you.
I do not know the school that you mention, but if you arrive at school xyz and discover that you are not happy there, it is important for you to be able to move on to another one.
The Bell 47 that your proposed school uses is one of the older design machines, and people who are trained on it have a good understanding of the basics of natural control. I may be shot down by others here but I think it is a very good training machine. If you continue with your training to the CPL level, then you will need to get experience on other machines like the Robinson R22 and R44 which would make you more employable.
Remember that you will need to get your TSA security clearance to learn in the USA. I'm not sure how long it takes these days but a few months ago it was taking around three months to come through. There are full details on another thread, but I cannot find it right now. (Help me here guys?)
Don't go for the cheapest school, like most things you get what you pay for. A few thousand dollars more now may make a difference in future by the quality of your training and the good name of the school on your c.v.
Once again welcome
My input to you would be to take care if any school asks for a lot of money as a deposit to start. I tried several schools in America, and I am very glad that I did not tie myself to one by giving them a deposit of thousands of dollars. It is only by being there, seeing the organisation, meeting the instructors and other staff that you will feel if it is right for you.
I do not know the school that you mention, but if you arrive at school xyz and discover that you are not happy there, it is important for you to be able to move on to another one.
The Bell 47 that your proposed school uses is one of the older design machines, and people who are trained on it have a good understanding of the basics of natural control. I may be shot down by others here but I think it is a very good training machine. If you continue with your training to the CPL level, then you will need to get experience on other machines like the Robinson R22 and R44 which would make you more employable.
Remember that you will need to get your TSA security clearance to learn in the USA. I'm not sure how long it takes these days but a few months ago it was taking around three months to come through. There are full details on another thread, but I cannot find it right now. (Help me here guys?)
Don't go for the cheapest school, like most things you get what you pay for. A few thousand dollars more now may make a difference in future by the quality of your training and the good name of the school on your c.v.
Once again welcome
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I read on the Website they're charging $180.00 per hour wet for a Bell47!!?? That's extremely cheap. Elena did you verify the rates? What's the instructors rate.
The prices seem very low indeed. What bothers me is a website without any pictures. I would not sign or pay anything before visiting the school first.
The prices seem very low indeed. What bothers me is a website without any pictures. I would not sign or pay anything before visiting the school first.
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To "the controller"
No, I don't think "this IS funny".
You should read my post better. My question may be naive but was not "how do I become a helicopter pilot", I've done my homework before posting here, thanks to internet, pprune, phone calls, visiting schools aorund Paris.
I was asking advice about a flight school in particular having already picked up lots of infos here, proof is I know this flight school better than you.
I thank everyone else about their sound advice. Visa, TSA, it's all figured out.
Hillerbee: the rates on the web site are wrong. It's 245$/hr dual, ground instruction is 35$. When I called, they reckoned not having updated their site for quite some time.
And France has implemeted the JAA since this year, no more DGAC rules.
Thanks again, it's more replies in 2 hours than 2 months on French heli web sites.
No, I don't think "this IS funny".
You should read my post better. My question may be naive but was not "how do I become a helicopter pilot", I've done my homework before posting here, thanks to internet, pprune, phone calls, visiting schools aorund Paris.
I was asking advice about a flight school in particular having already picked up lots of infos here, proof is I know this flight school better than you.
I thank everyone else about their sound advice. Visa, TSA, it's all figured out.
Hillerbee: the rates on the web site are wrong. It's 245$/hr dual, ground instruction is 35$. When I called, they reckoned not having updated their site for quite some time.
And France has implemeted the JAA since this year, no more DGAC rules.
Thanks again, it's more replies in 2 hours than 2 months on French heli web sites.
Hovering AND talking
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Elena, good for you
You do have to stick up for yourself sometimes here 
I think there are only two JAA approved helicopter schools in the US and they are HAI and Hillsboro (?). You might have to look at the conversion costs; it MAY be cost effective but I have my doubts!
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
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Elena, go girl!!
YB
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Now thatīs unusual!...A cocky French Pilot (to be) 
Controller...Iīm sure a few others had the same thought...Perhaps worded slightly differently
Elena..The slight insult, wasnīt directed at you. but referenced a recent post...whatever you decide...Merde A La Puissance Treize!
!70'
Controller...Iīm sure a few others had the same thought...Perhaps worded slightly differently
Elena..The slight insult, wasnīt directed at you. but referenced a recent post...whatever you decide...Merde A La Puissance Treize!
!70'
But previous posts/FAQS is still probably a good place to start anyway...
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Since it was a quite interesting question, I put my 2c in. The forum is for discussions and not to tell anyone off.
Elena
The Bell 47 is a great machine to fly and definitely a good platform to be taught on.
Elena
The Bell 47 is a great machine to fly and definitely a good platform to be taught on.
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Whirlygig, Moosp, Hillerbee thanks for your help, it's great from my position to feel being taken seriously by experienced people.
I don't even tell my friends, collegues even family about my ambition anymore, I've been laughed at too often, either by my students friends when studying Economics at university or by my fellow coworkers working as a cashier in a drugstore. It does not even bother me, they don't know...
As for the JAA, I don't even think of it, it is financially out of reach, so my plan is to stay for a year in the states to get from PPLfixed wing to CFI heli, then if possible and me being good enough, to work as an instructor at the same school for another 12 months. JAA conversion are very distant in the future, I know about the regulations and cost involved that's all I can say.
Next step will be 5 hrs in an aeroclub in a small airplane thanks of a grant, and continue working full time and saving for going to the US early 07.
I don't even tell my friends, collegues even family about my ambition anymore, I've been laughed at too often, either by my students friends when studying Economics at university or by my fellow coworkers working as a cashier in a drugstore. It does not even bother me, they don't know...
As for the JAA, I don't even think of it, it is financially out of reach, so my plan is to stay for a year in the states to get from PPLfixed wing to CFI heli, then if possible and me being good enough, to work as an instructor at the same school for another 12 months. JAA conversion are very distant in the future, I know about the regulations and cost involved that's all I can say.
Next step will be 5 hrs in an aeroclub in a small airplane thanks of a grant, and continue working full time and saving for going to the US early 07.
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In my experience in this industry, you get what you pay for. They are cheap, are they? Ask yourself why? And be very careful. I've never heard of them, and personally I wouldn't learn to fly anywhere without at least one personal recommendation - a gut feeling on the phone is not enough.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Elena,
Welcome to the forum.
I have no experience with Versatile Aviation but I recently learned to fly helicopters in the USA and thoroughly enjoyed the experience,
I trained on the Bell 47 and I can confirm that it is a wonderful aircraft to fly,
I did my training at Dutch Country Helicopters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and can attest to the excellent instruction, the immaculate maintainance of the machines and the friendship extended by everyone there.
I have no reason to believe Versatile will be any different.
As we say in Britain.......Crack on....Fill yer boots.....and knock yourself out girl.
Lord Mount
Welcome to the forum.
I have no experience with Versatile Aviation but I recently learned to fly helicopters in the USA and thoroughly enjoyed the experience,
I trained on the Bell 47 and I can confirm that it is a wonderful aircraft to fly,
I did my training at Dutch Country Helicopters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and can attest to the excellent instruction, the immaculate maintainance of the machines and the friendship extended by everyone there.
I have no reason to believe Versatile will be any different.
As we say in Britain.......Crack on....Fill yer boots.....and knock yourself out girl.
Lord Mount
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elena,
Have a good root around on the internet - find a cheap flight to the US. Book a rental car and ideally take a friend. Drive to all the schools on your shortlist and look first hand at the schools you're planning to throw a very very considerable wedge of money at. It may take you a couple of weeks to do but believe me it will be the best value, most sensible and most rewarding road trip you will ever make if you're seriously planning to go down this helicopter route.
R1tamer
PS Take no notice of the controller he's a sorry embittered southerner
PPS thecontroller - hows life down in the smoke - studying hard or too much ppruning
Have a good root around on the internet - find a cheap flight to the US. Book a rental car and ideally take a friend. Drive to all the schools on your shortlist and look first hand at the schools you're planning to throw a very very considerable wedge of money at. It may take you a couple of weeks to do but believe me it will be the best value, most sensible and most rewarding road trip you will ever make if you're seriously planning to go down this helicopter route.
R1tamer
PS Take no notice of the controller he's a sorry embittered southerner
PPS thecontroller - hows life down in the smoke - studying hard or too much ppruning
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You don't just drive to a number of flight schools in the US. Even in Florida alone it would take you weeks. Let alone go visit one in Oklahoma.
But as I suggested before, paying them a visit might be the wisest.
Hillerbee
But as I suggested before, paying them a visit might be the wisest.
Hillerbee