Training at West Palm Beach: Ocean Helicopters /Cloud 9
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Training at West Palm Beach: Ocean Helicopters /Cloud 9
Hi all,
Just wanting to know if anybody is training with Ocean at the Moment as I am heading over that way and would like to talk, info , cars , Housing ect
Just wanting to know if anybody is training with Ocean at the Moment as I am heading over that way and would like to talk, info , cars , Housing ect
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Speak to Gill. She'll be able to help you out with all your questions. Very friendly and very efficient. You're going to have a very good time. We work with them and they have a great team. Also great place to fly.
[email protected]
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Hell pirate, they are a great school with great people working there. The school owns as student house where lots of the students and instructors stay. If you are only staying there for a short period, you could simply get a lift into airport with someone else staying in the house.At the same time the freedom of having you own car helps. The airport is approx 20miles from the student house and its pretty difficult to find anywhere else that is closer than this. Hope you enjoy your training down there and safe flying.
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The airport is approx 20miles from the student house and its pretty difficult to find anywhere else that is closer than this
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choppertop..do you work for Cloud 9? as it seems they 'bend the truth' quite alot!! Now where on earth do they have a B206 as advertised in the UK Flyer magazine....ummmmm... Honesty is always the best policy!!
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I did my hour-building for my CPL with Cloud 9 earlier this year. I have no professional or personal links to them whatsoever. As I have said on an earlier thread, I found the operation honest and well run. Geoff employs good people and knows his stuff. Actually I got a good deal out of him financially for burning 60 hours. I'm doing my hour-building for my FI with Boatpix -- which is even cheaper!
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206 B3 - Cloud 9
Not at the Palm Beach location but the school has other training locations other than WPB. All 17 of our helicopters at North County would be too much especially with the 8 machines Ocean Operates.
We actually have 4 student properties a 6 bed brand new (Nov 2007) house, a 4 bed house and two 3 bed appartments close to the beach.
People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones in my opinion when they question our 'honesty'.
We actually have 4 student properties a 6 bed brand new (Nov 2007) house, a 4 bed house and two 3 bed appartments close to the beach.
People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones in my opinion when they question our 'honesty'.
Last edited by anti-talk; 28th Jul 2008 at 15:03.
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Hell Pirate,
If you didn't know before you posted, then you do now, there are in fact TWO Rotary Schools at North County (F45).
In some ways they are similar and in others they are completely different. like all rival companies, in a similar situation, one will always talk about the other in a negative way and vice versa. Perhaps in this case, this enviroment has rubbed off onto the students and they feel a sense of loyalty to the school they have trained at.
Personally I would make your own mind up, if you can why not go and have a look at both if you can. If you can't then don't worry, its a great airport to train at, whoever that is with.
As someone who has trained at North County, I would say that you definetly need a car. The airport is a minimum of 10 miles from the nearest school accomodation. In my case I originally got a car from the North County FBO and it cost a fortune! I then booked one in the UK over the internet, and got a better price which included ALL the insurances, picked it up from PBI.
Its personal choice but I went for the cheapest/smallest car because all I wanted was four wheels to get around and some A/C to stay cool.
Get used to Publix's, super market. If I wasn't flying I always seemed to be in Publix, sad but true. If you want some cheap food, go to the food court at Gardens Mall. The best subs were found at John Smith's on PGA Bvld.
If your buying any pilot equipment, don't get it from Banyan's at Fort Lauderdale Exec, its expensive! Get it shipped in from out of state so you don't pay the tax!
I ate out ever day, after a while it adds up! Save some money and make your own food.
They are my tips, I'm not sure who had the most helicopters and what type, didn't really care to be honest. I had a goal to fly every day and save a bit of money compared to the UK. I think I achieved both goals.
TJF97
If you didn't know before you posted, then you do now, there are in fact TWO Rotary Schools at North County (F45).
In some ways they are similar and in others they are completely different. like all rival companies, in a similar situation, one will always talk about the other in a negative way and vice versa. Perhaps in this case, this enviroment has rubbed off onto the students and they feel a sense of loyalty to the school they have trained at.
Personally I would make your own mind up, if you can why not go and have a look at both if you can. If you can't then don't worry, its a great airport to train at, whoever that is with.
As someone who has trained at North County, I would say that you definetly need a car. The airport is a minimum of 10 miles from the nearest school accomodation. In my case I originally got a car from the North County FBO and it cost a fortune! I then booked one in the UK over the internet, and got a better price which included ALL the insurances, picked it up from PBI.
Its personal choice but I went for the cheapest/smallest car because all I wanted was four wheels to get around and some A/C to stay cool.
Get used to Publix's, super market. If I wasn't flying I always seemed to be in Publix, sad but true. If you want some cheap food, go to the food court at Gardens Mall. The best subs were found at John Smith's on PGA Bvld.
If your buying any pilot equipment, don't get it from Banyan's at Fort Lauderdale Exec, its expensive! Get it shipped in from out of state so you don't pay the tax!
I ate out ever day, after a while it adds up! Save some money and make your own food.
They are my tips, I'm not sure who had the most helicopters and what type, didn't really care to be honest. I had a goal to fly every day and save a bit of money compared to the UK. I think I achieved both goals.
TJF97
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Well said TJF97, Thank you, we prefer students to make thier own minds up by visiting both schools.
By the way your advice is spot on - I'm not sure if you trained with us or Ocean though.
Carrentals.com - best place for Car Hire, book it on the net, buy MUCH cheaper insurance with Travelguard and pick up the car from the airport when you arrive. This will save you a bunch of cash.
The PUB has reopened on Jupiter farms road - good food and beer close to both schools student properties.
This is an excellent training location regardless of which school you fly with (Ocean or Cloud 9 Helicopters).
By the way your advice is spot on - I'm not sure if you trained with us or Ocean though.
Carrentals.com - best place for Car Hire, book it on the net, buy MUCH cheaper insurance with Travelguard and pick up the car from the airport when you arrive. This will save you a bunch of cash.
The PUB has reopened on Jupiter farms road - good food and beer close to both schools student properties.
This is an excellent training location regardless of which school you fly with (Ocean or Cloud 9 Helicopters).
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agree F45 is a good place to train. I went to Ocean to do my cpl.. but when their 44 when tits up with an unforeseen maintnance problem Cloud 9 were prepared to help (not needed in the end)..
I had a great experience at ocean and will be back for my instructors.. not saying cloud 9 is better worse.. just passing on my experience..
While you are there make sure you pay a vsit to downtown 1 .. great spot for a landing..
I had a great experience at ocean and will be back for my instructors.. not saying cloud 9 is better worse.. just passing on my experience..
While you are there make sure you pay a vsit to downtown 1 .. great spot for a landing..
Just thought I'd throw my $0.02 in here about Ocean Helicopters (and maybe a penny about Cloud 9). As a customer, I recently did some 206 Recurrent Training in Ocean's ship, which was required by my insurance company and actually performed by an outside company (Lunsford Air Consulting). Long story, not relevant.
But here *is* the relevant part: I spent a lot of time speaking with the owner, Dave Harmon, his wife Gill (pronounced "Jill") and their employees (most of their instructors and their wonderful, cheerful Chief Flight Instructor Pam Landis). I liked Dave. Good head on his shoulders and good heart. We talked about people we both knew in the industry. I could tell by what Dave said and how he said it that he is a kind, generous man.
I've been in this industry a long, looooong time and I have to say I was impressed with Ocean and their staff. They are all incredibly friendly, likeable, professional and accomodating. They have a nice facility (no on-site coffee though- what's up with that!) and nice ships: R-22's, R-44's, S-300's and the aforementioned 206 (which was gorgeous). I got a good feeling while hanging out there as long as I did; wished I could have stayed longer. Good people. Made me feel right at home. My impression was: Nice place to train. I liked the fact that they had such a wide variety of ships - Robbies *and* Schweizers.
To their credit, nobody at Ocean had anything bad to say about Cloud 9 - *other than* stating that the owners of Cloud 9 had once worked at Ocean, then they left and then started a helicopter flight school right next door. That's all. End of story. (I suspected that there was more to it, but I didn't ask.) So I'll offer my one and only observation:
The morning I arrived, I spent a little time watching airplanes and helicopters take-off and land (I can be such a geek, even at this stage). The helicopters at North County all seem to be stored in some t-hangars across the runway from where the operators' offices are. Each morning, some are air-taxiied across the runway to a ramp area, some are towed on their ground-handling wheels, and some are just accessed by golf cart.
Suddenly, one of Cloud 9's ships came flying across from the hangars at low-level and high speed. The pilot raised the nose into what was a...let's say "aggressive" quick-stop. But instead of decellerating straight-ahead and terminating to a hover, during the decel he side-stepped left and then right (banked turns), ending with a bit of side-flare as he settled onto his parking spot. I thought to myself, "Weeeoh! Hot dog!" My second thought was that this was definitely *not* the kind of flying I would be showing to my students. My third thought was that if *I* was Cloud 9's Chief Pilot, that guy would be in my office with his heels locked and one foot out the door. (When I later mentioned this event to Pam at Ocean she just rolled her eyes and said, "No comment.") I was *almost* tempted to go in and talk to Cloud 9's Chief Pilot, but thought I would just be coming off as some pompous, know-it-all jerk-off and so didn't. Opportunity lost.
So there you have it - my unscientific and unobjective evaluation of my day spent at North County Airport. I don't know about Cloud 9, but if I was a student looking for a place to get my ratings, I wouldn't hesitate plunking my money down with Dave and his happy crew at Ocean Helicopters, and I'd have a ball doing it. (But come on, Dave, get some coffee, willya? *REAL* helicopter pilots drink coffee and lots of it!)
But here *is* the relevant part: I spent a lot of time speaking with the owner, Dave Harmon, his wife Gill (pronounced "Jill") and their employees (most of their instructors and their wonderful, cheerful Chief Flight Instructor Pam Landis). I liked Dave. Good head on his shoulders and good heart. We talked about people we both knew in the industry. I could tell by what Dave said and how he said it that he is a kind, generous man.
I've been in this industry a long, looooong time and I have to say I was impressed with Ocean and their staff. They are all incredibly friendly, likeable, professional and accomodating. They have a nice facility (no on-site coffee though- what's up with that!) and nice ships: R-22's, R-44's, S-300's and the aforementioned 206 (which was gorgeous). I got a good feeling while hanging out there as long as I did; wished I could have stayed longer. Good people. Made me feel right at home. My impression was: Nice place to train. I liked the fact that they had such a wide variety of ships - Robbies *and* Schweizers.
To their credit, nobody at Ocean had anything bad to say about Cloud 9 - *other than* stating that the owners of Cloud 9 had once worked at Ocean, then they left and then started a helicopter flight school right next door. That's all. End of story. (I suspected that there was more to it, but I didn't ask.) So I'll offer my one and only observation:
The morning I arrived, I spent a little time watching airplanes and helicopters take-off and land (I can be such a geek, even at this stage). The helicopters at North County all seem to be stored in some t-hangars across the runway from where the operators' offices are. Each morning, some are air-taxiied across the runway to a ramp area, some are towed on their ground-handling wheels, and some are just accessed by golf cart.
Suddenly, one of Cloud 9's ships came flying across from the hangars at low-level and high speed. The pilot raised the nose into what was a...let's say "aggressive" quick-stop. But instead of decellerating straight-ahead and terminating to a hover, during the decel he side-stepped left and then right (banked turns), ending with a bit of side-flare as he settled onto his parking spot. I thought to myself, "Weeeoh! Hot dog!" My second thought was that this was definitely *not* the kind of flying I would be showing to my students. My third thought was that if *I* was Cloud 9's Chief Pilot, that guy would be in my office with his heels locked and one foot out the door. (When I later mentioned this event to Pam at Ocean she just rolled her eyes and said, "No comment.") I was *almost* tempted to go in and talk to Cloud 9's Chief Pilot, but thought I would just be coming off as some pompous, know-it-all jerk-off and so didn't. Opportunity lost.
So there you have it - my unscientific and unobjective evaluation of my day spent at North County Airport. I don't know about Cloud 9, but if I was a student looking for a place to get my ratings, I wouldn't hesitate plunking my money down with Dave and his happy crew at Ocean Helicopters, and I'd have a ball doing it. (But come on, Dave, get some coffee, willya? *REAL* helicopter pilots drink coffee and lots of it!)
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Hi anti-talk. I presume you are from Cloud 9...great! So just to clarify, as advertised in the Flyer magazine here in the UK, you are able to offer the B206 for training and hire? And what's all this about glass houses??
Im over training with cloud9 at the minute, doing my PPL, loving every minute of it.. Flew solo today..
Regarding the coffee, theres a coffee machine between cloud9 and ocean in landmark aviation.. Plus on saturdays theres free pizza next door aswel..
Regarding the coffee, theres a coffee machine between cloud9 and ocean in landmark aviation.. Plus on saturdays theres free pizza next door aswel..
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I do work at Ocean. I moved there from a school inTexas because a couple of friends worked there and after talking to Pam on the phone I was sold. All the instructors at cloud 9 are good people(many of us trained at the same place - Bristow Academy) and there's no animosity between us. We share the same air and move over for each other when any of us ask!
Visit both schools and make your own decision - if you're gonna spend all that money on a licence then $1000 to come and check out the prospective schools is a good investment!
Visit both schools and make your own decision - if you're gonna spend all that money on a licence then $1000 to come and check out the prospective schools is a good investment!
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Bell 206 hire , L3,L4 at $1350 per hour in Orlando or a B3 in Orlando at $900,as advertised in Flyer Magazine!
I have 3 training locations, WPB,MLB and Orlando.
Also if you are feeling wealthy you can fly our BRAND NEW A109S for $3,250 per hour with me.
As for glass houses - keep your counsel until you have accurate information before questioning my integrity, you really dont want to go there. Check your PM's - I have been much more specific there.
Yes I own Cloud 9 Helicopters!
Re the quick stop, I do know the incident I am fairly sure what you saw was a downwind quick stop as access to our hangar space was conveniently blocked by other helicopters and a fence line (not ours!), there are nearly 30 on this airfield and a downwind, tail wind, level quickstop would have been unsafe, as would a downwind transition to a hover over a 5 foot fence line with a 10kt+ tailwind. Downwind quickstops with a turn and flare are actually trained in europe and are not 'hot dogging' they do however require a high level of skill and co-ordination.
Why dont we compare the accident rates of both operators - including that shiny Jet Ranger - there is a really, really good reason why it has a brand new paint job and new tail number!
Enough said I hope, lets stop throwing stones in 'glass houses'.
I have 3 training locations, WPB,MLB and Orlando.
Also if you are feeling wealthy you can fly our BRAND NEW A109S for $3,250 per hour with me.
As for glass houses - keep your counsel until you have accurate information before questioning my integrity, you really dont want to go there. Check your PM's - I have been much more specific there.
Yes I own Cloud 9 Helicopters!
Re the quick stop, I do know the incident I am fairly sure what you saw was a downwind quick stop as access to our hangar space was conveniently blocked by other helicopters and a fence line (not ours!), there are nearly 30 on this airfield and a downwind, tail wind, level quickstop would have been unsafe, as would a downwind transition to a hover over a 5 foot fence line with a 10kt+ tailwind. Downwind quickstops with a turn and flare are actually trained in europe and are not 'hot dogging' they do however require a high level of skill and co-ordination.
Why dont we compare the accident rates of both operators - including that shiny Jet Ranger - there is a really, really good reason why it has a brand new paint job and new tail number!
Enough said I hope, lets stop throwing stones in 'glass houses'.
Last edited by anti-talk; 17th Aug 2008 at 16:58.
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I did some training with Cloud 9 this year and genuinely couldn't fault them for flexibility and quality of teaching. They were willing to bend over backwards to help me train despite having to accommodate an additional person who wasn't flying in order for me to do so.
I haven't flown with Ocean, but having had problems with them getting in the way of manouvers on the taxiways and blocking hangers, I can't say I would particularly want to.
Davy07, congratulations on going solo.
Anti-talk, could you possibly PM me re how busy things are at Cloud 9 at present? Oh, and is Mike still there?
I haven't flown with Ocean, but having had problems with them getting in the way of manouvers on the taxiways and blocking hangers, I can't say I would particularly want to.
Davy07, congratulations on going solo.
Anti-talk, could you possibly PM me re how busy things are at Cloud 9 at present? Oh, and is Mike still there?
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This spring, I had the opperunity to fly with Cloud 9.
I was on a very tight schedule. I came off a job in South America, and only had a few days accomplish some required training.
Knowing my work schedule, they went out of there way to make the aircraft available to us so we could complete the training. They even bumped a local student from the schedule so we coudl finish.
The school was busy, the machines were in good shape and office staff helpfull. No complaints. If I ever had a need again, I would give them a ring.
RB
I was on a very tight schedule. I came off a job in South America, and only had a few days accomplish some required training.
Knowing my work schedule, they went out of there way to make the aircraft available to us so we could complete the training. They even bumped a local student from the schedule so we coudl finish.
The school was busy, the machines were in good shape and office staff helpfull. No complaints. If I ever had a need again, I would give them a ring.
RB
Originally Posted by Anti-Talk
Re the quick stop, I do know the incident I am fairly sure what you saw was a downwind quick stop as access to our hangar space was conveniently blocked by other helicopters and a fence line (not ours!), there are nearly 30 on this airfield and a downwind, tail wind, level quickstop would have been unsafe, as would a downwind transition to a hover over a 5 foot fence line with a 10kt+ tailwind. Downwind quickstops with a turn and flare are actually trained in europe and are not 'hot dogging' they do however require a high level of skill and co-ordination.
Look, I've been around the pattern a time or two. Don't tell me what I saw. What I saw was what I initially described: an R-22 coming over from the hangars to the FBO side and do what looked - to me - like a fairly aggressive, "hot-doggy" type maneuver that did not seem operationally necessary. Remember, I flew out of that field that day; and in fact, I spent quite a lot of time there hanging around and doing what I love: watching helicopters and airplanes fly. The winds were light and straight down 26. I saw where everybody was parking, including out in front of your office. And what I saw was not a "downwind quickstop" or any such nonsense.
But as I told you in my response to you PM, they're not my machines and not my pilots. And if that's the type of flying you feel is acceptable to demonstrate to low-time students (some of whom were also watching), it's *your* call.
Justify it any way you want, dude. Uhhh, that's the way they train in Europe! Yeah, that's it! Fine. But do not try to give me any weasel excuse that the pilot "had" to do that. He was having a little fun and probably didn't think anyone who knew any better was watching at 7:30 in the morning. And with maybe one exception, he was right.