ME IR(H) training provider recommendations UK
Ah, I see. Yes most of the course (80% dependent on the approval each provider has) is on the ground or in the sim. You will already have the appropriate type rating assuming you're taking the modular route.
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Yea so if you do a lot of preparation on the theory side, go over the procedures in a computer sim, before you step foot in the aircraft does that get you a large part of the way there? Compared to your CPL where you can only do so much prep beforehand and it's not until you get in the aircraft that you can start to make inroads.
I don't know how good these things are for rotary outside the full accredited industry setups.
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I would say yes. I used Elite IFR to stay current afterwards too as it took a while to get a job. Helped develop scan, the ability to join and fly holds, manual ILSs, DME arc procedures. If you are proficient at this already it can help.
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Sorry for reviving a dead thread - I was wondering if anyone was aware of how many IR courses Starspeed/Babcock/Castle Air are running these days?
Helicentre Aviation make it very obvious how many courses they're running as they post all their graduates all over social media, and I'm aware that the other IR providers don't use social media in the same way but as a result it becomes quite difficult to know what success the other academies are having.
Is it normal for the training providers to be running IR courses most of the year, or is it usually just a handful of courses in a year?
Helicentre Aviation make it very obvious how many courses they're running as they post all their graduates all over social media, and I'm aware that the other IR providers don't use social media in the same way but as a result it becomes quite difficult to know what success the other academies are having.
Is it normal for the training providers to be running IR courses most of the year, or is it usually just a handful of courses in a year?
They don't seem to publish much, and I don't think there has been a lot of training going on generally in the industry
Depends what you're after I guess. If you are a new, recently trained pilot, and wanting the North Sea, go to Helicentre. Their graduates have a high success rate and are getting employed quickly into the North Sea operators.
If you have plenty of flight time and want HEMS, go to Babcock - 135 rating and links to industry
Onshore civil, perhaps Starspeed who have quite a few contracts for VIP
Have you actually just gone to each training provider to ask how many courses they run? They should be able to give you an idea of the market, but its probably not a fair representation what's been achieved in the last two years!!
Depends what you're after I guess. If you are a new, recently trained pilot, and wanting the North Sea, go to Helicentre. Their graduates have a high success rate and are getting employed quickly into the North Sea operators.
If you have plenty of flight time and want HEMS, go to Babcock - 135 rating and links to industry
Onshore civil, perhaps Starspeed who have quite a few contracts for VIP
Have you actually just gone to each training provider to ask how many courses they run? They should be able to give you an idea of the market, but its probably not a fair representation what's been achieved in the last two years!!
Sorry for reviving a dead thread - I was wondering if anyone was aware of how many IR courses Starspeed/Babcock/Castle Air are running these days?
Helicentre Aviation make it very obvious how many courses they're running as they post all their graduates all over social media, and I'm aware that the other IR providers don't use social media in the same way but as a result it becomes quite difficult to know what success the other academies are having.
Is it normal for the training providers to be running IR courses most of the year, or is it usually just a handful of courses in a year?
Helicentre Aviation make it very obvious how many courses they're running as they post all their graduates all over social media, and I'm aware that the other IR providers don't use social media in the same way but as a result it becomes quite difficult to know what success the other academies are having.
Is it normal for the training providers to be running IR courses most of the year, or is it usually just a handful of courses in a year?
And be wary of pigeon holing some schools. Babcock may be predominantly be a single pilot public service operator employing experienced crews but they also have an active group of co-pilots on H145 in Cardiff, Cambridge and Norwich. Great thing to get on your CV even if its sub-optimal for raw hours building. And if your ultimate aim when you do have the hours is to fly HEMS, its not a bad idea to be a known quantity to those in the industry. The guy that teaches you now might be the Chief Pilot recruiting later. Castle has good route into operating if you're SW based (Liskeard) and Heliservices at Wycombe have been operating for a long time for a reason. Also don't forget Vantage at Thruxton with their single.
If you want to gauge success of these operations you have to ask the graduates. The schools should be able to facilitate that if you ask. Do a dig around LinkedIn and look for co-pilots who've recently started out in the part of the industry you want to go into.
If it was my money again, I'd go and eyeball the head of training at each place and see what their simulator arrangement is - that's where you are going to be spending the bulk of your time. Also look at their helicopters. Even better, combine it with some hours building land aways. And my personal preference would be to choose the school that has the best sim/aircraft combo that will make the test as simple as possible. That means a full 3 or 4 axis AFCS, a full colour FMS (eg Garmin 750) and full glass cockpit. Most of the test can now be flown AP in so that kit needs to be good.
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Hi folks - I'm looking for a training provider for the ME (IR) and ME type rating in the UK (spring/summer this year). Can anyone share advice/recommendations regarding UK based training providers, specifically, would any in particular have better chances of offering a co-pilot position compared with others for someone who has just obtained an IR with no experience? I'm aware from speaking to people in the industry that it is indeed possible, as there are newly qualified IR holders who have recently succeeded in getting co-pilot positions.
I've already obtained costs from Starspeed, Sloane, Helicopter Services and Babcock so I'm aware of the differences in terms of costs but have no idea which would give better chances of finding work, or which have better facilities, etc. Location is not an issue.
Thanks!
I've already obtained costs from Starspeed, Sloane, Helicopter Services and Babcock so I'm aware of the differences in terms of costs but have no idea which would give better chances of finding work, or which have better facilities, etc. Location is not an issue.
Thanks!
How did you find the job hunt afterwards?
