Helicopter Adventures
 

I'm thinking of taking 6 months off work to go and train at Helicopter Adventures in the U.S. to do the JAA/FAA modular CPL(H) course. This will, once passed, give me a JAA and FAA CPL(H)with an FAA FI rating. The plan is to then instruct and possibly gain the CFII rating over the next 18 months and return to the U.K. with approx 800-1000 hours and a valid UK JAA CPL(H). The course is to ATP standards on the written exams. Just wondering if anyone had done something similar or heard of anyone doing this and what are the F.I. job prospects in the U.S. after the initial 6 months and the prospects in the U.K. if I attained the 800-1000 hours.

Another one in need of guidance!!!

:eek:

Are they still offering CPL(H) in USA?

Yep
Apparently, the only school in the U.S. licensed to offer UK JAA CPL(H). They have faxed me a copy of their CAA accreditation and I've spoken to PLH who have confirmed that they do have the authority to train to JAA standard (though France is refusing to recognise JAA flight training by schools outside of JAA, should you wish to work there!!!!).

HAI train to ATP standard as there is as yet no JAA CPL(H) standard.

I have heard they train Bristows cadets, though I haven't had this confirmed. :confused:

I think Heli Adventures is run by George Bedford who used to be the Principle of the Bristow flying school when it was at Redhill. They were over at Helitech pushing the school recently, and I think you are correct and they are training Bristow cadets.

Helicopter hire in LA
 

All :

I'm going to be in LA first week of December. Now that you've got a chance to plan some time away from LA, anyone know of places in the vicinity of El Segundo where I can do some flying - R22 or other, cheaper the better but SAFE !!

I'd like, if poss, to do more than just fly with an instructor but I've absolutely NO idea on current airspace restrictions, insurance restrictions and all that stuff.

Anyone willing to help - email or post most welcome.

LA would have to be www.rainbowair.com Dave Parson is the man to talk to.

:D :D

Nr - by coincidence, I travelled to southern California the first week of December last year, also planning to fly. I wanted to attend the Robinson factory safety course, but it was to be held later in the month. I called the factory asking if I could simply hire one of their instructors for a couple of hours. That wasn't possible, but they referred me to a helicopter business whose owner served as one of the factory pilots once a month. I talked to him and told him what I wanted, and he set me up with his chief pilot. The outfit is HeliStream, based at John Wayne airport. I flew with Andreas Moser, an Austrian, and had a great time. Andreas says he has over 5000 hrs in Robbies. Could be. He was very good with the machine.

When you exit the elevator to get to their office, three stories up, the sign welcomes you to the world's largest private heliport. There are three landing pads outside the long hangar. They had a half-dozen R22s, including an IFR trainer, an R44, a 206, and an AStar, maybe a 350.

We took off and went over the main runway, with a 727 rolling out 400 feet below. Nice view! Just a few minutes away are some good sized hills (I'm not sure they are large enough to classify them as mountains). We went down in the valleys and did some confined-area work, and max-perf TOs. Back up higher, I wanted a demo of vortex-ring state. Yikes! The bottom dropped out. It brought back memories of my first spin in a FW. We had planned some touchdown autos, but ran out of time. What a kick coming back for an approach to the pad on the roof. I know the old-timers on this board have done it in their sleep, but it my first try. All in all, well worth going.

As I recall, the rate was $160/hr, dual. I do distinctly remember that it was about $40/hr less than I had been paying in my one-R22 town. You can check their site at:

http://www.helistream.com

Next month, let us know where you ended up, and how it went. Have fun!

(Edited to take out the animated faces that didn't show up in the post, only their URL. Haven't figured out how to make them display yet........)

[ 15 November 2001: Message edited by: rotorfan ]

And try getting in or out of there when its busy! Go fly from Long Beach - its quieter and more accessable from LA. Try LA Helicopters or Rotaviation. If you want to go as far south as San Diego try Corporate Helicopters.

helidrvr -
Regarding the "world's largest private heliport", I didn't ask what might make them so qualified. Maybe "private", rather than a corporation-owned skyscraper. In any event, I'm not making the claim, only relating my experience there. Although I've been a pilot 21 years, I'm a rotor rookie. It doesn't take as much to impress me as it does you. That's why my comment "I know the old-timers on this board have done it in their sleep, but it was my first try." Regardless of the accuracy of the claim, it was still a valuable experience for me.

pilotwolf-
"Go fly from Long Beach - its quieter and more accessable from LA." I wouldn't argue your point. I took the airlines into the LA area and landed at Long Beach. I was impressed (and surprised!) by how quiet the airport was. Except, of course, I noticed in a split second the R22 overhead doing circuits. Flying with HeliStream (at John Wayne), I was amazed that it wasn't a big problem for us to get back to the base, even though we arrived right at 5 P.M.
Your suggestions to Nr Fairy certainly might be better than mine. I chose HeliStream because Robinson gave me their name. I simply offered a recommendation on the only flying I've done in the LA basin. I think it's marvelous that there are so many companies to choose from. That competition helps keep the cost down for the customers!

[ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: rotorfan ]

... I dropped in to John Wayne once for fuel then burnt a large proportion of it waiting to depart! Spoke to locals as thought it was my quietly spoken English accent that may have been causing the lack of RT response but was advised to avoid it for the reason I mentioned. Maybe if you're based there its easier? LGB used to be busier - similar traffic volumes to Stanstead on a quiet day when I did my PPL! But seemed to be much quieter there this year. The Prop Room resturant comes recommended too!!

Have flown with Rotoraviation, not flown with LA Helicopters but they come recommended from a mechanic friend - who incidently does their maintance - so I know they are safe! Both have ex-US Helicopters staff which was where I originally trained. Like wise Corporate has USH ex chief pilot and ex chief instructor working there - again both excellent pilots and instructors.

Nr Fairy

If I remember corrctly, El Segundo is near LAX.
Things I'd highly recommend which are not too far away from where you'll be staying are:
(1) A visit to the Robinson factory at Torrance. Best to book in advance if possible.

(2) Flying over LA with one of the radio station helicopters.
'Commander' Chuck Street is based at Fullerton, about an hour's drive from you. He charges about 100$ per hour, and there's a choice of the morning flight (3 hrs, 6-9am) or afternoon flight (2 hrs, 3-5pm). Fullerton airfield is not far from Disneyland and Nott's Berry Farm if you're taking children! Chuck is a qualified pilot and will let you fly (supervised) even if you don't have a JetRanger rating.
Click Commander Chuck's website
He gets very heavily booked, but worth a try. If he can't take you, there's another place at Van Nuys which does the same thing.

Because insurance costs are very high, SFH in the States is not as readily available as here, but not impossible if you establish/prove yourself with a school.

If you fly with an instructor, make sure you get to the rooftop Helipad at LAX.
It's an interesting approach, and even more interesting departure - very low level to the ocean before climbing!

Also make sure you get to fly down the coast low level. Fantastic fun - and Americans (unlike the Brits) don't complain when they see low-flying helicopters.
If you've got a few hours to spare, it's well worth flying all the way down to San Diego - one of the most beautiful ocean fronts in the world.
Route out to Point Loma (you'll need to speak to the military - be prepared to wait) and then across the bay (speak to San Diego International)

Have fun!

PS
We'll get that Gazelle trip arranged one of these days! :)

[ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: Flying Lawyer ]

Was informed a few weeks ago that due to Sept 11th and the Class B restrictions that the VFR transitions had been closed, Heli Shoreline included.

I believe Bravo Helicopters are still operating out of LAX Heliport so there might still be an option in and out.

Orange County is truly a busy airport and alot depends on what you want to do. Airport hop or punch circuits/patterns. If it is the second then you don't want Orange County. It is a small hub of United Airlines and so is a little busy. Waiting for 15 minutes to leave isn't unusual especially if you are a little hesitant.

Helistream is owned and run by Rod Anderson who is an FAA examiner and has been operating Robinsons since the beginning, he also sells them and gets much business through factory recommendations. One of his students went on to be a test pilot for many years in Torrance.

If you choose Orange County you will find yourself flying to Long Beach for pattern training. A 10-15 minute flight each way. Plus on return to Orange County you will find the majority of times that you won't go straight to the helipad......there isn't fuel there!!! So you will land on ground level fuel and then return to the helipad.

But if it is off airport work you want then Torrance and Long Beach hasn't got any within 20 minutes flight time (you fly past Orange to get to it). Torrance too has only one pad.

Long Beach has three heli pads operating between two runways. Unless the wind is from the North/South then only two. Rainbow has been offering Helicopters since Everything Flying became defunct. Dave Parsons was originally at US Helicopters, then EFI and finally set up on his own within Rainbow.

Burbank schools don't do on airport stuff either. It used to be 20 minutes to their practice area. Lots depends on if you are buiding time or want something out of it.

Insurance you used to have to purchase insurance for self fly hire which made it too over the top unless you were doing huge amounts. 30-40 hours.

Really any of them will be perfect. But I say Long Beach.

Hope that helps.

Heli Adventures, now in FL is actually owned by an Irishman in Patrick Corr. Great person to deal with and they try as hard as anybody to get their students placed. They have a mixed fleet and very new compared to many schools.

Does Heli Adventures have a web site?

Their website is www.heli.com
I did my JAA CPL(H) there earlier this year and have no hesitation in recommending them.
Training for the JAA licence is done on the S300 and George Bedford will probably be the examiner (you wont train with him).
If anybody wants any further info - please Email me and Ill give you further details.

PPL (H) Training in USA
 

Hi,

Would like to obtain my ppl(h) and really thinking oabout the states. Can anyone recommend anywhere?

Also would like to do it in something larger than an R22 ! Jetranger perhaps?

I have an ATPL (A) and fly with an airline.

Thanks!

Lu will slam me for this, but why not do it in an R-22?

1. Cheaper thant the 206, you can get more hours in for your buck.

2. Harder to fly than the 206, so when you are ready to do aturbine transition, you will not have any issues there.

If you are just going for your Pvt, I say do it in the recip, then transition. you will end up in the 206, but spend less $$$ getting there.

Heck, ok you could do it in a hughes 300 too, now Lu can't slam me. :)

Florida is a great location, Heli Adventures up the coast, and I fly down in Ft. Lauderdale at Volar.

[ 18 December 2001: Message edited by: RW-1 ]

Try Tomlinson Aviation in Ormond Beach, Florida. I did my ATP(H) with them in the SA-269/300C. They also have CB models, + a real nice BIII they use for 135 opns, but they do rent it out for instruction/hour building. Very professional CFI/II's. The junior has over 1,000 (all in type I believe), and the senior has several thousand in both the SA's and the Jetranger. Both know their stuff! (386) 676-0312 phone or FAX at (386) 676-9598. www.tomlinsonaviation.com
OR, try Jim or Milton at Helicopter Associates, Inc. in N. Carolina. They operate OH-6/A's which have been recertified as HU-369/500/C's. Can't find much more fun than those. They are a handful, especially to start out on, but they offer a decent price for turbine. (704) 695-1300. www.helicopterassociates.com
Hope this helps.

many thanks

Fl245

R44 Hire, California....??
 

Can anyone reccomend a friendly School that self fly hires R44s close to Los Angeles?? and what are there requiremnts for a low time PPL with a UK License??

Kind Regards,