HeliAir has effectively been sold. A very substantial shareholding has been sold to a City investor and Mike Smith is no longer the majority shareholder. He's agreed to continue running the company and remains Managing Director.

Mike and family have worked hard over many years and have seen HeliAir go from strength to strength. Last year was its best yet.
I'm told the flying schools are busy and that, in the 11 month period from April 2003 to today, HeliAir sold:
68 new Robinsons (80% of which are R44s)
12+ used helicopters.

It seems like a sensible time to sell. Next year might be even better, but there again ............ who knows?
The new owner, a stockbroker, hasn't previously been involved in aviation but is learning to fly.

Flight Schools
 

Can anyone recomend any good flight school or any good ideas on ways to train fo a commercial licence.

where in UK?
Intergrated or Modular?

Yes.

But it depends on many factors. Location being one, but also:

1. On which aircraft would you like to learn
2. If modular, you can still do the PPL full-time (as I did)

If you wish to PM me, I know about a few schools and know a reasonable amount about the process (as I am going through it) and would be glad to help.

Cheers

Whirlygig

Hi, I completed my CPL(H) Last year and had dealings with several schools and instructors in midlands. PM for more info also check out my website. Best of luck whatever you do.

How many schools DO NOT operate the R22 in the UK?
 

Here is a question, how many flight schools in the UK do not operate the R22? What do they use instead; 300, 47, Enstrom?

There doesn't seem to be an up to date list on the net (including the CAA and BHAB). I reckon it would be interesting to know.

(Perhaps I have too much time on my hands, however...):}

Manchester Helicopter school at Barton only operate Enstroms

The other school at Barton (Flight Academy??) use Enstrom too.

An up to date copy of the BHAB Handbook will give you this info for BHAB members - most schools aren't members though.

Flyer magazine has this information online, although it's not organised the way you want it so you'll have to do a little cut and paste. Around London it's mostly R22 with Biggin Hill Helis and Oxford (OATS) on the Schweizer, and Alan Mann at Fairoaks on the Bell 47.

AH Helicopters, Devon - S300

Moorgoods, Bodmin - S300

Shoreham Helicopters - Enstrom & S300

DHFS, Shawbury - AS350

Bournemouth Helicopters - S300

Sterling in Norwich use the S300 as do Dragon in Sheffield.

Cheers

Whirlygig

So, there are some schools in the UK that manage to operate without the R22. I know that Barton have been using the Enstroms for decades.

Thinking about, Liverpool has a mix of R22 and 300, so maybe the question should be rephrased. Perhaps the question should include schools which do not only use R22 as their primary trainer. As another example, at FAST you could choose from R22, 300, Enstrom and 47.

I think it's a bit of a stretch putting DHFS in there - I think they're a bit biased away from anything which isn't multi-purpose (training, liaison etc.), and except for the R44, turbines are the only real choice.

Worlwide at bournmouth only use the R44 and they seem to be really busy.

Elite helicopters train on

R22

R44

B206 & B206 Longranger

they also offer type conversions onto the AS350

if you pick up a copy of the BHAB it tells you all the operators in the U.k and what aircraft and facilities they can provide

if you like I can post you one

goose boy

The question is ambigious.

Recompute as how many R22s/S300/R44/ Enstroms/ etc are used for training as well and you get a better feel for the underlying data.

One school may run tens of R22s and ten schools may have one S300 each.

h-r:)

Good point H-r. I was leaning towards that in my post further up.

Another one would be Dennis Kenyon, with 300 and Enstrom but he's winding it all up now I believe.

Do Alan Manns at Fairoaks still run their 47 as a trainer?




Edit - seems they do Alan Mann

There seems to be a lot more schools now offering more choice of types, Which is real good.

I use to work for MHC about 6 years back, there realy good guys.