CPL(H) and ATPL(H)
 

My son has a PPL(H)and wants to progress by taking his CPL or ATPL followed by an assistant instructors rating(if they still exist).What advice can you give as to best school for writtens and best for the flying.The CPL is now necessary for instructing but is it best to do the ATPL??
Lastly is an IR worth doing.
I am a plank driver so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Long time since I did the writtens so I'll leave that to someone more recent. The place I would recommend you call for advice is Alan Mann helicopters at Fairoaks. Ask for the CFI who will give you good advice. If he doesn't tell me and I'll kick him!! :)
The IR will either be needed or not depending on what your son ends up doing and for whom.
Regards and wish him luck from me.

JP5A, I presume your son has contacted Bristow and Scotia to see whether sponsorship is available?

JP5A
Unless things have changed you'll only need do the CPL. ATPL(H) comes with flying hours & a cheque. IR not a problem as a company that needs it will usually put you through it. You'll probably find it best to do a residential course for the Navs & Techs. I did mine at Cabair, but I believe Oxford are better. Unless he hopes to instruct on R-22s I'd personally advise you also include a Type Rating on something like the 206. Turbine time & types help.
The suggestion of Bristows & Scotia is a sound one....they need Pilots.
Anyway...best of luck & never mind about the planks, we all have a cross to bear etc. :D

No, things have not changed with regard to CPL/ATPL - ATPL still comes with hours.

If your son plans to do distance learning with short courses for the ground school, I can thoroughly recommend Bristol Ground School, for everything except the specific helicopter subjects. With the CAA exams, that was only Principles of Flight, and I managed that on my own, as did many others. I have no idea what will be happening with JAR, since there's no syllabus as yet. Someone posted on here that the CAA rotary exams have been extended to July 2002; if this is the case, he might still be able to do those, though there may be a problem with lack of courses.