Australia [Archive Copy]
 

I'm a fixed wing pilot wanting to learn to fly helicopters.

Currently considering Chopperline in Caloundra or PHS in Coolangatta.
Anyone have experience with these people or have other suggestions.

Many thanks.

All the schools you mentioned are good. I trained at Chopperline and i think the training was excellent. Very experienced instructors, however, they are just a training organisation and do not hire low time pilots, for this reason i would choose a company who have jobs up for grabs once you finish your training (Unless you have a job to go to)....The helicopter group in MEL. do have joy fights in alice spring that you might get a start at. so do PHS. others i do not know if you want to muster go to a company thats up in the mustering areas. Hope this helps a bit. good luck. sorry i forgot AIRWORKS helicopters in caboolture..bell 47 and good rates also blue tounge in maroochydore

[This message has been edited by fatter bloke (edited 11 April 2000).]

Thanks Guys,
I'm going to give PHS a shot, mainly because of the chances of getting that all important first job with them. I do remain quite impressed with the other two however.

Hi Tambaran,
I,ve just read your posting. I am a Brit,learnt to fly in Sydney. I,ve been in the Australian industry for roughly eight years. Ended up working for two flying schools there Bankstown Helicopters and Helimuster.
I ended up finishing my instructoer days with Chopperline in Caloundra. Chopperline were with out a doubt the more professional and dedicated to thier students, and cheapest. A delightful chap called Tub Mathersom ran the school. (ex lt col, Oz army to which he also ran the army training school before he finished with them)
In retrospect, I would have done all my training with them. I,m now flying Offshore with many of his ex army pals,whom all have lots of respect for him and his school.
Becker was a new guy on the block just starting out, as i was leaving.
hope this helps. There is far more prospects in Canada!!

How do you make yourself more employable in Australia
 

I recently completed my CPLh and am now looking for a job. I am from a cattle background and ride, fence, motorbike, muster etc,,,etc. I thought this would help my ambition to be a chopper pilot but alas no! Can any of you employed pilots tell me just what the employers are looking for. Thanks in advance.
if you dont want to post it here please send it to my e-mail whick is in my profile, again thanks guys and girls

Your background is certainly an advantage if you are looking for a mustering job, which is a good way to gain hours and flying skills. If you are looking for any other type of helicopter flying then you will encounter the familiar 'Catch-22' situation. You need hours (experience) to become employable and the better quality of those hours (PIC, night, CTZ ops etc), the more employable you become. Other ways you can build hours are to become an instructor, or if you are able, join the military. Some of the larger companies employ co-pilots so sit for your IREX exam and get yourself as well qualfied as you can. Don't give up as I believe that you are in a good position. There are lots of us old buggers that are coming up to retirement age and it's enthusiastic people like yourself who will be filling the vacancies in the next few years. Good luck.

Another option would be to go to the US.Enroll in a flight school that issues J1 visas.Do the US CPL and CFI (flight instuctors course).The FAA and the school will want you to do at least 15 hours Dual,you'll have to suffer leaving Oz and putting up with the Yanks but you'll get a 2 year visa out of it ,they're crying out for pilots (especially CFI's).Build as many hours as you can,and on returning to OZ,CASA will recognise the CFI rating (thats what they told me a couple of years ago).If your not interested in instructing there are other jobs to be found (photography,geo surveys etc)but they're not so easy to find.
There's approx 30000 civil helos in the world and 20000 are in the US,with around 8000 in Canada.If you want to kickstart your career its the way to go!

I've nothing against the Yanks!

That nice, I got nothing against you guys in Oz either. There is a bit of a demand for flight instructors right now. Most of it is fixed wing but a lot of helicopter schools are looking too, if you are R-22. I if not then the pickings can be a bit slim. Nice to know that the United States is good for something.

Be carefull about taking on a co-pilot position too early in your career, as without at least 1000hrs PIC, you may never get a command position on many contracts. It can be a way to get started but lots of guys have been stuck as co-pilots for lots of years?

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Helo Schools in Aus
 

Hey - I currently work in Aus as an ATC an would like to jump ship to the pilot world. Im not keen to fly trash in some fixed wing for years on end to make the regionals then if im lucky make airlines when im 102 years old.

Anybody know of any good helo schools in Australia (websites/email addresses helpfull) or any experienced pilots/operators who can handle some industry questions before I dive in the deep end.

Any help appreciated.

Hi, Some of the schools that i know are good are Chopperline, Blue Tongue and Helicopter group in Melbourne. The first three are on the sunshine coast. Chopperline have very experienced instructors who are also authorised testing officers. Blue Tongue is a good school. i couldnt choose betwen them when i was looking around, but i went with Chopperline cos it had the theory in house and it was the cheapest too. Mate if you have a job to go too i would say quit your job now and go do it, cos its great. However if you dont have a flying job lined up think long and hard about taking unpaid leave from the job you are in get your heli rating and look for work. You will find getting a job very difficult unless you know the righe people or are prepared to wait it out in the territory for around one year doing mostly unpaid work in the hanger or selling tickets for scenics and then you might get to do the flying side of things. Please let us know how you go on this forum as i have not found many Australian pilots use this forum. I wish we did . anyhow good luck and enjoy the flight training

I fly a 767 & dislike it. Always wanted to learn to fly choppers so I started some training. I looked at Mike Becker, Bluetounge & Chopperline in Caloundra. They were all good outfits but I ended up choosing Chopperline & they are great. Very professional but still relaxed. Go for it.

Austcopters at Archerfield run a tight ship & you'll get more than a "tick in the box" licence. ie: If you don't or won't make the grade you'll be told.

The best most experienced instuctor pilot in Australia by far?

Mike Becker "Becker Helicopters" Just ask him

Take all his heroics and capabilities with a grain of salt

You are better off with Chopper Line

Harsh considering my exploits so far.

I find it interesting in these competitive times about how companies will respond to enquiries. I have emailed 6-9 helo schools in Australia with a page long email stating my exact position (experience and financial)and asking for advice. I got one very very thourough responce (just happened to be from Mike Becker) and one weak (but beter than none) responce from a company in Perth. From the other emails I have recieved nothing.

Fair enough they probably get sick of enquiries all the time. What they don't realise is that I am in a lucky situation at the moment where I am earning lots and lots and lots of money and I plan on spending a very large quantity on helo training at the end of the year. So far Becker is winning hands down (obviously I wont base my decision on emails alone - but initial impressions count for a lot). Do they want my $40,000 grand or not - if they don't even have the time to send me an email I guess not!!!.

Stunty.......turns and walks away disapointed.

Stunty

Best you stick to ATC with your wad of money otherwise you will not be able to afford the beer hobby due to a lack of 'vouchers' once you become a 'Wobble Head'. On a more serious note; Good luck, your situation of poor return correspondence from flying schools and in the future, prospective employers will not improve wherever you go in the World. But perseverance will pay off.

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Flown Navy
Dug Army
Eaten Crabette

I'd like to stick to ATC only its bloody boring (already after only two years - and working @ an international airport!!) I want a new job and if takes a hard slog to get there then so be it - Ive got plenty of years left in me.

I'm a UK pilot who trained in the US in 95.I enquired to many schools worldwide and got a 100% response from the american schools.The US is booming in rotary aviation at the moment and if you can get a J1 Visa its the place to go.UK schools did not seem to be interested in my money NZ gave me a reasonable response and Blue Tongue also gave me some info.My own opinion is that you are in the position of power at the moment choose your school very wisely and give yourself the best opportunity to build hours after you get your licence.

More on Aus Heli Schools...
 

I have been researching the Aus training situ but I am not in a position to travel very far since I need to hold my current job to finance the bottomless pit!

I got a very good reference for Bankstown Helos from the Insurance Pool & pilots/associates I spoke to. Bill Miller certainly did impress me (equally his IPs who took me over the site) but the problem is really the choice available - I can only afford it if I train in Sydney.

Further discussion on training/making a start in Australia would be appreciated...

Especially this stuff about hanging out *unpaid* in the NT for a year or TWO(!?) before getting even a chance to drive a mustering heli?!!?? I would actually do this no problem if I though it would result in a job that would give 4-500hrs a year till I was able to command better prospects.

Especially in Aus, the bush lifestyle is one of the attractive aspects of the profession and "going bush" for a few years to consolidate experience/hours is really rather appealing to me, since I am well and truly ready to get shut of the big city for a bit.

alltorque :

I learnt at Bankstown Helicopters. I walked in there on the off chance, looking at prices. I felt so comfortable that I spend AU$12000 there almost at the drop of a hat.

I didn't do groundschool, so can't vouch for that, but the flying side was fine as far as I could tell, except for an almost guaranteed propensity for the flying programme to slip during the day, but then, where does it not ?

I looked at taking the plunge last year and did the rounds of most of the known flying schools. I found talking to the guys at Advanced Flight Theory in QLD to be very helpful. Good general info on what to expect after training etc etc.

Unfortunately I didn't take the plunge but the urge lingers. I'm still in Sydney so Bankstown seem to be the only ones. I'd be interested to know if you (Alltorque) went ahead with them, and if so, how you are finding it?

Cheers

I recently did a conversion course up in Brisbane. I have a Cdn license and moved here. I talked to quite a few ex-muster pilots, and they said that the best way to get a job flying a mustering machine, is to work on the ground at a cattle station. At least then you get paid and get to live in the bush. Quite a few of the mustering operators are suspicious about "city folk". I hope this helps you out. There is nothing more fun than flying a helicopter.

See you in the air !!!

Don't fly for free.

How much per hour for Jet Ranger?
 

How much is a reasonable rate to shell out per hour for a Jet Ranger / Long Ranger with instructor for endorsement purposes in Australia?
If it makes a difference for insurance purposes, I'm experienced on other turbine helo types but never flown the Bell 206.

Thanks.

bell 206 endorsements are anything from $650 to $850 per hour.
sydney can be cheap, s.e queensland average and further up the coast is usually a bit higher.
all in all not bad prices if you get to do more than a cross country and a couple of circuits.

Resettlement training?

Reasonable? Current ad hoc charter rates for 206 is $A1100 per hour in Melbourne, and approaching that in Sydney. Too many operators chasing too little work in Sydney, hence the rates vary, but you get what you pay for. Remember, there are only two tried and tested ways to save costs on helicopters...........

Mark Six, yep, that's it! Looking to make myself more employable and get to know a few people in the industry.
Being rotary and fixed wing trained, I'm also trying to get a feel for what may be the better way to jump.

I miss helo flying, but I'm led to believe that it'll be a fairly nomadic existence in the real world, which is something I'm trying to get away from after recent years of long attachments away from the family.

Perhaps instructing will provide some avenues; I enjoy it, but from what I read here and elsewhere, it appears to be viewed as something of a lowly-paid springboard to other jobs, which isn't really what I'm about these days.

Imabell, John Eacott, thanks for your replies.

While I'm on the subject, what about R22 and R44, same idea?

Helicopter Training Recommendations - Melbourne
 

I am looking to get a Rotary CPL and am hoping to get some recommendations for Melbourne schools and instructors - or any recommendations of who to steer clear of.
I am doing this as a pleasure pursuit only so the ability to get work with the school after training is not important.

Thanks.

Same reply that I give anyone who calls my office. Go for a FW licence via a reputable company, eg Pearson Aviation, since it's cheaper, easier, and gives you a basic airmanship without the aggravation of trying to control a helicopter. Then use the hours FW as a credit to your /H licence, and go to Professional Helicopter Services at Moorabbin, 9580 7433 for your helicopter training.

Austpilot - good advice from John Eacott re FW training first and then going to PHS for RW training. I trained with PHS and found the training and personalities as good as their name suggests.

Professional Helicopter Services at Moorabbin are the guys to go and see as they have a relatively large training fleet of robbies and do give, as the name implies, a Professional service. They also have theory classes running on site which can be started at any time. The instructors have plenty of patience and will explain everything in a common sense fashion.

employed 15yrs+ etc. thanks to PHS. :)

Personally I wouldn't go near PHS. Fairly expensive and from the people that I met there..fairly up them selves.
I had a better reception at The Helicopter Group next door. They also have very very experienced senior instructors.
Its funny how first impressions count and PHS to me was completely negative.
John Eacotts advise is very sensible and I also suggest the same.
All the best. :)

Maybe PHS saw your signature.

OOB,
Its just writing on a web page.....designed to evict that kind of response. :cool:
As for PHS.
Nothing personal, as I said; the first impression counts. When your looking to spend big bucks, someone sitting down discussing your situation over a coffee is a whole lot more indicative of what their attention to customer service and care is. Also shows that after your licence they may be interested in you for longer than it takes the ink to dry on your final check.
Aust Pilot asked for others experiences and that is mine...
Don't forget to fly safe now....

Forgot to add a ;) - no offence intended helibiggles!

Thank you for the advise.

I did fixed wing 10 years ago; CPL and MECIR at Peter Bini's - so aviation is not new; only rotary wing.

PHS seems to attract the most positive comments. Any particular instructors you would recommend?

If Brett's fit enough he's an very good instructor. Sam would be my choice, then Luke.