What would you recommend?
 

A wealthy friend of mine wishes to learn to fly and buy a helicopter.

He lives in Bakewell in the Derbyshire Peak District and works in Chesterfield.

He would like to learn locally but would consider an intensive overseas course.

He has asked my advice but as a fixed wing pilot I do not have the relevant knowledge/contacts although I know there are not many airfields close by.

Any suggestions on training options and helicopter choice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

If it flies, sails or .........

good finish,

Standby to receive ........ You have hit the font of all knowledge on this site :E

The first question is
 

What will the aircraft be used for?

If you are referring to moi Griffo then I am flattered. However, never having owned a helicopter I cannot possibly advise this good gentleman. I do, however, own a largish boat and although it gives me a great deal of pleasure I could possibly have rented one of Ambamovich's vessels for a week for equivalent annual expenditure - along with his serving wenches. :hmm:

"would consider an intensive overseas course"

'tis my personal preferred route (intensive)...and no need to go overseas (apart from Wx perhaps) Dennis K will knock your pal's ppl(h) out quicksmart over here :ok:

by all means go for the intensive course, but there is a lot to be said for doing the second half of the course, at least, in the UK to get to grips with the weather that you'll be flying in. Not so realistic to do all your nav-exes in sunny California then come home to the real world!

As for what machine to get - how rich is he? Are we talking piston or turbine here? Second hand or new? My vote would be take the time (and pay an expert) to find a good second hand jet-ranger.

Best of luck to your friend
OH

The way it's been raining up there during "the drought", just loan him the boat.. ;)

To fly to work?? No doubt he's had to find some excuse for his other half for having the aircraft......

But apart from "flying to work" what does he really want to do with it?

Seriously, though. It's only 9 nm from Bakewell to Chesterfield. I know the A619 can be a slow road at busy times but by the time he's got the helicopter out of bed, warmed it up, flown over, landed, put it to bed, he'd be quicker driving. Not to mention the days when the clouds are sitting on the hills by Cutthorpe...

Where in Bakewell and Chesterfield would he be expecting to land? Congested area Rule 5 permissions, single engine restrictions, etc all need to be in the melting pot.

Where did 'flying to work' come from?

There are plenty of helicopters around Bakewell already - its probably about keeping up with the Jones'.

On a busy day you can see them formating down the Wye...

It was the comment about where he lived and where he worked what made me do it, Sorry Guv.

Society is to blame.:oh:

wants to use it for UK business trips, visitng family in Wales and picking up kids from schools at various locations - not commuting - he has a McClaren for that!
would it be normal to gain experience first on a piston before jumping straight into a jet ranger?

if he's got the money and plans on buying a turbine in the longer term then it would make sense to go straight to the turbine and train on that.

I would recommend that your friend gets in touch with Whirlybird and muffin. They both live locally and one is an FI(H) (Whirlybird) whilst the other is a PPL(H) and aircraft owner (muffin).

And yes, if the intention is to buy a turbine, then it makes sense to learn on a turbine. An EC120 shouldn't be ignored, if this is the case.

I knew a guy, bought a heli, learned to fly it and then decided it was not for him. He subsequently sold the heli (which he had painted in his business colours) for a considerable loss . .

I would recommend getting at least 20hrs training before buying a heli. . and all the training in the UK

BTW How old is this guy?

Start training in an R22 (if you can fly that, you can fly etc etc) for 30ish hours, say until first solo, then go to an R44 or JetRanger (the latter being my personal choice). That way, you do learn a lot in the R22 about how helicopters work and whether the whole thing is for you, qualify in the aircraft that you will eventually own, no need for conversion course etc.

If he runs a MP4-12C he will require a 500d\e if not a 540 :E sure Miz T would oblige
AH helicopters would give a high intensity course I am sure complete with the 500 conversion

Self chauffeuring is about as dangerous as being one'w own legal counsel in a criminal proceeding.

My advice is to have him decide whether he wants to be Helicopter Pilot or Businessman.....and if he wishes to keep his finger in the business...just do the helicopter flying as a hobby.

The risk of business decisions over-riding flying decisions is just too great for most folks to cope with. It is a very rare individual that can compartmentalize to the degree needed when the weather turns bad, a maintenance issue arises, or one just must be there at a certain time and place.

Otherwise....do his training....get the license....find the helicopter and buy what he wants. If he wants the Jet Ranger....take his lessons in one...do the license in one....and then buy one.

No sense exposing himself to a Robbie needlessly.

As was said above "if you can fly an R22 etc etc........."
Seriously, it does make you understand weight and available power very quickly.

If you PM me I will give you contact details for other Bakewell based owners.

An Ec 135 is the latest to arrive in Bakwell may take some keeping up with ?

For GF
 

If your colleague could be available for say two or three weeks and on a fairly continuous basis please PM me. Am fairly experienced training on Sikorsky 300, Enstrom 280 and 480 series, Bell Jetranger and MD 500 series and available late June or most of July. Having sold a little over 300 aircraft am sales experienced and happy to give unbiased type operating costs and purchasing advice. Kind regards. Dennis K.