Searching for a CFI-H
 

I am a fixed wing pilot (PPL-IFR, 1000hrs) and want to obtain a PPL-H anywhere in the continental US. I am not opposed to schools but would prefer to contract a CFI-H and rent a helicopter for daily instruction until I am ready to take the check ride. Any suggestions where to start looking for one?

Hmm, hard to rent a helicopter (as a rated helicopter pilot) without first doing a checkout flight with an instructor. Plus the places that rent are schools, so I doubt they'd rent a chopper to you, for you to use with an outside CFI?

For just a PPL I'd try Helicopter Academy (Boatpix) as they have choppers all over the States and say they will often come to you.

Hi Rokami,
I am a professional fixed wing pilot who did a PPL-H add on last year. After 10k hours and 20yrs of safe flying, I was highly concerned about safety as the training accident rate is quite high. One of the problems is low time CFIs, the other problems are spotty maintenance and aircraft that receive rough handling during training. A helicopter that has either an engine or rotor overspeed event and does go through the appropriate "return to service inspections" is an accident waiting to happen, only the apparent cause will be unrelatable to the underlying mechanical deficiency and will likely be recorded as pilot error. This more common than people realize, read the NTSB database on R44/R22 and you will see what I mean.
As for recommendations I can make a few...are you willing to travel to California? Fabulous weather and scenery to enjoy while training. What helicopter do you want to train in? I found it beneficial to train in the model I was going to fly in after certifying.

As far as PPRuNe posts go, that was a pretty good one.

And quite frankly, I find it totally bazaar that you can even privately rent a helicopter and hire a CFI and do training in it, with credit towards a license, without operational oversight from a flying training organization and Chief Flight Instructor.

Just like you can in your own back yard?

Look up what you actually need a 141 Cert for -

Private pilot training isn't included yet assessment for issue of a private licence is.

Seems pretty normal to me.

> I am not opposed to schools but would prefer to contract a CFI-H and rent a helicopter for daily instruction

As someone said, it's unlikely you'll be able to rent a heli from one outfit and a CFI-H elsewhere. But I'd assume what you really mean is you don't want to go to a Part 141 school with a fixed curriculum etc. There are lots of places where you can get dual with a CFI-H in a heli they are associated with - that's how I did my PPL-H add-on. There are also Part 141 schools which are also happy to train you on that basis as well (I fly with one).

There are literally hundreds of places in the US where you can do this, so you should decide where you'd like to go - somewhere with predictably good weather obviously - and then try and get recommendations.

Make sure you don't fall foul of TSA rules and regulations. The good old days of coming to the US on a 'visitor visa' and completing a pilot certificate are long gone.
Flight schools have to spend a bunch of time making sure they are in compliance, a private instructor (such as myself) does not hold the authorization to issue visas for flight training.

If you have a foreign address on your pilot certificate the TSA will cross reference it against your immigration history and if they find that you trained 'under the radar' then you may find yourself in hot water. This may take years for them to do, but this informatuin came from a TSA agent doing an audit on a flight school I used to be associated with.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!:O

It looks like it is easier to rent a fixed wing for instruction than a helicopter. Might as well buy a Schweizer 300 for training. I have found one which seems to fit my mission and will get a mechanic for a pre-purchase check. Does anybody know if all Schweizer 300 can be flown as three-seaters? (I really need to load two pax eventually)

Good you mentioned it. I did my TSA check out already years ago and hold an FAA-license for over 10 years. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, I will look into this. There are interpretations saying that for a fixed wing pilot, the H-addon is considered to be of a recreational character as much as time building or getting an IFR-rating. So no need to get a student visa following that argumentation.

Absolutely willing to travel to California! I am looking into a Schweizer 300 for training and also it will be the machine I will be flying later.

What´s so bizarre about it? No matter which way you go, you have to take the same tests and checkrides.

Hard to imagine a third person squeezing in between?

That's a CBi. A 300C is left seat PIC and can fit 3 across. However it is somewhat of a squeeze,even if you're normal sized.

So the cabin isn't any wider in a "C" model,...?

So CBI has a center console while the CB or C hasn´t?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmf...143a16440a.jpg