Where do I find a Schweizer school
 

in the US that are good and serious?

Anybody?

I know HAI in florida are mostly schweizers - never been there though so cant comment on their reputation. There is also group3avaition in Van Nuys (LA) but again I have never been taught by them.

I have however visited western helicopters in Rialto (calif) whilst on a photo shoot and spoke to the chief pilot and CFI. They both had an awful lot of experience each and seemed extremely knowledgeable. There outfit for training is quite small but they do alot of commercial work. Worth a phone call

Hope this helps

Schweizer maintains a list of schools on its website :

http://www.sacusa.com/1directory/states.asp?category=FS

I used it for job huunting :) and it's probably a bit out of date but worth a look.

As the other poster mentioned HAI are the biggest user of Schweizers in the USA.

BG

I can highly recommend HAI in Tittesville, Florida which is where I learnt to fly. I think they have just been bought by Bristows but speak to Sammantha there as she is very knowledgable and extremely helpful. (If you go to their website, they even have a free phone number to call them on).

Good luck.

HAI
 

Definitely recommend Tittusville. Flew into there last month while out hour-building in Florida to check the place out and was very impressed with the set-up. Will be going back there beginning of next year to do my JAA CPL.

Schweizer school
 

Tomlinson Aviation in Ormond Beach just north of Daytona in Florida teach using Schweizers. I started flying there while on vacation in US and thought they were great. Very friendly, and Neil Tomlinson is very experienced teacher of many types of helicopter. He has two (or three now) instructors who were extremely good, friendly and professional. The hangar and offices are well equiped, spotlessly clean and they are very safety minded. I would certainly recommend them. The website states they are opening up another site in I think North Carolina.

Blue Hill Helicopters.
Small school in New England but they plan to grow the business. Good bunch of lads there, ask for Steve.

HAI Definatley a top spot, especially if you are considering JAA qualifications. Speak to Sam and she'll sort you out.

R

From previous post....I'm guessing TT trainied at HAI and is now looking for a CFI postion in a schweizer school?

I think HAI Florida hires only their students, or am I wrong?

I dont think that is correct

HAI will defintely NOT hire someone they haven't trained

However, things may be different after they become Bristow Academy.

Try Civic Helicopters - very friendly outfit at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad (just north of San Diego). Much nicer part of the world IMHO.

http://www.civichelicopters.com/

91205 - Yes HAI/BAI do hire people that they do not train. I know two people who work there presently - where hired when I was working there a few months ago.

I would be careful of going over and receiving primary training while on holiday. This could land you in hot water. To receive primary training you first need to get TSA approval, which is a long drawn out process.

I have been to a number of schools, and personally think that if you want quality training HAI/BAI is the way to go. This is not to say that a small mom and pop shop is not as good.

TGZ

Lightning Boy and thecontroller: both is so right. I did not train at HAI - Florida but HAI - Oregon.
Yes I am looking for a CFI JOB - anybody wanna help a lost soul in the big helicopter world. Schweizer and R44 is where I have my houres. Have some on the R22 but nothing to brag about :-)

Good jobb LB and thecontroller :}

HAI - Oregon???

:ok:

Good luck mate, I would go to the schweizer web page and then start calling and visting all the schools that they list.