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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:16 pm 
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Below are a list of Operators providing training, each will have cost and course informaiton on their webpages. If I've missed any, please feel free to add. Hope that helps.

STL

Training Operators


Bighorn Helicopters http://www.bighornhelicopters.com

B.C. Helicopters http://www.bchelicopters.com

Canadian Helicopters http://www.canadianhelicopters.ca

Chinook Helicopters http://www.chinookhelicopters.com

E&B Helicopters http://www.ebhelicopters.com

Great Lakes Helicopters http://www.greatlakeshelicopter.ca

Great Slave Helicopters http://www.greatslaveheli.com

Heli College Canada http://www.heli-college.com

National Helicopters http://www.nationalhelicopters.com

Okanagan Mountain Helicopters http://www.nationalhelicopters.com

Rotorworks Inc http://www.rotorworks.com

TRK Helicopters Ltd. http://www.trkheli.com

Valley Helicopters http://www.valleyhelicopters.ca

Tech Helicopters http://www.techhelicopters.com/

Premier Helicopters http://www.premierhelicoptertraining.com/

WestPoint Helicopter Industry Services. http://www.westpointheli.com (Maintenance type courses)


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JeremyB
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:52 pm 
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Location: Victoria BC
Care to make a recommendation? If you don't want to publicly please PM me. I'm from BC and would love to fly here after training if possible, if that makes a difference on who i should train with.

Cheer,

Jeremy


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sky's the limit
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:45 am 
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Hey Jeremy,

The choice of Flt school has many factors, but I personaly was told to train in a Bell 47, or at least a HU 300, and avoid the R22. I took the Bell 47 route and was highly impressed with the machine and it's ability to show the student issues you'll encounter later on in the Bell 206. It flies like a loaded 206, and you'll most likely end up in a 206 at some point early in a career... etc etc etc.

The terrain and proximity to the Mtns is also a big factor, so the Abottsford/Chillewack/Fraser Valley schools have much to offer. Valley Heli, Chinook, and BC Helicopters - in no order. I have had experience with Craig Joiner who runs the school at Valley, and can HIGHLY recommend him, however you should meet whomever you plan to train with prior to starting. He worked very well for me, maybe not for you.

I know very little about the schools on the island, or in the Calgary area from firsthand experience, but as usual have heard good and bad. You'll have to ask someone else about them.

To me, the most important thing is to be shown a large number of "real-world" situations during the later stages in your training, and it will hold you in good stead later when you get into 206's, Astars, 212's and 500's.

Hope that helps, if you have any other Q's feel free to ask.

Good luck,

STL


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skycoupe
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:53 am 
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Heres my story :lol:
I have a whack of time on non-moving-winged machines.
It is my career .. not willing/wanting to change that.
After years of research and speculation, am buying a homebuilt swing wing .. it has been a goal of mine for many years.
Need a private Canadian H endorsement to fly it legally, and the training to fly it safely.
Now the pickle.
What do you fellows on this board think of this plan.
I can do a ground school here .. then go to the states . . and with the dollar the way it is .. get twice the bang for the buck .. hourly rates south of the border are near half of what they are here .. get all my training done down there .. come up here to a reputable school .. get signed off after a few flights .. do the ride .. and have a ticket .. for about half the money.
Am I half baked???


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:23 pm 
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Not sure if you're "half baked," but I would caution you against going to the States.

Reason being, if you only intend to do a PPL, you're going to need the best possible instruction, the U.S. is NOT the place to get it. They use low-timers as instructors there, like we do here in FW, if you only do 50hrs or whatever it is for a PPL, I'd highly recommend you getting the most experienced person you can to teach you.

Just my take.

stl


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skycoupe
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:40 pm 
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STL
Very good point.
But isnt it just as big a crap shoot here in Canada as it is south of the border?
When I got my FW ticket, I researched schools like crazy, made calls to the schools and solicited experience from previous students, made a rational and logical decision, and still ended up with substandard instruction.
I finally quit out of frustration, and accidentally fell into another school that was great, but never made it onto my radar in the first place .. by pure luck.
Just my experience so far with FTUs.

On a separate topic .. what is the opinion of this group, that fly certified machines, of the whole amateur built market? Are we just asking for trouble?

Thanx again


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:56 pm 
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Most schools in Canada hire very experienced industry pilots to be instructors, they can because they pay them very well. There's HUGE difference between flight training in Canada and the US on the RW side, if you'd like some more information I have two friends who were both Instructors down in the States and have subsequently been exposed to the Canadian side of things, they'd be more than happy to shed more light on the subject I'm sure.

As for the types of machines you're considering, I have no opinion because I've got no experience with them, but I'm sure somebody here will.

Good luck.

stl


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skycoupe
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:00 pm 
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Thanx STL
Received loud and clear. :prayer:
Will research FTUs in my neck of the woods.
A penny of prevention .....


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:28 pm 
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skycoupe wrote:
A penny of prevention .....



EXACTLY! Lol

If you have any specific questions once you start looking around, feel free to post them, or PM me and I'll be glad to help. If I don't know the answer, chances are somebody I work with will.

Good luck in your search.

stl


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thisbemylife
PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:10 am 
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I am a bit surprised to see no schools in the "North" posted here...I highly recommend Tech Helicopters and seeing as how most low timers will find their first job in the North - you can't beat the terrain where they are located


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:38 am 
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thisbemylife wrote:
I am a bit surprised to see no schools in the "North" posted here...I highly recommend Tech Helicopters and seeing as how most low timers will find their first job in the North - you can't beat the terrain where they are located



Just added them.

I originally posted the ones I knew of off the top of my head, as stated above, if there are others I've miss let me know and I'll post them.

Thanks,

stl


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avmg
PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:21 am 
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Hey STL, here is another link to a school that has been running out of Pitt Meadows for almost 2 years now, using Bell 47 G4's. The CFI is Rob Wood, and he is putting Jason Brown to work soon enough as well. I think both of these guys have a bit of industry experience, as well. By the way, I enjoy all the photos you post, makes this fixed wing guy want to change industries.. :prayer:


http://www.premierhelicoptertraining.com/


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:59 pm 
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Hi avmg,

I added the link, thank you. I know Rob, he's a good teacher and seems to be trying to do things a little bit differently from the other schools, heard good things. I'll have to drop by and say Hi to him next time I'm in that area.

I'm glad you like the photos, not much going on this time of year photography wise, but I'll try to get some good ones up once the year starts rolling along. Might be finding myself in some interesting locations this year.... keep you posted!

stl


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ragbagflyer
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:31 pm 
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I just looked at the price of training in Washington. It's unbelievable how much cheaper it is. I see the comments cautioning against training down there? What are the big differences and issues of training in the States? How is it they can offer an R22 at less than 200/hr solo? It sure is tempting, looking at being able to convert for around 12 grand. Obviously in a 60 hour conversion I'd like the best instruction possible, but at what cost?


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:47 pm 
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ragbagflyer wrote:
I just looked at the price of training in Washington. It's unbelievable how much cheaper it is. I see the comments cautioning against training down there? What are the big differences and issues of training in the States? How is it they can offer an R22 at less than 200/hr solo? It sure is tempting, looking at being able to convert for around 12 grand. Obviously in a 60 hour conversion I'd like the best instruction possible, but at what cost?



Initial flight training in the US is the same model we use here in FW. Ie, Low-timers doing the teaching.

I cannot stress highly enough the importance of having a very experienced pilot/teacher teaching you to fly helicopters, particularly if you want to work in Canada. It's not worth the savings to go down there for your training, they don't cover a fraction of the off airport stuff we do up here, mainly because the instructors don't know how to fly.

If you want to talk to someone who's done that route, instructed down there, and now flies in Canada, let me know and I'll put you in touch. Don't take my word for.

If you're going to convert, go ahead and do it, get the BEST training from the best instructor you can, and pay whatever it costs. It's worth it in every way.

Prior to leaving FW, I had no idea what it was like to learn from 10,000-20,000hr pilots - it's a different world, and in helicopters you want all the odds stacked in your favour.

stl


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ragbagflyer
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:53 pm 
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I actually would like to talk to somebody who went that route. No offence :)


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:13 pm 
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ragbagflyer wrote:
I actually would like to talk to somebody who went that route. No offence :)



I'll be seeing him tomorrow, so I'll ask if he wouldn't mind you getting in touch, that way you can get his perspective. He's a Brit, so there's no Nationalistic bias.... I'll PM you his email address.

Anyway, the training is night and day, just looking at the simple qualifications of those doing the teaching should be enough.


stl


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ragbagflyer
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:27 am 
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If only I could rent a machine from the states and pay a instructor from canada 100 bucks an hour to instruct! I could still save 200 dollars an hour!


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:29 am 
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ragbagflyer wrote:
If only I could rent a machine from the states and pay a instructor from canada 100 bucks an hour to instruct! I could still save 200 dollars an hour!



Quit being so cheap already..... :wink:


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ragbagflyer
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:36 am 
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Haha, says the man with the 11000 dollar camera. Funny cause I was just thinking to myself "stop being so cheap" but you beat me to it. I'm on a bit of a saving kick these days though.


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sky's the limit
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:00 am 
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ragbagflyer wrote:
Haha, says the man with the 11000 dollar camera. Funny cause I was just thinking to myself "stop being so cheap" but you beat me to it. I'm on a bit of a saving kick these days though.



Let me correct you.

"The man who HAD the $11,000 camera..."

Soon to have another however, insurance is actually coming through as advertised - imagine that.

stl


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r22captain
PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:50 am 
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I did my rotary conversion back in the day not long after I did my fixed wing license.

RW school's instructor's had an average of around 5000 hours. All had worked out in the field before teaching.

FW school instructor's were all graduates of same school who had immediatly done their instructor rating and starteed teaching.

Now it's not always being taught what TC/FAA sets as the requirments to hold a commercial that's important. 150 hour instructor or a 5000 hour instructor can bring you to that "standard". It's the 4850 hrs more experience that one will take knowledge from and pass on to the student.

They can both teach you how to shoot a confined. One will give you a dozen more tips and stories about how to come out alive. And you'll remember them when you're shooting a hole grossed out, no wind, and at +35.


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The Mole
PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:12 am 
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The difference between canadian and american flight training is huge. A mountain course in Utah, according to american instructor I worked with. They fly above a density altitude of 6000 and demonstrate the performance decrease of a Robinson. Thats it. He conceded, this was a complete joke. But was the standard done by most schools. I think that sums up most american training. Im sure there are exceptions. I hope. If you need more convincing just google Silver State Helicopters.


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Cat Driver
PostPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:56 am 
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Prior to leaving FW, I had no idea what it was like to learn from 10,000-20,000hr pilots - it's a different world, and in helicopters you want all the odds stacked in your favour.

stl


Read the above over and over because it is gospel.

I did my conversion to rotary wing when the time requirements were only 25 hours to convert from fixed to rotary, if it haden't been for the high time flight instructor I had I shudder to think of what would have happened once I went to work with such low time...as it was I fu.kin near killed myself a couple of times before I got enough time to be reasonably good at the things.....I was lucky in that my first job was traffic patrol in Detroit where I got my license....that gave me some easy flying time to sort it out after I got the license.


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Prince Rupert
PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:44 pm 
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Any opinions on the quality of heli training at GFT Aerospace Technologies in Newfoundland?

-pr


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