Best places to train

[sprial]

Hey i was just wondering if i could get a word of advice, I have a cpl, with a multi rating, and planning on doing my conversion to helicopter, but i am having trouble deciding where to go, there are quite a few helicopter flight traning schools out there and I tried doing some research myself and got no where with it, They all make themselves look so good and try to make you think that if you done youre training with them they would hire you as a pilot with them, It souds good but I dont think its just that easy. So if any body could give me some help with this i would greatly apperciate it.
thanks
SPRIAL

[standaside]

I would suggest arranging a time to meet the staff and instructors at the potential schools you are looking at and base your opinion on how well you get along with the instructor(s) and how the school is ran from your point of view.

[mattas350]

When it comes to schools and machines to train on, you will find as many opinions on the subject as the sky is blue, I trained in 22's and 44's and 206's on the Van Isle Coast, our resident rotor head (STL sky's the limit) trained on the lower mainland of BC on bell 47's and i'm sure one will come up with the S300. VISIT EACH SCHOOL IN PERSON this is A MUST to get a feel for the school, its instructors and their experience/background, and it's environment both in the school and in the flying environment, another good one is to train at a place where you can get hired after wards, their is much to be said on the subject like I said, if you search through this forum, STL has made some excellent posts on choosing training schools so do a search for those threads on here and then bob's your uncle (so to speak) if you have anymore questions feel free to ask one of us and we will do our best to answer, you will find heli's to be alot more challenging at first but it's great.

Best of luck,

Matt

[sprial]

hey thanks guys for your imformation, i really apereciate it. I been doing a bit of reasearch latley on a few companies and almost got my mind made up on going to Great Slave to do my training on a 206, its a bit expensive but it seems like a good chance to hook up a job afterwards. I was talking to the CFI on the phone and he seems like a good guy, but i guess you cant always go by that. I would really like to meet with him but i am a couple thousand miles away. So if anyone could give me some information on Great Slave I would apperciate it.


Thanks
sprial

[snoopy]

I did my conversion at Chinook Helicopters in Abbotsford BC, on the Bell 47. It is a busy, and thriving school and Cathy Press who owns the school runs a very good show there. When I was there, the instructors were all very experienced - definitely something you want to verify about whatever school you are considering. If you call there for information, chances are likely you will talk to Lynn, her mom, and you can ask her pretty much anything and I don't think she would steer you wrong. The school is incredibly busy so they must be doing something right.

There isn't much of a chance of hiring on with them since they are pretty much just a flight school, but the school is well-connected and has a good reputation. If you do well there chances are likely the networking they can provide will help you (no guarantees, but no b.s. either). I'll be going there for some turbine training in the fall - they offer a 206 as well. http://chinookhelicopters.com/

The line about choosing a school that hires from it's students can also be a trap, as someone once pointed out to me. If you train at a school known for hiring their students, and they don't hire you, a prospective employer might wonder about that. So, there is good and bad to each side of that argument - which maybe means it isn't as important as the sales pitch sounds.

The advice about visiting the school, and doing thorough homework is wise. You will be spending over $450/hr on the 47 and $1000+/hr on the 206 so unless you're dripping with cash, spend it wisely because it goes real fast when the blades are turning.

I did a lot of research, and am pleased with the choice I made - but what worked for me might not work for you. If you have specific questions about Chinook, pm me and I'll do my best to answer them.

Cheers,
Snoopy

[sky's the limit]

And who said Avcanada wasn't informative???

Snoopy, I had no idea you had your conversion done, when did you do that? Just for kicks, or thinking about flying in anger one day?

stl

[snoopy]

Ok.... that's a new one... "flying in anger?" What the heck is that?!!

2002 ...saving it for a rainy day... first I thought I'd get rich and famous in the Air Taxi business


Cheers,
Snoopy