Helicopter Training Links

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sky's the limit
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by sky's the limit »

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
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by r22captain »

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
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by The Mole »

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
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Cat Driver »

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
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Prince Rupert »

Any opinions on the quality of heli training at GFT Aerospace Technologies in Newfoundland?

-pr
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asbs006
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US style teaching at Canadian rates.

Post by asbs006 »

You could probably take the lack of responses as an answer, but if that doesn't convince you, heres part of an article from "Helicopters Magazine." You can follow the link for the full article

Just remember, if you're training at GFT, you're probably flying with the lowest paid helicopter instructor in Canada. :evil:


http://www.helicoptersmagazine.com/content/view/78/59/

Meanwhile, at GFT Aerospace Technologies in Gander, Newfoundland, “I don’t use Canadian pilots as instructors,” says president and CEO Patrick White. Instead, he hires pilots from other countries to teach GFT’s students, with “Norway being an especially good source.”

The reason GFT looks abroad for teachers is not due to an anti-Canadian bias. In fact, White would be happy to hire Canadian pilots as instructors, but the Transport Canada requirement for them to have 250 hours of flying time makes it difficult for him to do so.

“If someone has accumulated 250 hours, then they must already have a job in the industry,” White explains. “Helicopter flight schools only take you to the 100-hour mark, so the only way to get the next 150 hours is to work for someone. There’s no other way to do it, because paying for flight time yourself is just too expensive. For us to attract a Canadian pilot with 250 hours’ experience, we have to convince them to acquire their instructor’s licences, then quit their current job to join us. We also have to pay them the same amount of money or more.”
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Shark-41
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Shark-41 »

Central Helicopter Training Academy.

St. Thomas Ontario.

THey do PPL, CPL, IFR, Instructor, Type on Bell 206, R44 and ASTAR.

HAve actually worked at GFT in previous years...
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Ground Thumper
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Ground Thumper »

Wow...I was getting information from them but after reading asbs's post I think I may pass. Seems it is more or less an admission that their school provides sub-standard training.

I just visited a school that uses R44's for training and no R22s. Any thoughts on eliminating time in R22s?

A general thanks to all those experienced people out there sharing their wisdom on this site. Much obliged!

-GT
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asbs006
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by asbs006 »

Ground Thumper,

I grabbed these prices off of a website from a school in Ontario. R22- $460 R44- $700 206- $950. Tax not included.

You asked about doing all of your training on a R44. Consider this;

100 hours on the R44 = $70,000.

or

60 hours on the R22 = $27,600
20 hours on the R44 = $14,000
20 hours on the 206 = $19,000
Total for 3 endors. = $60,600

Play around with the math... 80 on the 22 and 10 each on the 44 and 206 will only cost you $53,300

Tink about dat.
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cyrus2121
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by cyrus2121 »

Hey,

Does anyone know of any schools in Ontario, (preferably close to Toronto) that offers training on something other then R22?
According to one schools site I weigh to much to train on it.
This would be for a commercial licence with no fixed wing licence.
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asbs006
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by asbs006 »

cyrus2121 wrote:Hey,

Does anyone know of any schools in Ontario, (preferably close to Toronto) that offers training on something other then R22?
According to one schools site I weigh to much to train on it.
This would be for a commercial licence with no fixed wing licence.

I think most of them have R44's. Other than that option, you'll probably have to go to Essential Helicopters in North Bay. They're using 300's.
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Heliian
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Heliian »

If you're from canada and are going to fly in Canada then you would be better off doing your training in Canada. Not to mention that the published rate or 200$/hr is for solo time and may not include fuel either. now factor in travelling and accomodation costs and also the hassle of taking your shiny new helicopter licence from the states and having to do the canadian tests too.

As for building your own kit helicopter, you are insane, considering an R22 is actually certified, i imagine something that is homebuilt is even more poorly designed than the robinson products.

Cheers,

:)
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asbs006
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by asbs006 »

Heliian wrote: As for building your own kit helicopter, you are insane, considering an R22 is actually certified, i imagine something that is homebuilt is even more poorly designed than the robinson products.
:)

What exactly is so poor about Robinson designs? Enlighten me.
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Quad18star
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Quad18star »

Did Canadore College and Gateway Helicopters go their own seperate ways? I see Canadore's flight training program is now done by Essential Helicopters.

Or did Gateway change it's name to Essential? Subsidiary?
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asbs006
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by asbs006 »

Gateway went bankrupt.
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Ground Thumper
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Ground Thumper »

asbs006 wrote:Ground Thumper,

I grabbed these prices off of a website from a school in Ontario. R22- $460 R44- $700 206- $950. Tax not included.

You asked about doing all of your training on a R44. Consider this;

100 hours on the R44 = $70,000.

or

60 hours on the R22 = $27,600
20 hours on the R44 = $14,000
20 hours on the 206 = $19,000
Total for 3 endors. = $60,600

Play around with the math... 80 on the 22 and 10 each on the 44 and 206 will only cost you $53,300

Tink about dat.
Good point - very good point.
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Shark-41
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Shark-41 »

Just remember to make sure the school you might be going to is not charging extra.

The max weight pr seat in the R22 is 240 lbs, if the instructor weighs 200 lbs, the students max weight is going to be around 180, and you will have to be very cautious due to problems of running out of forward CG, and max gross weight, so all the schools that offer R-22 and R-44 will definitively be VERY picky about who gets to fly the R-22, and in this ever growing nation of ours...

So there ya have it.

Central Helicopter Training Academy in St. Thomas offers R-22 and R-44, Bell 206 at $450, $660 and $900 pr hour, with experienced staff.

Cheers
S41
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SamTHorn
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by SamTHorn »

Thanks so much for these links. That's exactly what I was looking for.

~ Sam
sky's the limit wrote: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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Last edited by SamTHorn on Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
asbs006
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by asbs006 »

Shark-41 wrote: The max weight pr seat in the R22 is 240 lbs, if the instructor weighs 200 lbs, the students max weight is going to be around 180, and you will have to be very cautious due to problems of running out of forward CG, and max gross weight, so all the schools that offer R-22 and R-44 will definitively be VERY picky about who gets to fly the R-22, and in this ever growing nation of ours...

So there ya have it.

Central Helicopter Training Academy in St. Thomas offers R-22...

Cheers
S41

What is the maximum student weight that you can accommodate in your R22 at Central HTA?
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Shark-41
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Re: Helicopter Training Links

Post by Shark-41 »

Sorry for delayed response,\

We can accomodate you up to 200 lbs.

Mostly due to the factors that were mentioned earlier. I know of other schools who will let you go with more, but you cannot always be sure that the 'math' is done correctly. IF anything should go pear shaped, there will be insurance issues if the C of G is out or if the weight is over the max.

The SEAT limit in the R22 is 240 lbs, INCLUDING the underseat storage, but the problem one runs into is that the forward center of gravity limit is reached when you burn off fuel.

check out the link at http://www.centralhelicoptertraining.com

As to a previous point, (WRT to GFT Aerospace in Gander).
Just because the instructors were not paid as much as others, don't mean that they were completely green... All of us had over a 1000 hours when we started there, so we knew what we were doing. We were just ignorant of the way of the REST of Canada, which we are obviously well versed in now. I have offered more than once to go back, but they were not interested in paying what I wanted, and that is ok. I actually enjoyed myself immensely while I was there, had a good time, the people were great, but obviously, once you have tasted the good stuff (cash-wise) you won't go THAT far down in pay, even if it is cheap to live in Newfoundland. If the owners would pay me what I want, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Moot point now tho, as they got rid of their helicopter...

Cheers
H.
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