Arizona Helicopter School Donates Helicopter to Sheriff’s Office

January 19th, 2012
Guidance Helicopter donated this R44

Yavapai County Sheriff's Robinson R44 helicopter donated by Guidance Aviation

Prescott, Arizona (January 19, 2012) – On Friday, January 20, 2012, at 4:00pm local time, Guidance Aviation will be presenting to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) the newly painted Robinson R44 helicopter which Guidance Aviation donated to the YCSO in October, 2010.  This event is a part of the Guidance Aviation BBQ taking place at 6418 MacCurdy Drive, Prescott, AZ. 86301, south ramp of the Prescott Airport in front of Guidance Aviation building.

Present at the event will be Sheriff Mascher, Sheriff Waugh (retired), Commander Russell, Lt. Newnum, Dwight Develyn (YCSO Media/Crime Prevention Coordinator), Board Members and other deputies of YCSO.  Guidance Aviation faculty, flight students and families will be present as well.  Helicopter and Airplane Rides will be provided by Guidance Aviation in addition to food and beverages being served at the event.  City officials and Media are invited.

Guidance Aviation is the first FAA Part 141 High Altitude Helicopter flight training facility in the U.S., specializing in helicopter and airplane flight training.  The Yavapai College
Professional Pilot Program, Helicopters, is VA Approved, Chapter 33 benefits for veteran helicopter flight training.

“I Want To Be A Professional Pilot” Photo – Video Contest, Win a GoPro!

January 18th, 2012

Go to our Facebook Page and enter the “I Want To Be A Professional Pilot” Photo – Video contest.   Upload your favorite aviation photo or video with the caption “why YOU want to become a professional pilot” to our Facebook page and you could WIN a new GoPro camera!

Utah Chief Pilot Takes Icy Plunge for Special Olympics

January 17th, 2012

mountain ridge helicopters logo

Help Mountain Ridge Helicopters raise $1,000 for the Special Olympics

Mountain Ridge Helicopters is helping to raise money for the Special Olympics by participating in the 2012 Polar Plunge!

Have you dreaded the stage checks! Have you lost sleep the night before because you knew you were going to be tested on your flying skills…well fret no more…it’s time for payback!

How would you like to see Chief Pilot Matt Smith plunge into some icy cold water!

Well he told us he would if we could raise money for the Special Olympics 2012 Polar Plunge. OUR GOAL IS $1000, I think we can do it!

Then join us Saturday January 21st to watch the big event!

We are accepting donations at the following website http://www.events.org/sponsorship.aspx?id=35357 or make a donation via paypal with email fly@mountainridgeheli.com.

Arizona Helicopter School Performs Search and Rescue

January 13th, 2012

Guidance Aviation Instructor Pilots Shannon Bowman (PIC) and Ben Lewis (Spotter) took off at approximately 0900 on Thursday, January 12, 2011 to search for a man who was low on fuel and lost while driving through mountainous terrain.  Heading south just west of Black Canyon City to the GPS coordinates that were provided to the Guidance Pilots by YCSO, the Guidance crew made contact with Sheriff Tom Frank (Frank51) and quickly located the jeep and driver.  The Guidance crew then began searching for a trail that the jeep could use to exit the area.

Arizona helicopter school search and rescue pilot

Shannon Bowman piloting the Guidance R44 in Search and Rescue

A trail for the jeep was quickly found by the Guidance helicopter crew and the jeep began to exit.  As the jeep did so, a driver and passenger of another vehicle with a flat tire were founding walking and the jeep was able to give those people a ride out of the mountainous terrain (a two for one!).

After about an hour on site, the Guidance crew departed from the scene.  As they did so, they viewed Frank51 making contact with the jeep and occupants, assisting them the rest of the way down the mountain.

Click here to learn more about Guidance Aviation.

How Aviation Training relates to iso9001 certification and Six Sigma Certification

January 7th, 2012

Take a look at many of the most successful companies around the globe and you will find that their leadership often follows Six Sigma strategies for process improvement and iso9001 for quality management. For professionals looking for leadership advancement in the airline industry, these certifications often go hand in hand and become part of the total package of what turns the skills and experience of a good leader into a highly sought after great leader. Whether you are a pilot in the military or in private industry, these two management tools are prevalent across a wide variety of companies.

Six Sigma in Aviation Management

Professionals with Six Sigma certification offer employers the competitive edge and best practice standardized skill set to address many of the challenges present in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. For leaders in aviation, Six Sigma training gives managers the collective language to create ongoing change within the organization that is responsive to data indicators collected from several divisions. Using data to drive goals and being able to make mid stream adjustments are two strengths of Six Sigma when it comes to reducing downtime, increasing client confidence, and driving up profitability. Six Sigma strategies improve the processes that drive business while at the same time allowing room for innovation. Airline professionals with Six Sigma training are widely sought after by private and governmental entities.

ISO 9001 in Aviation Management

Iso9001 complements Six Sigma strategies through providing a framework for overall quality management that is highly adaptable. Pilots and other airline leaders who have taken the time to gain certification through one of the nationally ranked and fully accredited programs offer employers a body of knowledge that has proven success across many global industries. Coupled with Six Sigma training, comprehensive leadership acumen increases the chances for rapid advancement in private and governmental aviation settings. Iso 9001 tools give professionals the vocabulary, skill set, and vision to implement ongoing quality management assessment and make adjustments necessary to gain and or retain competitive edge.

Industry Advantage

From Cessna to Boeing and from the United State military, to private contractors who supply services to governmental bodies, Six Sigma and iso9001 certification is part of the standard corporate practice that lead to success as an aviation manager. While many successful companies adapt these theories to fit corporate culture and goals, Six Sigma training and Iso9001 certification is part of the desired body of knowledge sought after by hiring professionals. Bolstering a professional airline resume with Six Sigma certification and iso9001 training are powerful investments that let current industry leaders know that you are willing to invest in the skills and knowledge necessary for long term professional growth. For more information on current Six Sigma applications in the airline industry see: http://www.sixsig.info/six-sigma/category/aviation.

Conclusion

Professionals in any field looking toward the future for long term growth and opportunity would be wise to invest in business process and quality management programs that offer a standardized body of knowledge that is recognized globally for applicability and quality. Six Sigma and iso9001 certification jump of the resume as perhaps the most sought after and ubiquitously accepted benchmark for leadership excellence across todayís global marketplace. For pilots looking to increase marketability across a wider range of opportunities, Six Sigma certification and iso9001 training offered through a highly ranked and fully accredited online program allows professionals to learn from industry leaders, network and gain professional mentoring, associate with a more elite group of peers, and appeal to a constantly evolving global business sector. Leaders who exhibit the tools to drive the evolution of an industry in tough economic times as well as in times of prosperity will always be in demand. Six Sigma and Iso9001 certification just might be the co-pilot your professional development needs to make sure the ups and downs of an aviation career has the resilience necessary to make all your corporate landings as smooth and successful as possible.

By Grant Webb with Villanova University’s online programs. Grant works with countless aviation professionals by directing them to the most appropriate Six Sigma Training and Six Sigma Certification programs.

New Helicopter Training Program For Veterans

December 28th, 2011
Mountain Ridge Helicopters logo

Students enrolling in the Flight Instructor Course at Mountain Ridge can receive Veterans benefits under either Chapter 30 or 33

Mountain Ridge Helicopters is pleased to announce that the VA has approved it’s Flight Instructor Course which after completion the pilot will be able to perform one of the most vital and influential roles in aviation, instructing others how to fly helicopters. Now, students enrolling in the Flight Instructor Course at Mountain Ridge can receive financial benefits under either Chapter 30 or 33. We are excited to continue working with our veterans and are committed to providing them, and all our students, with comprehensive and affordable training!

Mountain Ridge Helicopters is located in Northern Utah at the Logan-Cache Airport. MRH offers one on one training, Mountain flying and an excellent place to live. Contact Mountain Ridge Helicopters today to learn about the Helicopter Pilot Training Programs.

AMT Prep School Offers New Program

December 27th, 2011

Carolina AeronauticalCarolina Aeronautical of Simpsonville, North Carolina, one of the top aircraft mechanic schools in the country, recently announced the addition of a new course to its comprehensive educational programs. The new Aircraft Systems Familiarization course will offer students a hands-on introduction to the unique intricacies involved in cutting-edge electrical systems within the latest models of aircraft.

Taught by industry-leading instructors over a four-week period, this course is designed for those students who already have some experience in the field, whether in a military or civilian capacity and includes access to study materials, manuals, course software and the cost for taking the final exam.

A&P schools across the country are receiving a large upswing in demand for courses in recent years as a result of renewed interest within this competitive field. Thousands of students from around the U.S. and across the globe have received their training with Carolina Aeronautical and have since entered their chosen fields of study. And the school’s ability to produce highly-trained graduates has been recognized by the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association and the National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers, with whom they have professional training associations.

Those interested in learning more about the school’s exceptional new Aircraft Systems Familiarization course are asked to contact  Carolina Aeronautical school administrators as soon as possible in order to secure the place.

Crocodile Attacks Helicopter, Gets Free Ride

December 15th, 2011

I have no idea if this is a real photo or not, but it sure makes a good story! Enjoy!

crocodile attacks helicopter

A recent incident in the Northern Territory Australia

UND donates aviation training device to Bismarck Public Schools

December 15th, 2011

UND Donates Flight SimulatorThe University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences recently donated a Piper Seminole Flight Training Device (FTD) to Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy. The device is a simulator for learning about the operation of a twin-engine aircraft.

The Bismarck Public School district Career Academy Center is located on the campus of Bismarck State College. The Center enrolls 900 students annually from nine public and private high schools in the area. The Center provides students with quality education in career and technical programs including high-wage, high-demand technical training, academic integration and alignment with post-secondary education. About 90 students are currently attending aviation courses at the Career Academy.

“This device will help us train students in a realistic environment,” said Mike McHugh, a UND Aviation alum and Career Academy instructor. ” The FTD includes all functioning instruments and controls identical to the aircraft and comes with a realistic visual display system.”

“The simulator will fuel the passion of students using it,” said Bruce Smith, dean of the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. “High school programs like this are critical to our future. They give us an opportunity to get young men and women interested in aviation, and they give students the academic foundation they need to succeed in aviation in college.”

By Juan Miguel Pedraza
Writer/Editor, UND Office of University Relations
701-777-6571 office 701-740-1321 cell
Source: UND donates aviation training device

More info on UND Aviation Programs:

Flight Training
Helicopter Training
Air Traffic Controller Program
UAS Program

Helicopter Training Tip – Should You Get Your Rotorcraft Rating First?

December 14th, 2011

I ran across the short video today from Fort Wayne Helicopters and thought you may want to see it. It answers the old “should I get my fixed wing rating first?” question a lot of aspiring professional helicopter pilots always seem to ask… the answer?  Watch the video!

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