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!
Check out our Helicopter School Listings… over 500 schools!
A partnership between Big Bend Community College and Inland Helicopters of Spokane will provide opportunities for students to become helicopter pilots while earning an associates degree. The new helicopter pilot training program begins in January of 2012.
“This is another example of the type of public/private partnerships we must establish to create new programs in today’s economy,” said BBCC President Bill Bonaudi. The partnership opens a new range of careers for BBCC aviation students, including emergency medical services, power line patrol, tourism, law enforcement, fire fighting, logging, aerial photography, agriculture, border patrol, fish and wildlife counts, and news gathering.
“Students in the helicopter pilot program will be enrolled as BBCC students,” said BBCC Flight Instructor John Swedburg. Flight instruction and two helicopters will be provided by Inland Helicopters at Grant County International Airport. “Inland Helicopters will recruit for us, and they have Veteran’s Administration and federal financial aid funding options to help students,” Swedburg said. With Inland Helicopter providing the instructors and equipment, BBCC will provide instruction in ground school, meteorology, technical writing and math—the same classes taken by students enrolled in BBCC’s Commercial Pilot Program. Inland will develop some classroom instruction to “fill the gaps” pertinent to helicopters, said David Valenti of Inland Helicopters. “Aerodynamics and weight and balance are different for helicopters than for airplanes, for instance,” Valenti said.
Inland Helicopter uses Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters for primary training. The two-seat R22 gets most of the training time due to its lower operating and maintenance costs. The R44 has twice the useful load and faster cruising speed.
Students who complete the program can graduate with an Associate of Applied Science Degree and FAA certificates including Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor. “Big Bend was very receptive and enthusiastic in working with us,” Valenti said. “Their instructors measure their flight time experience in the thousands of hours, so they know what they are doing.”
Valenti said national statistics show an improving job market for helicopter pilots. Among helicopter pilots, 25 percent are over age 61, and 22 percent are between age 51 and 61. Upcoming retirements will create a shortage, he said.
BBCC has had a commercial pilot program since 1965. The program has 27 aircraft in its fleet and is the largest and most successful pilot training program in the Pacific Northwest.
For more information contact Inland Helicopters at (509) 534-9114 or Big Bend Community College at (509) 793-2004
Guidance Aviation Helicopter Training Arizona
On November 17, the new R66 Turbine (Jet) Helicopter program kicks off at Guidance Aviation, Prescott Municipal airport. The start of this program is being celebrated by Guidance Aviation staff, faculty and helicopter flight students in the Yavapai College – Guidance Aviation Professional Pilot Program – Helicopters.
John Stonecipher, CEO, Guidance Aviation states, “This is an important milestone not only for Yavapai College and Guidance Aviation, but also for Prescott and the State of Arizona. This Turbine Transition Program at Guidance Aviation is the very first turbine helicopter dedicated to a collegiate program in the state of Arizona.
Additionally, this jet powered helicopter is the type of aircraft that most students will be flying in industry once they graduate and begin their careers. The R66 helicopter’s Rolls Royce turbine power plant provides increased reserved power and improved altitude performance.
Yavapai College and Guidance Aviation are very proud to share this development with the community.”
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.
Learn more about Guidance Aviation Helicopter Training
Media Contact:
G Roginson
Guidance Aviation Marketing / PR
6565 Crystal Lane
Prescott, AZ. 86305
Tel: 928-443-9370
Email: guidancepr@gmail.com
Website: www.guidance.aero
Winner will receive a free 1/2 helicopter lesson
Whirlybird Helicopters and Lucky Duck Aviation invite you to the the 1st annual Dog Fight hot dog eating competition and fundraiser, Saturday November, 12th at 1pm at the Ogden Airport in Ogden, Utah. All entry fees will be donated to one of the two high schools you choose or both.
This is two competitions in one. Both competitions are held at the same time and you can compete in both if you qualify. This year we will have Ogden and Ben Lomond High Schools battling it out for the overall cash prize. The cash prize will be presented to the wining school.
The Second competition is the individual competition. Individuals will compete against the clock to see who can eat the most hot dogs in five minutes. The winner will win a free half hour instrcution flight or half hour tour for two. Along with the flight there will be several gift certifcates dontaed by our sponsors. Keep up to date on the donated prizes on our Facebook page.
Search and Rescue pilots Billy Ringer, Chief Instructor Pilot, Guidance Aviation, and Kenan Bahadir, Instructor Pilot, Guidance Aviation,
claimed another happy ending to a search and rescue when the Guidance helicopter flight crew found two men who were missing over night.
On October 18, 2011, Guidance Aviation was contacted by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Offices (YCSO) at 9:40am local time to conduct a search and rescue for two missing men.
The Guidance Aviation Search and Rescue Crew took off at 10:30am local time and traveled on a heading of 157 degrees for approximately 25 miles. By 10:45am, contact was made with the two missing men and the Guidance Aviation Search and Rescue Crew successfully dropped a survival bag near the men on the ground. The Guidance air crew then led the search and rescue ground crew to the location of the two men from the air.
Great job Billy Ringer and Kenan Bahadir of Guidance Aviation and YCSO!
Related Links:
Search and Rescue, April 2011
Search and Rescue, July 2011
US Military Veterans and flight students receiving their solo wings at the recent GA BBQ 2011
Curtis Marshall, Veteran, Sergeant, US Marines and Jason Martin, Veteran, Sergeant, US Army, have dream jobs working as professional helicopter pilots. These dream jobs have been created by the unique programs offered by Guidance Aviation and Yavapai College.
Marshall is a helicopter instructor pilot and Martin an instrument rated helicopter pilot working on his commercial rating. Both head up student services at Guidance Aviation, providing assistance to fellow veterans who want to use their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to become professional helicopter pilots.
Marshall is an ideal case study for veterans looking to become professional pilots using their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. He relocated from Boston to Prescott, Arizona where he used his Post 9/11 benefits at Guidance Aviation and acquired his flight instructor rating. Upon graduating, Guidance Aviation hired Marshall not only as a flight instructor, but also as Manager of Student Services.
“It’s a dream job and I am perfectly suited for it. I can realize my dream of flight and I am also provided the opportunity to assist my fellow veterans with the daunting task of addressing all the concerns, questions and of course, paperwork associated with leveraging your GI benefits for flight training. Having already accomplished this goal, it makes it a lot easier for me to assist other veterans coming into the program,” states Marshall.
Marshall’s cohort in the student services program at Guidance Aviation is Jason Martin. Martin spent 4.5 years in the US Army with over 30 months spent in Iraq as a combat engineer.
“Once this program became available, I realized it was a once in lifetime opportunity, something no other veterans have been offered before us,” states Martin. “I had been trying to fly in the military for so long but the selection process to fly for the military is lengthy and difficult. The Post 9/11 GI Bill allows me to start flying now. I am now an instrument rated pilot working on my commercial certificate. Best of all, working in student services allows me to get the word out to other vets that want to fly.”
If you are currently serving in the military, or a veteran, and you are looking to use your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits for flight training, contact Curtis or Jason at Guidance Aviation
Informative links:
Guidance Helicopters: http://www.guidancehelicopters.com/
Guidance Aviation: http://www.guidance.aero/
Veteran info: http://www.guidancehelicopters.com/veteran.html
Find a GI-Bill School – Aviation Schools for U.S. Veterans
More VA info – resources for veterans – articles, videos, links, and more
Related links:
Post 9/11 Grandfather Clause “Update”:
http://guidanceaviation.blogspot.com/2011/06/veterans-help-other-veterans-use-post.html
Post 9/11 Grandfather Clause:
http://guidanceaviation.blogspot.com/2011/05/post-911-flight-training-grandfather.html
Guidance Helicopters - pilot training in Arizona
Prescott, Arizona – On August 17, 2011, the Guidance Academy Scholarship was established by Guidance Aviation of Prescott, Arizona to provide financial assistance to students in need who are enrolled in the Yavapai College Professional Pilot Program pursuing their Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Professional Pilot – Helicopters.
Guidance Aviation is donating $11,000 in the month of August 2011 to Yavapai College Foundation to kick off the fund and plans to donate at least $15,000 per semester which totals at least $45,000 per year.
The scholarship was created by Guidance Aviation’s CEO John Stonecipher, working with Mr. Steven Walker, Director of the Yavapai College Foundation and Mr. Paul Kirchgrabber, Director of Development, Yavapai College Foundation.
On August 26, 2011, the establishment of the Guidance Academy Scholarship will be announced officially at the Guidance Aviation Student Recognition BBQ at the Guidance Aviation flight training facility at the Prescott airport (PRC). In attendance will be Dr. Penelope Wills, President, Yavapai College. Guidance Aviation’s CEO, John Stonecipher, will be presenting an $11,000 check to Dr. Wills at the ceremony.
Learn more about Guidance Aviation, a career placement academy specializing in high altitude flight training in both helicopters and airplanes.
Helicentre Aviation has gained CAA approval to deliver Helicopter Flight Instructor Refresher Seminars at their FTO (Flight Training Organisation) base at Leicester Airport, United Kingdom. The first seminar which took place in July was a huge success, and further dates have been set with the next course scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th October.
The seminars are the first of their kind to be aimed solely at helicopter instructors, and will be offered several times a year giving increased flexibility to helicopter FI’s. “Many of the instructors we speak to who have attended seminars have found that they were primarily for fixed wing instructors with only a small element relating directly to rotary wing” says Helicentre’s Managing Director and Chief Flying Instructor, Sarah Bowen. “Our seminar has been designed by helicopter instructors solely for helicopter instructors, presented by Captain Geoff Day and speakers who are actively involved in the helicopter industry – even the Aeromedical Examiner presenting on Human Factors is a current helicopter pilot.”
Comments from delegates attending the initial seminar were universally favorable, and amongst the feedback received was “first class”, “highly relevant for rotary instructors”, “informative and enjoyable”. The next seminar will be running on a weekend with more dates penciled in for 2012. Bookings can be made over the phone on 0116 259 0186 or via the website www.flyheli.co.uk.
Learn more about becoming a helicopter pilot.
ApexHeli Oregon, Inc. announced the opening if its long line and vertical reference training program. The comprehensive program is designed for commercial helicopter pilots with the end result being an FAR Part 133 endorsement.
According to an ApexHeli press release, the course is not just a simple introduction to long line and vertical reference it is course built to provide pilots the experience needed to earn a position flying external loads.
The course is instructed by industry professionals that have thousands of hours conducting external load and long-line work and still work in the industry. For many commercial pilots gaining long-line proficiency, actual experience can be the difference in getting job offer or not.
The course includes work with a variety of different load combinations and work with line lengths of between 25 and 200 feet in both steel and nylon.
Click here to learn more about Apex Helicopters and to contact the school for more information.
