Archive for the ‘School Updates’ Category

Utah Helicopter Adds New Instructor to Idaho Location

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Jake Clark is the newest team member at Utah Helicopter's Pocatello, Idaho location

Jake Clark hired as helicopter instructor

Utah Helicopter would like to announce that

JAKE CLARK

has been hired as a helicopter instructor at our Pocatello, Idaho location. Jake is a valuable asset to the Utah Helicopter Flight Academy team and we are glad to have him on board–this time as an instructor.

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

Wednesday, 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!

UND donates aviation training device to Bismarck Public Schools

Thursday, 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

U.S. Veterans – Aircraft Dispatcher Training Now Covered At Jeppesen

Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Jeppesen logo

Approved applicants may now be eligible to receive up to 100 percent coverage of tuition, housing, and FAA testing expenses for attending Jeppesen

U.S. military veterans interested in a new career in aviation may now be eligible for increased tuition and housing benefits through a new policy enacted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Approved applicants may now be eligible to receive up to 100 percent coverage of tuition, housing, and FAA testing expenses for attending Jeppesen Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Dispatcher Certification course training.  Veterans and dependents may receive tuition assistance through Veterans Affairs benefit programs such as the Post 9/11 VA Bill, Montgomery GI Bill and others.

Jeppesen, a unit of Boeing Flight Services and a global industry leader in navigation, operations, training and optimization solutions, offers training for numerous careers in the aviation industry.  FAA licensed dispatchers are equipped with a body of knowledge that is applicable to many aviation careers.  The dispatcher plays a critical role in maintaining aviation safety and efficiency, working in Airline Operations Control (AOC) centers worldwide.

Click here to contact Jeppesen for more details

Find a GI-Bill School – Aviation Schools for U.S. Veterans
More VA info – resources for veterans – articles, videos, links, and more

Source: Jeppesen

Washington State Gets New Helicopter School in January 2012

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Inland Helicopters Washington R22A 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

American Flyers Open House in Houston Area – Check It Out

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

American Flyers flight school HoustonThe American Flyers Flight School in Spring, Texas will be hosting an open house and lunch on Saturday, Dec. 3.

The free event is designed to bring those with a curiosity about flying small airplanes to the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport for tours and a presentation by a certificated flight instructor.

A training aircraft will be on display and guests are invited to tour the classrooms, flight line and flight simulators. And each guest that attends will be eligible to receive a certificate for two free hours of instruction in one of the flight simulators.

After the complimentary lunch, a flight instructor will conduct a free FAA WINGS seminar, covering cold-weather operations and considerations for any who are interested.

Lunch will be served at noon and American Flyers is located on the northeast side of the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport at 20803 Stuebner Airline Road, Hangar 32, in Spring.

For more information, call 281-655-4500 or visit www.americanflyers.net/about/aviation_seminars.asp.

Yavapai College / Guidance Helicopter Students Get Turbine Transition Course

Monday, November 21st, 2011
Guidance Aviation Helicopter Training Arizona

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

Spartan Deploys Full-Motion Flight Sim

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology logo

Spartan has been training professional pilots for more than 80 years

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology added a flight simulator to its curriculum almost a year ago and the new device has proven to be very successful. Redbird, the Advanced Aviation Training Device, has increased student learning and enhanced flight skills as a whole for students. The Redbird Advanced Aviation Training Device has many features including visuals that wrap around and a customizable cockpit that is fully enclosed.

The cockpit can be configured as a Cessna 172 aircraft with traditional gauges or as a 172 with the latest Garmin FMX1000 glass panel cockpit. Redbird’s simulator is a flexible training system and can also be outfitted to replicate a Piper Seminole twin-engine aircraft, the type Spartan uses for advanced pilot training.

Jeremy D. Gibson, CEO/President of Spartan College, has expressed his excitement over the Redbird, stating that it flies like a real airplane. To see further comments from Mr. Gibson, you can visit http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/474006

Instructors can use a laptop computer to simulate many types of aircraft and weather problems while the students are experimenting with the Redbird flight simulator. Students become so engrossed and involved in the movement of the simulator, they sometimes forget that it is actually a simulator!

Other training features of the Redbird Advanced Aviation Training Device include:

  • Portable instructor panel software
  • Training that is based on scenarios
  • Mission database that is user-customizable
  • Quick-change configurations for cockpit layout
  • Unique pilot key system
  • Complete airport and terrain databases
  • Maximum 40 degree roll, 50 degree pitch, and 60 degree yaw

Redbird Flight Simulations got started in 2006 with a goal to make simulators available to the  general aviation industry. Redbird delivers advanced, reliable, and high-quality training devices to colleges, universities, flight schools, and pilots all over the world.

Redbird has grown to be the most innovative simulator provider in the flight industry; Redbird has over 300 devices in service all over the world. One of the reasons that Redbird has been so successful is the fact that the price is affordable for colleges, universities, and others. Redbird provides high-quality service and support for its customers. Redbird Advanced Aviation Training Device is a simulator product on the leading edge and of the highest quality. For more information about Redbird, you can visit http://www.redbirdflightsimulations.com/?page_id=30.

Learn more about Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/474006

Want to Rent a Cirrus?

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (PRWEB) November 01, 2011

Pilot performing a pre-flight inspection of a Cirrus aircraft

Pilot performing a pre-flight inspection of a Cirrus aircraft

The leader in the Cirrus Aircraft Partner Network, Platinum Aviation adds yet another Cirrus Aircraft training and rental center to it’s growing network. The newest flight training facility is located at the Palm Beach, North County Airport (F45) adjacent to the Landmark Aviation FBO and will offer Cirrus Aircraft rentals, Cirrus transition training and flight training. Now residents of Palm Beach will have convenient access to the same high quality flight instruction and Cirrus Aircraft rental enjoyed at Platinum’s other facilities in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Platinum Aviation has created a unique type of flight training facility, very different from traditional “flight schools”. Platinum provides its clients access to late model, fully equipped, well maintained, high performance aircraft and training from the most experienced, professional Cirrus flight instructors, all in an upscale environment. Pilots that are checked out to fly Platinum’s Aircraft can access them at any of their three locations. Platinum’s customers use the aircraft for their business and personal travel needs avoiding all of the hassle and uncertainty associated with airline travel today.

Leaseback opportunities for Cirrus SR20, SR22 and SR22 turbo aircraft are available for those interested in participating in Platinum’s aircraft leaseback program. For additional information on leasebacks, contact Kevin McAndrews, Platinum’s Director of Sales at 954-202-5995.

Platinum Aviation Training is a Platinum Aviation Holdings company. Platinum Aviation Holdings is a South Florida based family of companies dedicated to serving the needs of the newest Technologically Advanced Aircraft market. Platinum was originally founded as a unique flight training facility to train those that only wanted to learn to fly the latest, best-equipped aircraft available and learn from flight instructors that were the best in the industry. That original concept has grown into a full service company that now includes flight training, aircraft rentals, aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales and an aviation related film and video production company with locations at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport, Miami’s Opa Locka Executive airports and now at Palm Beach’s North County Airport. For additional information, contact the company at 954-202-5995 or see its website, http://www.flyplatinum.com

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/cirrus-flight-training/platinum-aviation/prweb8924926.htm

Helicopter Pilots Find Two Missing Arizona Men

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

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