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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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
Robinson Helicopters R44 "Raven"
If you’re looking in to flight training, specifically helicopter flight training, you are likely no stranger to seeing some pretty substantial price tags. The question is, given the current economic state, how on earth do you come up with $75,000 or $80,000 dollars to pay for a professional helicopter training program?
In the past, before the current credit crisis, it was relatively easy to secure educational loans that would cover programs like helicopter flight training. Now, unfortunately, many financial institutions have all but stopped making these loans and the flight training industry is suffering a significant drop in students. The is made all the more worse in the rotary-wing industry by the higher costs associated with helicopter operations.
It’s not all doom and gloom. While the easiest programs may have gone the way of the Dodo, there are a number of options out there. Most notably, companies like Pilot Finance, Inc., have sprung up offering flight training specific loans. Their programs allow you to pay for your training with fixed monthly payments, but train as fast as you’d like. The only drawback is these loans won’t cover the costs of an entire professional program. Other options include personal and home equity loans, if you qualify, or even credit cards. The trouble is, in the current economic climate, the average program will require a combination of these, as none is likely to cover the entire costs.
If you’ve served in the US military, you have a number of other options available to you. For example, the GI bill will cover 60 percent of your training costs for ratings beyond your private pilot certificate. While that’s nothing to scoff at, you’re still on the hook for a tidy sum. Until this year, some veterans qualified for 100 percent funding under the Post 9/11 GI bill for training taken at colleges. An effort to expand this funding to include flight schools passed, unfortunately, this bill capped that funding at $10,000 per year for flight training.
When it comes to paying for your training, there are options, its just a matter of finding the ones that will work for you. The trouble with the current economic climate is that many entry level helicopter pilot jobs are hard to find despite looming shortages. The important takeaway here is that there is money out there, and while it may not cover all of your training, every little bit helps.
For more information on helicopter training and choosing the right school, check out our Helicopter Training Resource Center or find helicopter training near you.
A Guidance Helicopter Robinson R44 hovers over an Arizona landscape
On Monday, July 11, 2011, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was notified by a man in Tonopah, AZ, that he had just received a distressed phone text from his friend. The caller identified his friend as Gary Smith, 62, from Phoenix. The text received this past Saturday night read, “If you get this, it’s important you call Yavapai Search and Rescue. I’m stranded on Rd 14A about 8 miles from RD 269.” No other communication from Smith was received since Saturday. According to friends and family, Smith was delivering flowers in the Cave Creek area on Saturday morning shortly before he phoned a friend and said he was going to be late for his next appointment because he was lost on a dirt road. Smith’s friend initially phoned the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to report him missing based on the initial call.
MCSO crews could not locate Smith. YCSO gathered information from Smith’s cell phone carrier which placed Smith’s phone in an area 17 miles northwest of a cell tower in Strawberry, AZ. Smith was last seen driving a tan Ford Explorer. Smith requires a cane to walk.
When YCSO received the report on Monday, it had already been two days since the disappearance of Smith. The YCSO Forest Patrol supervisor immediately organized a Search and Rescue effort utilizing the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Response Team (YCSRT), Yavapai County Jeep Posse, Yavapai County Air Group, and a helicopter provided by Guidance Air, to focus on Forest Road 14A off of Forest Road 269. This is in the Bloody Basin area and the search effort was based on the text information initially provided to Smith’s friend. After extensive search operations, it became apparent that Smith was not in the location he had described.
Refocusing on the cell phone tracking information, SAR personnel were directed to search roads within a 17 mile radius of the cell tower in Strawberry. Utilizing four wheel drive vehicles, quads, and a Guidance helicopter, teams began saturating forest roads north of the Bloody
Basin and approximately 40 miles northeast of the previous search area. During the second operational period, SAR teams worked all night with four wheel drive vehicles and quads.
On the morning of July 12, 2011, at approximately 11:19 AM, a Guidance Helicopter crew, acting as YCSO volunteers, spotted Smith’s vehicle off of Forest Road 16A and was able to set down and hike over to the vehicle. Smith was found “barely alive” according to the pilots. An EMS Helicopter from Native Air was immediately launched and was able to get Smith within 20 minutes as DPS Ranger had an extended arrival time. Smith was treated on scene and transported to John C. Lincoln North Mountain hospital where he was reunited with family. Smith remains in ICU as of this morning. Further details as to his condition were not available. Deputies are attempting to determine factors related to Smith’s travel, timeline, and what may have caused him to lose his way.
Deputies believe Smith mistyped his location, road 14A instead of 16A, in the text to his friend. Fortunately, his cell phone GPS functioned properly and provided our SAR teams with coordinates and a search radius.
YCSO would like to thank the involvement of Guidance Helicopters who provided a critical lifesaving link to Smith. The Robinson R44 helicopter used in this search effort is the same model donated to YCSO and currently being refurbished for use in future YCSO search and rescue efforts.
A clarification from SAR personnel – Smith was found about 2 miles from where his vehicle was located by the helicopter. He was resting underneath an umbrella when located and very dehydrated. He apparently thought at the time, Phoenix was “right around the corner.” Smith remains in ICU in stable condition. Nearly 80 volunteers were involved in this search effort and we are very pleased Smith is expected to recover. dd
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Don't miss "Learn to Fly Day" at Logan Cache Airport, Logan, Utah, May 21st.
Aviation lovers of all ages will be able to experience the joy of flying, either in the air or in a simulator, for the second annual Learn to Fly Day at Mountain Ridge Helicopters, with Leading Edge Aviation on May 21.
Mountain Ridge Helicopters and Leading Edge Aviation have teamed up with the EAA to bring awareness and interest in flying and to encourage the aviation community to reach out to those with a passion for aviation and get them involved. The event will go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mountain Ridge Helicopters at the Logan Cache Airport.
Both flight schools will be giving presentations on Learning to Fly, free simulator flights, tours of the flight schools and giving people the opportunity to fly a helicopter or airplane for only $59! Other goodies include a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and mingling with pilots, flight instructors, industry professionals, and Mountain American Credit Union.
Other participating organizations include the Logan City Fire Department, Air Med, New Air Helicopters, Southwest, and the Logan Cache Airport Authority. Advanced reservations are required for the introductory flights.
“We want everyone who has ever been interested in becoming a pilot, either helicopter or fixed wing, to know that they can do it!” said Brett Reeder, the event’s organizer and an instructor at Mountain Ridge Helicopters. “Learning to fly is accessible and pilots are needed all over the world!”
The event is free to all ages although there may be age restrictions on the flight lessons. For more information, go to www.mountainridgeheli.com, facebook.com/mountainridgeheli or call (435) 752-3828 to make an introductory flight reservation.
For media inquiries…
Brett Reeder
fly@mountainridgeheli.com
Click here to learn more about Mountain Ridge Helicopters
Mountain Ridge Helicopters in Logan, Utah announced Friday the school has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to offer FAR Part 141 Certified Pilot Training. The helicopter school offers private, commercial and flight Instructor certification, all of which are now available under Part 141, a rigorous program in which a student’s instruction is regimented and structured to provide the most comprehensive training available.
According to a company press release, the school will hold a celebration on May 21st in conjunction with National Learn to Fly Day at their location at Logan/ Cache Airport in Logan, Utah. Introductory flights will be available for $59 and hands-on demonstrations will be offered to give attendees a “real world” feel of being a helicopter pilot. The school also will supply lunch to visitors.
According to the company website, “Mountain Ridge Helicopters was purchased in August of 2005 by Vaughn and Jean Carlston. The Carlstons have been business entrepreneurs for over 20 years in the Salt Lake Valley and are aviation enthusiasts. Vaughn built his first helicopter over 10 years ago. Purchasing the school became a way for the Carlstons to combine their business savvy with their passion for helicopters. They compiled a staff of professional aviators who have an ingrained desire to teach, innovative administrators who are financially knowledgeable and hands on in order to aid in the production of incredible pilots and a memorable flight instruction experience.”
Mountain Ridge Helicopters is also an authorized Robinson Service Center and a CATS testing facility.
Learn more about Mountain Ridge Helicopters flight training.
For more information please visit MountainRidgeHeli.com or call 435-752-3828
Robinson Helicopters R44 "Raven"
“We’re ready to bounce back,” declared the CEO of Robinson Helicopters in the wake of news that the company is recovering from two years of financial difficulty that included multiple layoffs. Robinson Helicopters, based at Zamperini Field in Torrance, California, is reporting noticeable market improvement following a few years of dwindling sales. Robinson is known for making helicopters used for television news, police departments and rescue and surveillance operations.
Robinson is now reporting having several orders on hand and plans to expand its factory and recently unveiled a new five-seat helicopter. Kurt Robinson, the company’s CEO, said that Robinson literally hit a tailspin along with the rest of economy. Robinson is attracting attention with its new helicopter and hopes to use that attention to promote the company.
The helicopter, dubbed R66, is the most technologically advanced vehicle the company has had among its products. The copter is able to fly at higher altitude and carry more passengers and cargo than previous models. Matt Zuccaro, head of a trade group called the Helicopter Association International, sees it as an opportunity for the company to grow.
The recession forced Robinson to cut back orders and reduce its staff. The company turned out nearly 900 helicopters at its peak in 2008, but 2010 that number had dropped dramatically to 162. The company’s payroll plunged from approximately 1,400 in 2008 to current levels of less than 1,000. Sales for the company dropped to $75 million in 2010, from $100 million the previous year.
The news comes as California’s unemployment rate continues to linger around 12 percent. Robinson has expanded the factory where its current two and four seat models are produced located at the end of Torrance Municipal Airport. Currently the space made available for the new R66 remains empty. The company has completed about 24 of the new helicopters and has orders for an additional 106 of them.
One of the reasons for the company’s success throughout its history has been an ability to offer its products cheaper than most competitors. For instance, the new R66 is priced at $800,000 in comparison to a $1.4 million price tag from the company’s closest competitor.
Some of the copters manufactured by Robinson end up in use at helicopter training facilities in the area. Helicopter schools are always looking for high quality, up-to-date equipment to purchase at reasonable prices. This has made Robinson an appealing company to that market as well.
Kurt Robinson, the son of the founder of the company, sees the attention generated from the new helicopter as an opportunity for the company to continue to grow.
Mountain Ridge Helicopters in Utah is now an approved CATS testing facility
Mountain Ridge Helicopters, a flight school in Logan, Utah announced its approval as a CATS testing facility today. Computer Assisted Testing Service (CATS) delivers computer-based examinations for Sponsors and Agencies involved in educational, licensing, or certification testing. Being the Cache Valley’s only public testing facility to offer FAA written exams, Mountain Ridge Helicopters provides students with a state-of-the-art facility and friendly staff to administer exams. Testing is available Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm with weekend and evening test appointments available.
According to a company press release, becoming a CATS testing facility is one of the first steps in a series of advancements that Mountain Ridge Helicopters reports it is making in efforts to continue to provide safe, comprehensive, affordable flight training.
To find out more about Mountain Ridge Helicopters, please see www.mountainridgeheli.com.
We’ve all seen aerial footage shot from helicopters before, but you may not have seen this ultra-cool new 360 degree interactive video technology. This new video, put together by northStudio.com for Nimmo Bay Helicopter Fishing and Wildlife Adventures showcases the technology’s ability to allow the user to control the camera during previously recorded flights. During the flight, if you see something interesting, you can “turn” the camera and watch the object of interest go by. Seeing is believing, so check out the video!
According to the northStudio.com website, “Fly in a Helicopter over Nimmo Bay and a 150 mile track of the Beautiful British Columbia Coastal Mainland. …Look up, down, and completely behind you by clicking and dragging on the video once it is playing.”
Related links:
Check out the video in its native habitat at Nimmo Bay Helicopter Fishing and Wildlife Adventures‘ website.
Learn more about the project at northStudio.com
Explore the possibility of flying the helicopter yourself… helicopter school listings
Upper Limit Aviation is now an ACCSC School of Distinction.
The Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges, which accredits education programs at private colleges and career schools, recently awarded Upper Limit Aviation status as a School of Distinction for its helicopter flight training program. The ACCSC award is presented “to recognize ACCSC-accredited institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to the expectations and rigors of accreditation as well as a commitment to delivering quality educational programs” says Michael McComis, Executive Director of ACCSC. The award was presented to Upper Limit Aviation in the fall at the 2010 Professional Development Conference Awards Ceremony.
Upper Limit Aviation, based at Salt Lake International Airport in Utah, operates a helicopter flight school. They offer both Part 141 and Part 61 helicopter flight training programs for ratings from Private to Instrument Flight Instructor. They have also partnered with Salt Lake Community College to offer students the option of enrolling in an Associate of Science Degree or Commercial Certificate of Completion in the Professional Pilot program. Additionally, they offer VA approved courses allowing up to 100% GI Bill benefit coverage for eligible students. According to Lois Reid, co-founder and school director, “It is our mission to create a solid program that is unlike anything in the flight training community.”
Upper Limit Aviation currently offers 13 Federal Aviation Regulation Part 141 approved flight training courses, which allows them to train international students and reduce the number of flight hours required for U.S. students. Additionally, Upper Limit operates a Part 135 on demand Air Carrier to perform various contracts including utility work, aerial surveys, and fire suppression.
For more information on Upper Limit Aviation please see our featured school page.
For more information on helicopter training and choosing the right school, check out our Helicopter Training Resource Center or find helicopter flight training near you.
http://www.helihub.com/2010/11/08/upper-limit-aviation-receives-accsc-school-of-distinction-award/
Find a GI-Bill School – Aviation Schools for U.S. Veterans
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