P.Loco Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hey people I need a little info about picking the right school and paths to take. Right now I live in Oregon and I have been thinking about going to flight school (Hillsboro Aviation) and earning my rotor wing certificate. I am at zero hours in anything related to flying by the way. The cost for helo school here is 75k to get to CFII. Now I am US citizen but my family lives in the Philippines and when I proposed flight school, my uncle told me that it would be cheaper to learn in the Philippines, with the same standards of learning it here (US) as in the Philippines- both countries are members of ICAO. The only problem is that they don't have many or if any flight schools that teach rotor-wing, they all seem solely fixed wing. 30k to earn CFII fixed wing (so much cheaper, but its fixed wing!) to give you an idea of living cost, it is around $40 USD for a month's rent at their dorms. * I have heard from other people in forums that earning your FW first then getting your RW is a cheaper way to go. I just want to know if this is economical/ possible and or desirable for learning and getting employed. I can always come back to the States and earn my RW I just don't want to pay full price and start from square 1 all over again. ps I love the Philippines so living there won't be a problem- for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1128 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 The biggest problem with doing Helicopter Add-on's is the fact that you will not have as much helicopter time. While it doesn't sound like much, very few flight schools will hire an instructor with less than 200 hours of helicopter time. Plus if you are talking about Robinsons, then 200 hours helicopter is the absolute minimum. And in today's economy you almost have to become a CFI to build time to move on to bigger and better things. Plus consider the fact that while some ideas from FW flying do transfer, other items will be considered negative transfer and may cause you problems. While the USA and the Philippines are ICAO countries, certification standards may be different, it would be worthwhile to discuss this with the FAA. The local FSDO is in Hillsboro and they have several Inspectors that are helicopter savvy and will talk straight with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Hughes Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Yeah, If you want to fly just helicopters mainly, then helicopter time is the way to go. It's all about helo PIC time. Also, $75K seems quite steep for 0 through CFII. Look at other schools in the area, and definitely look at California. I done my training 0 through CFII(201.5 hours) for $62,500, 2 years ago. But that I guess I paid about $6000 on rent, gas & electric during that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1128 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 (edited) Yeah, If you want to fly just helicopters mainly, then helicopter time is the way to go. It's all about helo PIC time. Also, $75K seems quite steep for 0 through CFII. Look at other schools in the area, and definitely look at California. I done my training 0 through CFII(201.5 hours) for $62,500, 2 years ago. But that I guess I paid about $6000 on rent, gas & electric during that time. Hillsboro Aviation is a foreign pilot training mill so their prices tend to be a little higher than some other places. They also do a backdoor increase by doing a fuel surcharge which makes them the same price or higher than Precision Helicopter (which is just over the hill in Newberg) or Sunset Helicopter in Aurora. Fuel prices are currently higher than they were 2 years ago so prices might be a little higher. But definitely look around at other schools. But get their rates in writing and compare apples to apples. Personally, I thought that training in Socal was a little expensive with a lot of foreign pilot training mills. I thought I received some good experience training in Oregon. Things like REAL confined areas, off airport landings, some mountainous experience. I would also consider schools in the Denver, Arizona and Las Vegas areas. The cost of living is normally less expensive there. Edited April 1, 2009 by rick1128 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelFire_91 Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I agree with Rick. I would take a look at some other schools in the area. Precision in Newburg has a great program, and not nearly as much as a pilot factory. (I have no affiliation with either, other then stopping in and talking with both). It is all about RW PIC time. I did all add-ons from fixed wing and now I'm severely limited to where I can teach at. With as many fixed wing hours as I have, I still can't find a helicopter CFI job since I don't have the Helicopter hours. It's not the only option though, and I commend you on trying to explorer alternative options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin DBC Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 I thought you said 30k for rotory wing CFI.... I'd move to Sudan for that price! J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1128 Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 I thought you said 30k for rotory wing CFI.... I'd move to Sudan for that price! J- I've been to Sudan, I wouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auto360 Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 I just returned from my R&R which I spent in the Philippines and when I was up in Angeles City I went out to the General Aviaition Airport near Clark Airbase. Anyway, I talked to the owner of Omni Aviation, Capt Ben, to find out about getting my private F/W there just for fun mostly. Anyway, he said that everything is transferable to the states and what not, although I would do my own research to verify that claim. Anyway, getting back to my point. To obtain a private F/W license it would have cost me $6300 American dollars or 307,050 Peso. I know that is pretty much the same cost as it is here in the states. In Tucson where I'm from it's even cheaper than that. So, if you did find a Helicopter school there I highly doubt it would be much cheaper. Now, living expenses would be far cheaper as I have found out. But you also have to think of this. You won't be able to do much networking if your all the way over there in the Philippines. Personally, I think there are too many drawbacks in training over there where it wouldn't be worth the money you could possibly save. Now, I'm not saying don't research the idea but I have my doubts.By the way, I had an absolute BLAST in the Philippines. I'd like to go back and spend 4 to 6 months if I could. Can't wait to go back!Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin DBC Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 I've been to Sudan, I wouldn't. You haven't seen my bank account, bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick1128 Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 You haven't seen my bank account, bud. The parts of Sudan I have been in, make Afghanistan look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin DBC Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 The parts of Sudan I have been in, make Afghanistan look good. Heh... Okay... Maybe if I could go from commercial through CFI for $20 I'd move to Sudan. J- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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