Leading Edge Aviation

[crashed_05]

I've been looking for a school to start my helicopter training this fall. I want a school that I can get an associates degree in Aviation Science as well. I narrowed it down to COCC and Leading Edge Aviation in Bend, OR. Sounds like a great school with a one-on-one atmosphere, and I received satisfactory answers to my questions I asked them. Does anyone here have any experience with this school? Please share your thoughts if you do.

[adam32]

I don't know anything about their school part, but I have talked with their sales division and they were very professional and helpful...

[gregoire28]

I did my training with Leading Edge and couldn't say enough good things about them. They are honest business people, and provide quality instruction. Other good things to think about: they offer VA benefits (ie, more potential students for you to teach even if you're not a vet), they are aligned with a college (again, more potential students for you to teach even if you're not a vet), altitude training, Satellite location in Salem (good for night flying, as you can make it in to PDX pretty quickly), plenty of aircraft/instructors, etc.

 

I finished training in March, and was hired on the same day. what more could you ask for..

 

feel free to give me a call for specifics~

 

Greg

508-468-1070

[crashed_05]

Greg, I do believe I spoke with you over the phone not long ago. Thanks again for all the information. I chose Leading Edge and COCC because of the post 9/11 gi bill covering the flight training costs. I got in contact with the aviation coordinator at the college who cleared up some more questions I had concerning the VA and the curriculum at cocc. It looks like I'll definitely be heading out there this fall. I just wanted to get some feedback from others who were associated with the school.

[rjl2001]

So did COCC say they'll start the new Post 9/11 Gi Bill program this fall? I'm in the same boat as you it sounds like, but I've been trying to decide between Portland Community College and Hillsboro or COCC and Leading Edge. From everyone I've talked with I haven't heard anything bad about either place. And Greg I'm pretty sure I talked to you over the phone a few months ago too, sounds like it's still going well. crashed, where are you from? what time frame do you think you're moving out there?

 

From looking online I've read that Oregon's economy isn't that great, and jobs are really hard to find. Also, someone said that COCC's classes are really overfull right now. I'm not excited about the cold weather, but I have heard summer time is really nice. And I think someone told me in Oregon you can get in-state tuition as long as you have an address there.

[Goldy]

I don't know anything about their school part, but I have talked with their sales division and they were very professional and helpful...

 

Ditto on that....talk to Pete if you want to buy a ship.

 

 

Goldy

[crashed_05]

So did COCC say they'll start the new Post 9/11 Gi Bill program this fall? I'm in the same boat as you it sounds like, but I've been trying to decide between Portland Community College and Hillsboro or COCC and Leading Edge. From everyone I've talked with I haven't heard anything bad about either place. And Greg I'm pretty sure I talked to you over the phone a few months ago too, sounds like it's still going well. crashed, where are you from? what time frame do you think you're moving out there?

 

From looking online I've read that Oregon's economy isn't that great, and jobs are really hard to find. Also, someone said that COCC's classes are really overfull right now. I'm not excited about the cold weather, but I have heard summer time is really nice. And I think someone told me in Oregon you can get in-state tuition as long as you have an address there.

 

Yes. COCC will be accepting the Post 9/11 GI Bill this fall and it will cover flight training as well. I spoke with John Miller, the aviation coordinator at the college, who says the Ch.33 benefits will cover the full cost of the program, but in some cases a student may need to pay a little out of pocket if they need a bit more instruction to become proficient. I was looking into PCC and Hillsboro also before I found COCC, but it doesn't look like they're going to be approved by the VA for the new gi bill by this fall (but they are working on it). From what I hear, Hillsboro is a large school with lots of students...I prefer the smaller atmosphere. The only thing I really liked more about Hillsboro is the diverse airspace in the area.

 

I'm in Pittsburgh right now working on my airplane PPL. Should have it by the end of the month. I'd like to move out that way around late July/early August. I don't know anything about the economy out there or about the classes being filled. As far as the winter, I hear its very mild. In-state or out-of-state tuition won't matter with the GI Bill on our side.

[mrjibbs]

i trained and worked there, feel free to pm me with any questions you might have.

[gregoire28]

hey crashed,

 

I remember speaking with you (once you mentioned being from Pittsburg). Glad to hear you're coming out this way. Send me an email (gregoire28@gmail.com) if you want me to send you a list of current students/instructors that you could get in touch with for other opinions. We have a satellite school in Salem where you can do some of your training in busier airspace if you're interested. It's a busy Delta with PDX charlie about 40NM away. i'm heading over there tomorrow night with a student to do some night flying (SLE-PDX-downtown helipad-SLE).

 

As for winters, Bend is pretty mild (compared to New England), but it's still winter. The sun is usually shining though, so it never feels too bad.

 

The cost of living (ie rent) in Bend is pretty reasonable, although I don't have much insight on what the job market is like outside of aviation. Take a look at craigslist for an idea of rent prices, and there'll probably be job listings on their too.

[crashed_05]

Thanks guys. I've heard nothing but good things about LEA thus far. Bend sounds like a great place to live also. Looks like my biggest dilemma is going to be finding a job out there.

[crashed_05]

rjl2001, I replied to your PM, but I don't know if it went through.

[turbotay]

you might want to look at Hillsboro again I just went to the PCC orientation last week and they've just started a new program with Hillsboro where you make all your payments to PCC and PCC pays Hillsboro for the flight costs. PCC takes care of your ground training where you only have to do flight at Hillsboro and whats good about it is that if all payments are going to PCC then they are eligible for financial aide from the school or student loans

[turbotay]

and also if you complete the entire PCC program you only need a few more credits and you can get an ERAU degree

[crashed_05]

Only a few more credits for an ERAU degree? I'll have to ask COCC about that. I kinda have my mind set on them and LEA. Has PCC and Hillsboro been given a green light for the post 9/11 gi bill?

 

Thanks for the info.

[turbotay]

yeah like for me I only need 16 more credits after PCC and I got it, the number may vary but it should be around there, as far as GI Bill goes........yes! I just looked it up they are accepting aplications for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill heres a link:

 

http://www.pcc.edu/resources/tuition-fees/...d/veterans.html

 

its really something to look at the guy who runs it is Larry Altree hes pretty squared away and knowledgeable. One of the classes he went over in detail was the flight lab and basically its Friday for 3 hours and for the first hour you and your group talk about maneuvers you did during the week and if your having trouble with say autorotation the group goes over and practices the procedure so it helps you study and you homework is to go flying lol. I highly suggest calling and asking when the next class orientation is its a pretty sweet deal and worth a look at, you can find his number and class information here, good luck!

 

http://www.pcc.edu/programs/aviation-science/

[turbotay]

my bad its not 16 credits its about 13 classes so its about a year of extra classes after completing the program at PCC will you be able to get the ERAU degree

[crashed_05]

ok, that sounds more realistic for the ERAU degree.

[adwr070621]

ok so your telling me that hillsboro and leadin edge both accept the post gi bill and have twisted it so ALL training is completely covered by the gi bill? including flight costs, tuition, ground school, everything? minus the ppl of course. if so this is great news to hear!

[crashed_05]

ok so your telling me that hillsboro and leadin edge both accept the post gi bill and have twisted it so ALL training is completely covered by the gi bill? including flight costs, tuition, ground school, everything? minus the ppl of course. if so this is great news to hear!

 

 

All that and a bag of chips!

 

Private is included as well. As long as you're going for the Aviation Science degree, all flight fees are covered up to an extent. If you exceed the maximum allowable rate given by the VA for that state (which is like 42,000 per term) then you start paying out of pocket.

[crashed_05]

ok so your telling me that hillsboro and leadin edge both accept the post gi bill and have twisted it so ALL training is completely covered by the gi bill? including flight costs, tuition, ground school, everything? minus the ppl of course. if so this is great news to hear!

 

Oh, by the way...Hillsboro is affiliated with Portland Community College. I'm not sure if they're going to be approved for this by the VA by this fall. You'd have to get ahold of the financial aid office at PCC.

 

Leading Edge and Central Oregon Community College are already approved.

[adwr070621]

wow this is incredible. i cant wait to start, i have to wait so long

[rjl2001]

Ya, it's funny when I first heard about the Post 9/11 GI Bill it didn't look like it was gonna cover flight training. Now it wound up being almost perfect for my situation. Definitely too good to pass up.

 

When I talked to Portland Community College at the beginning of this month, their VA representative sounded fairly sure that they wouldn't be ready to start this program by fall, but the term after that. But as Crashed has said, COCC is ready and approved right now.

 

One thing I noticed, is that when the VA website published the new '09-'10 tuition and fee amounts last week, it had changed for Oregon. The fee's amount (what covers the flight costs), dropped from $42,828 to $22,190.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33...on_and_fees.htm

I e-mailed the school and they said it was still $42,828, but they must not have gotten the new numbers yet? Even the new amount though, looks like it will cover close to 100%. That amount is the maximum fee's per term, and the commercial helicopter course (one term) is the most expensive and is listed at $23440 including simulator time according to their price chart; http://aviation.cocc.edu/UserData/Document...202009-2010.pdf

 

So what do you have to wait for ADWR, are you still active duty?

[AirBman21]

man i thought i had it all figured out from my other thread. i was going to get my degree from ERAU and get my A&P as well. I have 3 years left active duty so i should be able to finish that but it seems as thought the old GI bill with the 60% rule is nothing compared to these new schools that work in conjunction with the new GI bill. will these schools be stable though? and it seems ill have to finish out my 3 years active duty before i can start flying

[crashed_05]

One thing I noticed, is that when the VA website published the new '09-'10 tuition and fee amounts last week, it had changed for Oregon. The fee's amount (what covers the flight costs), dropped from $42,828 to $22,190.

 

 

Wow, I hadn't noticed that.

[crashed_05]

Oh, and don't forget about the yellow ribbon program! I guess if you exceed the maximum allowable figures given by the VA, the yellow ribbon program will pick up the rest. I'll have to check if COCC participates in this program.