Flight Schools around Denver

[izzy3338]

Hi everyone... I am planning on starting helicopter training next year so I'm doing a lot of research on schools. I would like to move to the Denver, Colorado area and would like some opinions on flight schools around there. Opinions on schools from other states are also welcome. My main goal is to become a CFI and eventually work Medevac.

[Shaun]

http://www.coloradoheliops.com/

 

Might be a good place to start. They are new but seem to be putting in a lot of effort and focus on training and the student.

 

The owner is very nice, he tried to help me when I was down despite the fact that I was not a perspective customer. That level of kindness is something I've never seen in 8 years of being a student or at the 7 places I've done training.

 

But I have never flown there so I would suggest, as with all schools, find a way to contact ex-students and ask them about their experience.

 

Training in the mountains is probably a good idea, certain jobs like high altitude experience, and you learn power management skills that are priceless.

[Mikemv]

Izzy, check out the link. Colorado-Heli Ops just won the Rotor & Wing Magazines' 2010 Editors Choice Award in Training category.

 

http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vrw10/i8/p32

 

They are the only school offering full curriculum of SBT.

 

Mike

[Goldy]

Hi everyone... I am planning on starting helicopter training next year so I'm doing a lot of research on schools. I would like to move to the Denver, Colorado area and would like some opinions on flight schools around there. Opinions on schools from other states are also welcome. My main goal is to become a CFI and eventually work Medevac.

 

First, you probably won't hear much about any other schools in Denver, at least not on this forum. DP and his group at HeliOps just keep doing it better than before.

 

As far as flying as a CFI, if you network and have some personality you can probably get a rather low paying job and get up to around 1000 hours. However, the standard to fly EMS is much higher, so you will have to work tours or GOM to gain the turbine experience needed.

 

Nothing wrong with your dream, just realize it will take a few years to get there.

[280fxColorado]

Mountain One Helicopters (m1heli.com) has been operating throughout Colorado since 2002. Formerly Rocky Mountain Rotorcraft, we have locations at Erie Municipal Airport and Centennial Airport. We also maintain a high altitude campus near Telluride, CO, on 15,000 acres of privately owned stunning alpine terrain from 8,000 to 14,000ft MSL. We operate Enstrom, Schweizer, and Robinson helicopters with a focus on off-airport and mountain based training. We fly the turbocharged Enstrom 280fx and the turbine powered Enstrom 480B which allows us to go everywhere in Colorado--Leadville, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Telluride, etc. Interested in flying up and over the Rockies--not just gazing from afar? Landings at 12,000ft+++? Come check us out. Currently the lowest helicopter rates in CO.

 

At Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, there's CHO as mentioned with a 300C and a R44. There's also Rotors of the Rockies, from which Heliops spun off. They have a part 141 program and fly Schweizer 300s, Robinson R44s, a Schweizer 333, and a MD500 (from their website, unsure if its current) (http://www.rotorsoftherockies.com/)

 

In Boulder, there's a one man show with very nice red R44. (http://www.ridgelineheli.com/)

 

Further north, there's also Front Range Helicopters out of Fort Collins / Loveland Airport (frontrangehelicopters.com/). They have several nice Schweizer 300 models (some IFR trainers) and a Jet Ranger. They have a relationship with a university (Aims Community College) and a part 141 program. This is helpful for financial aid and using the GI bill.

 

There was also Colorado Vertical out of Steamboat and Colorado Springs flying Enstrom 280 and Robinson R44 helicopters. I believe they are only a tours business now, no more flight training.

 

Lots of options for helicopter training in Colorado. Check out all your options and see which company serves your needs best. If you have any more questions, send me a private message or email at jon@m1heli.com

 

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Edited December 6, 2010 by 280fxColorado

[280fxColorado]

Several Colorado schools were featured in the June 2010 issue of Rotor and Wing. Check out the article here:

 

http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vrw10/i2/p35

 

Enjoy,

Jon

[clay]

It's cold in Colorado. dont fly in your underwear

Edited December 6, 2010 by clay

[Rogue]

I know a few people that had extremely good experiences here -

 

http://www.rotorsoftherockies.com/

[RkyMtnHI]

Hey all, sorry for the delay in response.

 

Thank you all for the good words.. we really do care about the students.. as does Jack at Mountain One.. in the past we have referred folks to them many times. In fact, we hand every potential student a sheet of paper that has all of the local operators information on it and recommend that they VISIT the other schools. If the student lives south we know they will probably do better at a school that is closer to them as it's hard to drive all the way thru Denver sometimes and some need every advantage they can to get thru their training.. which is our goal. Mtn1 now has an office at Centennial that used to be Elite Helicopters where Clay taught.. so we have sent some students to them. At this time, Mtn1 is the ONLY other school in this area that we recommend as an option...

 

Ridgeline in Boulder is a good guy with a solid operation, he was at another school locally and pulled his helicopter as we did.. At this time i don't think he does training, if he does, it will be done well and fair. We send some of our 135 customers to him as we are still waiting for our 135 to be processed at the FSDO. His R44 is taken well care of as he's also an A&P. (some of the photos on his website are ones that i took in the past, i have flown his ship a ton). He is a straight-forward Honest guy.

 

Things that you have to consider when you look at a school; are all of the helicopters you see on the floor flying.. and if not, why... talk to current students, not just the CFIs, and don't settle with just the ones they give you to talk with.. look as close as you can.. times are tough right now and you must make the right choice or it will cost you dearly in the long run. Visit the different schools multiple times.. see them in action. Talk to as many folks as you can, and make sure the recommendations are CURRENT.. someone that knew someone that flew at a flight school a long time ago might be ill- informed, especially now days.

 

Can the school employ you as a CFI, and, if they do, how many hours can you fly that year.. we know some friends that have been CFIs at other schools for over two years an still have less than 300 hours.. They have a job, but do not fly... Our two main CFIs flew about 800 hours each last year, because we don't have 18 CFIs on staff to compete with each other.. it's just not fair (yes i know, no one can promise a job, if they do you gotta wonder because they don't know how you will fly, will you be responsible, will you be focused.. but if you are that candidate, CAN they put you to work, CAN you get your hours to move on).

 

If the school cannot employ you, can they help you get a job or at least care to try.. Flying in Denver has benefits due to the high altitude and weather changes that other areas cannot compete with (don't just take my word for it.. do your research).. BUT it makes no sense if the school cannot help you move forward.. we helped three CFIs move on this year, one wasn't ours but we helped anyway because the person deserved it.. in the past three weeks i have helped two other pilots secure interviews and looks like one more in the next week or so.. i receive NOTHING for these efforts, except seeing folks move on that really deserve it. Ask the school you are looking at if they can do the same.. how many of their CFIs moved on to jobs, i think you will be surprised.. Ask for contact information on the folks that have moved on and call them.. it is very important.

 

NO MATTER WHICH SCHOOL YOU END UP AT, NEVER, EVER GIVE A FLIGHT SCHOOL A LOT OF MONEY UP FRONT.. NO MATTER WHAT THEY PROMISE YOU.. one of the things we respected about Elite and now Mtn1, as is in our case, they do not take large amounts of money from students.. there is no reason to. If an operator says 'it will cost you 70K to complete your training, but if you give me 50K today we'll get you thru'... run like hell !!!

 

 

dp

[apiaguy]

this thread is a joke... don't listen to anyone on the internet... including me.

[RkyMtnHI]

this thread is a joke... don't listen to anyone on the internet... including me.

 

 

Why is it a joke?

 

dp

[apiaguy]

do you really think YOU are the person to ask or who should respond as to which school is the best in the Denver area?

[RkyMtnHI]

I think that i am ONE of the folks here that know what's going on in our area.. and i always try to be sincere and help people first.

 

Our whole goal has been from day one to put the student first and give them honest information. It's hard because folks can't sometimes.. even we can't tell you all we know, but it's a hard line and we try.

 

Not sure what else to say, except that if you really knew us you would know we care and try to do the best by everyone that deserves it.

 

aloha,

 

dp

[Shaun]

this thread is a joke... don't listen to anyone on the internet... including me.

 

OP better just use the dartboard method to find a flight school, since you can't listen to the internet.

[Eggbeater]

do you really think YOU are the person to ask or who should respond as to which school is the best in the Denver area?

 

I see what apiaguy is saying, and I have to agree with him. RkyMtnHI, while I know you have the best of intentions, your position with Colorado Heli Ops and here at VR makes your post seem less like information and more like a typical school sales pitch.

 

If I was a student, then I would want to hear opinions from current students. The sales pitch is something that any person can get by calling a school or visiting their website, but students opinions are an insight into how a company operates once they have your business/money.

 

This is why I was a little disappointed that the Flight School review feature was taken away from VR. I understand the potential for students and former employees with a grudge taking advantage of the anonymous format, but it was also a great resource for people to give their true opinions without fear of repercussions. Sometimes the pressure of making a good impression with your potential future employer leads students to fear "making waves" by offering any form of constructive criticism. Perhaps a similar format with a disclaimer?

 

I don't know what the solution is, but it seems that there is a better way to offer student's opinions of all flight school's pros and cons. The current format of having everyone post their school's review on one single thread seems to be a temporary and unorganized fix for what could be a great resource to future students.

[gary-mike]

I know a few people that had extremely good experiences here -

 

http://www.rotorsoftherockies.com/

 

What is up with this school? It apears a few didn't agree with this post.

[Shaun]

I see what apiaguy is saying, and I have to agree with him.

 

You agree that the thread is a joke?

 

If you owned a flight school and someone posted asking about training in your town, you wouldn't say anything?

 

Every single one of the flight school request threads has people associated with a school promoting it, so long as they are upfront about their affiliation who cares, and why single out this thread?

 

Were I a perspective student I would want to have every bit of information I could, from every source. What the management says about their school and the competition is one of the most valuable and telling pieces of information you can have.

[Rogue]

What is up with this school? It apears a few didn't agree with this post.

Then they should grow a pair and say something.

 

I obviously cannot speak for the people I know, they may or may not get time to come on here and relay their experience. All I know is they both highly recommended the school I linked. I have no personal experience with that school.

[Rogue]

I second or third what APIA guy and Eggbeater are saying. I don't believe the person who started this thread was trying to solicit a sales pitch.

[clay]

I wonder if it would be acceptable for me to put in my 2 cents....... I am not employed by anyone in Denver, but did work/fly/teach there a few years back.. The school I was with is no longer operating... Would my input be seen as a sales pitch?

[Eggbeater]

You agree that the thread is a joke?

 

I'm not sure how you got that from my post. I replied to apiaguy's post regarding possible bias in this post, not the one about this thread being a joke. And if I owned a flight school and someone asked a question about where to attend, I would let the students of my flight school give their opinions.

 

I completely agree with you that every one of these threads has multiple flight schools vying for potential students, and I don't think they are necessarily in the wrong for doing so. What I was trying to point out is maybe we have an opportunity to organize a better system for getting current student's honest opinions about their flight schools.

 

I've heard great things about Colorado Heli-Ops AND Rotors of the Rockies; I have attended and am affiliated with neither (In fact it's been a couple years since I was a flight instructor so I don't care where someone goes as long as it is the right fit). I didn't mean to solely call RkyMtnHI out for this, that post was also aimed at 280fxColorado, BoatPix etc.

 

And mods, sorry about the thread hijack, I was trying to voice my support for apiaguy...

[Rogue]

I wonder if it would be acceptable for me to put in my 2 cents....... I am not employed by anyone in Denver, but did work/fly/teach there a few years back.. The school I was with is no longer operating... Would my input be seen as a sales pitch?

Well... if its no longer operating then how can you endorse it?

 

Meh... think maybe people are making a mountain out of a molehill, its quite obvious a gray area and I doubt anyone has false intentions though they possibly may have financial ones. Six of one, half dozen of another.

[RkyMtnHI]

Hey to all,

 

i understand Rogue, Apiaguy and Eggbeater's points and comments.. and do not have a problem with them. i appreciate the input..

 

i, more than anything, want to make sure that folks don't end up at the WRONG school.. that has always been my focus. i didn't mean for it to sound like a sales pitch, but rather what prospective students should look for and how to get that information. i have so many friends that are in trouble now, because they picked the wrong path, i get three resumes a week and as many calls, from folks that have no where to turn because they went the wrong way. it's so hard for a new prospective student to get good honest information.. (i know because i, like so many others, was one of them), i just want to help as many as possible in hopes they will not make the same mistakes as so many of us have.... i never said we were the best school for everyone, but we do care about everyone and want to help them as much as we can... period, even if that means referring them to another reputable school.

 

i started to not reply at all, but then i didn't want to seem like i was ignoring the issue either.

 

dp

[clay]

Well... if its no longer operating then how can you endorse it?

 

 

 

........ i didn't say i was endorsing ANY school

Edited December 8, 2010 by clay

[mechanic]

Hey,

I had the pleasure of meeting DP at Heli Expo Houston as well as Goldy, Kodoz, ADridge, Ironranger, 67Nov, Mikemv and a few others, missed Clay, he is a home state boy, wish I could have caught up with ya Clay.

 

I can say that all of these men really seemed genuine with no large egos preceeding them.

 

DP made a good point of asking about the aircraft. I started at a school and was introduced to all the aircraft they had, I didn't think much about it at all, till I was feeling soo upset and nervous about he quirkyness of the R22. I asked if I could try the 269c model, well I was told in no certain terms, NO!! Its forsale.

 

There is merit to DP's response about being close to your school, I commuted 206 miles round trip for each flight lesson, IT SUCKED!!! I don't recommend commuting over a 45 min drive 1 way, just takes too much time out of your day as well as making you extra tired/tense.

 

Lastly, I don't know why so many people on here CRY WOLF soo much. No one was here from SSH's doing recruiting and look how many students were taken and many of those students never even tried to or did any research on schools. I have researched many schools since 97' and I have not seen anything DP or RMH said as being out of line or too good to be true. They always state things the way they know them or want them to be. I have not seen any post that is outlandish or had false claims in them. There are some on here that have larger than life egos, "I KNOW ALL" and you know who you are.

 

DP's suggestion to visit every school you are interested in is Excellent. I know I visited Vortex a few times unannouced. I would sit in the parking lot and watch what was going on at the school, even caught a few people and had short conversations with them about the school. I even spoke to a few other schools and they highly recommended Vortex. I ended up not being able to attend Vortex despite my best efforts. I settled on another school close to me because they had both R22's and a 269. Well remember what dp said, I was not allowed to fly the 269 after they had my money because the 269 was forsale.

 

Visit all the schools you "THINK" you might like to attend and talk to everyone from the employee's, students and friends of students alike. Remember knowledge is power.