Helicopter Academy-or-Vortex --- Did anyone go there?

[MakinBigINC]

Hi, I am new to this board, I am researching training schools. I did a couple searches.. I was wondering if anyone has gone to this schools could give me a little bit of pros and cons of the schools, I talked to Tom from Heli-Academy and he seems to be very decent, but from a students view how do the schools stack up. THey seem to cost about the same. I did one hour traing so far up here in PA at Dutch Country Helicopters( great group of people) But I am unable to stay there as I cannot get finacing to go to there school, SO I am forced to go elsewhere. I am looking to go full time and this is why I am looking to relocate if needed to train, I like the idea of Heli-Acad's fast paced training and the fact that you fly part of it for photo trips, I find that, that would be pretty awsome. But what are the current employment possiblities at what hours, I think that Era is offering employablity at 500 hours, also whats the possibilities of getting in with air-logistics if you didn't go to vortex. Sorry for all of the questions But I am lookinh to go about this economically because I will be borrowing in order to pay for my training.

Thanks, Austin

[klmmarine]

I think that Era is offering employablity at 500 hours, also whats the possibilities of getting in with air-logistics if you didn't go to vortex. Thanks, Austin

 

Where did you hear that Era is hiring at 500 hours?

 

Also I recently went down and talked to the Air Log Base manager in Houma, I asked him the same questions, and he basically told me that it didn't really matter all that much where you went to school. Your interview matters a lot more. The only advantage to going to Vortex, he said, is its geographic proximity to the oil patch for networking purposes. He said that your training at Vortex only "guarantees" an interview at Air Log and not an actual job. He actually recommended another school (much smaller) but based right there at the Houma-Terrebonne Regional Airport, PM me if you want the name of that one.

 

Hope this helps-

Keith

[james28]

is that johnston helicopter school. did the manager give any reasons why he prefers johnston to vortex? you might be able to do co-captain, maybe with era, but i think 1000 hours is more probable.

[klmmarine]

Yeah, it was Johnston Aviation. I didn't want to put out the name in case it sounded like I was advertising or something.

 

The manager at Air Log Houma, just used that one as an example of another school in the area, that provided a less expensive option to Vortex. I did a little research and talked to the owner of Johnston a while back while I was deciding to switch careers and start training. He has a quick, and relatively inexpensive program, that is fixed wing based with helicopter add-ons. Didn't seem like the right route, to me, for someone who wants to fly helicopters, but I guess for someone interested in dual ratings...

 

Unfortunately at the time Johston was down to one bird (a 300) since a student had a hard landing in their R22.

 

Just a little more info, hope it helps-

 

Keith

Edited February 5, 2007 by klmmarine

[james28]

yea, i thought that was weird. their professional pilots program works like you say, off fixed wing add ons, and is not helicopter exclusive. which makes me wonder why a guy from air log, a helicopter company, would recommend them over vortex, a school focused on helicopters and in close relation with air log. their program looks to be about 2k cheaper than vortexs similiar plan, but a little fishy. o well, just my thoughts.

[klmmarine]

yea, i thought that was weird. their professional pilots program works like you say, off fixed wing add ons, and is not helicopter exclusive. which makes me wonder why a guy from air log, a helicopter company, would recommend them over vortex, a school focused on helicopters and in close relation with air log. their program looks to be about 2k cheaper than vortexs similiar plan, but a little fishy. o well, just my thoughts.

 

I don't know if he was recommending it as much as letting me know that it was an alternative.

 

It looked pretty good, esp. for a veteran. The owner quoted me 19k after GI Bill payments, incl PPL, COMM, CFI, CFII (rotor and multi engine fixed), student housing and 250 per month food allowance. All this in 6 short months.

 

Too good to be true? Probably, but I think I'm going to pick a Helicopters exclusive school and focus on what I really want to do.

[pasbonsimon]

The chances of ANYONE going from zero time to CFI in 6 months is pretty shady. I have heard of 1 person doing it, and they were the "Golden Child". The average time would be closer to 12 months+. Talk to students and instructors at both schools and separate the truths from fantasies.

I did 2 years of research before I decided which school was right for me, and I don't regret my decision.

For opinions on Vortex email me at pasbonsimon@cox.net.

[nsdqjr]

It doesn't matter where you go as far as the GOM is concerned. I see schools listing all of their industry contacts and I think it's pretty irresponsible. Bottom line: You're probably gonna teach until you get your 1000 hrs. Be very aware of any program that throws fixed wing hours in the mix. If you train in Schweizers it's no big deal, but in the Robinson you need 200hrs in HELICOPTERS, not total time, in order to instruct. I see students do part of their instrument in an airplane to try to save money, only to find they have to buy more helicopter time on the back end in order to meet the time requirements. Something to think about....

 

Also, just to clear it up, noone hires in the GOM at less than 1000hrs PIC. I've been sending resumes every month to all of them for the last 6 months, and noone called until I had finally reached the magic number. I know Airlog says "Part 135 requirements", that's all fine and dandy, but the bottom line is that you ARE going to teach for a year or more to get the hours. If I were you I'd forget about the GOM and start looking for prospective flight schools that might emply you when you get your CFII.

Edited February 16, 2007 by nsdqjr

[volition]

I went form 0-to commercial license in 3 months, I'm guessing 6 months from 0-to CFI is a possibility if your at the right flight school with good wether of course.

[Autorotator]

I had a buddy go to Vortex, he went through just to his commercial and he is a great pilot. They are doing something right. That's all I know about either of the schools.