Autorotator Posted April 30, 2007 Posted April 30, 2007 Witch, I was pondering that yesterday at work. Personally I don't think trying to set up some stuff at high schools would be a bad idea. You can probably get kids setup for half price demo rides if they are over 18. I mean hell when I was in highschool there was a different branch of the armed forces in there every week hasling us.Why wait until they are 18 or over? Quote
specialized Posted May 1, 2007 Posted May 1, 2007 What area in Cali? I am moving to San Fran or Santa Cruz..Take a look at Specialized Helicopters, we are in both Santa Cruz and San Fran (Hayward) already. I can only speak for my company but as far as i go, i turn more people away from helicopter training than i bring in. The average person is just not up to the job. So as a word for improving any flight school, be honest about what you are selling. It's not for everyone as an occupation and the filtering process starts with the first call. Give your potential customers the actual view of what they are getting into. It is obviously the best job myself and most of my friends have ever had, plus it has all the facets most people look for in an occupation, but there is a down side and it needs to be on the table before $70,000 is spent. Most good schools have a "reality test" or some sort of "What you are getting into" document for incomming students. Ask them for it and you'll get a much better idea of how things are going to play out for you in the end and if you really want to get started.Chris- Quote
The Mad Bomber Posted May 2, 2007 Posted May 2, 2007 I don't have squat for experiance in the helicopter industry/field but as someone who is trying to get into a flight school coming out of the militrary, Try to get your part 141 for your school. For those of us who prefer to use our MGIB for flight training need to be at a part 141 school in order to use the MGIB for training. Like I said, I don't know much about the industry, but that has been a key aspect of me choosing a flight school is for a school to accept the MGIB. (For some odd reason I just not preffer to drop 70k on training if I don't have to! ) Kirk Quote
Galadrium Posted December 21, 2007 Author Posted December 21, 2007 (edited) Galdrium- Any progress on new stuff? A lot has changed since I started that thread... so I'll get you up to speed. The company I was working for went out of business, which left me out of a job and out of helicopters. I got together with one of the CFIs that I knew and we started a new company, Vertical Advantage Helicopters. We started with an Enstrom F-28C. We've been running very strong for about 6 months now and a month ago added our second ship, a 2006 Schweizer 300 CBI. The plan is to use the Schweizer primarily for training and use the Enstrom for commercial work. We do however offer flight training in the Enstrom, although it is mostly for people too heavy for the Schweizer, or for people who plan to buy an Enstrom later. I think we offer a superior program for helicopter flight training in southwest Ohio. We are always working to make it better, and I'd really love your input on my new venture. Our website: http://www.verticaladvantagehelicopters.com Edited December 31, 2007 by Galadrium Quote
Sparker Posted December 22, 2007 Posted December 22, 2007 A lot has changed since I started that thread... so I'll get you up to speed. The company I was working for, Iron Eagle Aviation went out of business, which left me out of a job and out of helicopters. I got together with one of the CFIs that I knew and we started a new company, Vertical Advantage Helicopters. We started with an Enstrom F-28C. We've been running very strong for about 6 months now and a month ago added our second ship, a 2006 Schweizer 300 CBI. The plan is to use the Schweizer primarily for training and use the Enstrom for commercial work. We do however offer flight training in the Enstrom, although it is mostly for people too heavy for the Schweizer, or for people who plan to buy an Enstrom later. I think we offer a superior program for helicopter flight training in southwest Ohio. We are always working to make it better, and I'd really love your input on my new venture. Our website: http://www.verticaladvantagehelicopters.com Gorgeous website! Good work. Quote
jehh Posted December 23, 2007 Posted December 23, 2007 We've been running very strong for about 6 months now and a month ago added our second ship, a 2006 Schweizer 300 CBI. The plan is to use the Schweizer primarily for training and use the Enstrom for commercial work. We do however offer flight training in the Enstrom, although it is mostly for people too heavy for the Schweizer, or for people who plan to buy an Enstrom later. It's a nice feeling to get that second helicopter, isn't it? Keep at it and you may have a fleet in a few years... I think we offer a superior program for helicopter flight training in southwest Ohio. We are always working to make it better, and I'd really love your input on my new venture. Our website: http://www.verticaladvantagehelicopters.com Nice web site... Since you asked for input... You need an instrument trainer to be serious about professional pilot training. Converting your 300CBi to one will be expensive, but worth it in the long run... Or buy a second 300CBi already equipped as a IFR trainer... Best of luck to you! Quote
Goldy Posted December 24, 2007 Posted December 24, 2007 We do however offer flight training in the Enstrom, although it is mostly for people too heavy for the Schweizer, or for people who plan to buy an Enstrom later. Wow, too heavy for the 300? Doesn't it have a 600 pound cabin limit? Thats some pretty big boys..must be the corn. Congrats on the new school. If you want to teach IFR stuff you should look for an R22 Instrument trainer..then you can sell an instrument upgrade or an R22 transition. Goldy Quote
cl600pilot Posted December 24, 2007 Posted December 24, 2007 Wow, too heavy for the 300? Doesn't it have a 600 pound cabin limit? Thats some pretty big boys..must be the corn. Goldy I don't know about the cabin limits but the 300C and the 300CBi have different gross weights - the 300C will take about 300+ more pounds than the CBi. Quote
Galadrium Posted December 27, 2007 Author Posted December 27, 2007 Wow, too heavy for the 300? Doesn't it have a 600 pound cabin limit? Thats some pretty big boys..must be the corn. Congrats on the new school. If you want to teach IFR stuff you should look for an R22 Instrument trainer..then you can sell an instrument upgrade or an R22 transition. Goldy We've been thinking about putting some instruments in the Enstrom since it has many of the needed instruments. Its probably going to cost us about $10K at least if we are going to do it right. We probably would have done it already but the engine just timed out on us... another $40K for the engine and turbo + installation. We have thought about adding a Robinson but neither me nor my partner have any Robinson time. I guess we could always hire someone. There is no shortage of hungry Robinson CFIs. Quote
Sparker Posted December 27, 2007 Posted December 27, 2007 We've been thinking about putting some instruments in the Enstrom since it has many of the needed instruments. Its probably going to cost us about $10K at least if we are going to do it right. We probably would have done it already but the engine just timed out on us... another $40K for the engine and turbo + installation. We have thought about adding a Robinson but neither me nor my partner have any Robinson time. I guess we could always hire someone. There is no shortage of hungry Robinson CFIs. I'll do it!!! In a couple years, unfortunately..... Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.