WHAT NOW

[apentico]

I am a 15 year vet of the ground EMS program (ambulance) and I am approaching retirement in 5 years I will be 38 years old…not bad ha! I would like to be able to move right in to helicopter work doing whatever it takes to live the dream. I have a home and the sale of my home would pay for a flight program and cost of relocation if necessary, or I could just refi the house to pay for school at a better rate than Sally May and stay here (Utah).

 

In my searches across the country for a flight schools I have found that there is a huge difference in prices for example hear in Utah there is 4-5 schools and the range from $68,000- $84,000 that is for a Professional license now I understand the differences in the equipment and the geography of the area but is it that big of a difference to charge $30,000 more than a school in OR, FL IN, all of witch are in the $28,000 -$34,000 range for a commercial license. (Is a commercial the same as professional?)

 

Or is there more I need to know about those schools? Am I being naïve? Thinking that I could get a quality education for the lower price and then come back to Utah for high elevation training and experience, or would it be easer, and cheaper in the long run to just stay home and pay the higher price for an inclusive professional pilot license.

 

I would eventually love to fly for EMS since its in my blood (no pun intended) but also I love the Kmax , so forestry or fire fighting would not be bad either.

 

That said any and all input would be helpful. Thanks for hangin to read my junk.

[Hovergirl]

I would be careful in comparing rates for helicopter schools who tell you how much it will cost to get through the whole program. The big expense is renting the helicopter and you do that by the hour, and nobody knows how many hours it will take you. It could be that some places are more conservative in estimating how many hours of flying it will take you to get your commercial license. It would be more fair to compare the hourly rates for the helicopter and instructor.

 

Good luck -- I hope you find a school and instructor that works for you.

 

HVG

[Tara]

I am a 15 year vet of the ground EMS program (ambulance) and I am approaching retirement in 5 years I will be 38 years old…not bad ha! I would like to be able to move right in to helicopter work doing whatever it takes to live the dream. I have a home and the sale of my home would pay for a flight program and cost of relocation if necessary, or I could just refi the house to pay for school at a better rate than Sally May and stay here (Utah).

 

In my searches across the country for a flight schools I have found that there is a huge difference in prices for example hear in Utah there is 4-5 schools and the range from $68,000- $84,000 that is for a Professional license now I understand the differences in the equipment and the geography of the area but is it that big of a difference to charge $30,000 more than a school in OR, FL IN, all of witch are in the $28,000 -$34,000 range for a commercial license. (Is a commercial the same as professional?)

 

Or is there more I need to know about those schools? Am I being naïve? Thinking that I could get a quality education for the lower price and then come back to Utah for high elevation training and experience, or would it be easer, and cheaper in the long run to just stay home and pay the higher price for an inclusive professional pilot license.

 

I would eventually love to fly for EMS since its in my blood (no pun intended) but also I love the Kmax , so forestry or fire fighting would not be bad either.

 

That said any and all input would be helpful. Thanks for hangin to read my junk.

 

Hey there,

 

I am in Utah too and wanting to get into EMS eventually. I have been forewarned about how long this might take me but I'm not worried. I have been looking at high altitude training versus sea level, and I haven't had much info with the price side of things, the only two schools I compared one in SLC and one in NJ are relatively the same hourly. My only issue is being by family in NJ or continuing to be a loner out here in SLC. I actually have an EMS degree but no experience in it. I'm not sure what that will do but I couldn't handle the unattractive salary starting off riding for 7.50 when I was making twice as much as a medical secretary. I am thinking now I made a mistake and am considering heading back to redo my B (expired two years ago). What I need to figure out is what kind of a difference it makes to be successful flying EMS by having a solid experience on ground or if it is really all about pilot skill and experience. Any thoughts?

Thanks Tara

[Wally]

I am a 15 year vet of the ground EMS program (ambulance) and I am approaching retirement in 5 years I will be 38 years old…not bad ha! I would like to be able to move right in to helicopter work doing whatever it takes to live the dream. I have a home and the sale of my home would pay for a flight program and cost of relocation if necessary, or I could just refi the house to pay for school at a better rate than Sally May and stay here (Utah).

 

In my searches across the country for a flight schools I have found that there is a huge difference in prices for example hear in Utah there is 4-5 schools and the range from $68,000- $84,000 that is for a Professional license now I understand the differences in the equipment and the geography of the area but is it that big of a difference to charge $30,000 more than a school in OR, FL IN, all of witch are in the $28,000 -$34,000 range for a commercial license. (Is a commercial the same as professional?)

 

Or is there more I need to know about those schools? Am I being naïve? Thinking that I could get a quality education for the lower price and then come back to Utah for high elevation training and experience, or would it be easer, and cheaper in the long run to just stay home and pay the higher price for an inclusive professional pilot license.

 

I would eventually love to fly for EMS since its in my blood (no pun intended) but also I love the Kmax , so forestry or fire fighting would not be bad either.

 

That said any and all input would be helpful. Thanks for hangin to read my junk.

 

To do EMS, you need a "Commercial" certificate (ATP preferred) which allows you to be employed as a pilot, an instrument rating and YEARS of experience. The fewest hours I've seen in a successful candidate's log is 2300 hours. You'll have to accumulate the right kinds of experience: Night, unaided; cross-country, days and nights; and various other minimums that vary by company.

It's worth doing, it's a great job. Utah's beautiful, so expect some competition for seats.

[dogdaddy]

Also, finding the right instructor for you may be more important than the cost. So the thing is to research and even visit some schools in person. Talk to instructors to see if you click with them. Maybe take intro flights at more than one school.

[betr_thn_Icarus]

I would like to fly EMS eventually at some point too. There is an EMS helipad about 2 miles from my house. I started going and chatting with the pilots. I occasionally am invited into their lounge and bore them with all kinds of questions. The majority of them trained in the military but almost half trained privately. They all tell me that the EMS pay is not very good because everyone wants the job. They call it a "retirement" job. They reccoment going to do some other things then going into ems when I have the hours down the road. Honestly if that is what you want to do though I would go for it as soon as you can. What do you want to do to build hours? Usually you need to get your CFI so you can instruct to build time as a first job.

[apentico]

Hey there,

 

I am in Utah too and wanting to get into EMS eventually. I have been forewarned about how long this might take me but I'm not worried. I have been looking at high altitude training versus sea level, and I haven't had much info with the price side of things, the only two schools I compared one in SLC and one in NJ are relatively the same hourly. My only issue is being by family in NJ or continuing to be a loner out here in SLC. I actually have an EMS degree but no experience in it. I'm not sure what that will do but I couldn't handle the unattractive salary starting off riding for 7.50 when I was making twice as much as a medical secretary. I am thinking now I made a mistake and am considering heading back to redo my B (expired two years ago). What I need to figure out is what kind of a difference it makes to be successful flying EMS by having a solid experience on ground or if it is really all about pilot skill and experience. Any thoughts?

Thanks Tara

 

 

It's not the experience with the patients that is important. What seperates me from another cannidate its the ammount of ground time I have, I know the Salt Lake area better than the back of my hand, I have also been assossiated (too many sssss) with probabley 500-1000 helicopter related transports. I know many of the piolets and crew chiefs, threw my years in the field. Our company provides crews and equipment to the two flight companies here in town thus building more experience with them. not to say I have the job or anything this is just an example of how I would differ from a cannidate not from here. Also my intentions are to fly anywere to get the hours and then try ems 10-15 years from now..." to retire"....I would love to fly kmax for a wile.

[apentico]

keep it comming this is all good info! I dont plan to fly ems for 10-15 years but I do plan on it...As far as were I want to get my hours? "KMAX BABBY" Fires, construction, Recovery. What ever! I just want to fly!

[Barks111]

In my searches across the country for a flight schools I have found that there is a huge difference in prices for example hear in Utah there is 4-5 schools and the range from $68,000- $84,000 that is for a Professional license now I understand the differences in the equipment and the geography of the area but is it that big of a difference to charge $30,000 more than a school in OR, FL IN, all of witch are in the $28,000 -$34,000 range for a commercial license. (Is a commercial the same as professional?)

 

Or is there more I need to know about those schools? Am I being naïve? Thinking that I could get a quality education for the lower price and then come back to Utah for high elevation training and experience, or would it be easer, and cheaper in the long run to just stay home and pay the higher price for an inclusive professional pilot license.

 

I have been researching flight training schools recently and I have found most of my information from various posts in this forum and through my own research. I think that the points to consider when selecting a school are pretty varied but I would say the following are important and worth thinking about.

 

Have a rough estimate of cost in your mind for a total training package but don't treat the figure as absolute as the actual hours spent in ground school and flying differ from person to person.

 

Think about FAA Part 141 credited schools. These schools provide a Training Course Outline (TCO) that is both structured and recorded as well as subject to FAA scrutiny. That can be a big plus to ensure that you get all of the right training and qualify in the shortest time. Part 61 schools are not so structured and mapping your training and recording your progress is not as easy.

 

Look at instructor-to-student and student-to-aircraft ratios. If there are few aircraft and many students you may find that you cannot get airborne as often or as regularly as you would like. The same is true if there are too few instructors.

 

Visit the schools that you are interested in and see if you get to meet students, maintenance personnel, instructors as well as managers, VPs and the owner. See how friendly and open people are to you. See if they will offer to spend time talking to you about your goals and show you around their facility. They should let you sit in an aircraft and you should be able to book, at some cost, a demo flight.

 

Look at the facilities for flight planning, meteorology, quiet study areas for students, cleanliness of the hangar and offices.

 

Ask to speak to your potential instructor/s and see if you like them. This is a big thing as you must like your instructor and feel relaxed in his/her company if you are to get the best from your training.

 

Ask about local airspace and where you go for quiet training areas. What is the local ATC like. Busy airfields may be difficult to get in and out of.

 

Ask to see their training packages (PPL(H), CPL(H), CFII, etc and look at the hourly cost breakdown and look for hidden charges for things like insurance, pre and post flight debriefing, etc.

 

Do they provide all of the training that you will need? Some schools do not have any instrument flying training or that training may be conducted in a fixed-wing ac.

 

Do they have a good reputation and can they offer placements or even hire you as a Flying Instructor once you complete training. Are there any incentives to instruct for them if you train with them?

 

Can they accommodate your training requirements as far as flying is concerned. Check that you can fly when you want to, whether that is two days a week or 5, can they handle that?

 

There is a lot to consider and the more research that you do the better your chances of getting a great school and really getting the best from your training. Once you ask the right questions you will find the right school and then you can look at the cost of training.

 

Keep checking this forum and search for past posts on any school that you think that you might like to check out. I hope you find the right school for you. I found mine and it wasn't too difficult with all the great advice that I got from this forum and the great people that post here.

 

Good luck and let us all know where you decide to train.

[Crusty Old Dude]

keep it comming this is all good info! I dont plan to fly ems for 10-15 years but I do plan on it...As far as were I want to get my hours? "KMAX BABBY" Fires, construction, Recovery. What ever! I just want to fly!

Where are you at in UT? Take a look at High Desert Helicopters up in Ogden if that's close enough. If not, there's one in SLC that comes highly recommended (but can't remember the name right now?!). I called them, and due to the R-22, I was told that if I'm not currently at 205lbs, then I won't be able to start training (personal limitation, but a limitation none-the-less).

 

High Desert's rates are $205.00 a flight hour and $300 for instrument. They use Schweizers.

[apentico]

Where are you at in UT? Take a look at High Desert Helicopters up in Ogden if that's close enough. If not, there's one in SLC that comes highly recommended (but can't remember the name right now?!). I called them, and due to the R-22, I was told that if I'm not currently at 205lbs, then I won't be able to start training (personal limitation, but a limitation none-the-less).

 

High Desert's rates are $205.00 a flight hour and $300 for instrument. They use Schweizers.

 

 

I live in So Ogden that is about 20 minutes away. I did stop in for a visit but they were all out flying…. High Desert helicopters are high on my list but I worry that they are affiliated with SSH or so I have heard.

 

SSH has contacted me and in the information that I have it indicates a SSH training school in Ogden and as far as I know there is only one helicopter training facility at Hinkley Ogden airport and that would be High Desert.

 

Should I be concerned? What is the beef that everyone has with SSH? Sorry I have been in a cave for a wile.

[Crusty Old Dude]

I live in So Ogden that is about 20 minutes away. I did stop in for a visit but they were all out flying…. High Desert helicopters are high on my list but I worry that they are affiliated with SSH or so I have heard.

 

SSH has contacted me and in the information that I have it indicates a SSH training school in Ogden and as far as I know there is only one helicopter training facility at Hinkley Ogden airport and that would be High Desert.

 

Should I be concerned? What is the beef that everyone has with SSH? Sorry I have been in a cave for a wile.

No affiliation whatsoever with Silver State. There is a Silver State at Ogden Hinckley AND High Desert Helicopters, LLC. Both quite different and not related in any way.

[Copterpilot213]

Should I be concerned? What is the beef that everyone has with SSH? Sorry I have been in a cave for a wile.

 

Short story: People don't like SSH because they are one of (if not the only) schools that require their students to sign contracts. These contracts usually include various things that are not beneficial to the students such as charging 10% of the total fee per month (so you're entire loan is gone after 6-7 months). There is a TON of information on SSH in this forum, do a search and you'll be reading for days.

 

Good luck with everything! I can't really add to the advice that's been given here already, especially by Barks111. He hits some really great points there!