Anyone heard of HELICOPTER ACADEMY and BOATPIX? Interesting opportunity!

[jehh]

IMO unless you have flown w/ Boatpix or seen us work you really don't understand what we do. There is a world of difference in the type, and location of the pilots flying in the GOM -vs- Boatpix.

 

I'm sure there is...

 

However, for what it is worth, I've flown 100ft above water at 70kts sideways doing a video production, so I have more experience than just cruising the GOM at 500ft.

 

I would not want to be 100ft above the water without the best survival equipment money can buy. It just isn't worth it.

 

I will agree though that training in a dunk tank on how to exit a submerged helicopter would be fantastic and I wish I could get that training.

 

Worth every penny, you might consider obtaining that training on your own. It only has to save your life once.

 

In an emergency, you revert to your training. Absent training, you revert to instinct. Without water training, your instincts may or may not get you out of an upside down helicopter. There are people who have drowned in 5 feet of water because they couldn't get out.

 

Regardless, stay safe and watch for wires... Thankfully the R-22 is an incredibly reliable helicopter.

[volition]

I've flown with Boatpix, and we did have our life jacket on at all times. We flew 5 feet from the water at 50 kts almost all the time(Never with winds over 10 kts) with no worries.....hundreds of boats there to safe your butt!!! Few times we flew to the Bahamas with no problems. I can agree were your coming from, but should we all were helmets too!!! Oh wait...let's all get Nomex suits, elt watches, class cockpit, etc.

Edited November 16, 2007 by volition

[fireman216]

Thanks for the good read ... I am planning on taking a tour of Helicopter Acadamy in S. Houston and Helicopter Services in Spring TX (N Houston) as both are within 2 to 3 hrs from home here in Tx . Spoke with Brett Woods from Heli Academy just Fri morning and I am liking the idea of working with them after gaining my CFI at Boatpix. I will say that Helicopter Services keeps my attention for the reason that they have 3 different helicopters they use. The R22 The R44 and a the Bell 206LIII. So if anyone has any suggestions or ideas or experience other than what I have read above Please let me know. Thanks alot