Hello All,
Has anyone done the '100 Hour Commercial Helicopter Course' with BC Helicopters in Abbottsford?
Just wanting some feedback and to know what your experience was like?
Also, if anyone would like to put in their 2 cents in as to what they're advertising on their website, would love to hear it.
http://www.bchelicopters.com
Thank you and Regards
WW
BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
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- Silver Wings
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Mar 2014
Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
Hhhhmmm OK,
Bit of a stretch asking a predominantly Southern Hemisphere forum about a Northern Hemisphere operator.
What is it you are wanting to do? Are you wanting to do a licence from scratch? Are you wanting to do a conversion from an Australian / NZ licence?
As for have I used them? - NO! However, their website doesn't look too bad and their prices look reasonable. As for the training platforms - H269/S300 is a great platform for training and the G2 is outstanding (commence discussion). So, from that perspective I would be taking them seriously over other operations that are still pushing 'just' the R22. Before I get a raft of comments in return I have nothing against the R22 having done my EASA PPL(H) in one and still fly one currently.
So, if you want more details, maybe give us a few more clues as to what it is that you are wanting to achieve.
RB
Bit of a stretch asking a predominantly Southern Hemisphere forum about a Northern Hemisphere operator.
What is it you are wanting to do? Are you wanting to do a licence from scratch? Are you wanting to do a conversion from an Australian / NZ licence?
As for have I used them? - NO! However, their website doesn't look too bad and their prices look reasonable. As for the training platforms - H269/S300 is a great platform for training and the G2 is outstanding (commence discussion). So, from that perspective I would be taking them seriously over other operations that are still pushing 'just' the R22. Before I get a raft of comments in return I have nothing against the R22 having done my EASA PPL(H) in one and still fly one currently.
So, if you want more details, maybe give us a few more clues as to what it is that you are wanting to achieve.
RB
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Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
I’m an Australian and want to do the above mentioned course, so starting from scratch.
4 months seems like a very small amount of time to learn how to fly a helicopter. Is this the average time frame for obtaining a CPL(H)?
Also, with only 10hrs experience in an R44, how will this affect my future job prospects?
Would it be worth spending the extra 16k and doing the 22hr mountain course in the R44?
Regards
WW
4 months seems like a very small amount of time to learn how to fly a helicopter. Is this the average time frame for obtaining a CPL(H)?
Also, with only 10hrs experience in an R44, how will this affect my future job prospects?
Would it be worth spending the extra 16k and doing the 22hr mountain course in the R44?
Regards
WW
- havick
- 4th Dan
- Posts: 1300
- Joined: Jun 2007
Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
Which country do you plan on working in once you get your license?
"You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel."
- Yakking
- 2nd Dan
- Posts: 476
- Joined: Oct 2007
Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
First question I'd be asking is;
Can they get you the Study/Work Visa required for your training?
As I understand, there's only a few schools in North America that can (You can't just rock up and start training, you need the appropriate visa).
Can they get you the Study/Work Visa required for your training?
As I understand, there's only a few schools in North America that can (You can't just rock up and start training, you need the appropriate visa).
I wish I had a catchy saying like everyone else...
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Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
I plan on working in Canada once I finish the course. I have family there, but am not a citizen myself. The missus and I are planning on moving there in 2 years.
I checked the Study Visa requirements and it turns out BC Helicopters isn't a 'designated learning institution'.
Correct me if I'm wrong but this makes Chinook the only school in British Colombia who can teach international students.
I'm disappointed but will email them to find out more
WW
I checked the Study Visa requirements and it turns out BC Helicopters isn't a 'designated learning institution'.
Correct me if I'm wrong but this makes Chinook the only school in British Colombia who can teach international students.
I'm disappointed but will email them to find out more
WW
- bubble bugs
- Silver Wings
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Jan 2013
Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
If you can work in Australia I would suggest doing your licence here and getting a gig for a year or two in Aus. When your ready to move do the licence conversion with some hours in your log book. Its much easier to get a start in Aus!
Canada is slow at the moment and the chance of getting a junior pilot job on a temp. work permit with 100hrs in my opinion are nil. There have been a few I know try when the Canadian industry was booming and non flew there!
If you do some research most Canadian companies will require 1000hrs minimum to satisfy their customers requirements.
Canadians spend a good few (4-5yrs min. in most cases) years working their way to the thousand hour mark and if your on a visa with 4 years max, by the time you meet minimums for 90% of their clients it will be time to go home and that is how they will look at you out of flight school.
You can convert your licence with anyone that conducts the conversion course from your casa licence, unless this has changed?
Chinook has high time instructors and a decent course but go there with a big check book, vaseline and your own coffee cos you will pay for that too.
Coast Helicopter College on the island is where I would suggest. Experienced instructors, much more competitive in the cost department, coffee is on the house and they will help you get a job if there are any to get.
Good luck, but do some research or you may be in for disappointment.
Canada is slow at the moment and the chance of getting a junior pilot job on a temp. work permit with 100hrs in my opinion are nil. There have been a few I know try when the Canadian industry was booming and non flew there!
If you do some research most Canadian companies will require 1000hrs minimum to satisfy their customers requirements.
Canadians spend a good few (4-5yrs min. in most cases) years working their way to the thousand hour mark and if your on a visa with 4 years max, by the time you meet minimums for 90% of their clients it will be time to go home and that is how they will look at you out of flight school.
You can convert your licence with anyone that conducts the conversion course from your casa licence, unless this has changed?
Chinook has high time instructors and a decent course but go there with a big check book, vaseline and your own coffee cos you will pay for that too.
Coast Helicopter College on the island is where I would suggest. Experienced instructors, much more competitive in the cost department, coffee is on the house and they will help you get a job if there are any to get.
Good luck, but do some research or you may be in for disappointment.
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Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
I’ve really got my heart set on learning to fly in Canada and setting up a future over there.
I have a good job in the Pilbara working on the ramp/customer service for a helo company and am saving every penny towards Canada.
I’m optimistic that I can figure something out by the time we head over in 2 years. I have an intro flight with Rotorvation in Perth in April and can’t wait!
Thanks for all the replies and all the info.
Cheers
WW
I have a good job in the Pilbara working on the ramp/customer service for a helo company and am saving every penny towards Canada.
I’m optimistic that I can figure something out by the time we head over in 2 years. I have an intro flight with Rotorvation in Perth in April and can’t wait!
Thanks for all the replies and all the info.
Cheers
WW
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Re: BC Helicopters - Abbottsford
Nothing wrong with wanting to learn how to fly in Canada, but as Bubble Bugs said you need to do some research. I'm a working pilot in Canada and we just experienced one of the worst years in recent history. Many companies had massive layoffs and unless we have a really big fire season I can foresee some companies going out of business. There are several schools in Western Canada that pump out newly licensed Commercial pilots and you're going to be competing with all of those people (the majority who are Canadian citizens) and also other pilots with much more experience when times are tough for those entry level jobs. I've heard a figure of 10% of people who finish their license in Canada find a job in the industry and that's not a flying job. I had to wait 4 years after completing my license to actually get a job flying. The likelihood of an individual on a Visa obtaining employment over a citizen in this industry is nil, as Bubble Bugs said. The only way you would be able to get employment here as a pilot would be coming over with 1500+ hours. Many Australians and Kiwis have done it in the past, but with the current state of the economy I have a feeling there aren't many temporary foreign pilots working and there shouldn't be when there are unemployed Canadian pilots.
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