Heli lease / Instructor (NZ)

[Chopchop89]

Hey Team,

Looking for advice from anyone willing to provide it.

Is leasing a 300, R22 or R44 a viable option to undertake PPL / CPL training ?, I’m in the Manawatu (NZ) and providers are limited in my general area, if so what are the costs associated etc ?.

I’ve got a couple of hours in an R22 from quite a few years ago.

Also, if I was to try and source an instructor what’s the going hourly rate ?.

Feel free to flick me a message if you like.

Thanks

[homersimpson]

You’ll have to get one with insurance to do training in which costs a couple extra dollars. Make sure it’s on the certificate of insurance. Also kind of training (as in ab initio/solo students/etc).

Going rate for 44 is around $450 (In Oz) per hour dry. Add fuel and oil about $150 per hour. Add landing fees/parking.

Add ferry flights to and from maintenance every 50 hrs or when it stops working getting an engineer out there.

Instructor anywhere from $500 to $1500 per day plus travel expenses plus food and boarding.

So if you fly 7 hours a day to get that license it might be worth it, otherwise better to drive a couple hours every weekend and go to a school with good facilities. Unless you’re cashed up and after convenience.

Not sure about NZ prices.

Other opinions would be interesting.

[garly1]

I did it this way mate and it worked out well. My advice would be to get all your exams done first and a medical. That way if someone leases you a heli over winter for example they won't be waiting for you. I did all my exams and KDR's and it took 4 months full time. The flying side of it took about 4 months too, pretty much full time as the weather and workload allowed. The RSAT thing has made it more difficult here in NZ so may be easier in a 300.

[Chopchop89]

Thanks for info chaps, I’ve been able to get some strong leads on a 300 to lease so I’ll definitely start the theory side of things sooner rather than later.

[SuperF]

you wont fly 7 hours per day trying to get a licence. The best you can do to start is 1-2 hrs per day.

Good weather you will manage 1 hr in the morning and then 1 hr in the afternoon. Any more than that is a waste of time, you get overloaded and learn nothing and your training goes backwards. As you get a bit more experience you may be able to stretch it out a little, if you have to ferry to a training area, but if you can train 7 hrs per day then your instructor isn't moving your training forward at the pace that you learn.

[garly1]

Don't think anyone said you would be flying 7 hours a day?
From memory I think we averaged around 2/3 hours flying a day depending on what we were doing. Like SuperF said some days took more of a toll than others but as far as learning goes its hard to beat having a private instructor.

[SuperF]

You’ll have to get one with insurance to do training in which costs a couple extra dollars. Make sure it’s on the certificate of insurance. Also kind of training (as in ab initio/solo students/etc).

Going rate for 44 is around $450 (In Oz) per hour dry. Add fuel and oil about $150 per hour. Add landing fees/parking.

Add ferry flights to and from maintenance every 50 hrs or when it stops working getting an engineer out there.

Instructor anywhere from $500 to $1500 per day plus travel expenses plus food and boarding.

So if you fly 7 hours a day to get that license it might be worth it, otherwise better to drive a couple hours every weekend and go to a school with good facilities. Unless you’re cashed up and after convenience.

Not sure about NZ prices.

Other opinions would be interesting.

Didn't want anyone reading that and thinking they would have a licence in a couple of weeks....

[garly1]

Agree 100% with SuperF there is no way you will be flying 7 hours a day, sorry missed that in homersimpsons reply!

[homersimpson]

Yeah sorry guys, just meant it doesn’t make sense to get a private instructor if you’re not going to use him while he’s there. Unless you don’t care about the money.

[Adventure Rider]

Chopchop. I am a current B-cat Instructor living in the Manawatu. I might be able to help you out.
but no promises. I'm new to this site and not that familiar with its workings.

[Adventure Rider]

Chopchop
I live in the Manawatu and may be able to help. Tried to send you a PM but it didn't appear to send. Not sure what's going on.

[Ben Slocombe]

Chopchop
I live in the Manawatu and may be able to help. Tried to send you a PM but it didn't appear to send. Not sure what's going on.

I think this site is programmed to only allow private messages after you have posted 3 times to prevent spam. Make another post here and then try your PM again.

[Adventure Rider]

Cheers Ben.....Got it sorted.