Ontario Schools?

[RumpleMan]

Hello,

I'm currently researching schools in the Ontario/Quebec area. Does anyone have any good suggestions or good things they've heard about some of the schools around here? Does one stand above the rest, or is it basically personal preference?

Next, does it make sense to go to a bigger school, for more opportunity of getting hired on after? Especially if the school is a nationwide company for example, as opposed to the little school, that supports just it's local area?

Finally, I've read on websites (haven't visited these schools yet!) that some schools train with the R22. I've read some really negative things about this heli, should I be looking at a school that has a R44 or Schwizer 300 instead? Does it make a difference for employers? for training purposes?

Ok, really the last question. I promise! I've also read that out west in BC, they have a certain degree of mountain training? Is this a big advantage? Should I consider moving out west to get training there? Is the market that much bigger out west that I would have a better chance of employment after, if I went to school there?

Thanks ahead of time. I appreciate your help
R

 

[Winnie]

Well good sir,
Have you thought about paying them a visit? for instance, you may come and visit the facilities at Modak Aviation in London, Ontario after tuesday, since I'll be there to take care of you! You may find that the opinions about the different types of training machines arestrong, but then again, opinions are like a....les, everybody's got one.

In the market afterwards I don't believe it matters, as long as it is a Helicopter, since you will be regarded as a novice and newbie for quite some time, and you'll need checkouts on the machines your employer have.

So, I'll see you on thursday at 9 o'clock? (Next week that is!)

 

[jetbox]

First of all, before you go spend you $50 000 on flight training, I hope someone gave you a realistic outlook at what you should expect once you finish your training and receive your license:
1-Good luck finding a job. If you find employement for a helicopter outfit within the first 6-12 months, you will be very lucky!
2- Once you find this first job, expect to clean toilets, wash floors, repair cargo nets etc. for the first year. This is usually so the companies can size you up (see what kind of attitude and work ethics you have) before letting you loose in their million dollar A/C.
3-Once you start flying, expect to be away from home for many many moons. In other words, you will not have a social life between May and September. I know this seems harsh but that's the nature of this industry and if you're not prepared to accept this, don't waste your money!!!! Working conditions are generally improving but very slowly!
Also, be prepared to spend a lot of time in crappy camps and eating crappy food.

I'm not trying to scare you away from getting into this business, I just want to make sure you're not one of many unsuspecting students that were told everything is peachy be the flight schools just so they could take you money. Once you pay, they don't care how long you have to knock on operator's doors to get a job!
All the negatives sides of this business are well worth it if you have the right kind of personality. I personally couldn't think of a better career to get into


As for what kind of heli to train in, read some of the past threads and you'll find a lot of different advice.
We hire new pilots every year and we often don't even consider guys that trained in Bell 47's or Hughes 300's unless they come highly recomended by someone we know. We operate Robinsons and we would rather hire someone that trained in an R22/R44 . At least, the small amount of flying they've already done is in the same type of A/C they'll be flying for us (no need for a different endorsment!)
90% of entry positions in this country are on a Robinson product. When's the last time you saw a Bell 47 or a Hughes 300 in the oil field????
As for weather R22's are unsafe, personally I think it's a load of cr-p!!!
They're only unsafe when flown by idiots. Robinson's wouldn't the best selling A/C in the world if they were unsafe.
By the way, Bell 47's and 300's are just as good a training choice if you focus only on the training.
One thing you might want to consider is training with an outfit that also operates.
Big companies like Great Slave Helicopters usually hire a couple of their best students every year. It doesn't necessarily mean you would receive the best training in the world but then again, the best training in the world won't help you find a job!

Winnie is right about opinions and assh-les, and this is mine!!!!

 

[Hueylover]

Yes, they have mountains in BC and yes, it is an advantage if you want to fly in them!

BC and Alberta are starting to require mountain courses to fly with their respective forestry agencies.

 

[412driver]

first off...Winnie...welcome back amigo........

secondly,we have debated which is the best machine for training just about to death. :down:

Rumpleman, do yourself a favor and research this thoroughly. go to the various schools and ask alot of questions. it's your money and every school should be happy to answer ALL your questions.......

true, everyone has an opinion but it is yours that counts. if you are checking out schools in BC stop by for a coffee. if you are wanting to stay in ontario then go see winnie!!

good luck.......

 

[recirqe]

All things being equal I would hire a pilot that trained in or around the area our company operates.If you want to fly in Ontario ,train IN Ontario if you want to fly in B.C. or Alberta train IN B.C. or Alberta . This is not east VS west prejidice .I believe in supporting the local industry and there has to be some way of thining the pile of resume's . Good luck ,it's agreat job

 

[Puddle Jumper]

recirqe

I understand you point, however being on the low time pilot side of things I don't think that training in Ontario will help you get hired in Ontario. Be honest, how many low time pilots do you know that have been hired in Ontario in the last 3 years? And out of all of these how many are actually flying. Not just picking up an hour hear or there but that are actually flying operationally. I think that you will find the opportunities are few and far between at best, but that opportunities are better for low timers that train and look for employment in Alberta.

 

[twinstar_ca]

sorry to hijack but i gotta say welcome back to winnie as well!!

i'm presuming that things did not work out as you had planned but it's very heartening to hear you back and ready to teach...

that in itself is a very cool gift...

 

[Winnie]

412Driver and Twinstar_ca, thanks! And I'm looking forward to beeing in your beautiful country again, doing what we all love, with some new and most interesting oportunities that I have not had before! Hope that includes being closer to some of you, enough so that I might meet a fewe of you na dshare a few beers or other types of liquid lubrication!

Cheers and hi to all!

 

[LongRanger]

Hey Winnie, welcome back to the country. You have a bonus now though, may see more of that Canadian sun where you are as compared to my mother granite. I guess that get together at Reflections is off the table eh!!

Good luck with the new job.

LR

 

[RumpleMan]

Hi again,

Thanks for the info everyone. I really do appreciate your input. You guys are great, as you give your insights in a truthful straightforward way.

You bet I'm going to do more research. (I have been all along, but you can never learn enough, especially when $50k are on the line.)

Winnie, thanks for the invite to your facility in London, I might stop by when I'm in the area to ask a question or two.

Jetbox, nice informative post. Both sides to the story, thats what I need to hear.

PuddleJumper, thanks again, you've been a big help. I'll send you PM later, as I want to ask you a few more things.

And to everyone who posted. Thank alot!

However, here's another question for you all. Alot of people think I'm pretty crazy about persuing something like this. I know to just stick with my guns, but it's kinda hard when it's the people that are closest to you that tend to worry more, and try to persuade you from spending $50k. I keep telling tell them that it's like getting a University Degree, but people don't tend to think of it like that. How'd you guys deal with that?

Cheers
R

 

[412driver]

i was a farm boy...only son...and expected to carry on the tradition........

my momma cried...dad said i was on my own..........

and 17 years later...they are as proud as can be.......

remember, it's YOUR dream and YOUR life.........

go live it!!

 

[Thumper2]

Hey 412, I remember a great social life between April to Oct ....... isn't that what led to our "12 steps to recovery program"?? Drinking from garbage cans in Highlevel, at least we didn't sleep in the ditch at the Vermon cut-off! LOL

Now tell him the truth ........ "invest in real estate!"

 

[jetbox]

You got it bang on 412 driver, it's your life do whatever you want with it!

As far as I'm concerned, this is the best thing you could do with yourself, even after considering all the negative aspects of the business. It can be very hard to find a job initially but persistence and a good attitude will prevail!!!
Besides, it's almost worth it just for the response you get from people after they ask you what you do for a living!!!!