Heli Flying School, south coast, recommendations?

[maser_spyder]

Hello chaps,

If one was thinking about thinking about starting to learn to fly a chopper, relatively near to Winchester or Southampton, are there any highly recommended flying schools, or, more pertinently, any to avoid?

Possibly a bit of a pipe dream, but maybe if I took just a lesson or two a month, I could possibly afford to do it.

Anyway, would like to try it first and see how it goes, but I want to do it properly and get off on the right foot.

So, any recommendations?

Thanks!

[Vixpy1]

There is defo one, maybe two at shoreham

[mad4amanda]

IIRC Mike wilds is a heli instructor http://www.mikewilds.com/helicopter/
if he is as good in the air as in a car your in for a great time and he is based on south coast I think.

[maser_spyder]

mad4amanda said:

IIRC Mike wilds is a heli instructor http://www.mikewilds.com/helicopter/
if he is as good in the air as in a car your in for a great time and he is based on south coast I think.

Good shout, I would never have found him online. It'll get in touch, looks like exactly what I'm looking for.

[barrytoogood]

Give Advance Helicopters at Shoreham a call. The school is run by James & Spencer who taught me throughout my PPL(H) 2 years ago, when they worked for a different outfit.

Can't recommend them enough - extremely knowledgeable, patient (they needed to be!), on a 'pro-GA' airfield and are thoroughly decent chaps. I'm sure they would be more than happy to run you through the ins and outs of the course if you popped in to see them.

[iiyama]

Goodwood have courses too.

[Geneve]

Mike Wilds would be a good call if he is still teaching.

There are various schools to chose from and it would pay to spend some time visiting several to get an insight and understanding of what is involved. Also, subject to budget, the type of helicopter you wish to train on. Robinsons are the most ubiquitous but not to everyone's taste.

Two hours a month is probably not enough. Intially, ideally whilst the weather is good and the days longer, it would pay to get your first 18 hours completed to reach a competent level (although not quite solo), then perhaps 2 hrs a month and some ground school during the winter months would suffice.

Learning to fly a helicopter is one of life's most rewarding challenges and the learning process should be enjoyed and not rushed. 60-75 hrs is about normal to get the basic ppl(h) qualification, although it can take longer. Not convinced that the US route is better. In the longer term the UK airspace, weather, navigation and r/t are what you'll need to learn.

Plenty of information on here http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads-23/