Company Representatives Endorse the Vertical Reference Training Academy
Jim - “I chose to send our new pilots to LA Helicopters because they had developed a curriculum that focused on bush and utility work. While EMS, the Gulf, tour and news helicopters grab the headlines a large part of the helicopter industry quietly goes about its business. That business is out in the bush and utility work is where the helicopter is the workhorse. Differing skill sets are needed mainly precise aircraft control and vertical-reference external load long-line skills.
Vertical-reference long-line work is not a skill taught by flight schools but if one was to acquire that skill and be good at it they would never be without work. Most companies do not have the time, money or structure to provide basic vertical-reference flight training. For companies operating large helicopters the cost to train a person without basic long-line skills can be huge.
Having someone like LA Helicopters offering this type of training is cost-effective for us and helps to provide skilled pilots to the industry as a whole. Certainly anyone who completes this course would have a major advantage in obtaining a job with companies whose bread-and-butter is long-line external load work.”
- Jim Coates
Chief Pilot/ Director of Flight Operations, Columbia Helicopters, Inc.
John - “We have enrolled around a half dozen of our pilots with minimal long line experience to LA Helicopters to partake in their FAA approved long line training course. They have all come back from LAHs' training program very excited and ready to fly external loads.
I have seen the difference in their flying abilities from before they went to LAH to when they got back. Our pilots came back with a lot more confidence in their abilities and could back it up with their new learned long line skills. LA Helicopters is an outstanding flight school with a top notch product and has done an excellent job educating and training our pilots.
I would not hesitate to recommend LA Helicopters to anyone who is looking to start a flying career or who would like to improve on their flying abilities.”
- John Harris
Chief Pilot, Carson Helicopter Services, Inc.
Kerry - “The Los Angles Helicopters Professional Long Line Course is exactly what its name implies. This course contains the same methods of instruction and content that have been used to train Columbia Helicopters, Inc. support ship pilots. The skills taught here are the same we require at Columbia Helicopters, Inc. in order to be considered for upgrade as a Command Pilot in one of our BV107s.
I have personally flown the course at L.A.H. and endorse Los Angles Helicopters as a valid Heliport and Long Line training facility.”
- Kerry Allen
Assistant Chief Pilot, Columbia Helicopters, Inc.