WE'VE MOVED ... TO A NEW NOTICEBOARD HERE

HIMMAT RECEIVES HIS CPLH CERTIFICATE

Congratulations Himmat on passing your CPLH flight test on Thursday, 28 June 2008. What an amazing journey it's been these past eight months. Here's his bio:

Full name?
Himmat Singh Mahal

Country of Origin?
Punjab, India

Why did you want to fly helicopters?
From childhood I have always seen my Dad fly helicopters and I always wanted to fly them.

Why did you choose to train at Beckers?
1. Feedback from other students. 2. Professionalism. 3. Whenever I spoke to them everything was precise so I felt confident in choosing them.

When did you start here?
I came in November 2007 but started in January 2008.

What was theory like?
Ohh, I hated it big time. But Robin (theory instructor) made it interesting by taking usin the helicopter SIM (simulator) and explaining it practically.

During theory how many hours a week would you study for your exams?
I was a bad guy. I mainly just did my homework.

Was it enough?
I passed all my exams, so yeah. I think so.

Cyberexam thoughts?
If cyberexam was a human being I would take a g--, haha just kidding.

Best flying experience at Beckers?
First solo. Love it. When Mike went out of the aircraft I was too happy. Finally felt like I had achieved something.

Not so good experience?
I will never tell. It's a big secret.

What was your flight test like?
Nervous but when I look back at it, it was just another fun flight.

Where and what are you going to do now?
I will be back in Inida to fly B206 in pipeline surveying.

Advice to new students?
Enjoy the course. Don't be too tense. Training is like a roller coaster ride. You have down and ups. One of the greatest thing in training is like you never what will happen next and by the end of it you will be ready for your job and start taking things as they come. But do enjoy it!

Please be patient for the video to appear. Enjoy!

FERGUS PONDER DOES A LIFTING JOB IN CHICAGO

We did this job last weekend at State and Monroe in Chicago. This guy is an airline pilot overnighting in the hotel we were working on. Jimmy is flying this ship, I was in the other helicopter as we were tag teaming each time a fuel cycle ended the other one would show up. This gentleman thought it was all one helicopter, interesting. We are using a 300' long line to access the street. Enjoy!

Fergus

Please be patient for the screen to appear

FATHER AND SON (ABHI) LEAVES MARK IN BELL HELICOPTER HISTORY BOOKS


FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 27, 2008) – When Anil Mahajan and his son Abhijeet recently completed their training, they entered the record books as the first father and son team to qualify in the same helicopter at Bell’s Customer Training Academy.

To make the event even more unique, they both received their training from the same Bell Academy instructor pilot, Kevin Brandt. Anil completed his initial conversion to the Bell 407 with Kevin in 2001, and Abhijeet completed his initial conversion with Kevin last week.

“Kevin is an excellent instructor,” said Anil. “In fact, all of Bell’s instructors are excellent. I had my initial training and a couple of refreshers with Kevin, so I was very happy when he could take up my son.”

Not only is this father and son team a first at the Bell Training Academy, they are also the first father and son team to fly the same helicopter in India, and for the same company, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd.

Anil began flying helicopters in 1979 as a pilot in the Indian Army. After completing his military career in 1995, Anil entered commercial aviation flying the Bell 206L4. Today he flies the Bell 407 for HCC where he is the company’s head of aviation.

“I’ve been an ardent Bell supporter from the time I started flying,” said Anil. “Bell is good in all respects. That’s it in a nutshell,” he added, referring to Bell’s global reputation for world-class customer service and superior quality.

Abhijeet was just one year old when his father began flying helicopters. “I’ve always looked up to Dad,” remarked the son. “As far back as I can remember it’s been Dad flying helicopters,” he said.

“I’d always wanted my son to join up with me,” said Anil. “I thought he might join the Army and then step into my shoes, but he had different likings.” Although Abhijeet dreamed of becoming a helicopter pilot like his father, his life initially headed in another direction. After earning an MBA, he took a position with ICICI Bank, got married and started a family. But Abhijeet’s desire to fly remained strong.

Anil recognized his son’s continuing interest in flying and asked, “Son, why not have a gamble and give it a try?” Abhijeet welcomed the adventure. He began his flight training at the HAL Rotary Wing Academy in India in 2006, and earned his commercial helicopter pilot’s license in 2007 at Becker Helicopters in Brisbane, Australia.

When Abhijeet returned to India he planned to find a job flying offshore missions supporting the oil and gas industry. However, his father’s company was planning an expansion of its aviation operation and Abhijeet was offered a job flying for Hindustan Construction Company. The company currently flies a Bell 407, and will take delivery of a Bell 427 later this year. The company has also signed orders for a Bell 429 and two Bell/Agusta BA609 Tiltrotors.

“It’s a dream come true now being able to fly helicopters,” said Abhijeet, “and being able to fly with Dad makes it that much better. It’s really a great feeling.”

A love of flying is not uncommon in the Mahajan family. Abhijeet’s sister is married to a fixed-wing pilot, and Abhijeet’s three-year-old son has already announced his desire to become a pilot when he grows up.

Both father and son have plans to return to Bell’s Customer Training Academy in October for initial conversion training on the Bell 427, and they hope to have Kevin Brandt as their instructor again.

Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at http://www.textron.com/.

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Post Office Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101-0482

NIGEL THOMAS - UPDATE

It was back in 2006 since we last heard of Nigel and now 2 years later we catch up with him again. So ...

Where and what are you doing now?
I’m working for Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Group - based in Port Douglas FNQ.
Relocated family (now 2 kids 2 and a half and 12 weeks) and bought a house in Mossman Gorge in early 07 GBR are the largest Helicopter Tourism operator in Queensland with a fleet of R44, B206/206L and AS350’s.

I’ve been performing a combined role in Sales & Marketing and flying the line. Primarily I’ve been flying the R44 out of Port Douglas, but recently came to line on the B206 and am happily building my turbine hours now rotating through the Cairns and Port Douglas bases.

What has been in the highlight of your flying career so far?
Passing final theory subject, passing CPL(H) in Dec ’04, and finally securing a great flying job with a great company in the most breath-taking natural environment on the planet !

What do you hope to be doing in 5 years from now?
Enjoying my flying, being challenged every day, continuing to learn and develop my flying skills ….. and getting paid a bit more !!!! By then – with lots of turbine time, machine endorsements and some more study (ATPL/IREX) I hope to be able to address the last of the list above !!

Advice to those persons looking for helicopter work?
I’d take that back to persons looking at helicopters as a career and from personal experience suggest that the following golden rules will aid in traversing the inevitably rocky road…..

1. Make sure that you can fund yourself for at least a year after you’ve completed your CPL to enable you to accept those jobs that pay a pittance and supplement whatever income you can achieve while you develop your skills, gain some hours and start to build your reputation in the industry. So many people come into flight school having been able to build the cash reserves from previous types of employment and by the end of the process are absolutely “skint”. That typically forces people into returning to the previous employment to re-build cash reserves and breaks the continuity and focus on the helicopter path. Many fail to make the transition back. I had to do it – and was very lucky.

2. Be confident that you can present and articulate skills other than your freshly minted CPL(H) to a prospective employer and be prepared to take a job that is not initially offering flying. I wasn’t hired at GBRH for my piloting skills – my flying opportunities developed as a result of my business planning and Sales & Marketing abilities – gained in that “other” life prior to flying.

3. Never forget – “It’s a 5 year plan” – Mike Becker quote ! ….. and if you really want it – you will make it happen

MATT EKE - PASSES CPLH!

Congratulations Matt on passing your CPL flight test last Saturday!

Having survived a bad bout of the mumps (when you boarded your flight from London to Brisbane) and then coping with the climate change. Tackling the theory course before successfully passing your exams. Then ... flying during some of the most atrocious weather we had this summer. You did pretty well!

If the video box doesn't appear, please be patient and enjoy!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST CPLH PILOTS!

It has been a long time coming but the day finally came. We say farewell to three of our newest CPLH pilots. Matt Wilson from NSW, Australia; Davide Barachetti from Italy and Lasse Thorsager from Denmark. When they began their training in September last year, they had no idea the theory would be a breeze compared to their flying. Months of atrocious summer storms hampered their training since November.

Good luck guys! We'll miss you!

Matt Wilson's Celebration and Farewell

Davide's and Lasse's Graduation

L to R: Niels (Flight Instructor), Mez (Flight Instructor), Davide and Lasse

CANDICE MARRIES - THREE TIMES!

It was a thrill for Mike, Jan (plus the girls) and Maraina to be celebrating the marriage of Candice and Rowan at Twin Waters last month. Candice worked at Becker Helicopters as our student liaison until just a few years ago. She was well-liked, cheerful and just a joy to the students and everyone in and around the school. Candice still lives and work on the Coast. Here's her story ...

Have you ever heard of three weddings and to the same man :-) Well Rowan and I wanted to make our marraige legal in Australia so on the 20th February 2008 we went to Nambour Court house with Dad and Step Mum as our witnesses. We wanted it to be really simple so not to make it any better than the big day, so just to get the legal stuff out the way.

I then flew to South Africa on 22nd February to get things ready for the big day on 8th March. The day was beautiful with all our friends and family at San Lameer Golf Estate on the South Coast of South Africa (what a beautiful spot). We had the wedding at 5pm on a beautiful Saturday afternoon were I was escorted to the venue on a Yamaha maroon golf cart and with my girls also in a golf cart. Dad drove me and Shan (my sister) got her boyfriend to drive Shaz (maid of honor), Shan (sister) and Roxanne my cousin.

After the ceromony (signing a play play paper as we had already legally been married) we then had to do all the photos, which took some time. We relaxed and enjoyed a wonderful roast followed by 5 cakes and a chocolate fountain. Rowan and I then had to do our dance which we really enjoyed so much. We did the ramba (a good friend from South Africa who lives across the road taught us).

We then went on our honeymoon on the following Tuesday, to a private game reserve called Amakhosi Safari Lodge. We got to see Lion, Cheetah, Elephant, Bullalo, got stuck in a huge storm too. We had a great time though and stayed for two days.

We then went to Cape Town for my sisters graduation and got to see some really great scenic and mountainis settings.

ADAM GETS HIS NEW HELICOPTER

Where do you live?
Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast,Queensland,Australia

What’s your occupation?
Businessman with a variety of interests.

Why do you want to fly helicopters?
I have had a fixed wing license since 1987 and always promised myself to explore the “other” and now finding it absolutely great! The ultimate convenience of not having to find a suitable runway will be fantastic.

Why did you choose Beckers?
Firstly the welcoming enthusiasm as I would come through the door for the last few years to enquire after I shifted down here from Emerald. Secondly the availability, presentation and professionalism of the initial information provided including “Mike Becker’s Helicopter Handbook”.

When did you start training?
December 2007

What are you flying?
Commenced in R44 Raven 1 and now in R44 Raven 2.

How many hours have you flown?
Approximately 1500 hours Fixed Wing (but mostly 10 – 15 years ago). 33 hours so far in helicopter and loving it.

Best flying experience so far?
In the helicopter it was going into confined areas and realising the capability and manoverability of the aircraft more.

Not so best flying experience?
Non so far in helicopter … all been great. In fixed wing it was an off runway landing in a paddock in a Pitts Special nearly in the dark. Something I would recommend not to do.

How many hours do you have to go?
Thousands …… to go where??

What are your flying plans for the future?
Hopefully progress to PPL in the near future, start get a lot of flying time and experiences happening in the R44 undertaking lots of distance trips and progressing steadily through commercial study to gain Commercial License in the coming months. The purpose of gaining the Commercial license is not driven by career aspirations but rather than by personal interests in attaining particular measured levels of competency.

Where did you get your new helicopter?
A suitable specified machine was available immediately through Helibiz at the Gold Coast so rather than wait for one to be imported I took the opportunity to get it now.

Anything else to add?
Since commencing the training at Becker’s the biggest stand out points for me has been the quality of instruction and in particular the manner in which is communicated (no screaming instructors) and also the overall camaraderie of all staff and current students. It is an atmosphere that encourages great and successful outcomes for all.

LASSE (DENMARK) PASSES HIS PPL TODAY!
Congratulations Lasse on passing your PPL flight test today. How strong were those winds today eh? Lasse began his flight training in September 2007. His biggest challenge? Battling the atrocious weather conditions since Christmas last year. Today the weather was a little forgiving (minus the wind). You did a brilliant job Lasse. Well done!

RICKY FORD - LATEST UPDATE
Former student Ricky Ford (trained at Beckers back in '98-'99) helps flood ravaged, Central Highlands. Witnessing the devastation and horrific loss of livestock, here's Ricky's story ...

To view, click on picture

NICK SHEW - NEW UPDATE

So finally I've made it! Cracked that out-of-sight-for-so-long goal!

There I was looking for work. Many letters were sent and follow up phone calls made. I got a few replies, most of which were "Thanks for the letter, we have nothing for someone of your experience, however when you have 1000 hours and a twin turbine rating please get back in touch". There I was with about 200 hours and a Robbie 22 ticket. Talk about feeling inadequate! It had taken *lots* of time and money to get this far and I was less than a fifth of what was needed.

I started offering cheap flights to friends, family, strangers in the pub so I could at least hour build and pay less for it. Then the beginning of the turn of events that ended out in my first pay check this month occurred. An instructor at an airfield near me called up and said she had a PPL who wanted to hire her 22 but she wouldn't let him without a safety pilot, would I lend a hand? I agreed thinking I could log something in my log book and at least I'd be around helicopters and could keep my hand in. Well I couldn't log anything, but at least I was flying again.

The PPL and myself did a few of these flights where I just sat there in case he couldn't fly well enough. As it happens we were getting winds which were very challenging in a 22 and he managed fine if not a little gingerly. As things were though it was getting harder to keep going as I was totally skint. Fortunately the PPL pilot happened to sell cars and needed some delivering so gave me a job. Not only did this help to stop me drowning financially, but it was near another airfield where I had completed my CPL the previous February (It was now October).

About now the PPL pilot started hiring a 44 Raven II and I was approached to be a safety pilot in 44 Astro. I've got my 44 CASA rating, but decided to get my JAR 44 rating also as I was hopefully gonna need it anyway (and my nan had given me some cash to cover it - thanks nan x). On the back of this I got a few short ferry flights and got speaking to the owner of Sandtoft Helicopters. It turned out she needed an instructor and asked me if I had considered becoming one. We now have an arrangement where I got my instructor course, rating and Bell 206 rating too and I will work for the company. (Thump! That was me landing on my feet! :-)

I started instructing at the beginning of January and thanks to the weather it's been a slow start, but I now have over 330 hours of which 50 are instructional hours and 12 solo sendoffs and I'm halfway to having the restrictions lifted from my FI rating!!! Even better, at last, the money flow has changed direction and I have the best office window I have ever had!

This time last year I had just got my JAA CPL and was quite disheartened about the position I was in. I knew the whole process was going to be hard back when I was training at Beckers and nothing can prepare you for how that dip that claims so many of us will feel. A year on and I'm out the other side and on the bottom rung of my new career ladder looking up. What a difference a year can make.

Here's some pics of my new office. Some are taken with a mobile phone,so better pics to come when I can stand outside for long enough not to loose limbs. (It's been -10 degrees celsius and 1046hPa this last week. There were even icicles hanging from the door hinges yesterday!)

So for all you budding professional pilots - stick with it. Even when it's going slow or even not moving - you got skills very few people ever get. The opportunities will eventually arrive and probably not from where you expected.

FERGUS PONDER - LATEST UPDATE

Some nice maintenance weather here in Chicago. Hard core mechanics!

HIGH FLYERS

Mike Becker and Robin Helsdon. Published recently in the Sunshine Coast Daily

To view bigger, click on the image

ROSS DENNIS - AUSTRALIA

Hello All,

We have had more or less a record flood on the Belyando River, thankfully for 4 or 5 ROBBIES, a lot of disaster has been reduced (especially swimming cattle (kms) and moving them on to high ground, and airlifting people from flooded homes and the sick to town). Has been full on the last 5 days or so.

All the Best, Rossco.

STIAN VOLDSUND - NORWAY


Why did you want to fly helicopters?

I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, but I decided to fly helicopters when I got a flight when I was in the Navy.

Why did you choose Beckers?

People who want to fly helicopters that are from Norway normally do one out of two choices. Eigther they go to school in Norway, or they go to US to it. I wanted to do something different than the normal mass of people do. So I looked into New Zealand and Australia and found the Beckers website. Looked like a really nice place, good follow-up, experienced instructors. So I ended up there. Haven’t regretted it since.

When did you start training at Beckers?

Started in September 2006, and finished in June 2007.

What was your theory like?

It was a bit of reading, but it wasn’t to hard.

During theory how many hours a week would you study for your cyber exams?After school I studied for about 2-3 hours, but when the exams was getting close you read a bit more to tighten things up.

Was it enough?

Yeah, passed all exams first time. But if had done a bit more studying I might have got some higher scores :P

Cyber exam thoughts?

I liked them. Except the few seconds you have to wait before your score comes up on the screen after submitted the test.

What was your first flight experience like and who did you fly with?

Got my first flight when I was in the navy, did some tactical flying. My first time with the controls was in my TIF with Mike Becker.

Best flying experience?

Passing the flight test was one of the very best ones, but I think that almost everyday I get to fly is awesome.

Worst flying experience?

Have 2 cases that I think was equally bad. The first one I was flying in the Norwegian mountains with an AS350B3 and suddenly I started to loose altitude. Pulled back on the cyclic to climb speed and pulled max power but was still going down 1600 feet pr minute. Was a really strong downdraft over the ridge so we had to dive down the side of the mountain, and when we were about 200-300 feet over the ocean it let go, and we could get some altitude back. The second one was also in the mountains. Its started to snow really badly, the ground was also white cause of the snow so we got a total “white out”. Luckily we saw a few trees, so we just aimed for them, landed close to them so we didn’t loose over reference to them, shut down and just sat there waiting until it cleared up again.

What was your flight test like?

I was really nervous when I started the day. Bit of mumbling at first when I did my board briefs, but it got better when I got started. Same when I was doing my radio calls and the first take-off, but it got better when I got going. Then I came back and got to know that I have passed. When I then got out of the chopper, the other guys(with Robin in front) had arranged a surprise for me. Didn’t understand why a fire truck was standing next door, but suddenly there was “raining” quiet good. Thanks to the fire guysJ

Where and what are you going to do now?

Now I’m back in Norway doing my ATPL theory, and working in a helicopter company as ground crew and co-pilot. As soon as I get my theory done, and my flight test passed I will start working as a pilot with them. Start up in the R-44, and work my way up to AS350 and Bell214.

Advice to new students?

Never give up. Even if it looks like everything is working against you, never give up. And remember, “Real pilots don’t need runways”

NEW ROBINSON 44 IS HERE!

IN HELINEWS RECENTLY
to read click on the picture

TIM COUSINS - LATEST UPDATE

It's been over a year and half since we last caught up with former student Tim Cousins and so what is Tim up to now?

Since my last update a huge amount has happened - I have sat all my ATPL(H) theory exams; obtained my JAA CPL(H); set up a new AOC operation in Scotland; passed a SP/ME IR(H) and achieved my dream job of flying offshore in the North Sea.

I am now a co-pilot with CHC Scotia (since January 2007) undertaking crew-change flights to oil rigs in the North Sea, flying AS332L2 Super Pumas from Aberdeen - and I LOVE it !!

It has been a long slow process to get here (took my CASA CPL(H) in 2001 !!), has cost me the monetary equivalent of the GDP of Lithuania, and without the committed support of my wife I might never have arrived here. Nevertheless, here I am and I have no regrets whatsoever.

The North Sea is a unique environment to operate in - in a matter of hours the weather can change from CAVOK to 60kt fog ! I know, I know, in all my theory studies I was told that anything above a light wind will disperse fog, well I challenge the authors of those Met books to spend some time in Aderdeen !

I have achieved a number of "firsts" since being here, and not all of them welcome. Here are some of the highlights:

I have flown at FL100; undertaken my first medevac flight; had a hydraulic failure on final approach; diverted due to weather; flown for nearly 2 hours without touching the controls (autopilot); experienced heavy ice accumulations; "gone around" from a rig when at 0.75 miles it was still not visible through the fog; highest windspeed so far of 74kts; a rejected take off as a result of pax screaming "STOP !" when they saw sparks leaving the exhaust; and taxying a wheeled helicopter.

The worldwide helicopter job market has never been so active. It seems to be driven from a shortage of suitably qualified pilots for the offshore industry which then filters down through to the corporate and single engine charter market. The number of people learning to fly is increasing year on year which is also creating demand for instructors. In short, if you're thinking of learning to fly, now seems a great time to make the jump. Don't be fooled into thinking it is an easy step to take, however, hard work and diligence will be rewarded.

DAVID PAECH

Congratulations Dave on gaining your CPL (passed Friday 30 November 2007). Great work!! Tell us about your adventure over the past six months?

Why did you want to fly helicopters?
For the adventure and a different perspective on the world.

Why did you choose Beckers?
Because of the team's attitude towards growth.

When did you start at Beckers?
June 2007

What was theory like?
Intensive and thorough, but made easier with patience and knowledge from Robin (Theory Instructor)

During theory how many hours a week would you study for your cyber exams?
As much as I possibly could.

Was it enough?
Yes! But more can only help!

Cyber exam thoughts?
Challenging. Be well prepared.

What was your first flight experience at Beckers like and who did you fly with?
B47 TIF flight with Dougie! Great day. Everyone was more than helpful including the students. Thanx Alex!!!

Best flying experience?
Flying to Byron Bay with my classmate and now lifetime friend Abhi.

Worst flying experience?
Flying hungover in Jetstar! from Sydney to Melbourne with a 50 minute wait on the tarmac. (Thank goodness you were hungover on a plane!)

What was your flight test like?
Nerveracking, but then empowering and absolute relief. Beckers prepares you well!

Where and what are going to do now?
Sunshine Coast for the moment. Study some more with IREX and Dangerous Goods. R44 endorsement then EVERYWHERE!! Flying in EVERY HELICOPTER! The world is calling me!

To Mike, Jan, Robin, Mez, Maraina, Ric, Bryan, Dougie, Perry, Kim, Neils, Tony and of course Mushu. You have given me something so special I can't put it into words. So much more than just a chopper licence. Thank you. I will never forget that gift to my life.

Advice to new students?
Relax! Enjoy the time at Beckers. Savour your friendships and bonds formed with your classmates and Instructors.

Your time at Beckers will be possibly the most challenging yet inspiring and empowering experience of your life.

Never, never, never give up!

YOU will become more than just an aviator!

... and take extra care of Mushu! Happy flying!!

DOUBLE CPL DAY!

It was a double celebration and an exciting day for students Paul Waterhouse and Andy Jenkinson when they passed their CPL on Thursday, 22 November 2007. Great jobs! And to show our appreciation we gave you this ...

If the video box doesn't appear please be patient otherwise relax and enjoy!

ANDY JENKINSON



PAUL WATERHOUSE

NEW ROBINSON 22 TRAVELS TO BECKERS

All went smoothly for our pilot Robin Helsdon as he brought home our new Robinson 22 VH-BRD from Bankstown Sydney to Beckers. Flying out on Saturday 10 November 2007 here's a film of Robin departing Bankstown along with a few scenic shots of the city and harbour.

If the video box doesn't appear please be patient, otherwise relax and enjoy!

STUDENTS ASCEND MOUNT BEERWAH

Situated in the Glass House Mountains, Mount Beerwah is by far one of the most popular climbs enjoyed by our students. Here are a few pics of Matt, Matt and Abhi conquering the mountain last weekend.

Matt Wilson

Matt Eke

Matt Eke (above) Abhijeet Mahajan (below)

Matt Eke

Abhijeet Mahajan and Matt Eke

Tip: To avoid "hand burns" begin your ascent early in the day!

If the video doesn't appear please be patient.

ARRIVING SOON ... OUR NEW ROBINSON 22!

BECKER HELICOPTER BOYS BIKE THE GLASSHOUSE

If the video box doesn't appear please be patient, otherwise relax and enjoy!

ALEX HADDOCK - AUSTRALIA

When did you leave Beckers?
Left Beckers on the 1st of August 07

What made you decide to train with us?
Their professionalism and experience the Beckers have in the industry, The fact they had an accredited ground school was a big draw card. Which also meant i could recieve Austudy from the government.

Best experience whilst training at Beckers?
It was all an amazing experience, however i'd have to say the first flight up the coast, first solo flight and solo sling were a few highlights for me. Also meeting people that share the same passion for flying as you.

Worst experience whilst training?
Umm... can't really think of anything, the first few radio calls were bad experiences. Funny for everybody else though. Oh yeah, Having Mike tell you to close your eyes while mountian flying then tell you to open them just before your about to plough into the hillside.

What did you do after leaving Beckers?
After leaving i went home to Sydney for 3 months to try and save some money, Also completed my IREX in that time, mainly just to keep myself busy.

What are you doing now?
I've just started working for a company on the Whitsundays called Aviation Adventures. They have 2 KH-4s, an R44 and fly tours all around the islands. I haven't started flying yet because i don't have my float endoresement which is proving rather difficult to get at the moment. Once i've completed it i'll be straight into the flying. We fly every day and the pilots at the moment are racking up quite a few hours, so much that they have to keep a good eye on flight and duty times. So I've landed on a pretty good first jod, i think. firsty because i start flying vertually straight away and two i can built up quite alot of hours. They also pay me! which is a bonus.

What do you hope to do in the future?
All going well i plan to stay here for some time and build my hours up over that 500Hr mark. Possibly start looking at studying my ATPL aswell. Eventually i'd like to start looking for some turbine time and moving into bigger machines. Their are a few opportunities to do that up this way so it may be worth while sticking around here.

Any advice to new students?
enjoy your time training, don't be in a hurry to leave becuase you may not fly for a while after, have a bag ready to go so you can be on the next flight when you hear about that job, Check websites like Bladeslapper.com, AFAP.org.au(Australian Federation of Air Pilots) and AviationTrader.com.au They post positions fairly often and every now and then you get the one looking for a low hour pilot. And don't forget to put the fuel cap back on after refueling. Like i did.

CHRISTINE LALO - MALAYSIA

Here's some recent pics of Christine flying from Tawan to KK. Nice shots. Read more about Christine in a post below dated 19 July 2007.

LAUNCH OF NEW LOGO

We're excited to reveal our new logo in celebration of the ongoing professionalism, quality and level of training that we provide.

As you know Becker Helicopters has entered a new level of improved advanced Helicopter Flight Training. We are now a fully approved Instrument Flight School with our fleet consisting of

- an Agusta 109 E Power for multiengine IFR training
- a GEOSIM Simulator
- brand new Robinson 22’s and
- a new Robinson 44 (arriving in November) for NVFR and Basic IR Training

We're also happy to announce the upcoming launch of our Helicopter Training Books (new series) to reflect the positive changes in superior advanced pilot skills and training.

OSCAR will remain our logo for tourism and joy flights reflecting the fun and adventure that it brings to many people.

NEWS FLASH!

As of Monday, 17th September 2007 Becker Helicopters is now a fully accredited instrument training school able to offer single and multi engine instrument training from scratch to completion.

Utilising a GeoSim Part Task trainer (simulator) for 20 hours of training and then an Agusta 109E for the flying training we are really excited about this new direction.

IREX theory courses will be conducted twice a year with home study courses available. Flying can be started at any time with an IFR Jet Ranger due in the New Year and a R44 NVFR trainer due the end of this year to try to keep the prices down.

Prices have not been finalised yet but if you have any IFR training needs give Mike a call to discuss a plan specifically for you.

CONGRATULATIONS JAMES!

Big congratulations to James Reiss on passing his CPL(H) today. James began his training in June this year. Good work and a great job well done!

Props Team: Mez, Robin, Abhi and Florian (love the warm water and sugar in the bucket guys!)

If the video box doesn't appear ... please be patient, otherwise play and enjoy!

IN THIS MONTH'S AUGUST ISSUE - OUT NOW

CHRISTINE LALO - MALAYSIA

When did you leave Beckers?
June 2006

What you did after you trained with us?
Back to Malaysia and struggling to get a Malaysia CPL, where I need to sit for ATPL CAA UK6, CAA UK2, Air law 1&2, HPL.

What are you doing now?
Completing my Malaysia CPL and flying. Oh ya..Im working with a heli company in Malaysia and now busy setting up the training facilities for the school.

If flying, who, where and what are you flying?
Integrated Training and Services (IT&S) for my 35 hrs of Malaysian conversion at Subang in R44- ironicly that's the same R44 I maintained before I left for Beckers.

How many hours have you flown?
Im proud to say .... 124 ... hang on.. up to today 130 ... hehe...that's something.

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers?
Yes - Dennis, Mez, Tom, Hugo, Sonic, Sam, Nick, JD(well,Karen actually), Robin, Logan, Sandra, Mo....

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers?
Best experience after Beckers? R44 flt in Kota Kinabalu with Cliff and his in-laws - that was brilliant, EC120 flt from Miri to Kota Kinabalu.

Worst flying experience?
Well...flying in haze condition. Terrible!!

Advice to new students?
Enjoy your training and keep on trying. Never give up!

JOYFLIGHT IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART AGUSTA

(to view click on picture)

A109 ON CHARTER continued

Once again, Thanks to Beckers for a sensational experience. I recommend anyone who is looking to do something special to talk to Mike and the crew Becker Helicopters areproffessional, friendly, flexible, very easy to deal with and provide a high level of assistance to ensure their customers have a very enjoyable experience

Had a sensational time

Thanks again

Pete
see posting below dated Friday 8 June 2007

Click on the picture to better view

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - OUR FLEET

Being a commercial helicopter operator our fleet is often changing as we buy and sell aircraft, crosshire from various owners and bring in different types depending on our clients needs. We also train clients in their own helicopters so we often have a varied assortment of helicopters on the flight line.

Currrently (as of June 2007) we have a training fleet of small piston helicopters consisting of R22, H300, Bell 47 and R44

We are currently phasing out our B47 and H300’s as we believe these aircraft have seen their day in this modern world of new technology and are replacing them with the R22 and R44. This will be a slow process as it takes time to sell aircraft and buy new but we currently have an R22 and an R44 available for training with more on the way.

We also have a turbine fleet available for private, aerial work (including training) and charter. This fleet consists of Bell 206 Jet Ranger / OH58 Kiowa, AS350 Squirrel and Agusta 109E Power. The B206 and the Squirrel are given at a good rate to students training for a commercial licence so that it encourages them to build that much needed turbine time.

Agusta 109E Power (pride of the fleet)

Twin engine turbine, IFR (instrument flight rules), executive configuration.
Up to 7 passengers plus pilot, true airspeed of 140kts and a gross weight of 2850kgs. Available for private, aerial work and charter operations VFR and IFR. Type training and IFR a speciality in this helicopter.

AS350D Squirrel

Single engine turbine, Night VFR, executive configuration. Seats up to 5 passengers plus pilot, true airspeed 100kts and a gross weight of 1950kgs. Available for private, aerial work and charter operations VFR.

Bell 206 Jet Ranger / OH58 Kiowa (Military)

Single engine turbine, Night VFR, utility configuration. Up to 4 passengers plus a pilot, true airspeed of 90ktsand. Available for private and aerial work operations VFR and NVFR only.

Robinson R44

Single engine piston, Night VFR, executive configuration Up to 3 passengers plus pilot, true airspeed 100kts. Available for private, aerial work and charter VFR and NVFR.

Robinson R22

Single engine piston, Day VFR, standard configuration. 1 passenger and 1 pilot, true airspeed 85kts. Available for private, aerial work and charter VFR.

Bell 47G

Single engine piston, Night VFR, standard configuration. Up to 2 passengers plus pilot, true airspeed 60kts. Available for private, aerial work and charter VFR and NVFR.

Hughes 300/ TH55

Single engine piston, VFR, standard configuration. 1 passenger plus pilot, true airspeed 65kts. Available for private, aerial work and charter VFR.


GeoSim Part Task Trainer (Helicopter Instrument Simulator)

Based on the Bell 206 Jet Ranger. CASA approved for basic instrument training, navaid training and instrument renewals. Currently being modified to include a Garmin 430 GPS interface and dual controls as well as the standard VOR, ADF and HIS.

Mike Becker

A109 ON CHARTER

Hi Mike

Thanks very much for your support on Friday. Your efforts really made the day for Amanda’s birthday and I really appreciate the fine job you and your staff did for us. I have attached a couple of photo’s for you and you may have noticed a write up in the sat edition of the Sun Coast Daily

All the best mate and thanks again

Kind Regards
Pete

B47 FLYING OVER MAROOCHY RIVER

Thanks to Gary Martin who submitted this film during his trial flight with Dougie Gray last month. Here is Gary and Dougie flying over the mouth of Maroochy River.

(if the video box doesn't appear... please be patient otherwise play and enjoy!)

CAPTAIN MORGAN LORIMER 05/05/07

Congratulations Morgan on passing your CPL! To mark your achievement the Becker students organised a little "light" shower (if the video box doesn't appear... please be patient otherwise play and enjoy!)

TRAVELLING THROUGH VIETNAM

The Becker's sail the Mekong Delta, 100 km out of Saigon and then it's an overlook of the City River in Vietnam. Later Mike and Jan get close and personal in a Chu Chi Tunnel and then later they enjoy a Village tea.

WHEN IN ROME ... THE BECKERS DO AS ROMANS DO!

SPRING TIME IN ST MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

It's spring time in Europe! And here's Mike and Jan taking a well deserved break over there! Have fun over there guys :)

SPRINGTIME IN PARIS

SCALE MODEL OF OSCAR - CONTINUES

Hi

Took some photos today - this is the most realistic scale heli I have built - sounds and flies just like the real thing!

Regards

Jeff

SCALE MODEL OF OSCAR

Hi

A couple of months ago you kindly let a colleague, Antony, take pictures of Oscar for a scale model project. Well the project is nearing completion and I just wanted to share the first picture with you.

The model weights 8kg has a rotor span of 1.8m and is powered by a 24cc petrol engine.

I completed some test hovering over the weekend and it was worth all the effort - the engine sound is realistic and with a rotor speed of 1100rpm (slow by model standards) is should also sound good in the air. I hope to fly circuits this weekend - and will send some more pics

Thanks again for your assistance

Regards
Jeff Sussman
Melbourne

NICK SHEW - ENGLAND

I left Beckers almost immediately after getting my CPL in June 2005. The timing was perfect as the Glastonbury festival started just after I got over my jet lag and I was able to eat drink and be merry for 5 days in amongst 150,000 people, music and the most mud I have ever seen in my life!

My plan at the beginning was a five year plan that started out with getting to Australia and learning to fly helicopters. I reckoned that would take a year. Another 4 ought to be enough to work the rest out.

When I got back to the UK and cleaned all the Glastonbury mud of I took a 3 month IT contract to boost my bank balance. This was really useful to me in two ways. The first was obviously the money. The second, however, was a big surprise. I had given up IT to go traveling and find out what I wanted to do. One of the first people I bumped into in Thailand was a helicopter engineer and we got talking. He reminded me that I had always fancied flying helicopters. But like driving formula 1 cars and dating Elle McPherson I had put this along way to the back of my mind as something that would never happen.

Now though the spark had come back and 7 months later I find myself back in England at my sisters’ house seriously entertaining the idea. I looked at America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia for my training, and Beckers came out top of the list. I think that training at Beckers was the right decision as Australia as very heliocentric so there’s lots of experience and the types of flying ie mountains and sling loading hones your skills and can only be a help in the future. It’s also great fun! Coming back to IT however made me wonder how on earth I had kept doing it for 15 years and reinforced my decision to pursue a career as a pilot.

I have now passed the 13 JAR ATPL(H) exams. (You think you have it bad with CASA, try being interested in the flight director system on a 737 or the North Atlantic Track System) I have also done the modular course and passed my CPL(H) skills test. I’m now the proud owner of a *very* expensive plastic wallet from the CAA that says I’m allowed to fly helicopters commercially in Europe.

The options now available to me seem a bit limited, and I’m just about to start putting my self about to see if anybody will employ a low hour pilot with a 22 endorsement. (The CAA won’t honor any type ratings on my Aussie license with less than 500 hours on type).

I have done very little flying since coming back from Australia which has been quite frustrating and it’s not always easy to keep focused on what it is I am trying to achieve. But taking it one step at a time and having faith in the decision I made 2 years ago has got me to a point that I’m actually looking for jobs!!

Last year my little sister got married, so I got myself current again and hired a 44. She and her now husband got married in an old priory out in the countryside and I managed to get the owner to mow out a landing pad in a field next to the priory. When they were inside the building I put the 44 down behind some trees so they didn’t notice it was there. After the ceremony everyone walked down to where the transport would be (we had to make up a story that the transport couldn’t turn around at the top of the lane). My sisters face was a peach at she saw the helicopter parked up. I also hadn’t realized (she is a skydiver) that neither her nor her husband had ever been in a helicopter before.

This flight had to be on par with my first solo for nerves though. I had my sister and her new husband in the back, all of my family were watching me for the first time, all my new family from Ians side were watching as were my friends. God I was nervous. To top it that day was my first solo in UK airspace.

I keep in touch with Sam Jenkins who is currently currently embroiled in the JAR exams (good luck), John Dignan and his wife Karen who I saw recently for Hogmany, Logan Bass and Shano. I have heard from Dan the man in Austria too. Unfortunately I don’t have much contact with Pete, Christine or Sandra but I wish them all the best. I am also in regular contact with David, Mara and Andrew Stott, Vitas family.

Well Maraina wanted to know what the best and worst flying experiences were… one of them I still have a t-shirt for: ‘Nick Shew; CPL; (Chopper of Plants and Leaves); Deforestation Expert; No Tree too tall, No Job too small; Using only the sharpest BELL 47 blades (Sorry Mike); Ask me for a quote – thanks John!

I keep thinking of more when I think of good moments. Probably the most memorable would have to be chasing a Kangaroo in the low flying area south of the airfield, and the tree chopping incident which was a very scary moment – also quite possibly the confined area Mike took me into afterwards to make sure I knew what I was supposed to be doing. Oh yes, and returning from a long nav with another student and running out of aft cyclic on the taxiway due to my passenger having a belly life jacket on. Lots of shouting and some quick reshuffling followed by a minor quick stop and taxiway D was ours for the taking!

In the UK, I have done my first solo night flight and flown the helilanes in London which is part of the Heathrow airspace. The latter was fun as one section must be flown at 750 feet over southwest London… I know that pub… and that one, and that one etc.
There are so many great flights, and also a few badduns from those days when you just can’t make the numbers fit. It’s at this point I run out of words to describe the experience of learning to fly a helicopter… it’s been emotional.

I feel I can’t talk about my learning experience without mentioning Lester and Vita. They were both integral in my learning of helicopters and shaped me as a pilot. I miss you both.

My advice to students?
Persevere. Do the ground work, it shows in your flying if you don’t. If you are thinking of turning your CASA CPL(H) into a JAR CPL(H) talk to me. I have had some rude awakenings and would like to pass them on so others don’t have to suffer them.

There’s loads more to tell, but I think I’ll save that for the tall story sessions over a beer

SIMON ROPER - UNITED KINGDOM
former student (see post 19 September 2006) residing in Australia

We are happy to belatedly announce that Jamal Peter Roper was born Feb 5 at 14:25 EST, weighing in at a healthy 7lb 7oz. It was a natural water birth and Anneela didn’t have any interventions which meant he was all the happier when he came out. I was lucky enough to be able to ‘catch’ him once he appeared and cut the umbilical cord before giving him to a very relieved Mum! An experience I will never forget…

Eventually I will open up a blogger page for us all to keep all you guys on the other side of the planet up to date with our progress down under… we’ll try not to bombard the non-parents with too much baby stuff as we realize it can get a bit much!

Simon, Anneela and Jamal

DOUG GRAY - (Grade Two Instructor) SCOTLAND

Congratulations to Doug on his successful Silly Hat Party at his flat last Friday night. Thanks to all who participated. It was a brilliant evening and you're a great host Dougie!

MEETU SINGH - INDIA

Here's a recent photograph of Meetu whilst election flying in Northeast of India. The area due to years of neglect by the centre has an insurgency problem, sad because the land is beautiful, kind of Jurrasic Parkish - Meetu

Bottom picture is the Welcome Dance in Mohom, Manipur - near the Burma Border.

WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS TO BRYAN AND SUE

On Friday 12 January 2007 our Engineer Bryan Andrews married his sweetheart Sue Guy in a beautiful boat ceremony on Noosa River, attended by family and friends from New Zealand and Australia. Participating in the ceremony was Bryan's son Elliott who performed the role as Best Man and Sue's daughter Casey as bridesmaid. Congratulations guys!

DE-GREASING VH-ORC

The de-greasing of helicopters at Beckers is a regular occurance as Stian Voldsund (Norway) demonstrates to new students Florian Fierer (Germany), Alex Haddock (Australia) and Andy Triplow (England).

SQUIRREL STILL ON FIRES

The fire fighting season is continuing and the Squirrel is still flying in NSW. Here's a few pics of Jason flying in Jindabyne last week.

HUGO CHAM - HONG KONG

Congratulations to Hugo and Elaine on their wedding last month! Here's a few pics sent by Hugo. It's great to see John Dignan (former student and now pilot) with his wife Karen there as well!

MEETU SINGH - INDIA

Meetu's first contact with Becker's was in 2000. He began his flight training late 2001, obtaining his CPL(H) on 20 May 2002. Meetu is currently flying out of Gangtok in the Himalayan foothills. The company does daily runs to ferry people up from the plains.

LOGAN BASS - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(Top picture Logan is on the left. Bottom picture Logan is in the back, second from the right)

Logan trained at Becker Helicopters in 2005, obtaining his CPL(H) in September of that year. Here's a picture of his crew. To find out more about them please read Kootenai Helitak.

BENNY DITSCHLER - GERMANY

Here's Benny flying with his friend in their EC120 recently. At the age of 20, Benny trained at Beckers in 2001/2002 obtaining his Australian CPL(H) in May 2002. By June that same year he obtained his JAR Helicopter CPL(H). Now he's working on getting his Austrian CPL. Good luck Benny!

SQUIRREL ON FIRES

Becker's VH-PIH is currently on fires in NSW. Pilots Mike Becker, Ric Spruijt, Jason Schellars and new pilot Brent Nottage take shifts in flying the Squirrel. LAME Bryan Andrews is on hand and big thanks to student Stian Voldsund who helped on ground crew.

MIKE BECKER and the new AGUSTA 109

The A109 is based at Becker Helicopters and is flown by Mike for military training. These pictures were taken of Mike during training about two months ago.

HUGO CHAM

And Love is in the Air for Hugo. Congratulations to Hugo and Elaine on their wedding on Sunday 10 December 2006. Good luck guys!

JOSH DAVIS

Congratulations to Josh and his beautiful girlfriend Sarah who were engaged on Saturday, 2 December 2006. Josh popped the question during a romantic flight in OSCAR. Everybody at Becker Helicopters is happy for you and we wish you the best!

SIMON ROPER - UNITED KINGDOM
(now Australian resident)

Bummer, pic won't upload. Will try later folks!

When did you leave Beckers?
After 27 months in flight school (long story) I got my wings at the end of June 06, the last proud graduate of the infamous FAB4 class of March 04.

What you did after you trained with us?
Immediately went to the pub and stayed there till I was removed from the premises.

What are you doing now?
Embroiled in that desperate search for hours PIC. I managed to get casual work at Mc Dermott Aviation up in Cooroy. They are a helicopter utility company with an impressive fleet of turbines including three of Bell 214’s, the world’s largest single-engined turbine chopper. Think 3,000 shaft horse power and 3.5 ton lifting ability. A far cry from my beloved ORC!

If flying, who, where and what are you flying?
The only flying I have done to date is as co-pilot in the aforementioned 214 at a forest fire down in NSW. We were based out of Dorrigo National Park HQ and operated with two other helicopters from there and a pad cut out of the forest. Naturally I drew the short straw and had to drive the support truck down and back, but it was worth the 1,600k return trip as the experience was truly awesome. As Helitack 401 (indicator of medium-size fire fighting aircraft) we were on standby to air lift the fire crews where needed and also control the back burning with a massive 3,000lt Bambi bucket.

How many hours have you flown?
Just 50 minutes stick time which I couldn’t log as I’m not rated on a 214. Word from the boss is that rating won’t happen for another 2,890 hours … why won’t anyone trust me with their expensive hardware? I was trained by the best!

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers?
Only the ones I liked … which thankfully was most of them; apart from that rude Malaysian girl who failed to turn up for the goodbye dinner I held in her honor (only joking Chrissy-baby!).

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers?
Flying in hot to pick up 12 fire fighters and evacuate them from the path of the fire, then taking off and almost suffering a lack of visual reference due to low cloud and billowing smoke. This counts as best and worst experience due to the adrenalin rush I got as we pulled some serious g’s following the river out low, low level… Thankfully the PIC had over 15,000 hours and is a legend in my book already.

Advice to new students?
Be nice to Mike, Ric, Jan, Marina and all the crew at BHS. And don’t ever, ever smell Mushu’s breath.

DENVER SILCOCK - PICS
(see posting on Friday 21 July 2006)

DAVE BELL - NEW ZEALAND

(pic to come soon!)

Finished my license in 2000,sat my commercial test on the 27th november 2000 i think and passedAfter a short trip back to NZ to visit family i headed up to Cloncurry with another student (nick Talbot) and worked on a cattle station,'Brightlands',riding horses mustering cattle while making what seemed like a million phone calls a day to try and find a flying job.

After three months of bouncing around on the back of a horse in the dust me and Nick both moved to another station 'Balfour Downs' near Newman in WA.Nick started to get a small amount of flying but i was onstuck on a motor bike or in a bull catcher.

After about two months I got an offer from another station that sounded a bit more promising so I left Nick there and headed west again and ended up on 'Gogo' station in Fitzroy Crossing WA.As luck would have it i did begin to get some flying,

In the remainder of that year (6 months ) i got 105 hours in the R22 which included a little bit of nustering but mostly just general flying.After a trip back to NZ for a couple of months in the wet season i returned to Gogo and moved up the pilot ladder a bit and began to do more flying,450 hrs for the year,the majority which was mustering.Once again i headed back to NZ for the wet season to escape the dust and flys.I returned to gogo at the start of the following season and was now in the position of being one of the two head pilots and did 750 hrs flying for the season-again mostly mustering.

I had now logged up about 1423 hrs.The station life was good and enjoyable with a good group of guys but was hard work.As pilots we mustered but also did everything else,as pilots tended to be there for a few years we were incharge of alot of went on and often found ourselves running alot of day to day jobs.Days were long with 3.30am breakfasts and 7.30 pm dinners and working all day in the heat and dust.Great experience and great fun which i believe paved a great path and appreciation for the future in the industry.

At the end of that third season i left the station life and headed to Cape York Helicopters in Cairns.I was based on Horn Island,about 15 miles off aussies tip (cape york),flying R44s in general charter operations.Work was mostly over the ocean up to 123nm out to sea,but also included regular work all over the cape.Work varied a bit with some sling work,surveying,filming and even a few search and rescues.After 18 months for cape york i had got about 1000 hrs in the R44 and a total of about 2450 and began to look for a move in to turbine machines,,not having much luck at that i began look at going to Canada for a season but my visa was taking a while to sort out so while waiting for that i moved to emerald and worked for Reid Heliwork,again flying the R44 mostly doing powerline inspection work.

Finally my Canadian visa came through so in May this year I headed to Canada.After about 3 weeks converting my aussie licnse to a canadian one-which meant sitting a full commercial exam and full flight test i guickly got a job for a company called Bailey Helicopters flying a Jet Ranger in the oilfields of BC and Alberta.After about a bit over 2 months i have got about 270 hours up in the jet ranger.

One of my most enjoyable flying experiences was being the pilot for a 2 week job with Steve Urwin ( the crocodile hunter) which involved flying steve around and setting and moving traps by sling load and filming and even the odd bit of lying on the back of crocodiles!!!!

Maybe a not so enjoyable experience was being on a cattle station when one of the ringers walked in to the tail rotor of running R22 that a good friend of mine was flying-luckily he survived pretty much as good as new with only a few scars and my friend is still successfully flying jet rangers and squirrels back in NZ.

Always remember your safety stuff and watch out for passengers -they are always (knowingly or unknowingly!!) trying to make you have a really bad day!!!!!

My advice to new guys out there is if you want it you will get it,always be prepared to do the hard yards for your start and beyond-employers,managers and chief pilots out there are always looking and always asking more established pilots about the new guys that turn up or are seen around, remember that in this EXTREMELY small industry (i have met large amounts of aussie guys over here in canada that worked in the same places as me and know/worked with some of the same guys!!!) your reputations is all you really know you have and it is very valuable in the industry if its good and very distructive if bad.And with fewer pilots seeming to have the hours that some of the bigger companies want there are good oppurtunities for lower time guys if they have the right reputation and attitude.

I remember the days when to work in PNG you needed like 10,000 hrs and it seemed it wasn't even worth trying,if you get a chance have a look on the AFAP jobs web-site,those hours requirements are down to like 3000hours and even less now days!!!

Have the right attitude,work ethic,remain safe and keep your reputation-for good or bad you are always being watched and boss' are always looking for new pilots.And remember all the hard yakka--IT IS SO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Safe and happy flying.

TUNUI WANO - NEW ZEALAND

I graduated from the flying school in April 1999 at a ripe old age of 40, then toured northern Queensland & the Northern Territory looking for the elusive 1st Job.

I landed a hanger job with Heliwork in May 1999 cleaning & paint-stripping aeroplanes and helicopters.

I’m currently employed with Jayrow Helicopters in the Northern territory flying a Jetranger, and am now due to start with Helicopters Australia in early Sept working out of Perth airport.

I’ve got 3,700hrs.

I have worked with a number of Mikes students over the years, most of whom are progressing well in the industry.

My worst experience would have to be, having my wings clipped by power lines.

Advice to students – Work hard.

DARRIN SMITH - AUSTRALIA

When did you leave Beckers? CPL-H flight test 3rd Sept 04

What did you do after you trained with us? Initially went back to my former career as a diesel mechanic to replenish the bank account. Began the job hunt in earnest around Feb 05. Found myself in Cairns for a Roby Safety Course. Did a lot of door knocking around there and made a couple of contacts. One contact panned out to a start as a back up pilot for Skysafari in Cairns. That was early April 05.

What are you doing now? Typing this update….. in between studying for chief pilot approval.

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? Now flying for Skysafari in Katherine N.T. We have the contract at Katherine gorge. Two R44’s, three pilots. Predominately tourism, but with a sufficient variety of other work to keep from flipping out. Some of the entries into the log book so far are….. incendiary dropping, fire plot surveys (requires numerous confined area bush landings), dingo baiting, aerial culling, fire spotting, croc surveys, medivac’s, filming and photography.

Mike was in the neighborhood recently so I took the opportunity to finally get my sling endorsement. Now I think we should buy a bucket……

How many hours have you flown? 849.7 ( you know it’s not enough when you still include the decimal hours )

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? I try to….. long hours.

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? Have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to fly over some of the best real-estate in the country. Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rain Forest, Flinders Range’s, the Gulf country, Arnhem Land and Kakadu….. and lot of places in between. (oh, and of course… the Sunshine Coast). But prolly the most memorable was just after landing my first job, when I got to pick up a brand new second hand R44 Clipper from Airlie Beach and fly it to Cairns….. my very first task as a commercial pilot. And it just happened to be my birthday. Magic!

Advice to new students? Be prepared for some long days and understand there’s a lot more to aviation than just the flying. At this end of the career there are many and varied tasks you will be expected to do……. and smile doing them. ( emptying chemical toilets …… mmmhh, my favorite )

Best of luck, and…….. don’t give up……. Ever!

FERGUS PONDER - AUSTRALIA

When did you leave Beckers? November 1996

What you did after you trained with us? Mustering pilot at Webb Helicopters

What are you doing now? Heavy lift external load pilot at Midwest Helicopter

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? United States, Sikorsky SK58T

How many hours have you flown? over 5000

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? Some, Jason Schellaarrs and occasionally Floyd Forster

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? Alaska (best) and Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina (worst)

Advice to new students? Go for it ("It" being the dream)

ALAN BELL - SCOTLAND

When did you leave Beckers? 2001

What did you do after you trained with us? Mustering, tourism, instructing

What are you doing now? Partner and Director in a Flight school

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? R22, R44 and Bell 206 Longranger...jsut going to fly the Bell 222 yeah...Airwolf baby

How many hours have you flown? 1000

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? Yes quite a few and recently recommended one for a job in Scotland which he got

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? Best...mmm so many. Flying around the Lochs in Scotland, Flying an R44 around Arizona, taking my 85 year old gran flying

Advice to new students? Do keep the faith, if you want it enough you will make it Whether you say you can or you can't...your right

BRAD KING - AUSTRALIA

Dom Brachet is now working with me so we reflect on our Becker period frequently and how fortunate we were to find you. Ex -Becker Adam Smith has moved on from Skysafari and aviation in pursuit of love and money for the time being and I have since employed 2 more pilots.

It stands to reason, get trained by a bunch of Kiwi's and there's a good chance you're going to be surrounded by them through your career. In my latest campaign to find keen, fresh and passionate pilots I now find myself working with 3 kiwi's and a Pom (also trained by yourselves). Where have all the flying Aussies gone? Of course this is in gest but these are suprising stats for me.

I have been keeping you updated on my progress since I left Beckers and my gratitude to you is without limits. You know my story so far.

The amazing Captain King thing. On the 1st of August '06 it will be 2 years to the day since I started my first aviation job in Cairns and 2 years, 3 months since I completed my CPL with Beckers.

Presently I have 900 hours total time. I have gone from being a Cairns hangar rat and toilet cleaner to a tourism line pilot to the Port Douglas Base and Marketing Manager to the company Senior Rotary Pilot to Skysafari Queensland Operations Manager to recieving part ownership of the business then, of course all of the above. What's next??

We operate 5 Aircraft, 2 x R44's, 2 x R22's and one Cessna 310 aeroplane and cross hire anything else we need. We now have 8 staff and 2 bases, Port Douglas and Cairns. My friend, business partner and the Director of Skysafari, Mark Peart has decisively taken a step back from the operational side of the business and is now flying in 500 E model helicopters in Sumatra. 20 years in the industry and 20,000 + hours in the machine he's well entitled.

I now partly own and operate a successful, dynamic aviation business in one of the most scenically beautiful and environmentally diverse locations in Australia, if not the world.
Our focus on 'Personalised Air Touring' dominates our niche market. Daily, we may fly local scenic flights and enjoy landing on ocean catamarans, pontoons, and Great Barrier Reef Islands and sand cays to flying above the oldest rainforest on the planet and landing on waterfalls and mountain tops to hosting outback tours to Gold mines, cattle stations and visiting indigenous lands and people. I am about to embark on a 5 day return trip to the Cape York.
We are also picking up contracts for government departments ie National Parks, Mining and police and plenty of Photo work.

A measurement of success is certaintainly relative sometimes but I continually believe you better be careful what you ask for in this life.

This road continues to be challenging. The business runs 7 days a week and about 10% of the job is actually flying. Through these opportunities I have also managed unwittingly to project a personal high profile in the helicopter industry which has seen me offered work by much larger companies before my time, and has even given me the opportunity to spend a few weeks flying BK117's in PNG.

My 5 year plan is certainly outdoing itself and my beautiful girlfriend has now left her management position at a noted 5 star hotel to assist me and Skysafari in our sales and marketing push.

Something they don't teach you at flight school but ultimately becomes glaringly obvious is that the journey of a helicopter pilot is more about personal growth and adventure above everything else.

Thanks again for all your ongoing help. I'll stay in touch.
Bradley King

MARTIN NAYLOR - UNITED KINGDOM
(pick of Martin to come - watch this space!)

What are you doing now? I am an all weather Search and Rescueco-pilot for HM Coastguard living in Shetland (60degrees North). I fly an S61N (pictured). Our mainbusiness is fishing boats/personnel in trouble andmedevacs from the islands or various oil rigs in theNorth Sea. I absolutely LOVE the 61 as it is verytough, reliable and has a nice big cockpit for tallpeople.

When did you leave Beckers? Left Beckers in 2000. I didall my JAR UK exams and flight test and one year later(after not having found any work), did my instructorrating. Found work in London flying R22s, R44s, B206etc. Got as much charter and teaching experience Icould, also flew H300CBs and B206L and then applied toNorth Sea companies after taking out a MASSIVE loan todo my instrument rating. (The opportunities in theNorth Sea still make it worthwhile for people to paytheir own way..). I have been doing SAR for a year(after having been sent flying 61s to oil rigs to getused to them). I will be paying off my training costsfor a long while yet, but it was so worth it!

Your best flying experience? Flying Rio Ferdinand from CardiffTremorfa Heliport to Heathrow (he's a big footballerover here). It was my first time into Heathrow. Marvellous!

Your worst flying experience? Losing RPM in the last 100 ftduring an auto with a student in an R22. Somehowmilked it back and then landed for a nice cup of tea!Aircraft undamaged.

Greatest challenge? Night flying. It never seems toget easier, but I don't have much experience at ityet. Everyone is (and should be) wary of flying at night

Flying history? I have 1500 hours and may possibly move tofly another type in the North Sea shortly to get somemore hours for captaincy (2500 needed). On the otherhand, I may stay here and get my S92 rating (coming in next year)

Do you keep in touch with other students from Beckers? Still in touch with Andrew Wanden from my student times. He and family live in West Australia.

Advice to people starting out? The same that Mike and Jan gave me as a student: Remember all the effort youput into studying for the exams? Well put the sameeffort into finding work and STAY TENACIOUS!

I do miss wonderful Oscar Charlie. What a fabulous machine... I will always prefer the older helicopters.
Best wishes,
Martin

SHANE PARRY - AUSTRALIA

When did you leave Beckers? I was on top of the world!!! As all my dreams had come true!!! (ahhhh except for that one about me & CANDISE!!!) Anyway after almost 12 months of the biggest brain melt down I've ever experienced, The light at the end of the tunnel was looking quite bright... I was now a big time commerical Helicopter Pilot? I was going out into the big wide world on a mission to find my first helicopter job... Only when I looked at my bank account? I was a BROKE Commerical Helicopter Pilot, so I had to fix that before I could even think of doing anything... So I went back to my old job in the building game for a few weeks? but not for to long, only long enough to get the money to come back to Becker's & do my R-44 Endor to try to improve my chances of getting that first job???

What are you doing now? Now I work with an awesome team of blokes at County Helicopters in Victoria... & all thanks to a good mate I made in my time at Becker's... (Nigel) I think the friends we make at school are friends for life... Nig' already had a job with County & a day came when he rang to tell me they were looking for another loader/driver, but also if I was interested in the job, that there would be "NO FLYING" for me for a long long time? or at least until he was done, as he was the the man in the hot seat. (low hour pilot being trained up)
I had only finished my CPL a few weeks earlier & started to stress out at the fact that I would never find a job doing anything with heli's at all, let a lone find someone silly enough to let me fly them... but I really love my heli's & to do anything was what I was prepared to do, as long as I could be around an airfield & watch them come & go, & some how get paid to be there? well I'd die a happy man... & as I found out later, getting that first job is all about "TIMING" ... being in the right place at the right time & the door will not only open for you? they will let you come inside, sit down & play with the buttons...

Right now in our hanger we have two R-22 Beta II, one R-44 Astro & one Hughs 500C (oooh baby) I get to fly the R-22's a fair bit, (lots of .2/.3's) as the 22's are used most often... the R-44 is only our new toy & the boy's are still setting her up, & suss'in her out? but at the same time they are really enjoying her!!! so when they start to get board with her (hopefully not to far away) I'll get to add some more 44 time to my log book... & as for my baby (the 500) well she's my dream machine that I get to play with anytime I want & i even score the odd joy ride in her from time to time? But every time she fire's up??? ooooh the tick of the starter, the burst of fuel, & my knee's go weak, heart skips a beat... I think there's no sweeter sound on earth, as turbine roars to life... & who knows? maybe one day even I could be PIC...

It's all come together for me after only a few months of starting here, as one of the first things was my boss gave me the 22 endor's...
Since leaving Becker's (June 2005) I've only logged around 60hrs, (all in the R-22) I've done three big ferry flights in the 22's more than half way across Australia (from south to north)... Two from Ballarat (YBLT) in Victoria, to Emerald in western Queensland... & one from Bankstown (YSBK) to just north of Emerald (& this flight was in a near new R-22 Beta II) So those flight alone were thousands of dollars of flying I've got to do for free... & the experience & the confidence I gained from these flights could not be put into words... (AWESOME)

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? In Australia the world of helicopter's is only a very small one? so everybody knows everybody & knows what everyone's up to... so yeah! we stay in touch, It's not like you talk everyday! but we all do talk in some way or another from time to time.... & like I said before? I think the friends we make at Heli school are friends for life...

Best / Worst flying experience at Becker's The worst experience I had in my time at Becker's was not there fault!!! it was my fear of that F*****G exam room... when ever I had to face that bloody computer!!! or trying to click that submit button? when in my heart I knew I did pretty well? but a big part of you prays to god that you didn't stuff it up? or if you did that maybe you had just edged over the line... it's the longest 5 minutes of your life! But as some of you know, there was always a 98% chance old Shane'o would be back to sit the bloody thing again... by the time I finished my theory, I was back at that bloody exam room so often, they give me my own bloody seat!!! ha ha... But to be where I am now, makes all that stress way more than worth it...

For me one of the best experience was by far my first solo... It was the morning of the 6th September 2004... When I thought it was just another day of flight training at Becker helicopters!!! only on that day it was Cpt Becker himself taking me for the flight... After getting her started, do all my run up checks, Mike came out, jumped in & said take me out to the helicopter training area!!! & I want you to give me a few perfect circuits? & you can also show me how to do all the radio work? so after completing a few circuits, & all was going well, Mike looks over to me (smiling) & said, Now when I get out? the heli will want to fly like this!!! (WHAT!!!!! HAY!!! GO BACK!!! YOUR GETTING OUT!!!!) my heart jumped in my mouth & the back of my pants started to fill rapidly as I was just about to FLY MY FIRST SOLO... But a long story made short, Mike got me focused on the job at hand & the rest is as they say history!!! Your first solo is something I'm sure none of us will ever or could ever forget!!!

& the other best thing that happened to me in my time at Becker's, was the time when I was at my PPL stage of flying. Mike gave me a chance of a lifetime, a taste of the real helicopter world, & a chance to spend some time with the real big guns of helicopter aviation in Australia... HELI AUST....

Heli Aust in Sydney/Bankstown were looking for some co-pilots to conduct the locust spotting season Christmas 2004? & man I got one of those seats... (spent almost three months with them) the size of the operation was just insane... I never did get to meet the owner "John Wayemouth" himself, but let me tell you! he's is the man... he has an awesome team of blokes working for him... the pilots i worked with, the LAME's, the staff were all really great people & not to forget the aircraft!!! man the aircraft, you name it & he's got it? or if he hasn't got it? he's getting one or it's not in this hanger it's at the other hanger...

I spent most of my time in a Bell 206 or a AS-350 Squirrel? But the hanger also had a Hugh's 500, BK-117, 206 Kiowa, two big Bell 205 Huey's & not to forget the S-76 parked up the back!!!
My time with these boys was a real eye opener & tort me so much! it changed my way of thinking when I returned to Becker's to finish my training & it still stays with me today as if I was there with them just yesterday... I could never thank Mike enough for giving me that chance, as it could have went too any of the students there at Becker's at the time... nor could I ever thank the team at Heli Aust enough for the experience & keeping me on for the whole season & not letting me go with the other newbies in the first week.....

Advice to new students? Only the strong survive... & be careful what you wish for? Because it might just come true!!! To become a helicopter pilot in the real world will cost you alot more than just your hard earned cash... If you want to be a Helicopter pilot for the fame & fortune? then you'd better stop at PPL??? (& save the rest of your money) As the only people who really love helicopters & think how cool it would be to fly one! are somewhere in the room beside you!!! & as for fortune well that's just a dream? (any high time pilot will confirm that) it's so true what they say, the only way you'll ever make a million in Heli's??? is to start with 5 million.... & if your lucky you'll be left with one when you sell everything...

But on the up side, this house has many doors & hard work really dose have it's rewards? If you can feel it in your bones & you really want to see this beautiful country as you fly around OZ? (or where ever) then just do it... only you can make it happen!!!

But just keep in mind that the light at the end of the tunnel, could always be a frigate train coming the other way!!!

& remember that when you go for that first job? you will be asking somebody who doesn't know you at all, to not only let you fly there $200,000/$400,000 helicopter? but you want them to pay you for it as well??? so put there shoes on!!! You just bought a new Ferrari & a 16 year old kid who's just got his learners permit wants to drive it around town & wants you to pay him to drive it!!!

If I did it? & so can you... Feel free to contact me at anytime sg_parry@yahoo.com... or call me 0412 677138...

Fly safe Fly smart Shane'o..............

NIGEL THOMAS - UNITED KINGDOM (NOW AUSTRALIAN)

When did you leave Beckers? in November 2004

What did you do after you trained with us? Spent a month or so in the left seat of Jetrangers with Heli-Aust (Bankstown) – chasing grasshoppers on behalf of the NSW Rural Lands Protection Board – got a feel for a real commercial helicopter operation and snuck in a few hours of stick time in the process !

Then spent a year with Ag operator in Ballarat – County Helicopters, working ground crew and doing all the ferrying / positioning flights (R22) – put on about 100 hours in that period, and worked on all sorts of missions, from crop spraying, to pasture improvement, fertilizing and orchard work all over Victoria and South Australia.

What are you doing now? Enjoying being a new father (and looking forward to wedding late September) – back in IT for as short a period as I can possibly manage (hating every moment of it, but need the dollars in the bub’s early years and like to be close to home for the time being). Plan is make use of the IT $$’s to buy up the remaining hours to be able to embark on an Instructors rating to a) Keep flying regularly, b) sharpen the skills and c) head towards the 500+ hours, study for IREX and maybe ATPL to be marketable to relatively stable big machine operators as a co-ie, offshore on a rotation to try to combine a bit of stability with the constant desire to be spending my days doing something I love.

How many hours have you flown? A smidge over 250

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? Aaah – they’re like slipping into an old pairs of slippers – very comfortable and always full of interesting updates – Shane-O, Monkey-boy, Sonic etc. It’s always fun !!!

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? Best experience – passing CPL(H). Worst experience dummy CPL(H) !!!! Apart from that it was just the most satisfying and rewarding 9 months of my life – I would have loved it to continue for longer !!!

Advice to new students? Make sure you love it. Make absolutely sure that you’ve got the funds left at the end of your training to supplement your income if you’re lucky enough to get a ground floor, hangar rat kind of job, and the pay that goes with it. Aim for a year at least !!

DENVER SILCOCK - SOUTH AFRICA

Denver Silcock, left beckers in Aug 2001 back home to South Africa, built hours on a cattle station. completed SA commercial requirements and returned to beckers for NVFR B206 and R44.

First job was contract flying (Corporate pilot B206 - Angola) then returned home at end of contract to start with Netstar - Vehicle tracking and recovery, moved to Johannesburg for current employer to fly SBV (Cash-in-Transit Vehicle surveillance) then transferred to Cape Town,Civair Helicopters - Tourism and Charter, Government contract (Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry and National Ports Authority), Offshore, Filmwork and photography.

Left Cape town in June 2004, to take a sabatical, returned Nov 2005 to Civair, next step is South African ATPL, eventually IFR and offshore/central africa.

Returned to Beckers for AS350 endoresement July 2006, currently 1400HRS
turbine +-800!

Lost contact with the guys from my time at beckers but good to catch up with Mike and Jan again, helpful and smiling as always!!!

Best experiences in flying have been the ones where you learn something new, even better when you dont scare yourself blind and tell the story to your mates over a few cold ones at the end of that long day! Made some awesome friends and already have some wicked stories to tell and best of all i've only just begun...

New students......always take whatever advice is given to you never just blow it off, most
times its the only thing you've got is the experience and previous mistakes of others.Never stop learning or teaching yourself, or else over confidence takes over, mistakes happen and people get hurt! As much fun as it is, when it goes wrong, it goes wrong very quickly!
Attitude Is Everything!

JACK FERGUSON - USA

When did you leave Beckers? October of 2002 I believe

What did you do after you trained with us? back to Colorado, finished us commercial and CFI, taught in 300c for a couple of years

What are you doing now? Enstrom helicopter rep. for rocky mtn. region and run small flight school outside Denver, Colorado

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? fly enstrom 280fx and 480b mainly training, but some photo work, tours, joyrides, ferry stuff, lot's of mtn. flying

How many hours have you flown? 1700 or so

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? somewhat

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? matter still under FAA investigation, no comment :-)

Advice to new students? get your US visa, we need you here.

HUGO CHAM - HONG KONG

When did you visit Beckers? Oct 2005

Why did you visit? Nothing related to Aviation but seeking way to pursue my PPL on fixed wing, because cheaper.

What are you doing now? Senior Fireman(Control). A Communication Officer and Despatcher actually.

How many hours have you flown? 11 Hrs on Bell 47 and attained SOLO on glider in New Zealand.

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers?
Yes, CHRISTINE!!!!!!!!

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? The best is flying with Beckers. Coz, the instructor, both Mike and Collin did trust me and gave me chances on controlling the helicopter. No worst things...

Advice to new students? Do study the ground theory well before commencing the pratical flight training.

NICOLAS LE GRANDE - FRANCE

I am Nicolas From France and i left Beckers school in december 2001. I didnot fly an helicopter since 2001.... After the school, i learned to do shiatsu and other massages....lol, which permitted me to travel a bit(Reunion Island, Bora Bora, etc...); i did little jobs too...
Now, i am in software industry back and i have my own cabinet of massage too, in France, brittany.
So i make good money to prepare the next step of my life.
I am learning to fly a paramotor at the moment, which is very funny and exciting....
Yes, i do have contacts with Ric, and sometimes with Meetu.
My best experience of flying?...welll...when you were a the arrival, of course.... (No, real one is my first solo )
My worst one?...hum....when you were not at the departure....hahaha. (No, real one is when i decide to fly a plane back to France whitout any certitude...just intuition)

TIM COUSINS - ENGLAND

Victoria and I now have two lovely children (Finley age 3 and Freya age 20 months).
I have just moved to Scotland to start and run a new executive VIP helicopter charter company - one 206L long ranger with floats and plans to start operating a twin within approx 12 ~ 18 months.
Left Beckers in approx. Aug 2001, worked with Shane Flak at Coleambally for approx. 2 months before heading home to UK.
Spent 4 years working at FAST Helicopters, Hampshire, UK as Operations Manager followed by Commercial Manager before moving to Scotland last month.
Currently approx. 250hrs but converted my licence to JAR CPL(H) with ATPL(H) theory (passed JAR CPL(H) in March 2006) and plan to start racking the hours up in the next year !
Have been in contact with / bumped into: Alan Bell; Rupert "Reg" Mellerup and another chap with a french sounding name who now works at Stirling Helicopters in Norwich, UK.
Best Experience: 2500' hover over Brands Hatch, Kent, UK with a microwave uplink on board for the on-bike cameras during the British round of the World Superbikes on a lovely sunny day - the "access all areas" pass to the Ducati Corse pit-lane garage was the icing on the cake - all my passions in a single weekend !
Worst experience: being a pax on an R44 in IMC 200' over a city bypass with the road only appearing momentarily before being hidden by cloud again, and high voltage power lines at the same altitude 100' off the port side. Having told the pilot that I was not comfortable with our situation, best CRM tactic was head in the map and glued to GPS giving constant position reports until clear of cloud. Once on ground (after kissing the earth) informed pilot that under no circumstances would he and I be in the same cockpit with him flying ever again.
Advice: Don't think any more about it - Nike !! "Just do it" ! It may be a long slow road but it sure is worth it ! Kicks the arse out of a career in IT !! Just watch out for German Film Crews convinced you want to be a mustering pilot !
Safe and happy flying to all at Beckers and best wishes to the "ground crew".
Miss the sun and the fun of the coast, but settled in a decent job at last.
Capt Capt Tim Cousins (2 x capt: CASA and JAA ! 8-} )

DAVID PIERSSENE - ENGLAND

When did you leave Beckers? May 2002

What did you do after you trained with us? Went back to my old job for 18 months whilst doing a correspondance course to pass JAA ATPL exams whilst taking mates and mates of mates flying under JAA PPL. I then went to Florida to hours build, sit around, do some instrument flying and also get the JAA CPL flight test passed. Returned to UK and did instructors course.

What are you doing now? I'm off sick with a stiff neck and a headache from all the time spent in bloody helicopters!

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? I got employed as an observer doing pipeline inspections around the UK after getting all my qualifications, as a 'foot in the door'. Now employed full time by the same company as an 'A' licenced engineer as well as a pilot flying trial lessons in H300C and charter/pleasure flying in B206.

How many hours have you flown? Not nearly as many as most in the same Becker's' intake.

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Becker's? Yes, still in occasional contact with a few of the guys, two in particular.

Best or worst flying experience after Becker's? Getting paid for a full days work as pilot of a helicopter (both the best AND worst all in one day). Flying across London Heathrow's' two runways and hovering over 747's on the 'dual taxiways', followed by a couple of hours low level through the Welsh foothills coming head to head with a military hercules can be an interesting days work. I think chasing gypsies is still one of my favourites though.

Advice to new students? Don't read the pprune forums.

ELAINE HUNTER - ENGLAND

When did you leave Beckers? 2002

What you did after you trained with us?ATPL exams JAA CPL (H). FI course.

What are you doing now? Commercial and Instruction work

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? Long Ranger, Jet Ranger, H300 sunny Sheffield

How many hours have you flown? 500

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? a couple

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? all good.

Advice to new students? Keep going....

ADAM SMITH - AUSTRALIA

When did you leave Beckers? Left Beckers August 2004

What did you do after you trained with us? I was given a Job with Skysafari in the Flinders Ranges SA, then moved to Sunshine coast and onto Port Douglas, Flying R44's

What are you doing now? I have now just started working in Commercial Real Estate in Brisbane.

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? Left Skysafari May this year.

How many hours have you flown? 420

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? Yes , Worked at Skysafari with Brad King and Darren Smith, I trained with them both. Also Worked with Dominic at Skysafari. I also still keep in touch with Nigel and Simon ,both of who i trained with.

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? I have had many great flying experiences ie landing on waterfalls, pontoons, and boat decks in rough weather. dealing with bad weather constantly in Port Douglas. Saving 3 people when spotting an overturned boat in the great barrier reef. Flying solo from SA to Sunshine coast, 8 hours. Flying in tandem with Brad King on a rescue mission up to Princess Charlotte bay to pick up pilot and 3 people who went down into a river. One of the worst or most scary experiences was nearly hitting wires when i had about 170 hours working in SA.

Advice to new students? best way to get a job.... be johnny on the spot.

cool catchya

JOSEF ULRICH - SWITZERLAND

When did you leave Beckers? March2003

What did you do after you trained with us? Back to switzerland obtained CPLH went back truking for 2 Yeahrs and now in Canada since Feb 06 obtained Canadian CPLH and looking for a job now here

What are you doing now? Hous Renovating and be a Husband

If flying, who, where and what are you flying? Bad but not yet

How many hours have you flown? Now i'm up to 160 h realy low i could juse a few more as a gift ....

Do you still keep in touch with other students from Beckers? not munch some with Josh and i would realy like to know where Steve Hedrington went ... dis bastard .... hehe...

Best or worst flying experience after Beckers? all traning was worse than with Mike and his Stuff

Advice to new students? Train with MIKE if you realy realy wanna go this Stony phad to become a foot in a door somewhere , it getting worse and worse over the whole World to get a job as a low hourly guy but somtime in the future there are no more Choppers while the pilots are missing for the work and then do it in may thake 10 to 15 Years ... then yes than do it .

JERRY ENGLISH

Carol and I left Beckers with very many regrets to move back to the UK to be closer to our eldest daughter who entered into motherhood and produced our first grand-daughter: Phoebe (a right royal handful and clearly destined to become a helicopter pilot).

I worked in Nigeria for a year for Bristow helicopters as S76 Training Captain flying out to the rigs from Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt – interesting flying as many of the rigs are in the swampy Niger delta where security is a real problem. The pilot and engineers bus to work was caught up in a shoot-out one morning and two pilots were injured – it was all an interesting introduction to Africa.

I am now Head of Operations for FB Heliservices who provide all the training for Army Navy and Air Force pilots and crewmen in the UK (50 helicopters, 70 civilian instructors, 36,000 flying hours per year) and have Search and Rescue and Casevac helicopters in Cyprus (Mediterranean), Brunei (Far East) and Belize (Central America). We also have contracts in the Middle East and shortly – Australia! (Oakey). We specialise in military and government work and I am currently helping to bid a contract to provide Search and Rescue helicopters and crews for the UK starting in 2012 – plus a number of other contracts. All this means that I get precious little flying these days – but I grab every chance I can get and have recently qualified on my 36th helicopter type! I travel a lot – just been out to Canada to look at simulators and other flight training devices, but try to get home to Wales every weekend to sail my little boat.

In thousands of flying hours I have had a number of things go ‘not quite as planned’ – I had ditched two S61 helicopters by the time I was 21! Last week one of my incredibly up to date and reliable (twin-engine) helicopters had an engine failure whilst winching over the sea. The crew escaped and I am still alive because of GOOD TRAINING. It is the best investment you can ever make in this business and Mike and his team will push, pull, coax and cajole you into learning those survival skills that every helicopter pilot still needs.

Happy landings – Jerry.