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.

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