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Flight Training: Helicopter

Group 3 Aviation, Inc. welcomes you to the world of aviation. Whether you're soaring through the skies for fun, or working toward an exciting new career, no other endeavor will provide you with such a thrill and excitement.

We are a full service flight school that offers a variety of training packages in both helicopters and airplanes. A program can be tailored for your specific needs either to reduce costs or put more emphasis on one particular type of helicopter. With over thirty years of experience in aviation, its founders have developed a philosophy that flight instruction should be a safe, fun and enjoyable experience.

Group 3 Aviation, Inc. recognizes the growing needs of a multi-cultural society. In addition to our dedication to local students, Group 3 Aviation, Inc. has trained students from around the world with students having come from South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Beginning with living accommodations, Group 3 Aviation, Inc. follows through with making a stay in the United States for flight training a pleasant experience. As a result, Group 3 Aviation, Inc. has helped hundreds of enthusiastic students realize their life long dreams of flying.

Group 3 Aviation, Inc. is devoted to safety. The modern fleet of aircraft is maintained by highly experienced rotorcraft and fixed-wing staff mechanics.

We are located at the Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The Valley climate is considered ideal for flying and has contributed to the airport having become the seventh busiest airport in the United States and the largest general aviation airport in the world. Where weather is crucial to operations, VNY has become the airport of choice in the Los Angeles Region. There are over 50 helicopters based at Van Nuys including the Los Angeles City Fire, Police and Water Departments along with virtually all television news aircraft. Further, climatic conditions rarely create downtime for aircraft and hence seldom is there downtime for our students. There are 6 helicopter approach/departure routes and the VNY tower communicates with helicopters on a dedicated frequency. Its convenient location allows a variety of flight environments for which helicopters were designed, i.e.: city, mountains, riverbeds, deserts and forests. VNY provides the most challenging airspace to the student without becoming overwhelming.

Starting with your first flight your Certified Flight Instructor will provide you with the unique experience of flying the aircraft hands on! From then on, you are on your way to the most rewarding and challenging experience of your life.

We are one of the few schools to offer training in the Schweizer 300CBi as well as the Robinson R22. The nature of the 300CBi affords our students the ability to achieve a level of proficiency required to qualify for certification tests and check rides in less time than could be expected in helicopters of a similar size.

For those students proceeding on to Instrument and Commercial certification, transitioning from the Schweizer 300CBi to the Robinson R22 thus becomes the student's first opportunity to experience the difference in flight characteristics of different ships whilst still early on in training. We cannot stress enough the importance of formal instruction in multiple aircraft. A solid foundation of experience with the characteristics of various helicopters is invaluable for those desiring to pursue flying as a career.

In just a few months you can obtain your helicopter Private License. In an airplane, you can travel to distant locations not available to the commercial airlines. In a helicopter, you can travel to remote destinations not even available to airplanes!

Helicopter Training

Private Pilot Certificate
The Private Pilot Certificate is the first certificate, the foundation of a pilot's training and all the other certificates that follow will have their own requirements and uses. The student must demonstrate through written, oral and flight examination that they have acquired the aeronautical skills and experiences necessary to meet the requirements of the Private Pilot Certificate. The student will be subject to continual assessment throughout the course of training. Completion time of the private pilot certificate depends on the frequency of training. Students training 5 days per week can complete the private program in 10-12 weeks. Students who train less frequently will expect to take more time to achieve their certificate. This certificate allows you to fly any helicopter up to 12,500 pounds. Upon completion of this course the student is allowed to rent and carry passengers for pleasure and then move onto the next phase of our pilot program if they seek advanced certification.

Instrument Rating
While this rating is not required initially, later in your career if you choose to fly charter, offshore or Medevac you will need it in order to navigate and control the helicopter in clouds or dense fog. Additionally, instrument equipped ships are becoming more and more commonplace and corporations are placing additional emphasis on this particular rating when judging prospective candidates for employment. The hours accumulated can be counted towards the Commercial prerequisites. Forty hours Instrument training is obligatory, we recommend at least 30 hours in an instrument trainer, and the remainder can be in a simulator or an airplane.

Commercial Pilot Rating
As a Commercial Pilot you can fly for hire. This is the license you will need if your goal is to make a career flying helicopters. The FAA requires a minimum of 150 hours (you will already have at least 40 from your Private flight training). Approximately 20 of these hours will be with an Instructor. The rest can be done on your own or with passengers with whom you can share costs. Time built during an Instrument Rating, Turbine and Robinson R44 Transitions can be incorporated in the total required times as well.

Certified Flight Instructor / Certified Flight Instructor, Instruments
These ratings are added to a Commercial License. The FAA does not require a minimum number of hours for the Instructor Rating; however we find most CFI candidates require at least 10 hours of dual instruction after achieving their Commercial License. Our program is based on completing both Certified Flight Instructor Ratings in the Schweizer 300CBi.

Transitions
Once you have your Private License you can transition into larger higher performance aircraft. We offer Schweizer 300CBi, Robinson R22, R44 and Bell 206 JetRanger training at very reasonable rates.

Add-On Ratings
Airplane pilots can apply some of their airplane flight time to the requirements for the helicopter ratings. Add-on ratings allow an already licensed Airplane pilot to obtain a Rotorcraft/Helicopter rating. Hours can vary, depending on a pilot's currency and flight experience.

Professional Helicopter Pilot Program
The following is an estimate of the total cost to achieve all the ratings in preparation for becoming a Commercial Pilot eligible for employment. It is important to note that the numbers of hours presented in the estimates are based on our actual averages rather than simply offering information using the Federal minimums.

The estimate is based on completing the Private Rating in the Schweizer 300CBi, then making the transition to the Robinson R22 before doing the Instrument Rating in the Robinson R22 Instrument Trainer. The Commercial Pilot Rating will be made in the Robinson R22. The exact mix can be changed to suit your individual needs and preferences. The Turbine Transition, or the R44 Transition, can be done any time after the Private License.

The Commercial License can be completed in the required 150 hours as specified by the FAA. After completing the Private License there are a number of course options available, including, Instrument Rating, Turbine or R44 transitions. At course completion it is possible to have built experience in the Robinson R22 and Schweizer 300CBi, in addition hold a Helicopter Instrument Rating and have completed transitions in the Bell 206 and Robinson R44.

Financing
Several options are available to assist in the payment of your flight school dues. Click here for more info on participating loan and finance programs.

Helicopter FAQ | Need for Pilots

Introductory Flights

During an Introductory Flight one of our instructors will be able to cover the basics about the helicopter's controls, the effect each control input has during a climb, descent, straight and level, and hovering. Then you will take to the air on your first helicopter flight lesson on which you will take the controls with the help of your flight instructor and see what it is like to pilot the helicopter. This flight is usually conducted locally departing out of Van Nuys Airport.

Students get the chance to experience most flight conditions like: Straight and level flight, climbs, turns and descents, plus the most memorable, hovering! With the ground school and flight combined, you will have a basic understanding of how to fly a helicopter. There is no obligation for you to continue lessons; this is offered to give you insight into helicopter flight. The flight time received does count towards your license should you wish to continue lessons toward a Private or Commercial license.