Andy completes his Helicopter Skills Test
Andy Perkins successfully completed his Helicopter Skills test at Staffordshire Helicopters this week, the culmination of helicopter flying lessons taken over the past year. This is like the “driving test” for Helicopter PPL (H) students and consists of a number of exercises carried out under the scrutiny of a CAA examiner which include a comprehensive set of maneuvers, proper execution of emergency procedures, navigation tasks and an assessment of general handling and the application of good airmanship in general. Andy did...
read moreFirst Solo on R44 Helicopter
Congratulations to Andy Eccles on his first solo in a Robinson R44 Raven 11 from all the team at Staffs Helis. The Raven 11 was introduced in 2002 featuring a more powerful, fuel-injected engine and wider blades, allowing a higher gross weight and improved altitude performance. In 1997, a Robinson R44 was piloted by Jennifer Murray for the first helicopter circumnavigation of the world by a woman, covering a distance of 36,000 miles in 97 days. Chilean president Sebastian Pinera owns one of these choppers, and has made several public...
read moreCongratulations to Alan Snell on his Qualifying Cross Country!
Congratulations are in order for Chris Burgoyne on gaining his Instructors Licence last week and a big welcome to the company as our new instructor. Chris completed his first instructor detail with a student on board in a Helicopter Trial Lesson this week. A big day for Staffordshire Helicopters students too. Congrats also to Simon Dodd who completed a first solo flight and Alan Snell pictured left, on completing his solo qualifying cross country flight today. Again, the first one from Staffordshire Heliport ! Add to . . .
read moreFirst Solo for Chris
Congratulations from Staffordshire Helicopters to Chris McGarrigle on making his first solo flight, the first helicopter solo from our new heliport. Taking advantage of the sunny midlands weather Chris flew a circuit in the R22 on a 10 minute flight making an excellent landing back on the “H”. Chris travels from Crewe in Cheshire for helicopter flight training at Staffordshire Helicopters and was almost speechless with exhilaration on his return and then wouldn’t stop telling us how fantastic it was. Well done mate...
read moreFAA Helicopter Licence Test Pass
Congrats to Benet Allen on passing his flight test for his FAA helicopter licence. He started the weekend converting his UK (JAA/CAA) Helicopter PPL to the FAA licence with Paul and passed his FAA helicopter flight test with Adam yesterday, making a total of 7 hours flying including the FAA test. “This was much cheaper than taking the training in The States and it’s good to have helicopter flying lessons in the familiar surroundings of staffordshire, although a touch colder, perhaps. It is extremely beneficial to have FAA...
read moreQualifying Cross Country
Part of your helicopter flight training for the PPL(H) is a qualifying cross country flight with 2 landings away from your “home” base or starting point which must be 100nm (nautical miles)or more. From our base in Staffordshire, Nottingham Airport in the East Midlands and Sywell Aerodrome, again in the Midlands located near to Market Harborough are used. You will need to complete all flight planning including navigational notes, file your flight plan and be prepared to comply with local and national ATC (Air Traffic Control)...
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