BeckerHelicopters
Frequently asked questions
 

So... How difficult is it?
 

Learning to fly a helicopter in forward flight is not too difficult, just a matter of practice and "feel". Hovering, on the other hand, is a different matter! Rather like trying to balance a knitting needle on a greasy ping pong ball. However, most people get the hang of it after about ten hours or so. And, it's a bit like riding a bike - once you can do it you don't forget how. It does require concentrated effort and application.
 
Where do we train?
 
View Looking South
Toward the mouth of the Maroochy River 		 View Looking North
Straight up runway 36
    We train at the Sunshine Coast Airport at Maroochydore which is approximately 45NM or 1 hour driving north from Brisbane. As the name implies, the Sunshine Coast Airport averages 7 hours of sunshine per day. We train in uncongested controlled airspace giving you commercial practice. We have all types of terrain, excellent mountain flying areas, confined areas to give realistic training. You get excellent flying conditions for your investment, not to mention the picturesque views along the way!
 
 

How many hours are required & how long is the course?


For a PPL (Private Pilots Licence) you need a minimum of 50 hours flying. For a CPL (Commercial Pilots Licence) you need a minimum of 125 hours flying, however you can bring that down to 105 hours when the final 30 hours is completed within 3 months. If you have a Fixed Wing Licence these hours may be further reduced.
Both courses will cover the basics and then move into advanced exercises such as:
Cross-country, low level flying, emergencies, confined areas and mountain flying. Mike has extensive experience flying in mountainous terrain & confined areas. You will find his training goes beyond what other schools will teach. Just ask some of the students who have trained with Mike.
You can achieve your CPL in approximately 6 months with concentrated effort and application.

If you are coming from overseas and you require more hours to meet the FAA or JAA syllabus (or another official bodies requirements), we can tailor a course to suit.

Qualification


Because we are fully VETEC accredited , once you have completed a CPL, you will be issued with a Certificate IV in Aviation (Day VFR Helicopter Studies). This gives you credits towards a degree at a University if that is your desired area.
 

Overseas students


The Australian licence you obtain from Becker Helicopter Services is fully recognised in ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) participating countries. We are fully VETEC accredited which will allow our students to be issued with student visas and AUSTUDY allowances if eligable.

Because the USA, Europe and some other countries have different requirements we can put a package together that will not only meet your requirements but will probably cost you far less than if you trained in your own country.

 

Converting Foreign Licence to Australian Licence

As a general rule, pilots seeking to convert a foreign licence to an Australian flight crew licence must pass a 'Flight Rules and Air Law' written examination and a flight test as well as obtain an Australian medical certificate. The examinations/tests mentioned must be completed with a person/persons approved by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority). This means that tests can only be conducted in Australia.

You will need to present your original licence(s), medical certificate, log book(s), plus any other documents that support your application for recognition of your qualifications. Please note that licensing requirements may change from time to time and the information here should be treated as a guide only.

With regard to a work permit, you may find it difficult. Usually the best way in is to arrange work with a company before you arrive so they can sponsor your visa. That said, you may be interested to have a look at the Department of Immigration website, here - http://www.immi.gov.au/

If you would like to obtain your Australian CPL(H), we can certainly help. We provide theory training or notes for home study. The exam is 'open book' so you simply need to know your way around them. We can also arrange medical examinations and accommodation, and we have a CASA approved testing officer 'in house' for your flight test.
 

What about the theory?


We run theory in a weekly series so that you can interchange between taking theory and flight trianing. The reason we do this is to help in your actual learning of the subjects. Too often the theory is not taken seriously and is considered inconvenient and just something you just must get through. This leads to courses where you learn by rote rather than doing the hard yards and actually learning the material. We believe the theory is an integral part of becoming a professional pilot. Imagine trying to teach someone who has never sat in a car how to drive a manual (stick shift) vehicle . Imagine that same person having done 10 hours driving and then being taught, the difference in learning and undrstanding is amazing. We teach our own in-house theory covering all the required topics including Meteorology, Air Law, Principles of Flight, Performance and Operations, Navigation, Aircraft General Knowledge and Human Factors. See the section on 'Theory Courses' for full details. We can also supply you with a Distance Education option if you cannot make it to a full time course.

Our ground instructors are Commercial Helicopter Pilots and have completed a teaching qualification so are in the best position to guide you through the theory. Over the last 2 years we have had a 99% pass rate and we work very hard at always improving the course.
 
 

How old must I be?


You can earn a student licence at sixteen years of age and obtain a PPL once you are seventeen. For your CPL you need to be eighteen years old. You can then fly until you are 110 - providing you can maintain your medical!
 

What are the medical requirements?


Very early on in your training you will need to have a Medical with a Civil Aviation "approved" doctor. The Medical itself concentrates on ears, eyes, blood pressure, general health and any odd disorder you may have...
Most people pass - and the check up is a good idea in any case.
It normally costs a couple of hundred dollars. To find a doctor in your area goto www.casa.gov.au/avreg/avmed/index.htm Once you have found a doctor, make an appointment and ask for "The intial issue of a Commercial Pilots Licence Medical in Australia!" It is very important that you ask for the above to avoid getting an incorrect medical. Click here for more details.
 

Do I need a fixed wing licence before I can fly helicopters?


No you don't need to do any fixed wing flying. The only advantage is if you wish to pursue a career in both Helicopter and Fixed wing. If your career is to be in helicopters then the extra training in helicopters is advantageous when applying for your future job. Some schools offer the fixed wing component to "save" you money because you can cross over some of those hours.

However the only advantage is if you wish to pursue both types of flying, otherwise it can put you at a real disadvantage when you apply for your first job. You will be competing with pilots who have more hours and experience in a helicopter than you. Some schools maintain that even though you are in a fixed wing aircraft and not a helicopter that the hours all count as you are still flying. Very quickly you will realise though, that the disciplines are very different, and lets face it, the helicopter is NOT a fixed wing aircraft. However, that's not to say you won't have good fundamentals from flying in a fixed wing. Other considerations are insurance requirements, and these vary. In countries like the USA and Europe some fixed wing flying will definitely save you money.
 
 

What flight test?


The flight test will take place at the end of your training & be conducted by an Approved Testing Officer (ATO). It takes about 2 hours flying & includes all the exercises you have been trained in. Mike Becker is an approved testing officer so you will have the advantage of being tested by a familiar person. This may seem a little trivial but the nerves do seem to set in around testing time and every little bit helps!
 

How long before I can go "solo"?


Generally our students solo between 10 and 20 hours. There is no rush. Your first Solo flight is a big step - the helicopter "feels" different and responds differently once the instructor gets out. We also make sure you are up to speed on emergency procedures such as autorotations and jammed controls. We have to be confident in your ability before we leave you to it.
 


Accommodation

With prior notice we can easily organize accommodation for you for the duration of your training. There are various types of accommodation available including our own pilot houses, with everything supplied including a house keeper (but excluding food). Also available are apartments, self contained units, houses, rooms and cabins with full board with local families. Cost can vary depending on your preferences and budget, but start at around $AUD 85.00 per week.

Real Estate agents can be contacted to send you relevant brochures on rental and/or properties that are for sale on the Coast. Let us know if you'd like information sent in regards to these or check out these guys www.professionals.com.au/maroochydore/
 

At Becker Helicopters we operate:

  • 2 Robinson R22 Beta II 2007 Models
  • 1 Hughes 300/TH55
  • 1 Robinson R44 Raven II 2007 Model
  • 1 Bell 206 Kiowa (coming soon 2 Bell 206 Intrument and Night VFR mid 2008)
  • 1 AS350 Squirrel
  • 1 Agusta 109E Power (soon to be upgraded to an Agusta Grand Sept 2008)

View them here.

Hours of operation


Becker Helicopters Operates 7 days a week during daylight hours, and we also have Night VFR flights.

More complete information on these subjects and more can be found here - Student Info