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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flying A Helicopter Safe?
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One can ask that of any activity from flying helicopters to crossing the road. Statistics prove
you are far safer in the air in comparison with other forms of transport. Quality of instruction
is the key - we ensure you learn to a safe standard and practice until you are competent. We
will guide you through the course.
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Are Helicopter Services Competitive?
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Yes we are but it's not all about price. The standard and quality of instruction is top of the
list. We will guide you through the PPL(H) course. All our instructors are commercial pilots and, as
such, our students benefit greatly from this knowledge and experience. Our
Chief Pilot, Leon Smith, is both a commercial fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. Our instructors
follow his leadership and experience.
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How Long Can I Take?
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Once you have passed your first ground exam (Aviation Law is taken prior to first solo) you must
complete all the ground exams within a twelve-month period. You can take as long as you like
to complete the flying course but if any of the exams become invalid (ie outside the 12 months)
they need to be re-taken. To achieve a satisfactory rate of progress, we would recommend flying
regularly.
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Are The Ground Exams Difficult?
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Most students self-study and with some assistance from their instructor, is normally sufficient.
Ground school is available for any subject with which additional help is required.
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How Stringent Is The Medical?
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The Class II medical (Class I is for commercial pilots) requires a basic requirement of good
health. If, for instance, you wear glasses or contact lenses, the Aero Medical Examiner (AME)
will simply annotate that you must take a spare pair of glasses with you when you fly. Conveniently,
we have a CAA AME based at Wycombe Air Park.
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How Do I Keep My Licence Current?
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For each aircraft type that you hold on your licence, you need to fly two hours per year to
include an LPC (Line Proficiency Check) with an Examiner.
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Why Is Aviation So Full Of Acronyms?
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Even we can't answer that one. Without it, we'd get through even more paper! To give you an idea,
Leon Smith is CFI. He has an ATPL FIC TRE TRI QHI ratings and he's an FE... and FAA ATP IR CFII.
If you want to know what they mean, find out at your next visit!
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Is There A Waiting List?
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If you want to book for a weekend flight you need about a week's notice, during the week just
a day or two is fine.
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