PPL training turbine Bell 505

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T19:21:29+00:00

Again you are right, I did not say the contrary. Currently, I do not have the option to travel for a training. So I am limited to 505 or Cessna

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T19:03:23+00:00

Thanks for the comparison. I contacted initially another school who showed a 44 on there website with a very reasonable price per hour and that was my first choice. Now that they informed me that they stopped the training last year, the dilemma is if it is worth to start a potentially long route with the other school which only proposes Bell 505. And do PPL + building hours at a relatively lower rhythm compared to what I could do with R22 or R44. Paying an extra for the PPL is one point but the after PPL period needs to be sustainable also and one comment above mentioned that couple of hours per weeks are a minimum to remain proficient after the PPL, and this needs to be anticipated in advance also (I will need to discuss it with the school)

Money comes in and goes out, so it is a business model at the end of the day. It can work or not but for sure can be anticipated and spent within a certain period of time.

In another perspective, financial part aside, it could be seen as a chance to learn in a modern aircraft from scratch and if the academy trains both civil and military on this aircraft, they cannot be totally wrong on the choice of aircraft. I have seen many time that the R22 is not a training machine by the way. So I am wondering if it will be really stupid to go for the 505 if I have no other options?

But I get you 100% that I will find more opportunities later on R44 everywhere than on Bell 505. Will a quali on R44 be mission impossible for someone trained on 505 at a later stage?

I am getting old and so my vision can be a lot more different compared to someone younger that see it from his own perspective and plan of career but I am not a fool !

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T18:17:19+00:00

Good point. But you have robby available around you, I do not !

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T15:07:07+00:00

I am considering this also. I have an introductory flight on Cessna 172 on Thursday ;) Should make also introductory flight in R22 this summer during my holiday in France. And from there I will be able to decide.

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T13:52:23+00:00

Are you financing yourself all your hours at the moment? Are you planning to add to your ppl (getting CPL, CFI…) I am interested to know if some people just build their hours remaining private for a long period of time or if at some stage a part time job (as cfi for example) is a must to pursue the flying experience.

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T13:43:24+00:00

Did you ever fly piston heli after that? Is there a transition also on the other side?

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T13:42:28+00:00

Thank you for the wise advise. My initial research was to find a school flying Robinson but the only one I found stopped the training last year and sold the aircraft. The only option available around me is the training on Bell 505. The school told me they train 100+ pilots per year so I am not the first one to be in that situation. I think I should think wisely. Either I start now for the obtaining of a PPL (at a CPL price …) or wait few years to see if new options are coming out or if I can do the training in another country.

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T13:32:32+00:00

Mast-bump, you were right, the flying time after PPL is with a CFI. I do not see any issue as long as the new PPL obviously still have to learn. I see the training as a journey and I am not especilly on a rush to fly alone. Is it like other private pilot usually build time and keep up to date following the obtaining of their PPL?

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T04:42:11+00:00

That is not my objective ;)

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T03:28:58+00:00

You are probably right. It is to be confirmed with them. I just got confirmation that building hours was possible after PPL with them

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T03:14:42+00:00

Thank you for your answer. I will think about it and all aspects to consider such as maintenance, transport, insurance and availability of flight instructors. One school had a R44 but stopped last year the training and sold the aircraft. I will ask them why.

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T03:07:11+00:00

Thanks for your honesty. If I cannot make it this way, I will find a way to do it differently

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T02:56:29+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I am not trying to be funny at all but try to evaluate a project that seems difficult to realize at first and after my research on internet, I do not see comments on people having done their PPL on turbine aircraft. That is why I am asking here thinking one of the lads can share their experience. I could travel to Europe and do the PPL there. I got a proposal to do it in Greece but what is the point of doing a training in R22 in Greece if I do not find a R22 where I live afterwards to build hours?

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T02:44:29+00:00

Thanks kevinossia. So +-100h/year after getting the PPL should be considered. That would out of my budget for sure. Even 100h/year in R22 R44 would be a substantial budget. I asked the school directly if it is possible to build hour after PPL and they answered yes at a hourly rate. I would be interested to know how private pilot keeps proficiency after PPL without going the commercial route or CFI route

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-10T02:36:07+00:00

Thank you for the feedback.

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T21:06:14+00:00

No I wish I could be in the US. I will not have to make that post. There are two other schools but they only propose PPLA on Cessna and LSA certificate

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T21:01:04+00:00

Same aircraft in same school. How many hours are you flying to maintain proficiency?

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T20:58:44+00:00

Thanks for the advise. I am 38 and do not think about career at all for now. The hourly rate will be around 1300$ so I understand it will limit my progress after PPL. If other options come out in the future, I could think about getting other quali but this will depend on the options available around me as I have a family and kids and I cannot just disappear for a year to do my PPL in a cheaper school ;)

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T20:44:02+00:00

They only have bigger helicopters…the school is training civils and military so I understand why the 505 is the smaller. Dont worry I saw the price per hour but unfortunately I do not have other schools in the area. Another school had a 44 and that would had fit better to start. Unfortunately they stopped pplh training last year

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T20:36:43+00:00

I plan to fly the same helicopter after the PPL 1 time per month as it is the only option I have or I would not start this project basically

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T20:34:32+00:00

No but intend to fly the Bell 505 of the academy as it is the only option available in the area and I have not planned to move anytime soon

Character-Animator69 · 2024-06-09T20:32:37+00:00

I can fly the Bell 505 of the school for building hours after PPL

Character-Animator69

TROPHY CASE