Students - Learning to fly at Ocean Helicopters
International Students
If you are from outside the U.S. and are thinking about starting or completing your helicopter flight training in Florida, then look no further.
We can offer advice to all international students from all over the world. Whether you are from the UK, Australia, Canada or The Caribbean we can help you.
Ocean Helicopters has contacts with flight schools in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, The Caribbean and the Far East. These relationships allow us to keep up to date with the requirements and regulations for each country and offer you the best advice when it comes to flight training.
Please contact us with your individual needs and we will do our best to cater for you.
UK Students
Flying in Britain is expensive. We have unfortunately been there and done that. Helicopter instruction in the USA is on average about 40 % cheaper than back in the UK. This is a huge saving and a very good reason in itself to make the trip, but coming to Florida is not only about saving money...
As we all know, the weather in the UK is not great. Here in South Florida, with the exception of a few days here and there, it is year-round flying conditions. However, this doesn't mean that you will only be used to flying in good weather. Florida also experiences coastal winds, and the heat and humidity makes for rapdily changing weather in the summer. These two factors mean you not only get your licenses or ratings done quickly, but you also get experience with different weather conditions.
The first question that you may be thinking is "Will my licence be valid back in the UK?" The simple answer to that question is "Yes". If you come to Ocean Helicopters and obtain your Helicopter Private Pilots Licence, you can then go back to the UK and legally fly on that licence without any conversion.
"Can I convert my FAA PPL to the JAA PPL?" Again the simple answer is "Yes". If you have less than 100 hours then you would have to do the written tests back in the UK, but if you have more than 100 hours, you only have to do two of the written tests. In both cases you would have to do a flight test, but after completing your flight training at Ocean, you will be more than prepared to pass it.
Some people don't go overseas for their flight training, the simple reason being because of the uncertainty of going to another county, especially if they haven't been there before. Here at Ocean we understand this fully and have taken several steps to make your stay as accommodating as possible. The following lists just some of the services we provide:
- Pick you up at Palm Beach International Airport or the train station when you arrive
- Take you to your already pre-arranged accommodation
- Pre book you in the daily flight schedule
- Provide 24 hours, 7 days a week emergency contact numbers
- Make sure that your stay is as comfortable as possible
All you would have to do is book your flight to Palm Beach International Airport and that's it! We do recommend, for your convenience, that you acquire a rental car for the duration of your stay.
When you have passed your licences or ratings, Ocean Helicopters will then drive you back to the airport and stay with you until you are checked in and safely on your way home.
Introduction Week
Before you decide on any flight school to do your training, you should really go and visit them before you commit to anything, so why not come and see us, maybe coupled with a vacation in sunny South Florida! We offer a package called an Introduction Week which is aimed at people thinking about trying their hand at helicopter flying before they commit to a whole course. Or simply for people that want a week in the sun trying something a little different.
For the people that come over here to try helicopter flying before making the big decision to start full time training, this is a particularly good idea. If you come here and like it and decide you want to go ahead and carry on, EVERYTHING that you do whilst here in that week will count FULLY towards your training. So in monetary terms, everything that you spend on this course towards your flight training will be taken off the cost of your final course. On the other hand, if you come here and decide that helicopter flying is not for you, then you haven't committed, time wise and financially to a whole course.
We see the Introduction Week as a "win/win" situation for our students, and so do they! The vast majority of people who have come to Ocean Helicopters for an Introduction Week have come back to complete their training.
Below is an outline of what is included in the "Introduction Week".
- Ocean Helicopters staff will pick you up from the airport
- Drive you to your luxury accommodation and settle you in
- One weeks accommodation in our student house
- 5 hours dual instruction in a Robinson R22 with a certified flight instructor
- 5 hours ground school. This is conducted on a one-to-one basis in a classroom
- Free headset use
- Insurance whilst in the helicopter
- Driven back to Palm Beach International airport to catch your flight home
We already have in place good relationships with flight schools all over the UK that we will email on your return to inform them of your exact needs and requirements, so you can continue where you left off after your training with Ocean Helicopters.