Filling in the history...

As you will see, there is a horrendous gap between May 2009 and February 2010.  I have been flying, studying, and testing all during that period, but had not blogged about it.


Lots of reasons, honestly. Some to "protect" people involved and to not hurt any feelings, and well, I just ran low on time.  Family, work, and life take precedence over blogging and they got the attention.


Now, I'll go back in and fill in some of the empty space.  I plan to back-date the entries to approximately the same time I would have made them.  One of the great benefits of having a pilot log book... I know exactly what I did on any given flight day.  I'll mark them with the "backdate" label, and also mention it at the top of the entry.


Enjoy, and please feel free to ask any/all questions - as usual.

CFI Flight #1 @ Jerry Trimble Helicopters

Backdated.

This was the right decision. No question.

I wish that McMinneville (MMV) was closer... we're at about 45-60 minutes.  It is a really nice and easy drive into Oregon country... but it does add and additional 2 hours to any training I might set up.


We spent about 1hr doing ground and 1hr in the air. My initial reaction is that Jerry is an very down to earth instructor and an incredible pilot.  The ground lesson was more or less a level set on what is to be covered and a basic FoI level information.  Mostly review as I've just come off of my FOI test.


The flight... well, it was mostly a "proof" of my ability. We did at least one of every maneuver.  He wanted to see what he had to work with.  Interestingly, he knew where I got my training because I executed the maneuvers to HAI standard.  There are flavors of maneuvers, obviously, and mine are all HAI tinted.


For example, HAI is a proponent of a "little flare" and then "big flare" in an autorotation with a power recovery.  After I did it, Jerry asked me "Why?".  And, the only response I could give him was "Because that is the way I was taught at Hillsboro."  Now, while he understood that, and took it as a valid reason he said that he was going to break me of all the bad habits I picked up at Hillsboro.  Not that it was dangerous or anything, but if I can't back up every thing I do in the helicopter with a concrete reason based in aerodynamics, mechanics or safety... I should not be doing it. 


Good point.


Jerry teaches the autorotation with a big flare, lowering collective to prevent ballooning up, level the helicopter and recover.


Seems quite reasonable.


He also rode me pretty hard about my Max Performance Takeoff.  I've been taught, MIPOC:

• M : Magneto Check
• I : Instruments Check
• P : Available Power
• O : Identify Obstacle(s) to be cleared.
• C : Clear the side, skids, tail.

Well, "Why do you need to check the magnetos before your max performance takeoff?  Should we get out and check the rotor blades?  Check the oil?  There are plenty of things that could be checked, but they are working now, we can expect them to work for the next 15 minutes too."

Point taken.

Flying, just because I can!

So, I guess I lied a little about never spending any more money at Hillsboro Aviation. I needed to fly, so over the past month or so, I grabbed a few hours in the sky with their helicopters.


Anyway, had some fantastic flights. Nothing fancy, just tooling around up there flying one of the most complex machines man has ever dreamed up. :)


Look, let me be clear on one thing.  I don't resent HAI, I don't hate them. Really.  They taught me an incredible skill.  They taught me well.  The school is filled with excellent CFIs.  My issue comes in where they decided to rotate out the high-time instructors.  Just makes no sense for people at the end of their Commercial training. 


If you have questions... ask, I'd be happy to explain further.

See ya Hillsboro Aviation. Hello Jerry Trimble Helicopters!

Backdated.

As of today, I'm done with Hillsboro Aviation.  Don't get me wrong, HAI gave me 100% of my helicopter flying to date. They taught me well, and I truly appreciate that. And, honestly, I would recommend them to anyone interested in their Private or Commercial certifications.  CFI training... no sir.  


Today I took my CFI : Fundamentals of Instruction (FoI) test with LaserGrade. Kicked out a 94%, so I'm happy with that, and I can say that today was a good day, in general because of that.  The other day, I could not be more pissed off - here's why.


We were all sitting around in the HAI classroom putting the final touches on our training folders.  See, HAI is a 141 school and they have an approved syllabus.  Even though there are not any requirements on hours set forth by the FAA for the CFI certification, HAI has set up a program which they have to follow - to the letter.


Well, it turns out that with all the cancellations and errors around the CFI class, we were .7hrs short of the requirement.  We had to sit there... and I mean sit there and burn the time.  They did not charge us for the time we sat there, which is only fair, but the poor planning was just too much.  I'm done with HAI.


So, that day, I took my FoI test. Took my "First Solo" picture off the wall, grabbed my training folders, and left the school.  No more money being spent there.


Again, thank you for the education, and everything you gave me so far... but the recent changes and lack of respect for student CFI's time is just too much to handle.


I called Jerry on the car ride on the way home, and we started planning my first CFI lesson with him.  August 10th.

Jerry Trimble Helicopters

Backdated.

There have been a few instances over the past few days where I have gotten off of work to drive to the classroom at Hillsboro to find out that we're canceled for one reason or another. Today the projector was unavailable and we canceled. 


Not acceptable.


Today I met with Jerry Trimble of Jerry Trimble Helicopters.   Actually, Jerry bought me dinner. Jerry, Alison his wife, and I have a meet and greet at the Baja Fresh.  I've been pretty dis-heartened about what has been going on w/ HAI and I'm starting to question my decision to stay with them.  Fact is, I'm not getting what I need from the school and they are getting what they need from me... my money.


Anyway, Jerry comes highly recommended by a lot of people I respect. He is a small, one helicopter outfit out of McMinneville (KMMV).  Why would this take value over the 18 helicopter shop at Hillsboro Aviation?  Because I'm tired of throwing my money at someone who cold care less about my training.


From friends and the dinner, I learned that Jerry has flown almost everything out there with a rotor blade.  EMS, Tourism, Sky Cranes, you name it.  I have no idea how many hours he has, but it is upwards of 15,000 or 20,000.  Yes, you read that correctly.  35 years doing this.

Here is a little snippet from his website.

I received my A&P certificate at Northrup University in Inglewood, California in 1978 and started working for Frank Robinson as an A&P mechanic in January of 1979. My first day on the job I was selected to fly with Frank in ship s/n 002. Serial number 001 had done a nose dive into the ocean before I got there so we were flying the backup. It was something for me to be the unqualified flight test engineer with Frank Robinson flying the prototype on my first day. I spent two years with Robinson and worked my way up to production test flying. Bob Golden one of Frank's certification test pilots flew with me to help me get my CFI Helicopter in September of 1980 in an R-22.

In December of 1980 I started Hillsboro Helicopters in Hillsboro, Oregon. I was a one man band in the beginning. In 1992 when I sold the company to Ed Cooley we were over 40 people strong with over 25 aircraft. Since then I have flown corporate turbo props, fought fires in the skycrane, flown EMS in BO-105 and the EC-135. I have been a Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, Director of Maintenance and a Chief Flight Instructor for both airplanes and helicopters.

Impressive, right?


He was equally impressive face to face.  He gave me the CFI Syllabus he uses and asked "if you end up not going with me for my training, I ask that you destroy this.  Fair?".   That is the attitude I really appreciate. Impress me with your skill, give me your trust and then see what happens.


I think I'll be seeing more of Jerry.

FoIs at HAI

Backdated.


I have decided to stick with HAI for a number of reasons.  As usual with a big decision I make pro / con lists.  (This is the actual list I made, I found the post-it note in my 2009 FAR/AIM)

Pro

1. They are very close to my home.  15 minute drive.
2. I'm familiar with the airspace, the airport and the school itself.
3. I have invested lots of $$$ in the school so far.
4. The school is very well known in the industry.

Con

1. They treat their CFIs pretty poorly.
2. Their program is longer and more expensive than some others.
3. This will be a group training setup, not 1 on 1.

Pro's won.  I signed up and have been working the Fundamentals of Instruction for a few weeks.  


We are in a semi-convenient group classroom setting.  It is not ideal, but it is what it is.


My concern about being CFI trained by a new CFI has pretty much been removed. We have been working with the Chief Flight Instructor for this portion of our training.


This is both good and bad.  We have the expertise at the ready, but are not his first priority.  There have been quite a few instances where he has either forgotten to tell us class is canceled due to a conflict, and we find out when we walk into the room.  Or, he just has to cancel class because of prior commitments.  Not ideal.


Quality of the course is spot on, so it is hard to complain about that.

CFI : The Next and Final Step...

Note: I'm backdating a number of these entries because, for a number of reasons, I was unable to do them at the time. Based on my logbook and classroom notes I'm re-creating these entries as best as I can.


Done with my Commercial, and I've decided to kick right off into my CFI Training.  Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with Hillsboro. 


Look, HAI gave me a great education. They taught me to fly.  I got my Private here and just now got my Commercial license. I've paid them many thousands of dollars and have put some real time on their birds.  So, I owe them a debt of gratitude, no question.  Good school. Buuuuuut....


...isn't there always a "but". Here it is... and this is probably one of the big reasons I did not blog about this in real time and waited till months later.


I think HAI is a shitty place to work.  I'm not at all impressed how they treat their CFIs.


Ok, so here is all the back story.  I started this journey in 2008 with my instructor.  She was fresh off the CFI boat and had 20x hours in the sky.  Compared to me, she was infinitely more qualified. I had 0, she had 20x.  No question, she was qualified.

As the hobbs time ticked by, I gradually picked up skill, and so did she.  Obviously at a much highter rate that me since she had multiple students.  Throughout the entire process I would fly with other, high time, CFIs for Stage Checks and pre-Check Ride checks, etc.  All good.

Well, just before I got my Commercial w/ about 180hrs of my own, Hillsboro decided they needed to make changes with their hiring policies.  They decided that in order to maintain a predictable and constant flow of CFIs in the school, they needed to set a cap on the hours that a CFI could have and still work in the school. The cap would be at 1000hrs.  My instructor had 1400, the others I regularly worked with had 1500, 1100 and 1200.

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the school's position.  However, in the current business market jobs are scarce all over, and to eject someone from their job for too much experience so that you can replace them with less experienced people seems pretty unfair.  Obviously to the CFI, but also to the students they have.

Hell, l was down right pissed off at this for very selfish reasons.  I have paid thousands of dollars to get the best education I can and to be told that I am going to be given a CGI with 20% more hours than me is offensive. I'm pretty sure they had something to teach me, but certainly not as much as someone with 4x, 5x more air time.  

I literally finished up my Commercial with someone that had 25 more hours than me.  I was pissed.

It was at this point that I started investigating other schools.