Helicopter Instruction

Aviation Flight School

R&R Conner Aviation's flight school offers training from private license to commercial long line endorsements. Our instructors are all mountain pilots who share their knowledge and experience with students first hand - both in the air and on the ground. R&R Conner Aviation has a 2006 R-44 Clipper II with IFR equipment. We offer a formal training with flexible schedules to accommodate everyone.

R&R Conner Aviation is located in beautiful western Montana with mountains up to 10,000 feet, giving top quality mountain flying experience.

R&R Conner Aviation has experienced instructors that can meet your needs no matter what your goals are. So quit procrastinating and come join R&R Conner Aviation for an experience of a lifetime while learning to fly the friendly Montana skies!

Specialty Helicopter Flight Courses

Priviate Pilot

Commercial Pilot

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)

Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII)

Instrument Pilot

Advanced Course Information

Private Pilot Course

This course is the first step in becoming a helicopter pilot. In this course you will learn the basics of helicopter aerodynamics and flight as well as basic navigation, airport/heliport operations, and emergency procedures. You will be a licensed helicopter pilot when completed.

Course includes:

A minimum of 40 hours helicopter flight time
A min of 20 hours instruction in the helicopter
A min of 10 hours solo flight time
A min of 25 hours ground instruction
Passing a FAA knowledge test
Passing a flight check with a DPE/FAA examiner

Commercial Pilot Course

This is for the private pilot looking to become a professional. The helicopter now becomes a part of your body while you turn your basic flying skills into a professional pilot.

Course includes:

Min 150 hours flight time (dual as needed)
Min 25 hours ground instruction
Pass an FAA knowledge test
Pass a flight check with a DPE/FAA examiner

Certified Flight Instructor

This course is for the commercial pilot that is looking to build time and be employed as a helicopter pilot for the first time. Knowledge is everything!

Course includes:

Min of 30 hours ground instruction
Learning to fly from the opposite seat
Min of 10 hours prep for the Flight check
Pass CFI written test
Pass Fundamentals of instructing written test
Pass flight check with DPE/FAA examiner

Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII)

Course is for the Commercial Instrument pilot looking to teach instruments to others.

Course includes:

Min of 15 hours ground instruction
Learning to fly instrument for the opposite seat
Pass FAA written test
Min 5 hours flight time
Pass flight check with DPE/FAA examiner

Instrument Pilot

This course is for the pilot with a private or commercial certificate. Whether you are just looking to build time or you want to be an instrument pilot (or both) this course is for you. Here you will learn the basics of the instrument flying world which include: departure procedures, enroute procedures, approach procedures, and communication in the IFR world. It is a great choice for safety and for landing your first job!

Course includes:

Min of 40 hours of instrument (at least 15 with a CFII)
Pass an FAA knowledge test
Min 20 hours ground instruction
Pass a flight check with a DPE/FAA examiner

External Load Course

This course is designed for the pilot with no prior external load experience. Students will learn the basics of handling the aircraft with a short line (20 ft). This course is a prerequisite to performing short haul for the forest service and construction applications. Pilot will be in radio contact with the rigger on the ground. (This is not a vertical reference course.)

COURSE DURATION:

4 hours ground, 5 hours flight time This is referred to as a short line course.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Pilot must possess a commercial helicopter certification.

STUDENT WILL LEARN:

To haul with short line attached to the belly hook of the aircraft
Rigger voice commands and hand signals
Proper line inspection
Takeoff and landing with line attached
Flight with empty line
Controlled flight with load attached
Gross takeoff requirements for load
Power applications for load placement
Controlling oscillating and erratic loads
Load jettison
Controlled load placement using verbal commands

Long Line Course

This course is designed for the pilot with no prior vertical reference experience. Pilot must possess a commercial helicopter certification.This course is designed to teach the student to fly the long line, (course starts with 100 ft. steel line and advances to 150 ft.) using only vertical reference from the cockpit. This course is a prerequisite to performing long line for the forest service and other applications.

Course Includes:

Flatland and Mountain long line
Rigger voice commands and hand signals
Proper line inspection
Takeoff and landing with line attached.
Flight with empty line
Controlled flight with load attached.
Avoiding setting with power.
Recovering from settling with power
Gross takeoff requirements for load
Power applications for load placement
Controlling oscillating and erratic loads
Load Jettison
Controlled load placement using vertical reference
Course consist of minimums of 4 hours ground, 20 hours flight

Fire Fighting Course

Student will learn:

Rigger voice commands and hand signals
Proper line and bucket inspection and operation
Takeoff and landing with water bucket attached.
Flight with empty bucket
Controlled flight with bucket attached.
Proper dip site evaluation
Dipping water. (still water & moving water)
Flat land and Mountain use of water bucket
Avoiding setting with power.
Recovering from settling with power
Gross takeoff requirements for load
Most common techniques for water dropping
Power applications for water dropping
Controlling oscillating and erratic loads
Load Jettison
Controlled load placement using vertical reference

Logging Course

This course is designed for the pilot with prior vertical reference experience. Student must demonstrate solid long line skills. Graduates of R&R Conner long line course will qualify. This course will be preformed in a Bell UH-1 Super B. This course qualifies student for Turbine Transition sign-off. This course qualifies student for R&R Conner Logging and Bell UH-1 sign-off.

Course consist of minimums of 10 hours ground, 20 hours flight second seat, 1 to 5 hours flight Pilot in Command dependent on students progress.This course takes place at a real logging job. Students will become familiar with the logging environment and get hands on experience. No other flight school offers this real opportunity.

Student will learn:

Rigger voice commands and hand signals
Proper line inspection and operation
Takeoff and landing with long line attached.
Flight with empty long-line.
Logging techniques for hook deliver
Mountain flying techniques
Proper techniques for log extraction.
Proper techniques for carrying logs
Proper techniques for landing logs
Controlled flight with logs attached.
Proper log landing site evaluation
Avoiding setting with power.
Recovering from settling with power
Gross takeoff requirements for load
Most common techniques utilized in logging industry
Power applications for landing logs
Controlling oscillating and erratic loads
Load Jettison
Controlled load placement using vertical reference

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