#34 HELICOPTER FERRY FLIGHT is it BENEFICIAL for YOU as a STUDENT PILOT?

Mar 23, 2019

HELICOPTER FERRY FLIGHT is it BENEFICIAL for YOU as a STUDENT PILOT?

Hey Kenny, I don’t want the school I’m going to, or my name mentioned if you decide to publicly address this. However, I do want to tell you about a practice at my flight school that I find.. shady.

The school operates an R44 that they lease. I was told “Hey, this aircraft has to have a minimum number of hours on it every month for the lease. So, you might get the chance to fly it for a discounted rate, but it’ll be short notice.”

I was called by my instructor one evening offering such a great deal, but it had to be that night. I work six days a week, twelve hours a day. It was going to take me two hours to drive to the aircraft, an hour in the air (or so I thought..) and another two hours to get home.

I had to work the next day, and I figured I’d be home pretty late, but it wouldn’t be unreasonably late. So, I told him I’d do it if he could have the aircraft pre-flighted and ready when I got there.Then my instructor fesses up.

“We’ve gotta’ bring back another 44.” Then I learn of the real purpose of this flight.. There was an R22 that needed maintenance done in the hangar. He worked on that 22 for a couple hours. We get into a different R44 and proceed direct.

Once we got back, I told my instructor “Hey, I didn’t get much out of that flight. You guys basically just had me foot the bill for your maintenance/ferry flight.” I didn’t get back home until about 1:30am and had to be up at 5:30am.

The next time I went back, my instructor told me he was sorry about the miscommunication and the next time one of those flights came up, I could do it for free. When I brought that up the next time it happened, my instructor said “Who said you could fly for free?”

It recently happened again. They had to get to Ohio to pickup parts and offered me a fifty dollar/hour discount on the 44. I’m close to checkride for my private. I need to be practicing maneuvers. I declined the offer.

I told them after I was rated, I would be more interested in those flights.. I don’t know Kenny.. I’ve thought about taking time off from work and heading to Plymouth to finish up with you. I’ve paid them for block time in the 44 and still have about 5 hours left on it.

After finishing the helicopter private, I want to get an airplane addon. At least I can do that at a local airport. Thank you for all you do. It’s appreciated. HELICOPTER FERRY FLIGHT is it BENEFICIAL for YOU as a STUDENT PILOT?

#FerryFlight #CoffeeWithKenny