Schools have differing philosophies in terms of how they prepare students for their professional careers. It is common for some Part 61 schools to not even offer the Instrument or Instrument Instructor courses. This is to the student’s disadvantage on a number of levels. These schools claim that having the instrument ratings is not important in the helicopter world, and then they drag out the Commercial and Flight Instructor courses to 200 total hours. At Classic, by adding a few additional hours to the 200, you will have the Instrument and Instrument Instructor ratings as well.
Classic believes that there is no substitute for actual flight time in the helicopter. Some programs consist of students beginning with two months of ground school first, then moving on to a simulator, and four to six weeks later, finally getting into an aircraft. At Classic the ground is integrated with the flying, and the student begins flying immediately. Training can also be provided in Robinson R44’s.
Classic prepares students who are on the professional track with training to make them instantly marketable to the entry-level
marketplace. Having the Instrument and Instrument Instructor ratings in your resume makes you more marketable as an instructor, and when it comes time to transition into turbines, the operator may assume the financial responsibility for the training. The same is true for external load training.
Classic’s Professional Pilot Program includes the following courses:
A complete array of Add-On courses is also available to those fixed wing pilots who wish to transition to helicopters.