James Koens is a Check and Training Aircrew Officer on very expensive rescue/aeromedical helicopters. He also finds time to be a helicopter charter pilot, Army Reserve aircrewman, volunteer rural firefighter and a podcast host.
This episode is being pushed out the door half cooked so that you can hear it sooner. Please forgive any short comings in the polish.
In this episode James talks about some of the challenges of operating complex missions in the world of helicopter rescue and ambulance services. We then change track and discuss what James has learnt from ferrying small helicopters across remote parts of Australia.
Important – please look at the link below to the GoFundMe page for the Fenton family discussed in the podcast episode.
4300Kms, 30hrs, 16 fuel stops, a Robinson R22, and a whole lot of nothingness – From James’ LinkedIn post comment
Jerry Trimble has been there and done that – now he focuses on the personal touch with helicopter training
With the ink still drying on his A&P licence Jerry landed a job at Robinson Helicopters and went flying on his first day on the job with Frank Robinson in R22 serial number 2. We cover several of the experiences from Jerry’s career in this episode.
Jerry Trimble is today’s guest and is the owner of Jerry Trimble Helicopters in McMinnville, Oregon.
Jerry’s experience includes fixed wing CFI, A&P mechanic (and still does his own maintenance), EMS, logging, fire contracts and instructing. He has several thousand hours on the R22 alone and a long association with the Robinson product having worked at Robinson Helicopters as a new A&P in the period leading up to FAA certification.
[Tweet “Once you get the bug, it never goes away. #helicopters”]
Along the way Jerry founded, built up and then sold Hillsboro Aviation which at the time had 40 staff and 25 aircraft.
Now along with his wife Alison, his focus is on training pilots in a smaller setting at Jerry Trimble Helicopters.
The school has a busy social calendar with different events. One of the events that has grown over time and built a following is the annual Touchdown Auto Competition. The 2015 event is on June 28th with $600 prize money (and bragging rights) going to the winner. The event is judged by a panel of well known industry names and looks to be a lot of fun. Full details on the competition here.
The Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying was given out by the Helicopter Foundation International for many years. There is an article about Jerry’s Dad further down the page that makes for some very interesting reading too. Robert was very much a pioneer of the helicopter industry.
In this week’s episode:
00:50 Cracking out the ugg boots for Queensland winter
01:30 ‘Train like you fly’ book – scenario based training
04:31 Robert Trimble, helicopter pioneer
07:15 Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying
08:55 Aeroplane rating out of high school
10:31 Bell 47 time in Jakarta, Indonesia
11:47 A&P mechanic licence
12:50 First day on the job at Robinson Helicopters – flying with Frank Robinson in R22 no.2
16:30 Struggle of certification and story about recovering R22 serial number 001
19:40 Pros and cons of the R22
22:59 Founding Hillsboro Aviation and growing it 40 employees and 25 aircraft
27:20 Jerry Trimble Helicopters
30:38 Alison – corporate Learjet pilot, fired Jerry as her instructor, runs the business
32:22 Children’s interest level in flying
33:55 Overseas students are a big market
35:50 Touchdown Autorotation Competition history
42:42 Tips on conducting autorotations
45:05 Tips on teaching autorotations
47:50 Poker run social event
50:15 EMS flight with boy’s mum in the front to hospital – made a difference
52:55 Low level engine failure over freeway
53:57 McMinnville, Oregon location – now Palm Springs, Texas and North Carolina
62:55 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
The Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying was given out by Helicopter Foundation International for many years. Jerry was only 6 when his father was killed in a helicopter crash.
Construction shot of the ‘Big Foot’ that Jerry Trimble Helicopters will use for longline training and as a local attraction.
Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about flight training or the early days of the R22?
Heather Howley is the owner and Chief Pilot of Independent Helicopters
For most young helicopter pilots opening your own helicopter training school is probably not high on your list of things to do.
But this is exactly what Heather Howley, this week’s guest on the show, did when she was left in the lurch with a helicopter lease contract to cover.
Heather is the owner and chief pilot of Independent Helicopters based out of Saratoga County Airport, New York.
The company offers helicopter training in R22s and R44s supplemented by a ground based simulator. Like most school charter and airwork ops on the side keep life interesting and the machines busy.
You’ll quickly pick up Heather’s passion and love of flying in the interview. Its hard to imagine her doing anything else for many years to come.
01:14 Chinook webinar
01:50 Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
02:27 Heather Howley
03:28 School, working with animals and travel
05:10 Ground school and mentor
05:45 Silver State Helicopters + student loans
06:50 Training as a flight instructor
07:30 Taking Mum for a helicopter flight
08:45 Working as an instructor
10:40 Starting own helicopter company
15:13 Balancing hats – company owner, instructor, chief pilot
16:50 Business awards
18:25 What looking for when hiring pilots
19:38 Trends in the US training industry
21:15 Helicopter training rate
22:05 Veterans program
23:50 Common student challenges
26:12 Local terrain, landmarks, airspace around New York
29:44 Pilots groups and organisations, Girls with Wings
31:58 Mentoring others
33:00 Things I wish I need earlier
34:37 Scariest moments with students
36:58 Tips on getting first helicopter job
37:45 Recommended books
39:05 Lucy the flying dog
41:15 Subscribe on iTunes
41:30 Pilot recruiting interview – send in your questions to [email protected]
