WHY TRAIN WITH US?
HIGH CHANCE OF EMPLOYMENT
The primary reason we set up AHA is to increase the standard of pilots we employ at HeliSpirit. While we can’t guarantee a position to every year, our students have had a 100% success rate of job applications with HeliSpirit following successfully completing their CPL through the Australian Helicopter Academy.
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS
We have a small number of instructors with over 30,000 flying hours between them. This means you will always be flying with highly experienced instructor-pilots who have had a wide range of industry experience.
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT
Here in the Kimberley, we are very fortunate to have a diverse training environment that exposes you to different terrains and unlimited number of off-field landing sites. Kununurra aerodrome is non-towered, which means reduces time waiting for clearance and traffic and being more cost-effective for you.
IN-HOUSE MAINTENANCE
You’ll have exposure to a large commercial helicopter company where we encourage students to interact with our company pilots and engineering staff. This allows you to gain valuable contacts and help with aircraft servicing to get a better understanding of how the helicopter works.
COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER LICENCE (CPL (H))
LIFE IN THE KIMBERLEY
LOOKING FOR A CAREER IN AVIATION?
A commercial helicopter licence (CPL (H)) allows the holder to fly for hire or reward anywhere in Australia. In other words you are allowed to make flying your career. A private licence does not allow you to fly for hire and reward. During your training to become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot, you will need to complete the following:
- Pass the 7 CPL (H) theory exams
- Pass the CPL (H) flight test
- Minimum of 125 hours of flight training (this is commonly reduced to 105 hours if the last 30 hours are completed within 90 days)
- Aviation reference number (ARN)
- ASIC card
- Class 1 medical
- Radio Telephone operator licence (gained during your practical training)
STUDY/LIFE BALANCE
Another great aspect about training in Kununurra is the Kimberley lifestyle. During the dry season (April – September) there are clear skies every day. This translates to less interruption to the student’s training program.
You will also be able to enjoy the wonderful facilities Kununurra has to offer. All types of accommodation are available as well, depending on your budget and needs.
As the gateway to the Kimberley, there a wide variety of outdoor activities on offer and a welcoming and friendly community. With World Heritage-listed sites and national parks at your doorstep, it is the perfect place to explore while you complete your pilot training.
- Gareth Cope - Gold Coast, QLD
"Coming up here was a great decision. I have had the opportunity to train with highly experienced instructors who have diverse helicopter industry backgrounds. I trained in the bush off the airport, in terrain and scenarios where and how helicopters are designed to operate. Every day I was exposed to a busy commercial helicopter operation and I was actively involved with the maintenance crew – a must in my opinion. I also got to live in the Kimberley, the view never gets old and the people are great." - Sam Bleakley - Harrow, VIC
"The decision was easy for me when choosing to do my training with AHA. They have experienced instructors who have incredible experience in all areas of the helicopter industry such as long lining, fire fighting, mustering etc. Being exposed to a large helicopter business has also been brilliant as you get real insight into how a professional helicopter company is run and what they expect from a professional pilot.
Having LAME’s and Avionics engineers on hand has been a huge bonus as they gave me a solid understanding to the ins and outs of a wide range of aircraft. Most of all l was influenced with the scenario based flying and the attention to detail that AHA provide so I can become a true professional in the industry."