FH1100 Manufacturing Corp. of Century, Florida (FMC) has announced the expansion of their factory flight training program. The new Van Nevel Helicopters Academy will 'soon be open to the public,' said FMC president Georges Van Nevel who added, “We will offer allturbine “ab-initio” training through Commercial and CFI-I ratings for those who desire a career as a helicopter pilot.”

“All of our instruction will be in the Rolls Royce 250 C-20B-powered FH1100 at a rate comparable to piston-engine trainers,” Van Nevel noted.

“Since we build the FH1100, we are in a unique position to offer it at a rate much lower than that of any commercial operator. Our plan is to provide a comprehensive, real-world training course for aspiring professional pilots.”

For instance, our Commercial Pilot curriculum will include training in such areas as elevated platform operations for those with a goal of working in the offshore oil industry. External load training may also be provided at advanced levels. Every successful graduate will receive a Factory Training Course Certificate, which is recognized by and has tremendous value to insurance companies.

“To help pilots build flight time, we intend to hire our graduates as instructors,” Van Nevel added. FMC is working with their insurance carrier, which so far endorses the plan.

“Worldwide, piston engines are mostly a thing of the past, with limited commercial application,” Van Nevel noted.

“Conceivably, a person enrolling at our school could go from zerotime to getting his first job without ever having flown a piston helicopter!”

Based just north of Pensacola, in northwest Florida’s panhandle, the area offers great yearround weather. The Van Nevel Helicopter Training Academy intends to offer on-site housing for students, and plans are to provide transportation for those who would like a car to go to the beach on their time off.

Mr. Van Nevel concedes that this is a revolutionary, even radical idea in the flight training industry.

“The time is right for it,” he says. The Van Nevel Helicopters Academy expects to be in operation by May, 2006.

FMI: www.fh1100.com