new graduate - rene theirry

We congratulate and farewell our newest commercial pilot graduate Rene Thierry.  Words cannot express your great achievement and the genuine camaraderie you brought to the school.  Great work and well done Rene.  Good luck for the future!  You will be missed!

Rene goes First Solo!

Rene teaches Airlaw

Rene on Crowd Control

Rene displays athletic skills

Rene gets a Jetty endorsement

Rene passes his CPLH flight test!

cplh theory - completed

It has been an arduous journey for all (4) of our East Timor scholars in their quest to become East Timor's first commercial helicopter pilots.  As many will admit, completing the CASA theory exams (7 subjects) is a mammoth undertaking but Fredelino and Pedro proved that if you put in the extra hard work you will succeed.  Congratulations guys! Great work to Geoff Shaw (Theory Instructor) too!

For more about the East Timor students please go here

this is your life - oscar

Read about his amazing life here

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where are they now?

Name:  Dave (Chalky) White

Age:  43 years

Country:  Originally from the UK.  Now an Australian Citizen.

When did you train at Beckers?  2006

Why helicopters?  Why fixed wings!  The hover thing and varied roles for Helicopters make them stand out.

Biggest challenge in training and why?  Flying straight and level on navigation flights which I guess was down to experience and not paying close enough attention to the instruments!  I was too busy enjoying the view!

The paper mache flight helmet made by Chalky's wife, Helen and the kids when he was training

Most memorable training flight?  On a solo nav to Hervey Bay flying back to the Sunshine Coast along Rainbow beach and down the coast.  It was a fantastic spring day and the views were spectacular.

What did you do after you finished training?  Worked at Heliwork at Redcliffe for a little over a year then went out to Alice Springs looking for a break!  The break didn't arrive so I came back with the family to the Sunshine Coast and gained employment with Beckers, initially as an operations assistant and then a theory instructor.

 

What are you doing now?  I am working as a theory instructor and base pilot at Becker Helicopters.

Advice to those learning to fly?  As my instructor Ric Spruijt use to say "make it do what you want it to do".

Advice to those looking for work?  Don't give up.  It is not an easy road but if the dream is worth chasing then chase the dream. I was fortunate in that although it took me 4 years to get a  good break I had the support of my wife and family who were behind me succeeding.

Chalky and Fergus catching up with former student Brad Noble in Katherine last year

annie flys her first solo navigation flight

There have been many students who have successfully flown their first solo navigation flight, none more so than Annie Corbett. She flew a total of 2.2 hours!

Her training began in Sydney in November 2008 on a part time basis. Annie will complete her training to commercial pilots licence by September 2012. Great work Annie!

 

steve oelsner gets his wings

Congratulations Steve!  Thanks for all your help.  We will miss you!  Good luck on your new adventure!

steve passes cplh flight test

Congratulations Steve on passing your CPLH flight test on Friday 11/5/12! Steve is our new commercial pilot, endorsed in the R22, B206 and Sling. Great job!

sling job at catalina resort

LIFTING JOB:

On 17 April 2012, Captain Fergus Ponder piloted the Squirrel AS350, lifting building materials onto the roof deck of the Catalina Resort, 51 Sixth Avenue, Maroochydore QLD 4564.

Ground Crew:  Captain Niels Bunte, Captain Geoff Shaw, Merlijn Van Wayenberge, Rene Thierry, Steve Oelsner, James Spicer and Jackson Stapleton

Cameo:  Maraina Waaka and Ambrosio Martino

Special thanks to Film Editor and Producer:  Kaarel Mikone

another first solo

Congratulations James.  Great work!

first solo achievements

happy easter everybody!

chris bradford - first solo

Congratulations and great work on flying solo Chris!

Hi all,

Thanks to all who donated at the shave on Friday and throughout the weeks leading up to the shave, especially Mike and Jan who matched the funds raised on the day.

A grand total of $892.00 went to the Leukaemia Foundation so regardless of my new look, I think we did well.

Thanks to Opso’s suggestion of a challenge, this is what you contributed to:

craig shaves for leukemia foundation

Great work by Craig Beardsmore, who on Friday 16/3/12 he was sheared by his lovely wife on the premises of Becker Helicopters, in his quest to raise much needed funds for the Leukemia Foundation.

And so it began ... or that was the plan. Halfway through his shave a challenge by his co-workers rallied another $185 for Craig to keep his half shaven hair for a period of one week. Craig would accept the challenge. What a great sport! His BIG SHAVE will continue next week.