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Learning at Boundary Bay

Boundary Bay Airport in south of Vancouver
On a clear summer’s day in late July, I drove to Boundary Bay Airport (CZBB) south of Vancouver to interview Keith McMillan, chief flight instructor of Professional Flight Centre’s helicopter training division. As an aviation writer who has flown only fixed-wing aircraft, I didn’t know much about what is involved in becoming a helicopter pilot. Keith filled in my knowledge gaps, and I also interviewed one of his students, Harley, to find out what it’s like to be a novice pilot learning to fly a helicopter.

As I drove to CZBB, I reminisced about my own pilot training. During one of my flights, my instructor and I saw a Canadian Forces Kiowa helicopter at Toronto Downsview Airport descending rapidly toward the ground, like a hovering kestrel diving to catch a fieldmouse. I’d never seen a helicopter do such a manoeuvre before, and for a few moments, I thought it was going to crash. At the last instant, the aircraft pulled out of the dive. My instructor, who was in the Air Reserve training on the Kiowa, told me that the pilot was practicing a simulated engine failure and autorotation.

Although engine failures are uncommon in aircraft, it’s crucial that helicopter pilots know how to deal with them effectively. Keith makes sure that flying skills such as autorotations are performed by his students with increasing proficiency as they progress through their training. During his 30-year aviation career, he has taught about 200 students to fly helicopters.

The history of Professional Flight Centre (PFC) begins in 1986; the company was founded by John Montgomery, a flight-training industry icon in Western Canada. In the past 20 years, PFC (and Professional IFR, which is a part of PFC) has become one of Canada's best-known flight training schools. Pilots from countries as far away as India have trained with PFC/Pro IFR and gone on to have rewarding flying careers. In 1990, John recognized the need for helicopter IFR training and formed a working relationship with John Morris of Omega Aviation. PFC did all the theoretical training via ground schools, seminars and simulators, and once ready, the student transferred to Omega for helicopter flight training.

In 2000, the two Johns founded Professional Helicopter Training Ltd. and bought an IFR/VFR Robinson R22. The aircraft is equipped with a modern avionics package including an HSI and RMI. The R22 is used by many flight training schools around the world, and Robinson has manufactured more than 3,600 units, delivering them to more than 60 countries. The R22 is an excellent trainer because of its responsiveness, reliability, and relatively simple maintenance and low operating cost. Many experienced helicopter pilots regard the R22 as the most fun of all the rotary-wing machines they’ve flown. For turbine helicopter training, Omega Aviation’s Bell 206 JetRanger is used. The 206 is operated throughout Canada and in other countries for passenger transport, reconnaissance, exploration support and other roles.

Ground schools are an important part of the pilot training provided by PFC. Topics covered include airframes and engines, meteorology, navigation, pilot decision-making and the other subjects needed to get a Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence, and IFR rating. Crew Resource Management and Career Planning and Interviewing are some of the many topics covered in PFC’s seminars, and students are provided with manuals that are comprehensive without being excessively verbose. The instruction provided by Professional Helicopter Training not only meets industry standards, it exceeds them. Mountain and operational training provide students with an ‘edge’ as they begin their helicopter flying careers.

Training for a commercial helicopter pilot’s licence includes 100 hours in an R22, five dual hours in the ATC simulator, 80 hours of ground school, and manuals and other materials. Based on the information provided by Professional Helicopter Training at the time of writing, the total cost is $45,120 (plus applicable taxes), including incidental costs (the cost of the aviation medical, examiner’s fee, Transport Canada licensing fee, etc.). If a student requires additional hours and/or the price of fuel goes up, the cost of getting the licence increases.

Converting from fixed-wing aircraft to helicopters is also offered by Professional Helicopter Training (fixed-wing pilots must have a commercial licence). The conversion includes 60 hours in an R22, and pilots who already have an instrument rating can obtain their helicopter IFR rating with five hours of helicopter instrument flight training. The 60 hours is comprised of 37 hours dual and 23 hours solo. The conversion training also includes 20 hours of ground school. To convert a fixed-wing night rating to the helicopter licence, one hour of dual instruction and one hour of solo practice is required. The current total cost, including incidental fees, is $27,610. Professional Helicopter Training also has a licence conversion program for helicopter pilots with foreign licences who want to convert to a Canadian licence.

CZBB is located in a huge area of flat land south of Vancouver. The airport is 1 km north of Boundary Bay and about 10 km north of the Canada/US border. Helicopter training is done east of the airport, by Pitt Lake (about 50 km northeast of CZBB), and in other local training areas. Professional Helicopter Training has a well-equipped office and classroom in the CZBB terminal building, across the hall from PFC.

My visit included a close look at the R22 operated by Professional Helicopter Training. Harley answered my questions about the machine and what’s involved in flying it, which was impressive considering that he was a novice pilot with less than 10 flight hours. His knowledge reflected his strong commitment to becoming a commercial helicopter pilot and Keith’s proficiency as an instructor. Harley had driven cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, Bobcats (used in construction) and other machines, so sorting out a helicopter’s controls and how each one affected the aircraft’s movement and performance involved new ‘brain-wiring’ for him. Keith commented that Harley was progressing nicely in his training.

When I asked Harley what it’s like learning to fly a helicopter, he replied that it was the hardest thing he had ever done. He also said that he had researched various helicopter schools, and was very pleased with his decision to go with Professional Helicopter Training. I could tell from the smile on his face that he was having the time of his life! It was also clear during our interview that even after many years of being an instructor, Keith still loves to teach people to fly helicopters. Friendly, dedicated instructors and students who feel that they’re getting excellent training for their money are two of the many reasons why Professional Flight Centre is regarded as one of the best flight training schools in Canada.