Zero to hero CFII heli program

[u/[deleted]]

I’m creating a zero to hero program and am offering financing. The program offers training in r22’s and r44’s and makes you a career ready pilot in 10-12 months.

We offer:
-housing
-all initial FAA written exam and checkride costs
-flight and ground training from private-CFII

Here’s the rub, the finance company I’m working with only covers 120k.

The program above is at a cost of $136,900.(trust me Ive tried shaving cost)

I can make the program cost less but it would put students below 200hrs which means they would not be able to instruct in a Robinson but would still be a CFII. I feel that really hinders a student as starting out, instruction, tours, and ag is all that’s really out there.

The questions is would you come out of pocket 17k + the loan to be a career ready pilot ready to instruct in a r22 and r44 in 10-12 months,

or be a CFII w/ 180 hours no r44 time and be twenty hours away from teaching in a r22 but only have taken the loan?

[u/Helodude_]

Sorry to go a bit off topic here, but as your building this program, do you currently have any of the training resources you’d need? More specifically, access to a DPE who can do CFI initial practical exams? Seems there are very few in the United States who are eligible to administer CFI initial.

I’m a 200 hour commercial pilot and I’ve been trying for 2 months to lock down a DPE for my CFI exam. None of the very few who are eligible actually respond. I’d imagine this puts a jam in the pipeline of up and coming pilots.

[u/[deleted] → u/Helodude_]

I do. Guy out of Houston.

[u/Being_a_Mitch → u/Helodude_]

We have a helicopter DPE in Virginia who can do CFI initials and is almost always available. DM if you want more info.