Helicopter school opens in Pocatello

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Story Published: Jan 5, 2009 at 8:22 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2009 at 8:22 PM MST

By Wes Horrocks

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POCATELLO - The Pocatello Airport is now home to a new type of aircraft. Utah Helicopters held their grand opening today, giving people in the area a chance to become a commercial helicopter pilot.

Some even had a chance to hit the skies.

The school can handle a few dozen students at a time, and within about six months you can be flying all around the country. Gary Hansen, one of the Utah Helicopter Owners said, "I absolutely wanted to fly helicopters when I went on my demo flight."

And demo flights are just the start. The new utah helicopter center offers commercial helicopter pilot training helping students get into a variety of jobs. Hansen said, "We've had a couple of guys go do jobs in the Grand Canyon where they fly tours in the Grand Canyon."

Students in the program are paired up with instructors so they can have one-on-one time.

They spend part of their classes doing groundwork, and the rest of the time is spent flying.

Students can become flight instructors themselves within as little as six months, but it depends on how quickly you can log flight hours. "If anyone has ever considered becoming a helicopter pilot, now is a great time to do it. The demand is high," said Hansen.

Utah Helicopters has a 98% job placement for students, with most looking at a starting salary is about $55,000 in their new job.

While the training maybe quick, it's not necessarily cheap. Hansen said, "The cost of our programs are very much in line with what it would take for a traditional four-year college degree."

Utah Helicopters has signed a one-year lease with the Pocatello Airport, and they hope to be here longer than that. "It's a fun, fun job," said Hansen.

For anyone who is interested the school is offering demo flights for about $100, which will not only get you up in the air, but will also give you some experience handling the machine.

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