Foothills Helicopter Training Academy

Foothills Helicopter Training Academy is a helicopter flight school based at Okotoks Air Ranch in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. It offers commercial helicopter pilot training with what it calls a private school approach: a maximum of three students in a full-time class. Its stated aim is to fill the training gap in the rotary-wing world between a 100 hour pilot and a commercial pilot.

Courses

• Commercial licence, including a full-time program of 100 hours of flight training and a part-time or flex option
• Private licence
• Mountain flying training
• External load training, at entry and advanced level
• Night rating
• Type ratings and licence conversions
• Familiarization flights for people who want to try flying first

Training approach

The academy trains on the Robinson R44, a four-seat piston helicopter, which it describes as suited to Western Canadian terrain and the mountains. Instructors work in the industry as well as teaching, with experience in forestry, oil and gas, mining, aerial surveying and charter. The Chief Flight Instructor is described as having several thousand hours of instructing and commercial flying.

The full-time commercial course aims to run for about five months, depending on weather, with classes from Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00. The school runs a graduate mentoring program, and it selects students for placement with an established utility helicopter operation. Contact the academy for the next intake dates.

Company facts

• Location: Okotoks Air Ranch, Okotoks, Alberta
• Class size: up to three students per instructor
• Training aircraft: Robinson R44
• Office hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00
• Student learning centre and online enrolment available through the website