Chinook Helicopters continues to elevate its training with two new diploma programs

With an impressive track record and vast amounts of knowledge, Chinook Helicopters is the go-to training centre for those looking to launch their commercial aviation careers

Credit: Adam Blasberg

Clayton Reid and Cathy Press are the husband-and-wife duo taking Chinook Helicopters to new heights with the launch of two new programs in 2016

With an impressive track record and vast amounts of knowledge, Chinook Helicopters is the go-to training centre for those looking to launch their commercial aviation careers

Ever dream about flying to business meetings in your own private helicopter?

Chinook Helicopters, located at the Abbotsford International Airport, can train you to be a certified pilot—and sell you a helicopter to boot, for a price much less than what only top executives can afford.

That’s just an adjunct of a company that for the past 35 years has given thousands of students all the necessary levels of helicopter pilot certification and specialization to prepare them for exciting careers in commercial aviation.

With 15 world-class instructors, three simulators and the surrounding coastal mountain range used for off-airport training, Chinook is Canada’s premier flight school of its class, attracting would-be pilots from over 50 countries.

Better still, 75 per cent of graduates can expect job placement; and with emerging markets throughout Asia, demand for pilots is expected to increase even further in the coming years.

Not surprisingly, in 2016 Chinook has expanded its considerable reach by offering two diploma programs: one at BCIT and the other at the University of the Fraser Valley.

“We’ve been recognized by the federal government for having the highest knowledge of industry practices in the world, and we’re excited about sharing this knowledge,” says owner Cathy Press.

Chinook’s long history proves that almost anyone can become a skilled pilot (it takes about four months of full-time study to obtain a license); but Press and her husband Clayton Reid’s success in selling Robinson R44 helicopters to people in the private sector further demonstrates the versatility of this remarkable aircraft as a transportation device.

“One of our clients is a hotel general manager who uses his helicopter to take guests fishing, and we have others who use their R44s to commute from their homes in places like Chilliwack to work in Vancouver,” says Reid.

With municipalities such as Surrey planning to create more landing pads throughout the region, helicopter usage will likely increase in Metro Vancouver. Meanwhile, Press and Reid continue training pilots for employment around the world.

“We’re constantly developing new projects in order to maintain our status as Canada’s leader in helicopter training,” says Press. “But one thing that won’t change as a family-run company is our one-on-one interaction with students: this is a major factor in our success and will serve us well in the future.”

For more information on Chinook, visit chinookhelicopters.com.