Learn to fly a helicopter at Synergy Aviation

By Grant Cree

Synergy Aviation at Villeneuve Airport provides a variety of helicopter services. Founded in 2014, the company now has experienced pilots operating a fleet of aircraft to conduct aerial surveillance, pipeline integrity monitoring, aerial tours and flight training.

Their helicopter flight school is held once a year from October to March full time, from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s a total mix of ground school and ground handling training, and they’re in air flight training in the aircraft,” said Carlin Simpson, a helicopter pilot and training coordinator with Synergy Aviation.  

“They’re doing a minimum of 80 hours of ground school. It ends up being at least 150 to 250 hours of ground school because it is quite comprehensive. And then we do a lot of career preparation,” said Simpson. He noted the preparation includes building a landing pad, outdoor survival courses, underwater egress from a helicopter and all types of winter operations.

“Further down the road, you get hired on with somebody, and they’re going to ask you to go get these courses,” said Simpson. “We put it on your resume, and you’ve already got your ticket in it. That way, our students are career-ready and industry-ready.”

Student loans of up to $60,000 for pilot training are through the Government of Alberta. If someone is thinking about becoming a helicopter pilot, Synergy Aviation can arrange for a discovery flight to find out if flying is for them.

“It’s their first time with actual hands on the controls, they get to sit in the pilot’s seat with an instructor, and they go out, and they fly for half an hour,” said Simpson. “It’s to make sure that it’s really what they want to do and that they like it and everything.” For more information, visit www.synergyaviation.ca