Orbic Helicopters offers practical, top-quality, personalized flight instruction in our fleet of Robinson Helicopters. Our training courses are individually personalized to your specific needs. We utilize only the newest and most high-tech helicopters available today. For over 30 years we have trained local hobbyists, emergency medical operators, government pilots, and law enforcement agencies. Come and see why people from all over the world travel to Camarillo to train with us.
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Why choose us for flight training?
- Scheduling is easy with our online scheduler
- Newer helicopters
- We offer training on all helicopter models that the Robinson Helicopter Company manufacturers
- One-on-one personalized training with the CFI of your choice
- We offer advance flight training (including full touchdown auto rotation training)
- Turbine Transition Training available
- We specialize in touchdown autorotation training
- Over 30 years of experience in helicopter flight training
- We do our own maintenance and we are a FAA Certified Part 145 Repair Station
Instructors
Our goal is to provide the safest, most-practical flight training available to our customers. While many flight schools employ almost-exclusively low-time instructor pilots (new pilots who are looking primarily to build flight time on their way to other jobs) Orbic’s instructors are highly-experienced professionals (including former Robinson safety instructors and test pilots) with extensive, varied flight experience. Even our newest instructors have well over a thousand hours of flight time with extensive training in emergency procedures (including touchdown engine-off landings).
In addition to their instructional efforts, all of our flight instructors regularly take part in flying outside of the training environment.
Orbic CFI’s experience in other fields:
- Tour flying
- Passenger-carrying charter operations
- Film and television production
- Scientific survey
- Ferry flights (involving flight in remote locations and challenging flight conditions)
This breadth of experience is extremely beneficial to our students. Our instructors will not only prepare you to pass a check-ride but will also help you to develop practical skills and judgment which will keep you alive outside the traffic pattern as you grow and pursue your goals as a rotorcraft pilot
While many schools’ instructors move on to other jobs after attaining their industry-standard thousand hours of experience, Orbic’s instructors keep teaching for one important reason: we love the challenge of pushing ourselves and our students to be the best helicopter pilots we can possibly be. Whether you’re pursuing a career in rotary-wing flight or simply want to learn to enjoy the helicopter on your own terms, Orbic’s CFIs are here to help you reach your full potential as an aviator.
Aircraft
At Orbic Helicopters we have a wide array of low-time, well-equipped, well-maintained aircraft available for training, tours, and charter.
As a Robinson dealer and authorized service center, we operate nearly the entire Robinson product catalogue (including the R22, R44 Cadet, R44 Raven, R44 Raven 11, and the turbine-powered R66). In addition to the Robinsons, we also operate an Agusta Westland AW109 and a 1963 Bell 47. Flight training is available in the Robinsons as well as twin-engine training in the AW109. Our instructors also have experience flying numerous other types (including the Bell 206 / 206L, MD500, Schweitzer 300, Eurocopter AS350, Sikorsky S-76, and AW169); we can provide training in various customer-provided aircraft (if desired).
Our Fleet Includes:
- R22
- R44 (for primary flight training)
- IFR R44 Raven II
- New turbine R66 Helicopter (for advanced instruction and turbine transition training)
Why Train in the R44 Cadet?
New pilots can expect to train in the Robinson R44 Cadet – a two-seat, training variant of the ubiquitous R44 helicopter.
While we have the entire range of Robinson helicopters available for training, the vast majority of primary instruction at Orbic Helicopters is performed in the Robinson R44 Cadet. The Cadet is a specialized, two-seat, training variant of the popular R44 helicopter. Designed explicitly with the needs of flight training in mind, the R44 Cadet offers considerable safety and ease-of-use advantages over the R22 helicopters used by many flight schools. The R44 Cadet is larger, more stable, and has increased safety margins (both in terms of available engine power and rotor inertia) when compared to the R22 . Simply put, the R44 Cadet is easier to fly, has the power and CG envelope to better accommodate larger students, has quite a few more comfort features for the pilot (air conditioning and more comfortable seating), plus it is safer and more forgiving for low-time pilots.
While the Cadet is somewhat more expensive on an hourly basis than the R22, the Cadet’s stable airframe, powerful engine, and heavy rotor blades mean that students typically find themselves prepared for solo flight (and for their check rides) significantly quicker than those who train in the R22. As a result, the cost increase associated with training in an R44 Cadet is typically smaller than you might imagine based on hourly rates alone. We find that the Cadet’s increased safety, comfort, and faster pace of training result in a more satisfying experience for our students.
We offer advanced flight training in all of our helicopters – including full down auto-rotations.
Our high time Certified Flight Instructors will assist you in obtaining your dream of flight!
Ratings
Orbic Helicopters offers instruction applicable to all helicopter ratings, including:
- Private Pilot
- Commercial Pilot
- Certified Flight Instructor
- Helicopter Instrument Flight / CFII
FAA Requirements
The Federal Aviation Administration requires a minimum of 40 hours flight time, to include 10 hours of solo flight time for your private pilot helicopter rating. Other requirements include passing a written knowledge test, obtaining a FAA Third Class Airman Medical Certificate, passing the FAA oral knowledge test, and passing the FAA practical test (check ride).
