Hands On Hybrid Learning :: CPL Helicopter Student Excursion

At AFT, our CPL(H) students don’t just learn theory.. they live it. This is the kind of hands on experience that sets our full-time CPL(H) course apart!

Last week our students put their Aerodynamics books down for an excursion to Caloundra Aerodrome. A huge thank you to AFT alumni Matt from @oceanview_heli, Sunshine Coast’s premium helicopter scenic flight company, for showing our students around the R44 and helping our instructor Kayley turn theory into practical knowledge.

We then visited @westpacheliqld to get up close with their EC135 — what a machine! A big thank you to Pilot Alan and Air Crewman Brett for sharing insights into helicopter rescue and the vital lifesaving work they do across South East QLD.

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service performs a wide range of lifesaving missions across South East QLD, from coastal search and rescues to inland motor vehicle and farming incidents. What a dream job for a helicopter pilot!

Engineering Excellence at McDermott Aviation :: CPL Helicopter Student Excursion

Engineering Excellence at McDermott Aviation

Recently our CPL(H) theory students were privileged to visit the McDermott Aviation engineering hangar which is home to one of Australia’s leading aerial firefighting fleets.

With expert guidance from the McDermott team, students gained valuable insight into the rigorous maintenance, inspection, and overhaul procedures that keep these incredible machines flying and ready to protect lives and property during fire season.

Thank you to McDermott Aviation for offering a behind-the-scenes look at the critical engineering that underpins operational excellence in rotary-wing firefighting. As Australia’s largest privately owned helicopter company our students were in absolute awe of your operation

@mcdermott.aviation.engineering @mcdermott_aviation

Real World Perspective – Day in the Life of a Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot at the LifeFlight Hangar!

Our CPL(H) students kicked off their first day of Navigation yesterday with a visit to the LifeFlight hangar, where they got an up close look at their impressive AW139 helicopter. What a machine!

A huge thank you to Captain Ryan Cross (AFT ATPL(H) alumni) and Base Administrator Kay Hollyoak for generously sharing their time and knowledge. Their insights gave our students a real world perspective of what a day in the life of a Search and Rescue (SAR) pilot looks like. From medical evacuations, vehicle and ocean rescues to disaster response, SAR crews are on call 24/7 – navigating tough high pressure environments while making quick critical decisions on weight and balance, fuel calculations and flight planning. All of this is done while piloting an advanced aircraft like the AW139, with the focus of putting the safety of others first!

We are very fortunate to have Australia’s largest and most advanced aeromedical service right here on our doorstep at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

Thank you @lifeflight_au for everything you do!

Exclusive Behind-The-Scenes Tour with Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service

Our CPL Helicopter students had the incredible opportunity to visit the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service hangar for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

From learning about real-world rescue operations to getting hands-on insights into the aircraft’s capabilities, our students learnt about the skill, precision, and teamwork it takes to save lives from the sky.

Huge thanks to the Westpac crew including Aircrew Officer Ben Campbell for sharing their time, knowledge, and stories—it was an inspiring look into how helicopters can make a life-saving difference.

Aircraft capabilities

Operational insight

Real-world rescue stories

Career inspiration

@westpacheliqld

From little things, big things grow – one CPL Theory Subject at a time!

If learning to fly a helicopter is your ambition, you have come to the very best place to get started. Advanced Flight Theory was originally founded on specialist helicopter theory training well over 30 years ago, so we love being involved with helicopter pilots and we know a lot about what it takes for you to follow your ambition.

This little helicopter sits on an oil stained pad in outback channel country in far west QLD that’s been in use since helicopter mustering first started many years ago, and has been used by dozens of different helicopters and pilots. Over the years many of those remarkable and highly skilled bush pilots moved on to the bigger and more complex multi-engine multi-crew helicopters used in offshore oil rig operations, search and rescue operations, VIP corporate operations.

Some of those skilled mustering pilots became involved in fire fighting operations both in Australia and on annual tour overseas. One pilot who used this little pad many years ago became one of the very first civilian pilots in Australia to be trained and endorsed to fly the civilian version of the army Blackhawk helicopter now a common sight in the fire zones across VIC and NSW. That is an achievement to be very proud of.

There are many different pathways into the helicopter industry other than mustering in the outback. You simply never know just how far the decision to get started flying helicopters may take you, but always be assured wherever you path takes you we have the theory training and support you need for you entire helicopter career.