p r o m o t e d c o n t e n t
E
ver dream about by ying to
business meetings in your own
private helicopter?
Chinook Helicopters, located
at the Abbotsford International
Airport, can train you to be a
certied pilot—and sell you a
helicopter to boot, for a price much less
than what only top executives can a•ord.
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 certication 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 o•-airport
training, Chinook is Canada's premier ight
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 o•ering
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 shing, 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
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
C H I N O O K H E L I C O P T E R S
Flying High
A
DA
M
BL
ASBERG
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
