Aviation Futures, Creating a real employment track for pilots

Dennis Pierce is one of the people in the industry that speaks quietly, but with an air of excitement about anything he has a passion for. An active member of the United States Helicopter Safety Team, Pierce is also Vice Chair of the HAI Flight Training Committee and serves on multiple other committees in the industry, all with similar themes centered around safety, training, and leaving the industry a better place than he found it.

I have known Pierce longer than almost anyone in this industry, our paths crossing almost a decade ago, soon after Pierce opened his flight school, Colorado Heli Ops (CHO). At the time CHO had just two training aircraft. Since then, the school has grown in both size and operational depth.

When I first met him, Pierce was looking for help with an AATD simulator that was no longer supported.

Even as his school was still growing, Pierce was one of very few smaller flight schools that had invested significant capital in making flight simulators a huge part of training for pilots in training.

CHO training courses incorporated the simulators to help in developing both flying and decision-making skills. He saw the potential for their use in creating safe pilots, in addition to the benefit of cost savings to students.

One of the many graduates of CHO takes a couple on a scenic tour of the Denver, CO area.

Photo by Dennis Pierce

Founder of the Aviation Futures program, Colorado Heli Ops CEO Dennis Pierce, said standing up a new program like this has not been without its complications and has taken almost five years.

Colorado Heli-Ops CEO Dennis Pierce has always had bigger plans to help the industry. Pierce is also an active member of the United States Helicopter Safety Team.

Photo provided by Dennis Pierce

It was his “outside the box” thinking that finally brought to fruition an idea that Pierce had been working on for many years behind the scenes.

Aviation Futures was officially started as a program in 2015 but has been in Pierce’s head for much longer than that, in fact his first plan of action draft was presented at HeliExpo in 2009.

Pierce began to approach those in his extensive network of connections to assist in creating a program that, with the help of industry partners, provides participants a chance at having a pathway to career success and more. The program affords each pilot an opportunity to build their experience through established stages in their career, in the direction of their desired industry segment.

The career path is defined by a group of commercial helicopter operators who have agreed to give guaranteed interviews and priority hiring to pilots who are in the Aviation Futures program.

These assurances reduce the uncertainty and risk for pilots entering the industry and when advancing in their career.

In addition to a defined career path, the Aviation Futures program has attributes similar to that of cadet-type programs in the fixed-wing world.

In airplane programs, low time pilots are brought under the wing of a regional airline or larger airline who trains the recruit and gives them the hours and ratings they need to fly aircraft such as the CRJ or Dash 8 on regional routes.

During this period, the pilot gains valuable experience and time that qualifies them for a transition into larger aircraft and more desirable pilot jobs. In the fixed wing model, both the training liability and the cost rests with the airline. The Aviation Futures model, however, is quite different.

SET UP FOR SUCCESS

Set up as a 501c3 nonprofit, Aviation Futures aims in the future to assist participant pilots with access to funding for flight training, and other donated benefits. After completing their private pilot certificate with CHO.

Companies interested in hiring the Aviation Futures pilots can choose to donate to a specific student’s training, incentivized by a tax-deductible write-off.

In the fixed-wing industry, airlines shoulder the costs of paying the employees, training the individual, and the liability associated with that training. In the Aviation Futures model, the donating company gets a qualified pilot to hire, a tax write-off, and influence on the training program, but without the extra expense and risk exposure associated with training internally.

The tiered program of Aviation Futures provides a training program and career path that is not only an industry first, but a win/win for everyone involved.

Already well under way, over the last year AF provided more than 100 hours of free flight time to participants, most of it in turbines, and some with the owner of a program partners sitting next to the pilot. How would you like to spend four hours in a 407 flying cross country getting to know the owner of the utility partner?

INDUSTRY SUPPORT

In the short amount of time that the program has been operational, it has attracted some big names in the industry to sign on as partners.

Those businesses will undoubtedly reap the rewards of the kind of candidate that the Aviation Futures program will create by way of reducing time spent hiring and selecting candidates.

Commercial helicopter operators including Black Hills Aerial Adventures, Papillon Airways, Zephyr Helicopters, PJ Helicopters, Air Evac Lifeteam, and Aero Tech were early adopters of the idea for these reasons.

“Papillon Airways is a major employer in the helicopter industry and is delighted to be part of the Aviation Futures initiative started by premier flight school Colorado Heli Ops”

stated Simon Whitely, Papillon’s Director of Flight Operations, regarding the company’s early sign on as an operator partner in the program.

“The search for quality pilot applicants is an ongoing challenge. A program such as this can only help to streamline recruitment of suitable candidates and we look forward to working closely with Colorado Heli Ops, Black Hills Aerial Adventures, and other business partners within the Aviation Futures program to help nurture the next generation of professional helicopter pilots”

Air Evac Lifeteam is the first HEMS provider to see the benefits of Aviation Futures and sign on as a partner,

“As the pilot shortage increases, we view this program as a resourceful method to develop a pool of qualified helicopter pilots for both the near and long term” - Tony Bonham, Senior Director of Flight Operations for Air Evac Lifeteam.

PARTNER BENEFITS

As mentioned by Simon Whitely from Papillon, the time spent selecting qualified applicants and making sure they are a good fit for the organization is a time consuming and laborious process.

Operator Partners in the Aviation Futures program benefit from the opportunity to influence the training and development of each pilot they hire, ensuring a safer and more streamlined transition.

Aviation Futures will also be maintaining records of pilot experience, hours and certifications to provide a clear and traceable history for each applicant, removing the risk and attrition for the operators when hiring new pilots. Partners in the Aviation Futures program are also permitted to stipulate a minimum employment term, if the pilot wishes to remain in the program.

Colorado Heli-Ops’ active Safety Management System, propriety on-line Flight Risk Assessment & Mitigation Tool, and FITS/Scenario-Based training will ensure that pilots are well qualified for the positions made available through the program.

HOW IT WORKS

To be eligible to participate in the Aviation Futures program, students must first complete their private rating at Colorado Heli-Ops. Once certificated, students can apply for a slot in the program.

When accepted, pilots will be eligible for funding assistance through the program while they train to complete their ratings. Once training is complete, the pilot will choose the next step in the career path by applying for a position with an Aviation Futures operator for which they are qualified. With a successful interview, the pilot will be hired and begin moving through the career path.

Participation in the Aviation Futures program is not guaranteed, students must be focused, dedicated and able to move from one level to the next as evaluated.

Photo by Dennis Pierce.

It is important to note here that the AF program accepts candidates at all training levels past private. There are two CFIIs in the program now that came from other schools. One that came to CHO as a CFII, and one that finished her commercial through CFII at CHO. Even though the tour season is winding down, both CFIIs have secured a spot in the BHAA rotation program for next season.

TIERED SOLUTION

The Aviation Futures program is structured around a “tiered” progression. As a pilot gains flight and work experience with an Aviation Futures operator, the pilot becomes eligible for hire into an industry sector that requires more experience. Aviation Futures partner operators vary in experience requirements for hire, thus placing some operators in higher “tiers” than others.

The first tier of the Aviation Futures program begins once the participant completes a Flight Instructor-Instrument rating (CFI-I) at CHO.

Students move into a rotation as a tour pilot, beginning the next phase of their career path.

Photo by Dennis Pierce

The participant is then evaluated for hire with CHO as a flight instructor. Upon successful hire and attaining five hundred hours of flight experience, the pilot may be selected for tier two of the program: flying tours with Black Hills Aerial Adventures (BHAA).

BHAA holds open positions each year for pilots in the Aviation Futures program. The selected pilots fly tours with BHAA for two weeks, and then return to CHO to provide flight instruction for two weeks on rotation throughout the summer season. Two of CHO’s CFIIs started the rotation in March and have enjoyed helping this program come to fruition.

Pierce’s school in Colorado will serve as a feeder for the Aviation Futures program and provide students a path to becoming a successful pilot and instructor.

BHAA, located in South Dakota, provides lower time commercial pilots an opportunity to fly tours in the Robinson R44 and R66, Bell 47, and Bell 206.

The tour experience in high-density altitude and mountainous environments helps prepare the pilots for work in more complex commercial flying roles. The exposure to new aircraft, new flying environments, and different operational pressures further enhances their flying and risk management skills.

Black Hills Aerial Adventures was the first to sign on to this one of a kind program.

Photo supplied by Dennis Pierce

Aviation Futures pilots keep their position at Colorado Heli-Ops during this phase, ensuring they maintain work year-round as tours slow down and the weather gets colder in the Dakotas.

While Pierce is the first to admit that there is no perfect solution to starting up an industry first program, he says that as the program matures, participants have been instrumental in helping identify potential issues, come up with solutions, and even provide ideas that are slowly being worked into the program to streamline how it works.

He also is encouraged to see others in the industry take up his ideas and begin to discuss emulating the AF program. He notes however that ‘discussing it and making it happen are two very different things, as it has been a challenge to say the least’.

Tier three of the program begins once the participating pilot has reached a total of one thousand hours PIC, but, they are encouraged to teach a bit longer and obtain an ATP certificate. At this stage they are eligible to take the next step in their pilot career.

Black Hills Aerial Adventures operates a mixed fleet of both piston and turbine helicopters in South Dakota.

Photo supplied by Dennis Pierce

The next leap forward in the program is a guaranteed interview for full-time employment with a tier three partner. Tier three partners that participants can interview with include Papillon Airways in Nevada or Temsco Helicopters in Alaska.

(with others wanting to sign up). Pilots who have a successful interview will go on to commence training with the operator, which on completion lands the pilot their first long-term role flying turbine helicopters.

THE FINAL TIER

After gaining experience at tier three, some pilots may spread their wings and find their own next stepping stone in their career. However, for those looking to reduce the uncertainty with that transition, tier four partners are already on board and ready to give priority consideration to those coming through this professional pipeline.

Although it will still be at least a year until anyone in the program reaches the hours minimums required, partners like PJ Helicopters in the utility field and Air Evac Life Team in the air medical sector are excited that this initiative will make hiring the right fit for their organizations easier and lessen the work required of their human resources teams in selecting qualified applicants.

As the program matures, participant levels will continue to grow - thus, creating a much needed long term pipeline of applicants that already possess the needed skills.

NO GUARANTEES

The 4th tier in the program provides a 2000- hour Aviation Futures pilot priority hiring all the way thru their careers until established in a fire, EMS, or heavy lift flying position if they maintain high professional standards for themselves.

Participation and even continuation in the program are not guaranteed however. Pierce and his team at CHO look for only the most committed individuals, selecting pilots based on their ability to use sound judgement and implement the use of industry best-practices as they progress in the career path.

Each selected candidate must exhibit professionalism, integrity, and strong risk management skills and aeronautical decision-making.

All applicants are held to the same standard throughout the selection process and when evaluating their eligibility to continue into the next tier of the program.

CONCLUSION

The Aviation Futures program is the only one of its type for the helicopter industry in the United States that is active and benefitting pilots in the field.

If not for the tenacity and commitment of Dennis Pierce & his team at CHO, the industry might still be without a needed program such as this that provides a clear career track with backing from industry heavyweights to make it happen.