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Utah Flight Schools
Prospective pilots will find Utah a perfect place to earn their license. Besides the large amount of aviation schools available, Utah has some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable: Students are able to fly over snow-topped peaks and crystal lakes in the north, or otherworldly sandstone formations in the southern part. A career-change in aviation is not only lucrative–it’s also an exciting way to escape a tedious office job. Many Utah flight schools make it easy for students to fulfill their dreams of flight!
The High Desert Helicopters Company offers both private and commercial licenses for students. Because of all the different applications/vocations available to them, helicopter pilots are in high demand. By nature, a helicopter has more maneuverability than an airplane–which makes them extra valuable during search and rescue operations. Firefighters, police agencies and hospitals also use helicopters extensively. For recreation, aerial sightseeing has become increasingly popular–especially in hard to reach areas of the Rocky Mountains. Helicopter-accessed areas are also very popular with skiers and snowboarders, who don’t mind paying some extra money for untouched powder.
High Desert’s private license requires 30 hours of air time with an instructor, 10 hours of solo time and ground school plus written exams. A student must have a commercial license to perform any services for remuneration and the private pilot license (PPL) is a prerequisite. The commercial certification requires an extra 150 hours (20 of those with an instructor, 100 hours solo). The duration of each course lasts a year, but High Desert Helicopter is run in conjunction with Utah Valley State College, so the programs are fully accredited college courses–students will earn a college degree upon completion. They also offer financial aid to those who qualify–making one of the most affordable Utah flight schools.
OK3 is a flight school that is the product of Wasatch Aero Services and Great Western Aviation merging. Located in the city of Heber, OK3’s headquarters are in the shadow of the scenic Timpanogos Mountain. The new company claims to benefit from over eighteen years of experience to give students the best-quality education. For those who aren’t sure about a career in flight, OK3 offers an introductory flight. With the supervision of a certified instructor, students sit in on a regular flight and observe the basic maneuvers–everything from take off to landing. While in the air, students even get to take the controls–performing climbs and descents.
OK3 estimates their private pilot license (PPL) costs $7,139–which includes 30 hours with an instructor in a DA20-C1, 15 hours solo, pre/post flight briefings, the written test and the FAA Practical test. Because OK3 is one of the most popular Utah flight schools, they’ve teamed up with Salie Mae (a private loan firm) to offer loan and alternative payment options.