Does anybody knows Hillsboro Aviation?

[gertduits]

Does anybody knows Hillsboro Aviation in oregon in the USA? Or somebody who knows somebody else who knows them? Or an independent organisation or website where I can get info about them? because i find it difficult to go to an school which i don't know

 

[scubabri]

Although I was born in Hillsboro 36 years ago, I don't know very much about them. I was there about a year and a half ago. They seem to run a very tight operation, very organized. My observation is that you may not be able to stick with the same instructor, but I don't know this for sure. They seemed to be pretty busy, but this may have changed in the last year.

The website I found is www.hillsboro-aviation.com

Give them a call up

Brian

 

[FutureRJPilot]

gertduits,

I am doing my flight training at Hillsboro Aviation Inc. and it's a great flight school. You do have the same instructor the entire time, unless your instructor moves on to an airline or 135 or what have you. They have great instructors out there and have great opportunity to be an instructor once you have your CFI. They have a great reputation for putting out great pilots, my first instructor flew for life flight and traffic watch while he instructed, which a lot of the CFI's there do, and just recently was hired with SkyWest so there are lots of good things about the school. I hope this helps, if you have any more questions just let me know.

Joe

 

[gertduits]

Future Jpilot, thanks very much for your reply, it helped me a lot, because it is very difficult to get outside information and references from flightschools. I asked houston hickenbottom if i could give me some names, but after a week he still didn't reply. and i placed it on some other forums, but nowbody knew it. Are the people from the school itself friendly? and can you choose your own course and how fast you want to learn? do you have to pay everything in advance, or do you just have to keep your balance positive? And where are you from and why did you choose this flightschool.

by the way, is everybody so positive there? i hope i didn't ask to many questions, but thanks,

greetings,

gert.

 

[FutureRJPilot]

gertduits,
I have not met anyone at the flight school that wasn't friendly, everyone there seems to be very nice and helpful, it's a great environment to be in. Yes you can choose your own course, you can do whatever you want, in whatever order you want to do it in, and as fast as you would like. You can fly once a week, once a month, or 5 days a week, it's up to you. I am currently getting my private, but after that I'm going to get my Multi Rating, then do my Instrument and Commercial in a Piper Seminole. As for payment, you don't have to pay up front, you can pay as you go. A lot of guys there pay with a credit card after each flight, or write a check after each flight...etc. So there are many options for payment, they will even allow your account to be negative and they will just bill you once a month if you prefer that method. They also have a great fleet of aircraft that is in very good condition and well maintained. I live over in Vancouver, Washington and drive out to Hillsboro. The reason I chose HAI is because my ex-girlfriends cousin of whom I had known for 5 years was a student there, then an instructor, and he had told me that it was one of the top rated flight schools in the northwest. He always said how great it was and how there were so many opportunities there and how nice the people were. Everything he has said is true, I highly recommend this school and hope to see you there! Any more questions don't hesitate to ask.
Joe

 

[Cardinal]

A gentleman that just retired from Hillsboro after many years of service is an old friend my fathers. He never seemed to have any complaints about the operation, and was a good guy himself. And they're not a flaky flight school, they do just about everything and have a reputation to uphold.

 

[CaptBuzzard]

They are a little higher priced than the rest in the Portland metro area. However, they are one of the only ones probably not in jeapardy of shutting the doors. The majority of their business is foreign students. They have a large Japanese enrollment, especially on the helicopter side. They are a good school at a great airport. Hillsboro is a great learning airport because they have a high volume of traffic ranging from Gulfstreams to 152's to R22's. The controllers are the most patient in the area. I used to instruct at the Troutdale airport and would take students over to Hillsboro to do pattern work. I would recommend going to them. If you plan on getting instruction in the Portland area, I think you would get the most from them and your money would be safe there. Some of the others in the area are not very stable anymore. Oregon's economy is very depressed right now (one of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S.) and with the weather we get in the winter it's slow anyway, I would have a hard time investing my money in a flightschool that may not make it until the summer. I think HAI is probably going to be just fine, so go there.