Silverstate Helicopters, a scam?

[FreightGod]

Just curious.

One of my neigbors, a 27 year old guy has "selected" by Silverstate Helicopters to sign up and pay $70.K for a comm rotor wing program. Then promised a job after graduation with an annual income of $52K.

Is this the real thing? Do they have a good reputation in the business?

Or some kind of pyramid scheme with their seminars and promises of great futures?

 

[Fox6]

I personally have never dealt with them, However, you buddy might be better served going over to the justhelicopters.com website and check out their forum. Seems to be a LOT of Silver State bashing going on over there. A little due diligence would go a long way for that amount of money. Seems WAY expensive to me.

 

[avbug]

Few companies in this business have managed to get so hated by so many in such a short period of time, and with such good reason.

The only good thing about SSH is that intelligent students are driven to reputable schools, where they belong.

 

[FreightGod]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I have advised the kid to return his manuals and head set and to not sign the shiny contract.

I guess the next step would be to advise him to take a course and the written test for the FAA Private Rotorcraft ticket. A good start and fairly inexpensive with no strings attached.
Then a search for good helo schools.

I will guide him to this page for honest answers and advice.

 

[avbug]

What part of the country is he in?

 

[FreightGod]

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

 

[GulfstreamSDL]

As far as i know, corporate is making all instructors wear desert brown flight suits with "wings" and squadron patches. Also, at the airport I fly out of, they "call the ball.".... god help 'em

 

[wt219200]

Jerry Airola, I think was the owner or might still be, is running for Las Vegas Sheriff.

 

[scpe]

They currently (10/10/06) have an agressive marketing campaign going in the ATL metro area (TV and radio). The ads boast of jobs with salaries between $50K and $100K due to a huge pilot shortage. Oh boy.

 

[GulfstreamSDL]

Of course they would say that.

 

[DieselDragRacer]

They currently (10/10/06) have an agressive marketing campaign going in the ATL metro area (TV and radio). The ads boast of jobs with salaries between $50K and $100K due to a huge pilot shortage. Oh boy.

I specifically went looking for a thread on this topic due to this same aggressive radio campaign that I have heard this week. I *think* their bs meeting is Thursday night at the Cobb County (Metro ATL) airport if I recall.

From what little I recall reading about the helo industry as whole the commercial raised all sorts of red flags in my little mind. They even say something like: It's cheaper than going to college and defer your loan payments until after you have a job.

A sucker is born every day they say.

 

[gator_hater]

I don't know how much a comm helo costs. But I know it is more than fixed wing, which is more than college. But hey I only went through calc one, so what do I know....

 

[Traderd]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I have advised the kid to return his manuals and head set and to not sign the shiny contract.

I guess the next step would be to advise him to take a course and the written test for the FAA Private Rotorcraft ticket. A good start and fairly inexpensive with no strings attached.
Then a search for good helo schools.

I will guide him to this page for honest answers and advice.

There's a very good helo school just outside of Enterprise, Al. You will have to sign a contract but as I recall, they weren't very shiny. More an olive drab color.

http://www.united-publishers.com/rucker/command.html#1ab

 

[UHBlackhawk]

There's a very good helo school just outside of Enterprise, Al. You will have to sign a contract but as I recall, they weren't very shiny. More an olive drab color.

http://www.united-publishers.com/rucker/command.html#1ab

Yeah, and you're guaranteed a job when you graduate. Three hots and a cot.

 

[DesertFalcon]

Jerry Airola, I think was the owner or might still be, is running for Las Vegas Sheriff.

You are correct! Airola is a presents a slick image, but no substance. I will not vote for him.