December 31st, 2011
Congratulations to our newest Private Pilot, McLovin! (Michael du Breuil). With hard work and his commitment to flight training, Mike has proven that the FAA 40 hr minimum is still an attainable goal! Mike studied hard throughout our Helicopter Private Pilot ground course which runs 12 weeks, flew through his solo requirements, and shortly after, greeted his examiner with full confidence as he became a licensed pilot! His training was based at our Marlboro (9b1) location, with training flights conducted at nearby airports such as Minute Man, Hanscom (Bedford), Worcester Regional, Mansfield, Norwood, Lawrence, Fitchburg, and Plymouth. Michael even had time to get some extra Class Bravo training/experience as he navigated around the Boston skycrapers, Fenway Park, and the Charles River! McLovin is now preparing for Part 141 instrument training beginning early in 2012. Chicka Chicka YEAH!!!!!
 Confined approach practice  Preflighting the helicopter At North Andover Flight Academy, we have the facilities and instructors to get your rating done for you as efficiently as possible. Show up ready to work and we will get you flying! Our next ground school starts at our North Andover location on January 21st – you are welcome to come and check it out, whether you’re an old student returning for a refresher or someone who’s just interested in helicopters and curious about training. Come and see what makes North Andover Flight Academy Boston and New England’s top choice for helicopter flight training!
Tags: boston helicopter, boston helicopter school, boston helicopter training, boston part 141 helicopter, helicopter, helicopter filght school, helicopter flight school, helicopter flight training boston, helicopter school boston, part 141 helicopter, r22 boston, robinson helicopter school
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December 19th, 2011
It’s hard for me to imagine NAFA without Steven – he’s one of those students who has really become a part of the place. He came out to New England from Montana a couple of years ago to train in our Part 141 helicopter program and it was obvious from the start that he was truly passionate and committed to becoming a professional helicopter pilot. He trained hard through the private, instrument and commercial ratings, and he worked hard, not only at learning everything he could about helicopters but also helping out around the school and generally becoming one of the family here.
 Helicopter CFI training in New England
Autorotations, confined area approaches… flying the helicopter was something Steven picked up quickly and he flew with skill and confidence in the left seat as well as the right. Then we stuck him in front of the white board for some practice CFI time and the REAL work began. Sometimes it’s hard to resist the urge to run out of the classroom and practice those full down autos one more time when you really should be getting your lesson plans together, but he stayed and soldiered on. He gave us lessons on all aspects of helicopter flying and answered dozens of questions from us as we played ’student’ and did our best to stump him.
 Teaching approaches to a Boston helipad
When we could stump him no more and he had two phone-book sized notebooks of lesson plans, it was time for his checkride. After all of the time spent with our instructors, especially Anthony, going through the lessons, the final test was a breeze. As usual, Steven did an excellent job, and walked out a newly certified helicopter flight instructor.
 A couple of happy CFIs! At NAFA we are committed to our students’ success, from the private through the CFI and CFII ratings. We are fortunate to have a great group of students at the school and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Steven and others like him whose positive attitudes and hard work make our jobs that much more rewarding and fun. We couldn’t keep Steven away from the mountains for Christmas – he’s back in the west breathing some of that good high altitude air for now – but we look forward to seeing him again in the coming year and watching his helicopter career take off.
Tags: boston helicopter, boston helicopter school, boston helicopter training, boston part 141 helicopter, flight school, helicopter filght school, helicopter flight training boston, helicopter school boston, helicopter training, helicopter training boston, part 141 helicopter boston, r22 boston
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December 12th, 2011
We’ve been busy (as usual) at NAFA this month. You may have seen us on Groupon, Trubates, or Boston.com – we’re in full holiday mode and solving people’s gift giving problems with awesome helicopter intro flight deals. But let’s step into the wayback machine for a minute to give credit to a couple of awesome pilots who’ve moved on to new levels in the last month.
You may remember Chris – he’s been with us since he started flying helicopters last year. Once he successfully completed his private rating he began training for his instrument rating under our Part 141 instrument program. Chris is a veteran, and is moving forward with his training with help from the VA in funding his instrument and commercial licenses. He’s put in a lot of hard work and studying towards that instrument rating, and after a weather delay, finally got out for a few approaches. Everything went perfectly and Chris finally got a chance to take the ‘foggles’ off for a while. Well done Chris – we’re looking forward to some fun flying while you finish your commercial rating with us!
Meanwhile, down at our Marlboro school…
Michael came to us at the beginning of September. He came to Marlboro with his sister (who is training as a skater and can teach him all about Coriolis effect) and had heard good things about our flight instructor Anthony. Michael jumped in and got to work, flying several times a week and attending our group ground school on Saturdays. His hard work and intensive flying paid off and in no time he was ready to solo (and with the written test already passed too)!
A couple of trips around the patch and back for an awesome set down. He did a terrific job and there were post-solo smiles all around.
Stay tuned for more news about Michael – he’s going to be flying on his own as a private pilot in the very near future!
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October 18th, 2011
We started our fall season with what has become an annual trek to Sherman Farm in North Conway, New Hampshire. They had a rough time when Irene blew through, but thankfully they managed to save the pumpkins and one of the region’s most impressive corn mazes. Every year they say thanks to their sponsors and employees by giving them a bird’s eye view of the maze from a helicopter.
After a beautiful flight up and a few minutes scratching the heads of some very friendly fainting goats, we took off from the driest field there for some tours. Everyone had a great time — kids, reporters, executives, and farm workers alike all enjoyed seeing the fantastic results of their hard work and cooperation.
As always it was a great time, and the fall festivities up there promised to be loads of fun — stop by and say Hi if you find yourself in the White Mountains!
Back in our own home town we stopped by the North Andover Merchants Association Fall Festival to liven up their Touch a Truck corner with one of our R22s. It was a bit cloudy but the ceilings lifted just enough for us to take a hop over Sutton Street to the Knights of Columbus parking lot – the shortest flight we’ve made in quite a while.
Steven, one of our CFI students, and our newest instructor Mike brought the helicopter in for a perfect landing across the street, and spent the day introducing folks to the business behind the helicopter sign on Sutton Street. It was a great meeting up with old friends and new ones, and it was a great chance to support our home town.
But helicopter pilots are a restless bunch, and it wasn’t long before one of our commercial students came up with a fantastic idea. Why not get two hours of day cross country, two hours of night cross country, and dinner at the Carnegie deli all in one shot? Sounds like an unforgettable flight lesson and on a good clear day, Stu and instructor Mike were headed off to the Big Apple in our Robinson R44.
They got a bird’s eye view of some of the tornado damage in western Massachusetts before heading down to the Connecticut coast, then over to the Hudson and into the city.
They had no problem finding the West 30th Street heliport, though they did take a little time circling Lady Liberty and checking out the progress on One World Trade Center.
 One World Trade Center  At the West 30th St Heliport After setting down our R44 on the helipad our boys headed out for dinner and waited for the sun to set so they could start the night flight home. They stopped in for dinner at the Carnegie and Mike went to battle with “The Woody Allen,” — I think the sandwich won. But our intrepid travelers returned with the commercial cross country requirements done, lots of cool pictures and memories, and of course a souvenir NYPD helicopter!
Check out more pictures from their New York adventures on our Facebook page, and stay tuned for more student news. At NAFA we don’t limit our students to practicing maneuvers in the pattern, but involve in diverse and challenging opportunities as soon as they are ready. Stop by or call to find out more about helicopter flight training with New England’s finest helicopter school.
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October 7th, 2011
Pedro’s been working on this day for a long time. He started training with us over a year ago, but he had a lot going on. He was working six days a week, and coming in to fly on his day off, bringing his family in with him so they could maximize their time together on their weekly family day. And just when he was close to that first solo, the only thing that could possibly be as exciting interrupted his lessons as he welcomed a new baby girl into his family. After a couple of weeks off, Pedro was back in the cockpit running through emergency procedures and polishing off his technique.
We can’t say it was the only high point of his year, but his solo did put a big smile on his face!
Here at NAFA we work with students of all kinds, from foreign students who come over for the sole purpose of learning to fly, to students who are fitting their flying in around work and family commitments. We work with your schedule to give you the best, individualized helicopter training possible.
 Happy Student, Proud Instructor! Great job Pedro! We can’t wait to post details about your successful checkride!
Tags: boston helicopter school, boston helicopter training, helicopter filght school, helicopter flight school boston, helicopter school boston, helicopter training boston
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September 24th, 2011
Matthais came here last fall on business and decided to finally satisfy his curiosity about helicopter flying. He took a couple of flights and loved it, but didn’t have the time to fly before he had to return to Germany. Fast forward to this summer and he came back with a mission — finish his add-on helicopter rating in two weeks! Marlboro was the perfect spot for this intensive training, giving him the most maneuvering time during each flight lesson and a relatively quiet airspace. Anthony cleared out his schedule and he and Matthais spent the next two weeks working nonstop on the ground and in the air. A few days before he was scheduled to return home Matthais took his checkride and did an outstanding job.
He wrote to us a while later and had this to say:
“I am now back in Germany and don´t want to forget saying >THANK YOU< for the good support and great training you provided during my 2 weeks at Marlboro Airport. It was a challenge and lot of work, nevertheless it was a great pleasure working with you towards our success.
>>> Great performance: If there would be a search for the best CFI i would nominate your name, you are the best instructor i met in my aviation carreer! THANKS! <<<”
Great job Anthony and Matthais! Instructors and students like you are what make NAFA Boston’s best helicopter flight school.
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September 11th, 2011
Matthias traveled quite a distance to get his helicopter training accomplished on a tight schedule, and which Boston helicopter flight school did he choose?
That’s a rhetorical question of course.
He chose to do his training at our Marlboro Airport helicopter school of course!
Here’s a little video of a perfect touch down from a first solo! Well done Matthias!
Matthais solos helicopter at Marlboro Airport!
His instructor Anthony was proud..well done guys!
Tags: marlboro airport helicopter pilot, mass, norwood helicopter school
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August 27th, 2011
People often ask what it takes to become a helicopter CFI (certified flight instructor). It’s a question that has no easy answer, but if one were to sum it up, it would paraphrase what Edison said about genius – one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration. It takes lots of hard work, skill flying the helicopter, and training, training, training! Mike isn’t just a helicopter instructor – he also runs his own business. He’s juggled many responsibilities while he’s been learning to become a helicopter CFI with us – he started from ZERO TIME back in 2009, and has been methodically accruing ratings and licenses along the way.
 Lowell Spinners Helicopter Mike has had the opportunity to fly with lots of different pilots and instructors here at our Boston helicopter school, and has learned many things along the way, flying cross country flights in the Robinson R22 long before many students venture more than 50 miles from their school. And he did a great job then too! Mike has also helped out on many occasions (flying in to the Lowell Spinners for display above).
Mike has given this goal every effort worthy of a new helicopter CFI, and we will be looking forward to working with him (after a few more small steps of course). Soon Mike will be wearing an Instructor shirt at North Andover Flight Academy.
 A (new to you) shirt! We’re all proud of you Mike. It’s been an amazing journey watching you start from the beginning and having the privilege of flying with you many times since then. You deserve all of the great things that teaching in helicopters can bring, and I’m sure you will be as successful in the helicopter as you have been in other areas. I say this now as a colleague and not as a “boss” and there could not be a better way to end my tenure.
So what did we do after the celebration dinner with Laura and Diane?
Well we went back to the garage to sit around the old air-cooled car collection and talk about things past and things to come (for both of us).
Maybe this (new to you) shirt thing will become a tradition at NAFA? Maybe that’s a tradition that’s best left to end here….
We will talk soon Mike!
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August 27th, 2011
The shipment arrived on a hot, sunny afternoon. Shortly after, several people were gathered round to see what was being delivered to the hangar entrance. What was inside this shiny (wooden) crate was the new engine for our OWN Robinson R-22 helicopter, which just reached it’s 2200 hour overhaul.
This helicopter has been with us for over a year now, and it didn’t take long for us to put several hundred hours on it and bring it right to it’s overhaul limit of 2200 hours.
 New R22 Engine Because we are a Robinson overhaul center, it’s going to be rebuilt right here, under the watchful eye of A+Ps and IAs, all Robinson trained to do what needs to be done to make this helicopter perform as new.
We have lots more planned for this helicopter, many upgrades coming, so be sure to stop by and check it out.
Train smarter with North Andover Flight Academy.
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August 21st, 2011
Sorry to disappoint any Public Enemy fans out there (a terrible 80’s reference), but this has nothing to do with gangsta rap and everything about where to put your hard earned money when looking to get your helicopter ratings in as little time as possible and with the most possible flight experience for the money.
There’s many reasons that a Part 141 helicopter school is the best choice, all of which we’ve talked about before, but the main reason is that our efforts to produce a syllabus and work in close conjunction with the FAA allows us to train you in LESS TIME than other helicopter schools…period! There is nothing that can substitute for the ability to get your private helicopter license with only 5 hours of solo time versus 10 hours of solo time….
We are the only Part 141 helicopter school in the region for a reason (others have come and gone – they couldn’t maintain the standards needed to be a Part 141 school). The first thing a Part 61 school will tell you is that Part 141 is a waste of time..and it is..if you’re looking to spend more cash.
Let’s look at the instrument rating. Let’s say you go to a Part 61 school. You need 50 hours of cross country time before you can get your instrument rating. THAT’S 50 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME! Even if you threw a few hours in a IFR helicopter simulator, you would still be spending a ton of money at that Part 61 school. (Don’t get me wrong – simulators are great – but you may as well use many of the great free IFR simulators packages out there to learn instruments rather than pay money to use a generic “helicopter” simulator. We’ve used a few of the packages from our friend Luiz Monteiro from his webpage. You can use these IFR simulators to assist with understanding of many concepts surrounding instrument flight – FOR FREE! Learning IFR principles at the level for an instrument rating requires simulator software which merely gets the points across in an accurate manner..plenty for budding instrument pilots.
So already, with a Part 141 helicopter school, you’ve saved 5 hours on the private helicopter license, 50 hours of cross country time savings on the instrument rating, and another 5 hours on the instrument rating – that’s a total of 60 HOURS OF SAVINGS by learning at a Part 141 helicopter school. Not to mention the untold number of ground hours other schools charge – we give the option of a classroom learning experience saving even a few thousand more dollars.
Some may tell you otherwise.
“Don’t Believe the Hype”.
Call us for more information on our Part 141 and 61 helicopter flight training!
Tags: boston helicopter instrument instruction
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