Club News | EBG Helicopters

2017 Season at an end…

As another season comes to an end we must welcome all our new students who have taken up flying and increased our Instructors log book entries. As the days are drawing shorter and getting colder remember we are still open for business, as our Brucie would have said “Keep Flying”.

G-ETWO will be returning to the Cotswolds at the end of September but we still have plenty to offer on the training front: G-LYZA, G-ERRY, G-NDIA, G-PAMY,G-PGGY and G-SWNS are all awaiting your attendance!

On the Charter front, amongst the celebrities this summer we transferred Lewis Hamilton to Silverstone for the Grand Prix –he won –could it be the smooth flight from our pilot helped the smooth drive to victory? Unfortunately our wonderful EC130 G-WCKD has now moved on and is taking up residence in Switzerland. If anyone knows of another EC130 please let Ken know!!

Both our EC120s G-DLUX and G-OTFL are still working hard as some of the few single engine helicopters still able to land at London Battersea Heliport commercially.
The summer ended with a deflated drizzle and the planned barbeque for the 1st of October to end things with a bang was cancelled (rain, rain and more rain!). Having survived Hurricane Ophelia and Storm Brian our next social event is the Firework display! – 11/11/2017 at 18:00.

The EC120 Type Rating

Congratulations to Tim Piper for completing his Eurocopter EC120 type rating! He will now be flying our EC120 helicopters for our commercial charters as well as instructing on the Robinson R22, R44 and Cabri G2!

Once you’ve completed your ppl(h) or cpl(h) you too may consider getting a type rating on a larger helicopter…

EC120 Type Rating By Cap’n Tim Piper

The Eurocopter EC120 is a great pilot’s machine, as long as the checklist is followed the start can be very uneventful although exciting as you hear the Arrius 2F turbine engine start to come to life. Under instruction of Ken I lifted it into the hover using a lot of right pedal due to the fenestron tail rotor being less efficient than a conventional tail rotor system in the hover, this could take a little bit of getting used to unless you have previous experience with the Cabri G2 helicopter. Transitioning into forward flight I started to relax into the aircraft and was feeling at home. Climbs, descents, and turns are all relatively simple compared to the smaller piston aircrafts even the autorotation’s are no way near as fraught with the dangers of over speeding the rotor system or running out of inertia when you have finished the flare. The whole experience was very enjoyable even the test at the end.

Airfield detail was the most enjoyable part with some real challenges, Tail rotor failure, hydraulic failure, engine failure in the hover and from circuit height, you would have thought we were having a bad day but as they were all simulated it was all ok. Overall the aircraft has a very unrushed feel to it allowing the pilot to fly the aircraft even if an emergency has occurred. Best part, it’s a great big toy with a jet engine in it, every man’s inner child’s dream!

During the Type Rating course along with lots of flying (minimum flight time is 3 hours + test) I had ground school with my instructor Ken and completed self-study of the flight manual and emergency procedures in depth.

Redhill Aerodrome – Training Areas

If you have a chance to have a go in one I would grab it by with both hands!

Fantastic Start to the Flying Season!

We had a great turn out to the Start of Season BBQ at Hangar One this past weekend. The weather was perfect and the EBG Pilots brought lots of very satisfied smiles.

The day started out with Instructors Joe and Ken doing some lessons in the Robinson R44 and R22 with some of our regular students and Dave (also an Instructor and Commercial Pilot) taking an R44 out over London for a photography shoot. Dave removed one of the doors on the R44 for his charter flight, and fitted the customer with a harness so he had maximum movement whilst remaining safely in the aircraft, and Joe with it being so warm also decided to remove the doors on the R22 (see below!)

One O’Clock soon came around and the Barbeque began in earnest Linda and Nick (mostly Linda) did an amazing job with the food salad, pasta, chicken wings, burgers & baps, sausages and rolls plus lots of sweet treats too. The afternoon consisted of lazing in the sun, catching up with other EBG Club members, their friends and family and lots and lots of EC120 taster flights!

2017 Flying Season Starting Soon!

All Club Members are invited to the Start of Season BBQ at Hangar One, where more information on the Club Outings will be available. This year we’re planning to host the BBQ on the 9th of April.

More Upcoming Club Events – NOT TO BE MISSED

DIARY FLY AWAY DAYS

5th May	Go-Karting at Lydd
2nd June	Heli Expo at the new location of Wycombe Air Park
16th June	Pub Trip – to be advised
21st July	Le Touquet France Remember to book this trip early as it’s very popular!
21st September	Museum Trip – to be advised

Gavin’s First Solo in the G2

Congratulations to Gavin who has completed his first solo in the Guimal Cabri G2 – aka G-ETWO.

Gavin has been training with Joe in an effort to achieve his PPL(H).

For your first step to a Private Pilot Helicopter Licence check out our introductory courses and trial lessons, the sky really is the limit!

For more information please give us a call or pop by for a visit! EBG helicopters, Hanagr 1, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey, RH1 5JY – 01737 823 282.

And follow us on instagram @ebghelicopters

Paul.R Completed his First Solo!

Congratulations to Paul who has completed his first solo in the Robinson R44 G-PGGY.

Paul has been training with Ken in our Robinson R44s as he works towards gaining his Private Pilot Helicopter Licence.

If you would like to start your journey to a PPL(H) why not try one of our introductory courses or trial lessons?

For more information please give us a call or pop by for a visit! EBG helicopters, Hanagr 1, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey, RH1 5JY – 01737 823 282.

Congratulations on your First Solo Flight!

Congratulations to Anne-Marie! Despite a very gloomy and grey sky on Thursday Anne-Marie has completed her first solo in the Robinson R22 G-NDIA.

It has taken her just over 3 months in order to get to the required level, our chief instructor was very impressed with her flying skills when he took her on the pre-solo assessment flight.

Anne-Marie then carried out a number of takeoffs and landings before being sent into the circuit, she flew 3 circuits before landing back into the southern hover square to pick up the instructor.

Anne-Marie now has around 25 hours of flying under her belt in the Robinson R22 Helicopter, in the pursuit of gaining her Private Pilot Helicopter Licence.

If you would like to start your journey to a PPL(H) why not try one of our introductory courses or trial lessons?

For more information please gives us a call or pop by for a visit! EBG helicopters, Hanagr 1, Redhill Aerodrome, Surrey, RH1 5JY – 01737 823 282.

Black Friday Pre-Christmas Offer!!

You wont want to miss this fantastic Deal! In the spirit of Black Friday from the first of December 2016 EBG Helicopters will be offering Training and Self Fly Hire in the Guimbal Cabri G2 Helicopter at the same rate as the Robinson R22 for Six Months Only.

To take advantage of the fabulous opportunity call us on 01737 823 282 to book your flight now!

Offer open to both New and Current students as well as New and Current Self Fly Hirers. The Cabri G2 is also available for Type Ratings and other types of training at this reduced rate. If you have any questions please give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to talk to you!

2016 Pilot Achievements (CPL(H) & PPL(H)

A number of our students have achieved steps in gaining their Private Pilot Licence, to them and the CPL(H) holders that have jumped additional hurdles for their chosen career we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Daniel G, a Commercial Helicopter Pilot from a land down under, who got fed up with constantly flying upside down, decided to embark on his EASA Commercial Helicopter Licence here at EBG Helicopters, With Daniel’s existing experience we were able to allow him to take a reduced course in the Robinson R22 Helicopter before taking his skills test with a CAA examiner.

Redhill Aerodrome – Say No to Garden Village

If you haven’t heard already the Directors of Redhill Aerodrome have carried out a review of the site and its potential for development and have come up with a scheme to build the Redhill Aerodrome New Garden Community. This development will become a new community of 4,500 homes supported by schools, link roads and open space.

First off the mark to take action against this proposal was 13-year-old Casper Pierce who set up petition to fight plans to replace Redhill Aerodrome with 4,500 homes.

Stop Redhill Aerodrome from becoming a housing estate! Add your name to the petition now!

The following extract is from his email asking for support to sign the petition against the proposed development to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council. “Redhill Aerodrome is very important to me because I work there and if it closed I would lose my job. I won’t be the only one affected. Many businesses such as flying schools will lose their place and where will they go? Redhill Aerodrome can inspire young people like myself to possibly go on to getting a job in the aviation industry and living out their dreams. If Redhill Aerodrome was to go it will not only leave a hole in my heart but will leave a huge hole in the sky where I once used to look up as a child and marvel at the planes as they flew over my house.”

Category: Club News