Front Range Helicopters and partner company Arial Resourses will take delivery of one of two new Schweizer 300C helicopters in June of 2010. The second aircraft will arrive in October 2010. The purchase will round out FRH’s training piston fleet to a total of five 300C’s.
FRH has seen good growth in the last quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010 in their training program located in the northern front range of Colorado. FRH has partnered with Aims Community Collage to build out an Associates Degree program that provides prospective helicopter pilots with a great high altitude flight program and a solid FAR 141 academic foundation.
The parnership, now in its fourth year, has steadily grown since its inception and looks to continue in the future.
Aquisition of the new aircraft will support the current student roster and cover the predicted growth into 2011.
Chief Pilot and co-owner Don Griffith said the selection of the 300C is a “given” based on our location and altitude. “The Schweizer 300C offers great performance, reliability and with Century Helicopters, a Schweizer Service center located 10 minutes away in Ft. Collins, the 300C is the perfect choice.”
FRH had considered lease options with regard to the need for additional aircraft but found that aircraft potentially available in the area had owners that had less than posstive opinions about their lease experiences with other flight schools.
“In the past we have always opted to own our aircraft, but did want to look at the option of leasing. It became very clear the down turn in the economy has left some owners looking to sell as opposed to lease.” Griffith said. “and if we were going to buy, it made since to purchase new aircraft”.
FRH contributes much of their current success with the association with Aims Community College, the reliable and timely mechanical support of Century Helicopters and an instructor base with a great deal of experience flying in Colorado.
“These are tough times for flight schools and many aviation based businesses and it makes good sense to create good partnerships and strive to put a quality, honest product out there for our customers. The helicopter community is very small and a good reputation and depth of experience can go a long way in building some momentum” Griffith added.
Front Range Helicoter’s main training center is located at the Fort Collins/Loveland Airport(KFNL) near Loveland Colorado and has a satellite base at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitain Airport (KBJC) in Broomfield CO. FRH’s Commecial turbine operations are based in Ft. Collins CO.