Helicopter Pilot Profiles

Pilot Name

Bill Miller

Training

• Commenced flying in 1985 
• CPL(H) issued in 1987
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) in 1988
• Instructor Grade 1 - FI1(H) in 1989

Additional Qualifications

• Chief Pilot (CP), Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) and Managing Director
• ATPL(H) in 1992
• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course

Ratings

• Grade 1 Flight Instructor FI1(H)
• Approved Testing Officer (ATO) – PPL(H)
• Night VFR (NVFR) - NDB, VOR, DME, GPSN

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44, B47, EN-28, H269
  
• Turbine: R66, B206, B412, A119A, EC120, AS350, AS355, MD500
• Sling Load Operations

Total Flight Hours

• 12,000+

Career Highlights

• Establishing three flying schools:
• Bankstown Helicopters in Sydney, NSW in 1989
• Central West Helicopter School in Orange, NSW in 2007
• Queensland Helicopter School in Redcliffe, QLD in 2012

What you love about your job

That helicopter flight is the closest thing to a magic carpet ride.

Flies out of

• Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW
• Central West Helicopter School, Orange Airport NSW
• Queensland Helicopter Shool, Redcliffe Heliport QLD

Pilot Name

Ian Massey

Training

• Commenced flying in April 2006
• CPL(H) issued in 2009
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2011
• Instructor Grade 1 - FI1(H) issued in 2014

Additional Qualifications

• ATPL(H) 2012
• Cert IV - Diploma of Aviation
• IREX - Command Instrument Rating Exam
• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course
• Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)

Ratings

• Grade 1 Flight Instructor FI1(H)
• Night VFR (NVFR) Instructor (VOR, GNSS, NDB)
• Instrument Rating - SEH IR

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: R66, B206, AS350, B407, EC120
• Sling Load Operations
  

Total Flight Hours

• 2000

Career Highlights

Ferrying a machine up the East coast from Sydney to the Whitsundays, spectacular coastline and stunning scenery as well as a fantastic learning experience shortly after receiving my commercial licence.

What you love about your job

Learning to a fly helicopter is extremely rewarding for both the student and the instructor and every day and every flight is different, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. 

 Job satisfaction comes from seeing first-hand the sense of achievement on a student’s face when he or she masters a challenging task early in the flying syllabus, like the first time they discover that they can hover the helicopter on their own, or when they return from their very first solo flight.

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Michael Bennett

Training

• Commenced flying Fixed Wing in 1981
• Commenced flying Helicopters in 1995
• CPL(H) issued in 2010

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course 
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course

Ratings

• Low-level

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: R66, B206 

Total Flight Hours

• 300

Career Highlights

I used to be a TV News Cameraman and spent a lot of time in helicopters filming. At the time I thought it would be a lot more fun flying the helicopter, which it is! One of the highlights for me is to now take camera operators up for aerial photography jobs, including for TV shows.

What you love about your job

I really love being able to share the thrill of helicopter flight with passengers who mostly have not flown in a helicopter before.

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Peter Dubrovich

Training

• Commenced flying in 2004
• CPL(H) issued in 2005
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2012

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course
• Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)

Ratings

• Grade 2 Flight Instructor FI2(H)
• Night VFR (NVFR)

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: R66, B206, AS350

Total Flight Hours

• 550

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Richard Johns

Training

• Commenced flying in 2007
• CPL(H) issued in 2009
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2011
• Instructor Grade 1 - FI1(H) issued in 2013

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course 
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course

Ratings

• Grade 1 Flight Instructor FI2(H)
• Night VFR (NVFR) 
  
• IREX - Command Instrument Rating
  

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: R66, B206, AS350
• Sling Load Operations

Total Flight Hours

• 1300

Career Highlights

• Building flying hours making cross-country ferry flights from:
• Sydney to Darwin return
• Brisbane to Darwin
• Sydney to Alice Springs
• Broome to Melbourne 

What you love about your job

I love the challenge, knowing we are responsible for the next generation of pilots. We get to meet so many different people from different walks of life and we need to adjust our instructional techniques to accommodate each person. I find it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Sean Behringer

Training

• Commenced flying in 2006
• CPL(H) issued in 2007
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2010
• Instructor Grade 1 - FI1(H) issued in 2012

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course 
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course

Ratings

• Grade 1 Flight Instructor FI2(H)

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: B206

Total Flight Hours

• 1700

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Steven Baker

Training

• Commenced flying in 1990
• PPL(A) issued in 1990
• CPL(H) issued in 2009

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety Course 
• Crew Resource Management Course
• Principal Methods of Instruction Course

Ratings

• CPL(H)
• PPL(A) 

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: B206

Total Flight Hours

• 550 Rotary
• 100 Fixed Wing 

Career Highlights

• Flying across Bass Strait, East to West coast of Australia
• Pilot of the B206 Jet Ranger featured in the TV series "Underbelly"

What you love about your job

I enjoy showing people what I have a passion for - flying helicopters.

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

Pilot Name

Yves Bernier

Training

• Commenced flying Fixed Wing in 1984
• PPL(H) issued in 2002
• CPL(H) issued in 2003
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2012

Additional Qualifications

• Dangerous Goods Certified
• Robinson Safety
• Crew Resource Management
• Principal Methods of Instruction
• Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)

Ratings

• Grade 2 Flight Instructor FI2(H)

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, B47, B47T, B2B, G2
• Turbine: B204/205
• Sling Load Operations

Total Flight Hours

• 500 Rotary
• 270 Fixed Wing

Career Highlights

Instructing at Bankstown Helicopters

What you love about your job

The smile on peoples' faces when coming out of their first ever flying lesson and their astonishment when coming out of their first hovering lesson!

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airport NSW

ilot Name

Hilal Yaman

Training

• Commenced flying in 2007
• CPL(H) issued in 2007
• Instructor Grade 2 - FI2(H) issued in 2012

Additional Qualifications

• Night VFR (NVFR) - NDB and VOR
• CASA Drugs and Alcohol supervisor
• ATPL(H)
• IREX
• PMA OHS 214B Helicopter safety and Underwater Escape Training (HUET)
• Dangerous Goods Training
• Robinson Safety Course
• Crew Resource Management Training

Ratings

• Grade 2 Flight Instructor FI2(H)

Endorsements

• Piston: R22, R44
• Turbine: R66, B206

Total Flight Hours

• 650

Career Highlights

• Attaining my full Commercial Pilot’s Licence
• Assisting my first trainee through to graduation
• Seeing the enjoyment of people when they fly for the first time
• Pride in my achievements, new friendships and new places

What you love about your job

I enjoy teaching and seeing the satisfaction on trainees faces when they achieve their goals.

Flies out of

Bankstown Helicopters, Bankstown Airpor NSW