Meet a otor


Pro RPMN: What is your current position?


I’ve just recently accepted the position of chief pilot at Sundance Helicopters in Las Vegas. This means I’m now responsible for the hiring, training, and scheduling of pilots under CFR part 135. We have anywhere between 35 and 60 pilots, depending on the time of year, which makes it a major challenge to balance the needs of the operation versus the needs of the human operating the helicopter. I work with a bunch of good people though, so I’m looking forward to leading the troops for the foreseeable future.


RPMN: Tell me about your first flight.


My first helicopter flight was in a Jet Ranger out of Montgomery Field in San Diego. It was on my birthday (I believe in 2001) and my father bought a ride for himself and me. It was a quick flight up and down the coast along San Diego. I remember being impressed by how much you could see from a helicopter compared to a fixed-wing ... and the takeoff and landing was much more fun!


RPMN: How did you get your start in helicopters?


My wife convinced me. I’d been medically disqualified from the military for asthma when I was 18, and I convinced myself I’d never have the time or money to be a pilot on my own. In my mid-30s, my wife encouraged me to check out one of the


10 May/June 2016 Bill Orvis


local flight schools. When I found out I could finance the training, she told me I was out of excuses. The rest is history.


RPMN: When and how did you choose to fly helicopters? Or did they choose you?


Helicopters chose me. I had always thought I’d be a fixed-wing pilot if I ever was able to become an aviator, but the opportunity to fly helicopters presented itself at the right time and place. So, I jumped at the chance.


RPMN: Where did you get your start flying commercially?


I started as an instructor in San Diego, then moved to a small operator out of Long Beach. There I continued to instruct while also doing photo flights and local tours— pretty typical stuff. There was even a ferry flight to Brazil across the Caribbean.


RPMN: If you were not in the helicopter industry, what else would you see yourself doing?


I’d be a school teacher. One of the things I enjoy most about my job is the training, whether it be instructing new pilots or learning myself. As a result, I’ve realized I love teaching people about anything— sometimes to the annoyance of others. So, if I wasn’t flying I’d definitely be a school teacher.


RPMN: What do you enjoy doing on your days off?


To be honest, I enjoy simply spending time around the house. I’m pretty much a homebody away from work.


RPMN: What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?


My greatest accomplishment has to be becoming the chief pilot at Sundance Helicopters. I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can contribute my time and experience to other pilots. It has been one of my goals in life to be a leader, and hopefully I will be successful. I’m sure the pilots here at Sundance will let me know how I’m doing.


RPMN: Have you ever had an “Oh crap” moment in a helicopter? Can you summarize what happened?


Absolutely. I was an instructor with about 600 hours and flying with a commercial student. It was a beautiful Southern California day. We were in an R22 Beta, which was getting very close to overhaul time. Suddenly, he and I ran out of power on a pinnacle approach. The spot we had chosen was about 3,000 MSL with an outside temp of about 65 degrees. It was big and flat and very inviting, so we thought it was a no-brainer. Based on previous experience, we made a bunch of assumptions about our performance capabilities that turned out to be incorrect. Fortunately, we reached the limits just


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