A look at an HAI member up close and personal.
Established in 1994, Helicopter Experts, Inc., provides flight training, charter services, tours, helicopter sales, and aircraft maintenance in Bulverde, Texas, near San Antonio.
Helicopter Experts advertises itself as the company with the most FAA certificates and ratings in South Texas. The organization is a Part 135 charter operator and a Part 141 flight school, the latter providing private, commercial, flight instructor, instrument, and external-load training courses.
Helicopter Experts also performs external-load operations under Part 133 for Classes A, B, and C loads and is a certified commercial agricultural operator. Its helicopter maintenance is performed under a Part 145 repair station certificate through its sister company, Hill Country Helicopters, LLC. Helicopter Experts is also an authorized Robinson Helicopter Co. dealer.
Veteran Friendly
Helicopter Experts is approved by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to train eligible veterans under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty.
Under this program, Helicopter Experts can offer commercial pilot, commercial pilot add-on, flight instructor, and additional flight instructor certificates for qualifying veterans using their GI Bill funds.
A Focus on Flight Training
Helicopter Experts is owned and operated by Michael Bisek, an FAA designated pilot examiner with over 16,000 hours and more than 30 years of helicopter training and piloting experience. Bisek personally oversees every instructor, student, and mechanic and provides maintenance and pilot training to government agencies including the San Antonio Police Department, US Customs and Border Protection, and the FAA.
Training and operations take place in the company’s facility and hangar at Bulverde Airpark. The training facility comprises four classrooms: two private testing rooms, a debriefing room, and a computer room.
All of Helicopter Experts’ Bell 47 and R44 aircraft are company owned and maintained by Hill Country Helicopters. Helicopter Experts notes that it chose the Bell 47 as a primary trainer due to the aircraft’s durability, reliability, and accident resistance. Additionally, the company says, the Bell 47 provides a valuable training platform that easily facilitates a transition to Robinson aircraft.
Helicopter Experts operates a FLYIT simulator to support its students’ training program. The simulator is used to give students hands-on experience in operating the aircraft and performing maneuvers before entering the aircraft.
