Arial Forum - Heli-North West

Helicopters have long been my passion, ever since my parents paid for a pleasure flight in a Bell 206L Jet Ranger when I was thirteen years old. Since then, I’ve never wanted to do anything but fly these modern flying carpets. Twenty-three years later, this is my first foray into writing about helicopters. I wanted to find out how a helicopter flying school operated, and the types of people who take part in this truly fascinating area of aviation, whether for business, pleasure or to earn their living by flying helicopters.

I arrived at City Airport Manchester (formerly Barton Aerodrome) to meet Gary Cooper, the proprietor of Heli-North West, on a bright, sunny Sunday morning, but a bit apprehensive about what to expect...