Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get to HAATS if I'm not bringing my own helicopter?

Answer- Two ways: fly directly into Eagle County Airport (EGE) and rent a car, drive across the airport and you're at HAATS or fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), rent a car, and drive, approximately 3 hours on I-70 in good weather. You can use the HAATS rotary aircraft to train with.

2. I'm bringing two aircraft out for the three weeks of flight training but I will have a NDI inspection due on one of my aircraft, can you help out?

Answer- Sorry, we do not have NDI capability on-site at HAATS. ALL major inspections must be completed prior to arriving at HAATS. We have limited maintenance support on site.

3. There are a few aviation training schools available. Why choose HAATS?

Answer- Our goal at HAATS is to provide realistic and relevant training in a world class environment. Our training techniques have been proven over time and are the reason why they are imitated worldwide. The tenants that make HAATS the benchmark for training are the training area, the methodology, and the instructors.

Training Area

HAATS has over one million acres of usable training area that has been cultivated since 1986. Within our training area, we can replicate virtually any Landing Zone (LZ) pilots will be asked to touch down in. We have the added benefit of being less than one minute away from our closest LZ so training time can be maximized. Our elevations range from 6,500 feet to 12,200 feet MSL which provide realistic scenarios for Power Management Training and we conduct enroute training up to 14,000 MSL in the high country of Colorado. 

Methodology

Our training, known as Power Management, teaches students to maximize the utility of the aircraft. Unlike other mountain training methodologies that center around the environment, our training starts with what the aircraft can do and factors the ever changing environment into each scenario. This power based model is more applicable to military rotorcraft aviators and centers around aircraft torque which makes for a more objective based training. The focus on torque teaches pilots to know how much torque is required for any maneuver and not to exceed that torque. By taking the emphasis off the environment and placing it on the aircraft, students learn to execute maneuvers with the appropriate amount of power instead of trying to execute them with the least amount of power.

Our Instructors are some of the best mountain pilots in world, but that is not what makes them great teachers. They have the ability to read a student in a short amount of time and determine what training needs to take place. The training area is intimidating so our instructors tailor the training to challenge the students without exceeding their limitations. It takes roughly six months to “grow” a HAATS Instructor because of one paramount emphasis; safety. Our instructors know each LZ inside and out and go to them for specific training events. This knowledge allows for discovery by the student will providing a safety margin of predictability. Our instructors also are called upon routinely to conduct Search and Rescue in the mountainous regions of Colorado. This is a valuable platform for them to practically apply all they teach and hone their skills.