On Oct. 17, 2016, Robinson Helicopter Company delivered two R44 Cadet helicopters to SKY Helicopters, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) part 141 flight school, and Robinson’s dealer in Garland, Texas.
According to SKY president Ken Pyatt, the affordability of the Cadet along with the optional glass technology, HeliSAS Autopilot and air conditioning make it a very appealing trainer.
The Cadet’s longer 2,400 time between overhaul (TBO) brings its hourly operating cost closer to the R22, a plus for flight schools and pilots trying to build hours.
SKY Helicopters’ new R44 Cadets are outfitted for instrument flight rules (IFR) training. Both helicopters are equipped with a fully integrated glass cockpit featuring Garmin’s G500H display, GTN 750 navigator, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B Out/In, Bluetooth for seamless connection to personal devices, and Genesys Aerosystems’ HeliSAS Autopilot.
Additionally, each has Spidertracks for real time tracking, and air conditioning.
“We’ve finally found the perfect combination of NextGen technologies available in a reliable comfortable training helicopter,” Ken Pyatt.
The two-place Cadet was FAA certified in May 2016.