1. Bryan Simmons (LtCol USMC Ret.)
Rotor Transition Program
Bryan Simmons (LtCol USMC Ret.)
President, Coast Flight Training

2. OVERVIEW Introduction Coast Flight Training Rotor Transition Program
Training Capacity (Biosphere Model)

3. Bryan Simmons (LtCol USMC Ret. ) Intro…
Bryan Simmons (LtCol USMC Ret.) Intro….because pilots love to talk about themselves
Joined Marine Corps in 1995
Selected to fly CH-46E
Two Deployments to Mediterranean
Bosnia Stabilization
Flight Instructor Pensacola
Two Iraq Deployments
Initial Invasion
Fallujah
HMX-1 (Marine One Squadron)
Operational Test Director for CH-46E Helicopter
Helicopter Lift for President/Vice President and Foreign Heads of State
VH-60 / VH-3
Coronado (Director of Amphibious Planning and Synthetic War Gaming)
Retired in 2014

5. Coast Flight Training
Establish 2008 in San Diego, CA (KMYF, Montgomery Field)
Cirrus Platinum Training Center
Pilot Shortage Demand Signal
Shift and Expansion in 2014 to academy training philosophy
Airline Career Training (ACT) Program
Started with 3 PA-28 Archers
Partner with SkyWest Airlines
“Conditional Offer of Employment” prior to start of flight training
Extensive screening
College lockstep program
First students flying for airlines in 2017
Strategic to companies success

6. Rotor Transition Program (RTP)
Coast Proposed the concept to Envoy (American Airlines Group)
Transition experienced USMC/USN/US Army rotary wing pilots into the regional airlines
An entire class of aviator was sitting on the bench
Why should they pay a premium for a helicopter pilot?
Crew and mission oriented pilot
Low hour requirement and accelerated time to train (TTT)
750 Hours vs 1500 Hours
1-4 months vs. 2–4 Years
Leadership multiplier
2016 – Envoy recruiting leadership change
BETA Test / Proof of Concept in San-Diego
10 pilots grew to 25 pilots within a few weeks

7. Rotor Transition Program (RTP) – Formal Program
Requirement of 300 pilots per year
Incentives for transitioning pilots
$23, Direct Training Compensation
$17, New Hire Bonus
Production ramp up
San Marcos, Texas
Key Hires
60 aircraft
PA-28
C-172
PA-44
Coast and Envoy partnership
Recruiting and marketing
Standards

8. Rotor Transition Program (RTP) – Training Methodology
Convert Helicopter Commercial Pilot to Multi-Engine Airplane Pilot
Pathway – Quick and Cost Effective
Coast Training
US Army
Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial ME, Timebuild
Many have never flown an airplane
USMC / USN / US Coast Guard
Multi-Engine, Timebuild
Come to program with commercial single engine airplane (flight school)
Envoy ATP and Type Rating in E-145/E-175/CRJ
Line Training with Envoy Captain

9. Rotor Transition Program (RTP) – Lessons Learned
Old habits are hard to break….Good!
Housing
Transition demand exceeds training capacity
General Aviation training is very different from Military Training
Age is a factor
Airlines and flight schools have to work together
There are two transitions actually taking place
Crew Procedures
Complex Systems
FAR 91+
Single Pilot
Simple Systems
FAR 91

10. Pilot Training on a Large Scale
Airport
Facilities
Runway
Parking
Airspace
Training Area Transit Times
Congestion
Low / High / Instrument Work
Outlying Fields
Maintenance
On Demand
Parts
“I” Level Access
Fuel
Pricing
Labor vs Profit
Housing
Availability
Cost
Proximity
FAA
DPE – Airman Certification
FSDO
Community
Noise and Traffic
Bring Instructors to town
ATC
Structured for Training Ops
Staffed and Equipped
TRAINING BIOSPHERE

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Tyler 1 1 3
Waco
Waco (Hewitt)
Jacksonville

12. Questions?
Bryan Simmons