The Pilots
Niagara Helicopters sets extremely high standards in regards to pilot flying experience. We require approximately 2,000 hours in the air as pilot-in-command, most of which must be on the Bell 206L or 407 series helicopters. In fact, most of our pilots are well above this limit.
There is good reason for our concern since Niagara Helicopters is world-renown as a professional sightseeing helicopter company. The skill, expertise and experience of our pilots, engineers and boarding crew are one of our most valuable marketing tools.
Our flight pattern is strictly regulated by Transport Canada and our pilots must fly exactly the same route at exactly the same speeds and altitudes each and every time – in addition to dealing with constant landings and take-offs. These are skills which are more prominent in a more seasoned pilot. For this reason we only entrust the safety of our passengers and crew to highly experience pilots… THE BEST!
Our current roster of pilots is: Ruedi Hafen, Rene Huessy, Tony Dempsey, Brandon Gardner and Shannon Konvaitis. Combined, they have over 90 years flying experience with Ruedi among the global leaders in Bell 407 hours. Each of our pilots has received their Canadian Commercial Pilots License are retested each year while undergoing an annual re-certification process. Each year, either they attend Bell Helicopter’s training facility in Fort Worth, Texas or the company brings the Bell training staff to Niagara Falls. In addition, all pilots receive recurrent training on emergency procedures, emergency landing areas, etc., as well as flight procedures around the heliport from Chief Pilot and President, Ruedi Hafen.
Niagara Helicopters sets extremely high standards in regards to pilot flying experience. We require approximately 2,000 hours in the air as pilot-in-command, most of which must be on the Bell 206L or 407 series helicopters. In fact, most of our pilots are well above this limit.
There is good reason for our concern since Niagara Helicopters is world-renown as a professional sightseeing helicopter company. The skill, expertise and experience of our pilots, engineers and boarding crew are one of our most valuable marketing tools.
Our flight pattern is strictly regulated by Transport Canada and our pilots must fly exactly the same route at exactly the same speeds and altitudes each and every time – in addition to dealing with constant landings and take-offs. These are skills which are more prominent in a more seasoned pilot. For this reason we only entrust the safety of our passengers and crew to highly experience pilots… THE BEST!
Our current roster of pilots is: Ruedi Hafen, Rene Huessy, Tony Dempsey, Brandon Gardner and Shannon Konvaitis. Combined, they have over 90 years flying experience with Ruedi among the global leaders in Bell 407 hours. Each of our pilots has received their Canadian Commercial Pilots License are retested each year while undergoing an annual re-certification process. Each year, either they attend Bell Helicopter’s training facility in Fort Worth, Texas or the company brings the Bell training staff to Niagara Falls. In addition, all pilots receive recurrent training on emergency procedures, emergency landing areas, etc., as well as flight procedures around the heliport from Chief Pilot and President, Ruedi Hafen.
