About  Becker Helicopter Services Pty Ltd

From the desk of Mike Becker

As a kiwi I grew up loving helicopters and fulfilled my dream to fly them.

When I started instructing all those years ago I was encouraged by my instructor Reg Ellwood to writer a book as I had a very clear ability to take a subject, break it down into manageable learning and unlock the mystery of aerodynamics and principles of flight. I initially wrote this manuscript over 18 years ago when I was a helicopter flight instructor in Tauranga and Auckland.  It was at my grandmothers house that I wore out her little typewriter and drove her crazy with all my mess.

Further down the track in my career I started my own helicopter training company. I felt there were very few young, experienced helicopter pilots who had a passion for teaching rather than just teach as a good retirement job or to build hours.

So 10 years ago I started my own helicopter Flight Training school, on the Eastern sea board of Australia at the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia.

At that time I found very few clear, concise books on helicopter theory as they relate to the student in the helicopter. Having written this initial book over 20 years ago when I first trained as a helicopter pilot, and later as an instructor ~ I found the same thing as back then, a lack of well written and presentable books.

There were lots of "story" style books, and some very technical "jargon driven" books with, complicated maths and equations, or a rehash of older military text books and images.

There are also some other military authors who proposed military strategies of training that are not in some cases duplicated in the civilian training arena due to hardware flown.  So I wrote this book for the student and instructor alike. This book was the marriage of technical helicopter aerodynamics and theory and what is expected of a pilot.

I hope you enjoy this and I welcome any suggestions. I am currently updating the next edition.

Fly Safe

Mike

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 Mike Becker Helicopter Handbook

So here we are -twenty years in writing, this informative and easy to read handbook on flying helicopters is a must for professionals and pilots to be.  

Each chapter carries Mike's Becker’s enthusiasm, knowledge, experience, and love of helicopters and is designed with the learning pilot in mind.

 Due to the dynamics and expanse of information required in the helicopter industry anyone involved in helicopters must continually learn.

 

The handbook takes you through every manoeuvre and flight sequence required in your helicopter training, and used in your ongoing career.

 

From Effects of Controls through to Sling loads, Mountain flying, Navigation, Low flying and more, it breaks down the theory behind the flying and takes you step by step through the flying exercise itself.

 

A technical handbook of 440 pages, written in an easy to understand language coupled with over 500 illustrations, diagrams, and photographs, it links the theory to the practical flying and is a must for every helicopter student or pilot.

Becker Helicopter Services Pty Ltd

“Training the Next Generation of Helicopter Pilots”

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Captain Mike Becker has been awarded the “Captain John Ashton Award for Flight Standards and Aviation Safety by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of London.”

 

It’s the first time this distinction has been earned by a helicopter pilot and was given to Captain Becker, Chief Flight Instructor at a helicopter flight school in Queensland, Australia, in recognition of his record of excellence in air safety. Captain Becker’s school has achieved an unrivalled 18,000 hours of accident-free flight training.

 

Presented by the Guild’s Australian regional body, this award was established in memory of Captain Ashton to recognise the contribution to flight standards and aviation safety by individuals in the Queensland Aviation Industry.

 

Capt. Mike Becker said “This is an honour to receive such an award. Its terrific to see the helicopter fraternity being recognised for its contribution to aviation. Like all awards I’m not alone in receiving it. It’s an effort of all the team at Becker Helicopters, our instructors, support personnel, and my fellow helicopter pilot and wife Jan.”

 

This accolade is of particular notoriety because it has been bestowed on Captain Becker by one of the oldest and most renowned professional organisations in global aviation. Founded in 1929, the Guild became a Livery Company of the City of London in 1956, making it the 81^st company to receive the Livery in 800 years. To this day only 103 Livery companies exist. This rarely bestowed mark of distinction has been instrumental in increasing the stature and influence of the Guild and those associated with it and recognised by it.

 

The Guild is a London-based organisation patronised by His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Presiding over operation as Grand Master is His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York. It was formed by a group of commercial pilots to ensure the status of all air pilots and air navigators and represents pilot and navigator interests within all areas of aviation.

 

The Guild annually presents trophies and other awards for outstanding performance in the realm of aviation, to promote global standards of air safety. Captain Becker was nominated for the safety award by Geoff Forsaith, a 73-year old veteran of the aviation industry.

 

“I nominated Captain Becker for his passion and continual quest for excellence in flight training and pursuit of safety and high standards,” said Mr Forsaith. “Mike is passionate and his devotion to safety is evident and he is instilling this into the minds of the next generation of helicopter pilots.”

 

Mike holds an ATPL (H) and CPL (A), Multiengine IFR and has flown accident free for over 11,000 hours and has been a consultant for the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority with a team of others writing the Australian National Standard for Helicopter training.

 

Written by Simon Roper