Blue Tongue Helicopter Services is owned and operated by Graeme and Helen Gillies and has been in operation at the Sunshine Coast Airport (1 hour North of Brisbane) since 1990.  We utilise both Bell 47 and Robinson R22 helicopters offering students more options in their training syllabus.  Being within the Maroochy Control Zone, students are exposed to operational and radio procedures without lengthy delays experienced at larger airports.  Our training facilities are immaculate with air-conditioned classrooms for your convenience.

The two most common questions asked by potential students are "how much will it cost?" and "which school will be the best?" Firstly, to remain competitive, most flying schools charge similar rates so the overall cost will be approximately the same.

Therefore, the next question will be of great importance and one the prospective student must research thoroughly. As all schools use the CASA syllabus, the training sequences are the same.

The difference with Blue Tongue Helicopters is in our teaching and flying techniques learnt from thousands of hours experience in all aspects of helicopter flying. These techniques are a valuable asset to the new pilot as  employers place great importance on who trained you.  Blue Tongue Helicopters teach practical and professional flying putting our students at the top of the employment list.

This is an expensive exercise, so at the end of your course, you would naturally expect some backup. Blue Tongue Helicopters will teach you how to get a job and most of all, how to survive within a tough industry.No false promises of employment and endorsements but personal contact with the people who do the hiring. 

With many years of first hand experience and more than 10,000 hours in all aspects of Helicopter flying all over the world, our contacts within the helicopter industry are very important and one of our greatest assets.  Grade One Instructor, CFI/ATO Graeme Gillies, has in excess of 10,000 hours helicopter and is one of Australia's toughest and most effective instructors.

We offer plenty of advice to aspiring pilots both before and after training as well as helping commercial pilots to further their careers. We have also assisted pilots to obtain work who have trained elsewhere but unfortunately had no backup from their flying school.

Blue Tongue Helicopter Services train on average two to three students per course giving each student personal attention and no lengthy delays with flying.

Instructors employed by Blue Tongue Helicopter Services must have a minimum of 3000 hours practical flying giving the student quality and professionalism in their teaching techniques as well as a practical approach to the commercial helicopter industry. 

Over the years we have seen a lot of young pilots with a bad attitude towards this industry simply because they were not given the best possible training and backup needed to get started. None of our students have this attitude because we stick with them for years, not just the time is takes to get the licence.