Bristow Group has selected Helicenter Aviation as its preferred provider of ab-initio commercial pilot training and recruitment in the UK. Under the agreement, Bristow will support Helicenter with the promotion of pilot career events, reinforce the development and mentoring of aviators, and engage with trainees to help them become helicopter pilots at the early stage of their careers.

Meanwhile, Helicenter will support the sponsored programs run by Bristow, and cadets will have access to Bristow’s flight operations team and the ability to visit live operations. Helicenter currently supports Bristow as its partner for its UK cadet program, which fully funds pilot training through commercial helicopter pilot (CPL-H) ratings, including multi-engine and instrument training.

The UK-sponsored program selects candidates annually from a pool of more than 1,000 applications. Upon completion of initial training, pilots train with Bristow’s operational fleet at the company’s facility in Aberdeen, Scotland. That purpose-built center has three full-motion helicopter simulators for the Leonardo AW189 and Sikorsky S-92 and S-76.

Helicenter hosts regular open days and virtual seminars with Bristow to provide prospective applicants with more information and give them an opportunity to visit the training center and learn about career paths. Both companies will announce the open dates for sponsorship later this year. The full-time, 12-month program is the only integrated rotary CPL course approved in the UK.