Esther Cranga completed advanced mountain flight training at Western Helicopters in California. She was impressed by the expertise and professionalism of the instructors, Pete Gillies and Bob Spencer. The ground school and autorotation training in the MD500 helicopter helped improve her skills for mountain flying. After this training, Cranga felt she had taken a big step closer to her career goal of becoming a skilled pilot. She thanked the Whirly-Girls and Western Helicopters for the opportunity to advance her flight abilities.

1. 6 • Collective Pitch, Spring 2016
IN THE NEWS
P11.2 Esther Cranga, winner of the Advanced MountainFlight Training Scholarship, with Pete Gillies, former chiefpilot for Western Helicopters
By WG#1806 Esther Cranga
There are experts who are legends in their field - those
who leave a strong imprint of respect and admiration
on the people who meet them. I was blessed to meet two
men of that caliber during my mountain flight training
in California at Western Helicopters: the former owner,
Pete Gillies, and director of training, Bob Spencer. They
are references in the industry for mountain flying, law
enforcement, long line training and much more. They
are focused on sharing their experiences with profes-
sionalism and enthusiasm in order to benefit others. At
the top of their trade, they have humility, and told me we
are students forever.
The ground school at Western Helicopters was a step
above everything I had read about mountain flying. Dur-
ing autorotation training, Pete and Bob emphasized the
importance of pulling the cyclic back first to recover the
R.P.M., and we practiced full-downs in the MD500. Now
I get why everybody who flies it loves that “egg” so much.
This course helped me take a big step closer to my career
goal. When I was training for my private pilot rating in
Italy, my instructor, Andrea Piana, Continued on page 7
Scholarship Winner
Report: Advanced
Mountain Flying Training
WG#1398 Kate Garrison training for ATP
Scholarship Winner Earns ATP
By WG#1398 Kate Garrison
I am so grateful to the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund for awarding me the
2015 Memorial Flight Training Scholarship. I used it to earn my ATP - a
rating I never thought I would get when I first started flying helicopters
in 2005. I used the scholarship for the 10 hours of instrument time in
the aircraft I needed to meet the hour requirements for the ATP. And I
needed to brush the rust off my R22 skills, since I hadn’t flown that heli-
copter in nine years.
I did my ATP flight training at Advanced Helicopter Concepts (AHC)
in Frederick, Md., with a great instructor, John. He was knowledgeable,
patient, fun and safe to fly with. He’s been instructing for more than a
year, but for just having left his teenage years behind him, he had never
flown with a pregnant student until me! The owner, Neal, was flexible
with my schedule requests and made me feel very welcome.
After I did the training last summer, I gave birth to our second baby girl in October 2015. I took a few months off
from flying and studying, then took the checkride in March. It was special to do the training at AHC because I did
my initial flight training there 11 years ago and my ATP examiner did my commercial checkride in 2006.
Thank you to the Whirly-Girls for this amazing opportunity to advance my career. I know having an ATP will
help me get my next job and I am excited about those prospects, now that I am back in D.C., where I grew up. I’m
looking into possibly flying airborne law enforcement or applying to HEMS companies, where I have four years of
experience.

2. Collective Pitch, Spring 2016 • 7
IN THE NEWS
By WG#1819 Alexandra Thorsen
February 23rd was like any other day except my stomach
was full of butterflies and adrenaline rushed through my
body. I was about to be strapped to a seat inside the skel-
eton of a helicopter and plunged underwater. As a kid, I
loved to swim end to end underwater in the pool without
taking a breath, so that helped with my nerves.
When walking into Survival Systems, USA, for Helicop-
ter Underwater Egress Training (HUET) training, I saw
friendly people who helped make my potentially terrify-
ing experience more comfortable. Tray, our classroom
instructor, greeted me along with 15 men who were
mostly from the military or NYPD. For a moment, I felt
like a little girl in a classroom full of brave men, but they
never treated me like that.
We were all in the same boat (or helicopter) and were
dreading what was to come. I recommend taking notes
because there is a lot of information, but it distracts you
from focusing on how long you think you can hold your
breath underwater. The flight suit felt like pajamas, but
at least I was comfortable while simulating a life-and-
death situation.
When it was my turn to go into the Shallow Water
Egress Training (SWET) chair, Corey’s briefing made me
feel comfortable and safe. Then he said: “Brace, brace,”
and flipped me underwater. My sinuses filled up with
water, which stung, but
it went away soon as I
focused on not drown-
ing. When you are
underwater, the first
thing to do is calm
yourself. Then touch
a reference point on
your body that leads
to an exit, usually
your knee, and reach for the door. Next, hold onto the
airframe, unbuckle your seat belt, and pull yourself out
without kicking.
We did the same training in the egress machine. The
most nerve-wracking thing was watching other people
getting dunked in the water. Once you’re in the machine,
you’re focused, calm, and feel safe with people nearby
taking care of you.
The two-day course is a lot of fun and an invaluable
experience. I highly recommend all pilots take the course.
I am very grateful to have received the HUET course
scholarship and to have trained at a wonderful facility
with wonderful people. One last tip: don’t eat a nice dinner
afterwards because you can’t taste or smell anything when
your sinuses have been filled up with pool water all day.
My HUET Course Experience
with Survival Systems, USA
WG#1806 Ester Cranga in MD500 training with
Western Helicopters
WG#1819 Alexandra Thorsen
Continued from page 6
taught me how to do pinnacle approaches in the mountains,
and that’s where I got hooked on mountain flying.
I enjoyed every minute and every challenge flying the MD500
in the southern California mountains; landing in deep ravines
or on snow-covered mountains around 10,000 feet MSL. One
thing I love about flying is that I keep learning and it keeps life
interesting.
I thank the Whirly-Girls and Western Helicopters for this
training. I also acknowledge the great people who support and
inspire me: my parents, Pierre and Mylène; Sarah Cranga, Anne
Cranga, Taylor Beckett, Christine Mallet, Pascal Hudziak,
Hodges Brown, Kim Wilson, and Marie Christine Lebascle.