The application period is closed for Summer 2013.
We will begin accepting new applications for Summer 2014 in October.
Thank you for your interest.
Mission Statement
The Grand Canyon Flight Crew provides safe and practical training opportunities for helicopter managers and helicopter crewmembers from all agencies to ascertain or increase their aviation knowledge and experience in a professional and educational atmosphere.
History
In the spring of 2000, the Helicopter Training Academy was born with 13 students. The students were used to meet the minimum staffing levels needed to keep up with the variety of missions and daily workloads here in the Park and the surrounding areas like the Kaibab National Forest. Within the first year of its creation, the Academy illustrated why there was such a necessity for interagency helicopter training.
The Academy has been managed by several members from Grand Canyon Flight Crew throughout the years. Crew members have each brought new training topics, instructional methods, and ideas. Coupled with feedback from each HTA student, it has lead to the current program which includes workbooks, didactic trainings, practical field opportunities, and sometimes, more unique missions like slinging stuck boats from the Colorado River or relocating threatened or endangered species to a new habitat.
With the 2012 fire season wrapping up and the conclusion of the 13th season of the Grand Canyon Helicopter Training Academy, our crew would like to thank the students on another great year. This year saw some changes to the program and we received many more suggestions for the future. Our crew invites the challenge of implementing some of these options into our program so future students will continue to improve and adapt their aviation knowledge. This year the Academy hosted 16 formal students and instructed several others. This was another busy season, especially for wildland fire operations. We look forward to the students of 2013 and wish everyone good luck with their applications.
