Helico - Santa Rosa, California

Michael N. M.

I have been reluctant to give this  review. I was hoping that after numerous texts and requests, to the staff and owner, that I would receive at least a response. None was given. I wanted to work things out. They do not care.

I have kept a record of all the ignored and unanswered requests via email and text. Now that they have all my money and their helicopter is broken, there’s no reason to be nice to me anymore.

It wasn’t about the training. It was all about just getting as much money out of me as possible.

I have a log of all the flights over the homes that filed a noise complaint lawsuit against Helico. I was given the names of complaintants, TIM WINKLER, JOE and FRANK. There were some pretty negative comments by Helico staff as we passed over their homes.

I spent close to forty thousand dollars and three years of my time studying to get my PPL. Private pilot’s license. Helico promised to help me. That was a lie. They just wanted to suck me dry of money.

I have been asking for 3 years for the Helico course outline & study, it’s called the syllabyss. I recently texted Helico manager Karilee (September/October 2024) once again requesting a course syllabus, and she completely ignored me. I asked again. She sent me a text asking me “why I’m so pushy?” It’s a joke the way Helico is managed.

Maybe I dodge a bullet. The 2007 Robinson R44 Raven ll helicopter N557SM was definitely on its last leg. It has close to 4400 hours. It leaked a quart of oil every time we went out. Some instruments did not work.

It was not burning the oil. It was leaking it everywhere. So we would  just add another quart of oil every time before we went up for a flight. This is in the flight log book. Plus, there is a huge oil stain on the tarmac under the helicopter.

This is the same helicopter that they were renting out to take people on tours. N557SM. I am not a mechanic, but I feel this helicopter was pretty well worn out. That is why it’s going to be torn down and out of service for the next year.

You could not even store gear in the storage departments under the rear seats because they were full of oil that was leaking through the firewall. They put diaper like material in there to absorb the oil. It was bad. I put squawks in the log book that I thought the oil use was excessive, but it was ignored. The exhaust pipe to the muffler had a burn through it. I mentioned that to my CFI Ryan Wax. I showed it to him. He said, “Don’t worry about it, I don’t think it matters.” He can not make that call because he is not a certified aircraft mechanic.  I believe FAA rules a mechanic must make that determination.

I had another instructor take me up while he was hung over from drinking excessively the night before. He told me so. He said he had a really bad headache and did not get much sleep. Another FAA violation.  He was fired later.

Another instructor asked me if I wanted to do “zoomies”. I had never heard of that before. We proceeded to do high-speed stunts. I have a video.

The list just goes on and on and on. I don’t know why it was like this, but we’re going to get to the bottom of it. I am filing an FAA complaint. More to come.

Sebastien P.

I've flown with Helico for over three years - I highly recommend training here. The company is operated very professionally and the aircraft are maintained exceptionally well. All the instructors are a lot of fun to fly with and very knowledgeable. The location is great for training and the weather provides for a large variety of conditions.

Matthew A.

What an awesome experience! On a whim we decided to take a trip - it was my first helicopter tour and I didn't know what to expect. I was blown away. Steve was our pilot and he was very professional, cared about safety a great deal, but was also very warm and personable. It was amazing to see Sonoma County from the air like that; I just wish it lasted a bit longer! If you're wanting to impress the in-laws, entertain out of town guests, or just want to spice up your weekend, HeliCo's tours are well worth it! Trust me, you won't regret the experience!!

David G.

I haven't flown a helicopter in about 10 years and finally got the itch to see if I still could. Booked some time with Alec in the R44 and couldn't be happier. Super cool guy, very knowledgeable and safe; aircraft in good condition. Only downside was the smoke but obviously not Helico's problem. Definitely plan on logging some more time soon. Thank you Alec!

Gonzalo M.

Helico Sonoma is the most professional Northern California Helicopter Company in the Bay Area. They provide services unmatched for the industry. Their range of services from tours, charted flights, flight training and their support with the Northern California fires make us very proud to have such an incredible group of professionals in the area. All their services are conducted to the highest level of professionalism and in 100% compliance with the FAA and NOAA regulations. As a deputy for the San Francisco Sherriff department I couldn’t be more delighted to work with Helico Sonoma. Thank you Helico Sonoma for helping us to discover, promote and protect our area. You have an amazing crew!

Matthew O.

Thoroughly recommended. Alec and his outstanding team worked with me to deliver bespoke training under 14CFR61.153(d)(3). Addressing unique challenges, the Helico team delivered a highly professional tailored training package against an exacting timeframe which undoubtedly contributed to my ATPL success.

Carrie C.

Daniel Law is a great fixed wing instructor. Highly recommend Helico as their planes are well maintained!

Sebastian G.

I strongly recommend Helico for all helicopter needs. I have always had an interest in becoming a pilot, and Helico has done an amazing job in helping me achieve that goal. I started my journey in November and both Alec and Zac have been extremely professional and informative. Since day one they have made it obvious that they care about their students and local neighbors. Every flight they make sure that safety comes first directly followed by minimizing the noise profile around homes.