@11 months ago

Fitting in at Upper Limit Aviation

by Jade Francetich

When I accepted the offer as an Administrative Assistant at Upper Limit Aviation (ULA), I didn’t expect to fit in. ULA is a helicopter-rotorcraft flight training school, and the extent of my helicopter knowledge was “Helicopters fly and make lots of noise.”

You can imagine my relief when I realized that I fit right in, and I didn’t even have to try. If you have the following qualities, you will fit in too!

What is required to fit in at ULA

• Work Hard

Whether you’re rocking out with paper work or soaring through the clouds in the Salt Lake City area, there is work to be done. Everyone here is committed to helping students succeed, and therefore must work hard. Typically, the more work you put in, the more you get out of it, and flight training is certainly no exception. 

• Value Safety

Flying helicopters can be dangerous, so it is essential that safety is always the top priority. This includes maintaining a positive attitude even when flights are cancelled due to maintenance checks or poor weather.

• Be Respectful

This one is pretty simple. We value respect among students, instructors, office staff, and the maintenance crew.

• Have a Sense of Humor

Your jokes, sarcasm, and witty comments are welcome and usually appreciated here. We love to laugh at and with each other on a daily basis.

• Like to Eat Food

ULA students and employees can be seen eating any time of day, and have a hard time refusing food, even on the “R22 diet.”

What might help, but is not required to fit in at ULA

• Bring us Food

We’re pretty easy to please, and eat everything from Arby’s to jellybeans to homemade jerky!

• Make us Laugh

Whether it’s the day-to-day antics or practical April Fool’s jokes, ULA is full of laughter.

• Know a Thing or Two About Helicopters

As a student, you will learn all of the details over the course of your training, but even as office staff, it helps to know some basics. Over the last few months, I have learned many aviation and helicopter terms, which helps me to fit in even more.

@1 year ago

Post 9/11 GI Bill, Helicopter Flight Training

As a flight school, we strive to provide the best high-altitude flight training and safest training environment possible to our students. We’ve been lucky in that we have received hard-working, dedicated students and instructors to help us in this goal.

In January 2010, our first group of Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill students began the Professional Pilot Program with Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). As a partner within this program, we at Upper Limit were excited to also be a part of this- the first semester veterans were able to use their GI Bill education monies to become a fully funded student, up to 100%, for all of their flight training. Including Private Pilot. An additional advantage was, because Chapter 33 requires one be a part of an academic program, these veterans were able to obtain not only their FAA helicopter ratings but an associates degree as well.

As we move further into 2011, more and more of this first group of students are graduating from Upper Limit and SLCC. They are becoming our instructors, they are becoming valued members of our staff and we feel privileged to have them here.

@11 months ago

Why I’m Here

“I used to work in a cubicle…

…one day, I escaped. 

Now, I do all my thinking outside the box

from my office with a view.  

I think I’ll take my next call at 1,200 feet.”

My name is Marshall Murdock, and I’m a Helicopter Pilot and Student at Upper Limit Aviation.  About a year ago, after some serious conversation with my wife, we decided together (important if you’re married and want to stay that way) to change careers after 12 years in corporate sales & marketing and have me become a Professional Helicopter Pilot!  

Like I’ve heard from a lot of you, I knew I wanted to fly helicopters before I ever got into one.  I was on Utah County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, and after freezing our rear ends off one night with a patient in the mountains, to have Life Flight come in at first light, lower the hoist and take him out…I knew this was something I just had to do.

  After getting over thinking I was crazy to make a career change with a family, and essentially start over (the joke at our house for a while was, “If you’re going to have a midlife crisis, it might as well be doing something fun!”) …it’s been one of the best decisions of my life.  My kids brag that their Dad is a helicopter pilot, and my wife loves that I actually enjoy what I’m doing for a change. I’m flying; I’m challenged; I’m loving it.

What’s your story?

@1 year ago