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Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a helicopter pilot?

Hi everyone! My name is Autumn Cabaniss, and I was born in Augsburg, Germany. Both of my parents served in the United States Army, but settled back in the states by the time I was three, allowing me to grow up on a small farm in southern Illinois. I was raised much like every other country gal; I can saddle a horse, bait a hook, and clean a firearm, but when I discuss with other pilots how they found aviation, I find my path is much less traditional.

I didn’t grow up with a desire to be a pilot; to be honest it had never crossed my mind. I graduated with a degree in Clinical Psychology and pursued a career in social work. After about a year, I was dreading work each and every day. How disappointed I was with my tremendous student debt and career I hated. It was around this time I also lost my father in a motorcycle accident. He was a Vietnam veteran who always had a love for helicopters, but did not have the chance to fly them in the military.  Still bereaved and wanting to feel closer to him, I took an intro flight at Cape Copters, Cape Girardeau, MO in an R22.

I spent the next two-and-a-half -years flying every spare moment I could at the Part 61 school and received my Commercial Pilot’s license in January of 2015, and ultimately went on to become a CFII (Certified Flight Instructor).

What is your history with Bell aircraft? Zip Aviation?

The first Bell I ever saw up close was a UH-1 (Huey) at Hurlburt Field near Destin, FL. in April 2011. My father and I were attending the annual reunion of Army comrades he’d served with in the 70s at Field Station Augsburg. As we sat near the chopper waiting for his friend to fly in, he recounted his experiences with helicopters through his Army career, mainly in Vietnam, and his fascination with them. I didn’t realize at the time how much Bell helicopters would go on to touch my life.

The second was a Bell 206 Long Ranger. The helicopter airlifted my father to Cape Girardeau, MO after his accident in June 2011. Since this helicopter was based close to home, I would regularly see it flying overhead and remember my father pointing it out as we would ride horses along the gravel roads near our farm.

Fast forward to March 2015; I was fortunate enough to get up close to another Huey, this time contracted by Red Bull to conduct an airdrop on the beaches of Panama City, FL. I was interviewing for an R44 tour pilot position which ended up being my first job as a commercial pilot.

A year later in April of 2016, I flew my first Bell on an interview flight with Zip Aviation, N99ZA, a 206B3. I couldn’t have been more nervous as she was my ticket to the big leagues. Since that day, I’ve had the privilege of flying the 206L4, 407, 407GX, and 407GXP with Zip.

Our operations vary from airport bounces and corporate contracts, to casino and resort drops, as well as private property landings, mostly amidst the dense Bravos surrounding the New York City area. Our fleet currently consists of five Bell 407s, one 206L4, and an Agusta 109SP. Most of our 407s are outfitted with the G1000, autopilot, bubble windows, emergency floats, satellite weather, and traffic/terrain avoidance systems, but some also have extended aux tanks and jettison doors. I’m extremely fortunate to work for a company like Zip Aviation which has equipped its helicopters with the latest in aviation technology.

Tell us about your unique flying experience in New York City. What are some of your favorite routes to fly? Hadve you flown in other cities, countries, or exotic locations?

The complex nature of flying in New York City is unmatched. The air traffic controllers in the area are unrivaled in their skill and precision, allowing adept pilots to complete complex maneuvers and routes that are unseen in other parts of the country. They have little tolerance for ineptitude, but regularly work with pilots who are unfamiliar with certain common procedures. The quick pace and challenge of using noise/traffic abatement routes, calling FBOs, hovering between parallels, calling out traffic, and getting a landing clearance all at the same time is something I never would have imagined myself capable of as a solo pilot. Now these procedures are common place in everyday operations. The routes are created for both noise and traffic abatement.

I particularly enjoy the modified Central Park and Throgs routes as they take you through Central Park and overtop of Laguardia Airport, creating stunning views of the city from the air. Other routes worth mentioning are not located on the New York Helicopter charts, but are vital to operating in an around the Hampton areas on Long Island. There has been a great conflict occurring here due to the dense helicopter traffic into and out of FOK, 87N, and HTO. The Eastern Regional Helicopter Council (ERHC) has invested a great deal of effort to improve relations between the Hampton residents and the helicopter community by creating “fly neighborly” routes for approaches, departures, and transitions for the area. Procedures involve limited idle times at 87N, altitude step-downs into HTO, and alternating routes into/out of the airports to avoid any one area getting hit too hard with traffic above their homes.

I haven’t had the privilege to fly in another country, but I have been able to complete two long cross country flights in my time as a pilot. The first was a flight from Cape Girardeau, MO to Boulder City, NV in the R44 with a few other pilots. The other was ferrying the 206B3 from Caldwell, NJ to Lantana, FL. As with any long flight, the landscapes and points of interest make for one amazing experience, as well as give you a different perspective on flight planning uncommon in the rotorcraft community.

At Bell, one of our main objectives is to thrill our customers, both pilots and passengers. What is one thrilling aspect of flying Bells that people might not know?

I feel the most thrilling aspect of Bell aircraft is its versatility. Bell has the capability to complete virtually any mission from VIP/offshore transport, sightseeing, and news gathering, to HEMS, firefighting, and military operations with powerful, reliable aircraft. Although my experience doesn’t allow me to compare it to other turbine helicopters, I’d be 100 percent satisfied flying Bell, specifically the 407, for the rest of my career. It’s fuel efficiency, engine control, power, and agility create one thrilling experience for both passengers and pilot.

Finally, what is something you would tell a helicopter pilot in training about jumping in their first Bell aircraft?

You are about to take part in flying an aircraft that is rooted in history. Flying helicopters from this elite fraternity will truly change your perception of rotorcraft capabilities as Bell remains at the top of the spectrum with its tried and true products.