A smiling man holds a certificate while standing in front of a helicopter

February 2024 Student of the Month

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Nate Ando is originally from Cody, Wyoming but now calls Kalaheo on Kaua’i home for the past 7 years.The decision to take on flight training was not an easy one, Nate is pivoting from a long career in the maritime industry. This big decision for Nate came down to sustainability. “We all need a career that we can feel challenged …

A smiling man wearing sunglasses flies a helicopter. In the background, you can see a mostly clear sky, the ocean, and a heavily forested area with some windmills on a hill

March 2023 Student of the Month: Luca Studer

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Luca Studer was awarded March 2023 student of the month. Luca a 28-year-old Switzerland native is currently in his IFR/CFII stage of training working towards graduation in our professional pilot program. When asked why he chose Mauna Loa Helicopters as his flight training school of choice he replied smiling saying “it was relatively easy to get a VISA and therefore …

Kona Student of the Month: Octave Kuhn

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June 2020 Student of the Month Meet Octave Kuhn, age 25, from France.  Kona base student of the month was 25-year-old Octave Kuhn a French native is currently in his Commerical course. So Octave, why Mauna Loa Helicopters? With a grin from ear to ear and simple response “I mean come on helicopters in Hawaii!” Octave said ” I realized I …

Kona Student of the Month: Pavol Polasek

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February 2020 Student of the Month Meet Pavol Polasek, age 22, from Canada.  Pavol Polasek from Calgary Canada was awarded the February 2020 student of the month award for  Kona. Pavel is a 22-year-old who knew he wanted to fly helicopters since he was in the 10th grade. Pavel shared obstacles he is has had to overcome to where he is …

Kona Student of the Month: Daniel Lageder

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January 2020 Student of the Month Meet Daniel Lageder, age 28, from Italy.  Kona’s Student of the Month for January was Daniel Lageder. A 28 year old from Italy, currently in his Commercial Certificate.Daniel knew at the age of 12 he wanted to fly helicopters. But then finally decided to enroll in flight school when he turned 20. He selected …

Kona Student of the Month: Xavier Altamirano

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December 2019 Student of the Month Meet Xavier Altamirano, age 41, from New Mexico.  To end the year, Xavier Altamirano from Las Cruces New Mexico was selected as Kona’s December Student of the Month. Xavier tells us ” I am 25 years with 16 years experience” (41YO) he says with a chuckle. Xavier is currently working on his Private rating, …

Kona Student of the Month: Robin Reich

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November 2019 Student of the Month Meet Robin Reich, age 24, from Austria.  Kona Base selected Robin Reich as their November Student of the month. Robin is a 24-year-old from the Austrian Alps currently in his CFI rating. When Robin was serving in the Austrian Amry he released after working with the helicopters, he knew this was what he wanted to …

Honolulu Student of the Month: Emil Hedegaard Voigt

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November 2019 Student of the Month Meet Emil Hedegaard Voigt, from Denmark.  For the month of November Emil Hedegaard Voigt, a 22-year-old Denmark native was selected as the Honolulu Base Student of the month. Emil is currently in his CFI stage of training. He knew he wanted to fly for a while, but “when I knew it had to be …

Kona Student of the Month: Eric Månsson

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September 2019 Student of the Month Meet Eric Månsson, age 21, from Sweden.  Eric Månsson was nominated as Kona base Student of the Month for September. Eric is from Sweden, Norrköping, at age 21 he is currently in his Private rating. Eric knew he wanted to become a helicopter pilot from the moment he took his first flight. Eric choose …

Kona Student of the Month: Jon Schjei

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August 2019 Student of the Month Meet Jon Schjei, age 33, from Minnesota.  Student of the Month for Kona for the month of August was awarded to Jon Schjei, a 33-year old Minnesota Native currently working on his Private Rating. Everyone has that moment, that moment you know “I WANT TO BE A HELICOPTER PILOT” and for Jon he shared …

Honolulu Student of the Month: Frank Hinshaw

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August 2019 Student of the Month Meet Frank Hinshaw, from Hawaii.  Honolulu Bases’ August Student of the month was award to 29 year old Hawaii born and raised Frank Thomas Kao Hinshaw.  Frank just completed his PVT add rating, he logged 41.5 hours in the R22 and has only been flying helicopters for the last 100 days. So far, Frank …

Kona Student of the Month: James Hardy

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July 2019 Student of the Month Meet James Hardy, age 27, from Kenya.  James Hardy was voted July Student of the month for Kona base. James is 27 years old from Kenya when asked why did you choose MLH James said “Ben and Natalie were great in giving all the information about the course and guiding me through getting my F1 visa. …

Honolulu Student of the Month: Melissa Diaz Cooper

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June 2019 Student of the Month Meet Melissa Diaz Cooper, from New York.  Melissa Diaz Cooper was awarded the Honolulu student of the month for June. Melissa is from “All over, due to Coast Guard moves. Spent my first 22 years in New York and my summers in Puerto Rico. When asked how she chose MLH, Melissa said: “MLH is …

Kona Student of the Month: Maria Ibragimova

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June 2019 Student of the Month Meet Maria Ibragimova, age 43, from Russia.  Maria chose Mauna Loa Helicopters over other flight schools due to the F1 privilege and an environment where I can fly all through the year regardless of seasons. When asked at what point did Maria know she wanted to fly helicopters, Maria simply replied: “The first time …

Honolulu Student of the Month: Jennifer Martinez

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May 2019 Student of the Month Meet Jennifer Martinez, age 37, from Texas. Working on PPL. Honolulu Base Student of the month award was given to Jennifer “Jen” Martinez, a self-proclaimed “military brat” from all over the US but she’s a 37 year old Texas-born lady. Jenn is currently working toward obtaining her PPL, having only flown the R22 & …

Jack Spellman - Student of the Month

Kona Student of the Month: Jack Spellman

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May 2019 Student of the Month Meet Jack Spellman, age 23, from Cleveland, OH. Working on Instrument and CFII When asked, at what point in your life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters? Jack replied “During my third year of University studying Architecture three years ago, I went on a helicopter tour with my family over Christmas. It …

Honolulu Student of the Month: Marc Spielmann

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April 2019 Student of the Month Meet Marc Spielmann, age 32, from Switzerland. Working on IFR/CFII ratings to finish the Professional Pilot Program. When asked at what point in life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters, Marc replied “I was interested in everything flying from an early age, seeing a lot of rescues and aerial work close to …

Kona Student of the Month: Massimiliano Brighetti

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April 2019 Student of the Month Meet Massimiliano Brighetti, age 20, from Nairobi, Kenya. Working on FAA Private and Commercial At what point did you know you wanted to fly helicopters? As far back as I can remember, my dad has some of “art” projects from when I was 6-8 years old and they are all helicopter related. Why did …

Lora Krystyna Trout - Helicopter Student

Student of the Month: Lora Krystyna Trout

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March 2019 Student of the Month Meet Lora Krystyna Trout, age 28, from Colorado. Working on Commercial/CFI What point in your life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters? Flying helicopters was always the answer when people asked me what I wanted to do, but that thought became more serious as I worked with more and more pilots fighting …

Rene Dupont - Helicopter Student of the Month

Honolulu Base Student of the Month: René Dupont

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April 2019 Student of the Month Meet René, age 25, from Switzerland. CFI currently working on IFR and CFII. What point in your life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters? Since we lived about 20 minutes away from an airport, countless helicopters flew daily over our house and so the helicopters fascinated me already in the young years. I …

February Student of the Month: Andrew Mchowell

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Full Name: Andrew Bryan Mchowell Age: 32 Where are you from? Huntington Beach, Ca What stage of your training are you? Two months into my private pilot. What point in your life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters?  My first time flying doors off for my job as a photographer. From then on, I found every excuse to …

February Student of the Month: Cheyanne Skye Buskirk

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Cheyanne Skye Buskirk was selected as the Kona base February student of the month. Born and raised in Danielsville, Pennsylvania Cheyanne is 22 years old currently working on her IFR and CFII certificates. When Cheyanne was “around 14 years old when my mom and I went for a helicopter ride” she knew helicopters would be her direction in life, Cheyanne …

Student of the Month: Max Shumway

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January 2019 Student of the Month Meet Max Shumway, age 21, from St. George, Utah. Currently in Private Pilot training. After an exciting student gathering at the Honolulu base on January 25th, Max was awarded Student of the Month for January. We caught up with Max and was able to ask him about his time at Mauna Loa Helicopters. At what point in your life did you …

Student of the Month: Stefanie Lanschuetzer

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January 2019 Student of the Month Meet Stefanie Lanschuetzer, age 21, from Austria. Currently in the Private Pilot rating. Stefanie Lanschuetzer was selected for Kona Base Student of the Month for January 2019, when she was handed the awarded she was in shock. Her smile was from ear to ear. Yes Stefanie this award is for you, your hard work and …

Student of the Month: Paul Waltl

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December 2018 Student of the Month Meet Paul Waltl, age 23, from Austria, a small city named Leibnitz. Currently in IFR/CFII training. At what point in your life did you know you wanted to fly helicopters? I got addicted to it the first time I’ve sat in a helicopter in Austria about 3 years ago but I always knew I wanted …