Helicopter training set at Carson City Airport

A Florida-based aviation training company hopes to expand a temporary program at Carson City Airport into a permanent operation.

Bristow Academy will teach military pilots to fly Bell 206 helicopters in high altitudes and mountain environments. The company headquartered at Titusville, Fla., will employ three people in the program.

Samantha Willenbacher of Bristow Academy said the company hopes to expand

the helicopter training program to include other aircraft and wants to create an ongoing training program headquartered at Carson City.

She said the initial training, which will be conducted in English and Spanish, will teach techniques used by civilian and well as U.S. Army pilots who fly in mountainous conditions.