By: Jay Feldman

When helicopter pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) Tom Schneider was seeking a place to grow his flight career, Rogue Aviation seemed like the perfect fit. Based out of the John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport, Rogue Aviation is a flight training school and tour operator for CFIs and aviators in training who are looking to learn to fly helicopters with the best in the aviation industry. 

Through a rigorous, community-driven approach to flight lessons, Rogue Aviation combines technical expertise with a supportive learning culture, churning out helicopter pilots looking to get their private pilot licenses and CFIs that are ready to handle anything the industry can throw at them. It was exactly the type of environment that Schneider was looking for to further hone his extraordinary abilities as a flight instructor, and he has been able to take his place on their staff as Rogue’s youngest tour pilot. 

Schneider had always wanted to be a pilot. He came from a long line of aviators, including his grandfather, and this generational bond helped push him to find a flight school home that would nurture his burgeoning career as a helicopter pilot.

Today, Schneider works as a top-tier flight instructor and aviator at Rogue. While instructing others on the ever-changing rules of flight safety is at the core of his role here, Schneider also says that another key aspect of his position is to help foster a love for helicopter flight in those he instructs.

Helicopter Flying and Lifelong Learning as a Commercial Pilot

Schneider sees himself as a lifelong learner, even as he instructs others and furthers his own flight career under the guidance of Rogue Aviation’s Chief Pilot James Baker and the other pilots on the Rogue team.

With new technologies and approaches emerging every year in aviation and helicopter pilot training, Schneider strives always to be one step ahead. “Aviators operate under a culture of perfectionism,” he admits. “It keeps our instruction and our flying sharp.”

For Schneider, learning never stops, even after logging hundreds of hours of flight. He hopes to instill that notion in the minds and hearts of the pilots he trains, and to keep his love for lifelong learning sharp as he continues his career as a tour pilot with Rogue.

Advantages of Helicopter Flight Training

Schneider understood that, in the world of helicopter flight schools and touring companies, Rogue Aviation stood out. From the very first lesson through certification, students receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for a long and successful career in the sky. The school’s popular Discovery Flights help demystify the flight process, taking students behind the helicopter controls — often hovering for the first time — and offering more advanced fliers a way to test out advanced tracks such as R66 Turbine Transition Training. 

Whether someone is seeking to get their pilot certificate for fun or for a future career as a private pilot, Rogue can get them started and carry them through to becoming experts in the cockpit. It was a learning approach that Schneider appreciated, and one that he knew he wanted to be a part of. 

“We give students individualized lesson plans, innovative learning modules, and access to the most modern training helicopters,” explains Schneider.

Rogue Aviation’s culture of mentorship is a significant draw, and it’s something that Schneider has experienced working under Chief Pilot Baker. 

“The instructors support one another with teaching techniques, driving home internal safety processes, and fostering community,” Schneider shares. Students preparing to become CFIs themselves benefit from this highly supportive environment, gathering career direction from peer feedback and guidance on navigating the competitive aviation environment.

Landing on Leadership, Safety, and Vision

As a representative of the FAA Safety Team, Schneider considers his role as a leader in flight safety to be of the utmost importance. He has contributed many hours to helping shape safety procedures, regulations, and reform in the aviation community.

“It reflects a broad commitment to the aviation community, for me,” Schneider explains. The FAASTeam uses classes, resources, workshops, and digital tools to promote flight safety for those in the air and to address important subjects affecting the pilot community, such as mental health and the importance of continuous training.

Schneider brings a safety-first mindset with him each and every time he sits down behind the controls of a helicopter. He knows that to hone the essential skills that make him a safe and expert aviator, he must prioritize safe flight, continuous training, and a holistic approach to not only continue to shape his own skills but also help others learn to fly.

The Youngest Rogue Aviation Pilot

There are approximately 153 helicopter-specific flight schools in the United States, each offering its own unique approach to flight instruction in the aviation industry. Schneider chose to work with Rogue Aviation for several reasons, but it was their alignment with his own philosophies on teaching and learning that truly sealed the deal for him.

Schneider is proud to be the youngest pilot on the Rogue roster and one who has been able to bring a wealth of expertise and international flight time experience to his role. As he continues to build his career as both a tour pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor, Schneider has learned to lean on his belief in lifelong learning, the mentorship of the Rogue Aviation leaders, and his commitment to safe helicopter flight.