BY DANIEL LOCKE
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN —
Are you a fan of helicopters? Have you ever wanted to learn how to fly a helicopter? How about seeing the Loveliest Village on The Plains from a whole new perspective? Well, now you can. South Atlanta Helicopters at Auburn is now operating out of the Auburn Regional Airport.
Mark Estrada is the man behind the operation. As an Auburn local, Estrada said he is excited about the opportunity to combine his passion for flying helicopters with his love of the city. Estrada was doing lab work for Auburn University when he and his family went on vacation to the Pacific Northwest and took a helicopter tour. Estrada booked an introductory flight less than a week later.
“I was like, I could see myself doing this every day as a job because I just really enjoyed it, and so that’s kind of where my passion for helicopters started,” Estrada said.
South Atlanta Helicopters liked the idea of branching out to Auburn because of the combination of students looking for experiences and the high amount of tourism to the city. Estrada explained that the company provides an option for those who do not learn best in a traditional classroom setting.
“We figured just one other option would be great,” Estrada said. “There are people seeking careers, so our goal is to be able to provide helicopter training for people that maybe don’t want a bachelor’s degree, or they’re looking for something a little more hands-on and they don’t want to go to college, or maybe the trade schools at Southern Union aren’t right for them. And so that’s kind of where our goal came from.”
The company’s original purpose was to train law enforcement departments and other government agencies. The founders, both having military experience, realized just how big of a market there was for other civilians who wanted flight training. From there, the company expanded its offerings to include tours, movie shoots, gender reveals and golf ball drops, which Estrada explained is one of his favorite things to do.
“Golf courses will hire us for a fundraiser, and they’ll charge people $5 or so to drop a golf ball,” Estrada said. “After a bunch of people buy in, whoever gets the golf ball that’s closest to the hole wins a small jackpot and the rest of the money goes toward whatever they’re fundraising for.”
South Atlanta Helicopters currently has two helicopters in its fleet: a Robinson R22 and a Robinson R44. The R22 is typically used for training because it is only a two-seater, which is less expensive to operate and makes training more affordable. The R44 is more powerful and can fit three people aside from the pilot. The R44 is also more commonly used for things such as gender reveals and golf ball drops because of its larger capacity and higher performance capabilities.
South Atlanta Helicopters will provide yet another educational opportunity in Auburn, as well as a new way to explore an area loved by so many.