I am 21, live in Auckland, New Zealand and love what I do. I am a fully qualified Helicopter Instructor, in the downtime (around 3 hours a day on average during weekdays and one day during weekends) I spend my time helping businesses all around the world in anything that is design.
People always ask me, why helicopters... why design... why dance... Its simply that I love what I do each day. People think that they are lucky finding one thing that they enjoy in life. I felt that 1 was not enough. I get inspired in my design when I am in the air, and when on the dance floor. Its something that drives me to create something new each day... Its not just about a pay check. Its the thrill of creating art from a blank page.
My career as a designer stated as a freelancer, taking up projects to increase my skill level. I was working almost for free to get ahead in the design industry. I understood that success could only come with hard work and determination. I was hired at Ginkgo and Canterbury Language College in 2006. During that time I have been working closely with Avenues and Metropol Magazines designing advertisements for "Ginkgo Lmtd" and thereafter becoming the senior designer for both the companies.
In 2009 the enjoyment that come with working in the design industry encouraged me to pursue the challenge of not only working with the client to create a website they love, but to market it as well. Being able to measure the effectiveness of my promotional techniques has been very rewarding.
In 2010 I got hired by Successis, a company specializing in business strategies and branding. There I started creating professional custom facebook pages boosting companies website traffic flow by 10% in 4 weeks.
During those years, I made websites and logos and other design work for over 20 Clients. Some of my work can be viewed on my Portfolio.
I grew up in Russia and New Zealand with a strong passion for flying, mainly due to my fathers career as an Airline Pilot. I became attracted to helicopters because of the diversity and complexity of the machine and the skill required to fly. Even though I was strongly pushed towards Engineering and Fixed-wing I was determined to become a helicopter pilot. I worked hard as a graphic and web designer for my own company, until I had saved up enough money to afford to commit fully to my CPL qualification.
I chose to train in Christchutch (New Zealand) with HELiPRO to obtain mountain and sling endorsements as part of my licence. Once I earned my CPL I went back to work in order to save up enough for my instructors rating. I wanted a challenge, I sacrificed money that I had put aside for my PIC training to do a Sikorsky 300cbi rating at HFT Auckland (I have flown C, CB, and CBi models throughout my training there). I will continue my training with HFT until the completion of my instructors rating. Along the way I obtained PIC/solo Autorotation authorisation, did ILS/VOR training and approaches at Whenuipai, obtained a Turbine Rating in a MD500c,d and hope to accomplish my night rating also. Due to my upbringing in Russia I also hope to fly MIL and KAMOV type helicopters.