Meet the Staff
Neal Lanning
Owner
Neal@advancedhelicopter.com
Neal has been flying for over 30 years; he first obtained his license back in 1978. Over his long aviation career he has obtained more than 9200 hours of flight experience, with over 2000 of that in helicopters alone. He’s type rated on the Falcon 20, Citation Jets 1 thru 7, Cessna Conquest, King Air 90/200. His helicopter experience ranges from R-22, R-44, Bell 206, AS-365, S-76, and Bell 430.
Owner
Neal@advancedhelicopter.com
Neal has been flying for over 30 years; he first obtained his license back in 1978. Over his long aviation career he has obtained more than 9200 hours of flight experience, with over 2000 of that in helicopters alone. He’s type rated on the Falcon 20, Citation Jets 1 thru 7, Cessna Conquest, King Air 90/200. His helicopter experience ranges from R-22, R-44, Bell 206, AS-365, S-76, and Bell 430.
Aaron Hillier
Flight Instructor
Aaron@advancedhelicopter.com
Aaron began flying in 2007 at Bankstown Helicopters in Sydney, Australia, and received his Australian commercial license in 2009. He worked for six years as a mechanic on C-130 Hercules aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force. While deployed to the Middle East in 2006, he met his wife, who was serving in the United States Air Force. After finishing his enlistment in August of 2010, Aaron and his wife moved to Gaithersburg, MD, and he is currently working on completing his instructor ratings. Aaron grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and he enjoys surfing, waterskiing, basketball, and playing with his dog Moose.
Flight Instructor
Aaron@advancedhelicopter.com
Aaron began flying in 2007 at Bankstown Helicopters in Sydney, Australia, and received his Australian commercial license in 2009. He worked for six years as a mechanic on C-130 Hercules aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force. While deployed to the Middle East in 2006, he met his wife, who was serving in the United States Air Force. After finishing his enlistment in August of 2010, Aaron and his wife moved to Gaithersburg, MD, and he is currently working on completing his instructor ratings. Aaron grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and he enjoys surfing, waterskiing, basketball, and playing with his dog Moose.
Evan Horst
Flight Instructor
evan@advancedhelicopter.com
Evan has been flying with Advanced Helicopter for 2 years. He first became interested in helicopters during college in Colorado where he was active in search and rescue. Helicopters were regularly used to drop his team off in remote locations, and he developed an appreciation for their versatility. After college Evan worked for several years as an international mountain guide and rock climbing instructor. A few years ago Evan decided to start flight school and began his training at Advanced Helicopter. As an instructor with Advanced, he continues to apply his teaching skills that he learned in the mountains, in the world of helicopters. Evan is a CFII and is working towards his A&P license building experience working in the service center here at Advanced.
Flight Instructor
evan@advancedhelicopter.com
Evan has been flying with Advanced Helicopter for 2 years. He first became interested in helicopters during college in Colorado where he was active in search and rescue. Helicopters were regularly used to drop his team off in remote locations, and he developed an appreciation for their versatility. After college Evan worked for several years as an international mountain guide and rock climbing instructor. A few years ago Evan decided to start flight school and began his training at Advanced Helicopter. As an instructor with Advanced, he continues to apply his teaching skills that he learned in the mountains, in the world of helicopters. Evan is a CFII and is working towards his A&P license building experience working in the service center here at Advanced.
Robert Bartoli
Mechanic
Robbiehelidoc@aol.com
Robert (Bart) has been a Mechanic since 1989; he trained for his A&P at Frederick Community College. He then worked at US air express for a year before moving on to Frederick Aviation. He attended the Robinson maintenance school in 1992, and went back again for the R44 training in 2000. He worked at Frederick Aviation for 12 years then moved full time to Advanced Helicopter Concepts in March of 2002. He received his Inspection Authorization (IA) in 2003 from Bakers School of Aeronautics. He enjoys driving his wife and two kids around in his fully restored 1967 Chevrolet Corvette.
Mechanic
Robbiehelidoc@aol.com
Robert (Bart) has been a Mechanic since 1989; he trained for his A&P at Frederick Community College. He then worked at US air express for a year before moving on to Frederick Aviation. He attended the Robinson maintenance school in 1992, and went back again for the R44 training in 2000. He worked at Frederick Aviation for 12 years then moved full time to Advanced Helicopter Concepts in March of 2002. He received his Inspection Authorization (IA) in 2003 from Bakers School of Aeronautics. He enjoys driving his wife and two kids around in his fully restored 1967 Chevrolet Corvette.
Gary Smith
Chief Flight Instructor Airplanes
GSmith@advancedhelicopter.com
Gary stated flying in 1994, on his days off from being a career firefighter for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. In 2000 he got his Certified Flight Instructor and shortly after that got both is Instrument and Multi Engine instructors. Gary came to work part time for Advanced Helicopters in June of 2000. Since his retirement from the fire department he is full time, and now the chief pilot for the fixed wing division of AHC. With just over 4500 flight hours in the summer of 2009 he got is helicopter rating and is currently working on his instructor rating for helicopters. He grew up in the Boston area and then moved down to Maryland. Graduating from Everglades University with a BS in Aviation Technology, he hopes to help others progress in their aviation careers. On his days off he enjoys a good cigar with the "regulars" at Davidus Cigars.
Chief Flight Instructor Airplanes
GSmith@advancedhelicopter.com
Gary stated flying in 1994, on his days off from being a career firefighter for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. In 2000 he got his Certified Flight Instructor and shortly after that got both is Instrument and Multi Engine instructors. Gary came to work part time for Advanced Helicopters in June of 2000. Since his retirement from the fire department he is full time, and now the chief pilot for the fixed wing division of AHC. With just over 4500 flight hours in the summer of 2009 he got is helicopter rating and is currently working on his instructor rating for helicopters. He grew up in the Boston area and then moved down to Maryland. Graduating from Everglades University with a BS in Aviation Technology, he hopes to help others progress in their aviation careers. On his days off he enjoys a good cigar with the "regulars" at Davidus Cigars.
