Becoming a helicopter pilot takes time, money, skill and dedication. Being a helicopter pilot is one of the most fun and exciting career out there. 

The salary levels vary greatly for each industry.  Typically a commercial helicopter pilot’s salary ranges from $20,000 to $100,000 per year, depending on your total helicopter flying hours and your experience.  Commercial Helicopter Pilots can easily make over $100,000 a year with the right employer.  If you’re really interested in becoming a helicopter pilot please read on.

1. First of all, if you haven’t flow in a helicopter before, you really need to try it.  Flying a helicopter is a lot different than flying an airplane.  Most helicopter schools offer discovery helicopter flight (also called trial helicopter lessons or introductory flights).   A typical helicopter discovery flight will cost you anywhere from $99 and up, depending on your location and type of helicopter you will be flying, and will last about half an hour or more.  The time that you fly will also count toward your helicopter private pilot’s license.

2. You need to research a few helicopter flight schools to find the right one for you.  Go to ourhelicopter school states page and choose your state.  Research all the flight schools in your area.  Here are a few things to look at.

• The cost of helicopter training and financial aid options.
• What types of helicopters are used for training?
• What kind of availability do the instructors and helicopters have?
• Instructor credentials-How many hours do the helicopter instructors have?
• How long has the helicopter school been in operation?
• What are the Insurance requirements?
• Do I need my own Insurance?
• What is the insurance deductable?
• How many hours does the typical student take to complete the Helicopter Private Pilots License?

3. Make sure you have all the requirements to start your helicopter training. Check out #4 for details.

4. You can start your helicopter training at any age.  You have to be at least 16 years old to solo the helicopter and 17 years old to get your helicopter private pilot’s license.

Eligibility requirements for your Student Pilot’s Certificate: (just so you know, you do not need a student pilot’s certificate to start your helicopter flying lessons, you only need it once you’re ready to solo the helicopter):

• You must be at least 16 years old.
• You must be able to read, speak and understand English
• You must hold at least a current third-class medical certificate.

You will also need a FAA medical certificate before you solo.  You will get this medical certificate from a designated FAA Medical Examiner, not your family doctor.  There are three classes of medical certificates:

• First Class Medical: Required for airline transport pilots; good for six months
• Second Class Medical: Required for commercial pilots; good for 12 months
• Third class medical: Required for private and student pilots; a second class medical certificate becomes a third class medical certificate after 12 months.

 

5. Work toward your first license the Private Pilot Helicopter License.   With the private pilot helicopter license you will be able to fly a helicopter any time you want, go anywhere you want and fly with anyone you want.  You just can’t get compensated for it.  The minimum amount of hours required by the FAA to get your Private Pilot Helicopter License is 40 hours of helicopter flight time.  The national average is about 65 to 75 hours of helicopter flight time.   Here are a few other requirements for your helicopter private pilot’s license:

FAA Part 61 Helicopter Private Pilot Certification Requirements

For a Helicopter Rating:

• Dual: 20 hours of helicopter flight training with an instructor on the Private Pilot areas of operation that includes:
• 3  hours of cross-country flight training in a helicopter
• 3  hours of night flight training in a helicopter, that includes at least
• 1 cross-country flight of over 50 nautical miles total distance; and
• 10 takeoffs and 10 landings with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern.
• 3 hours of flight training in a helicopter within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
• Solo: 10 hours of solo flying in a helicopter on the Private Pilot areas of operation, that includes:
• 3  hours of solo cross-country flying;
• 1  solo cross-country flight of at least 75 nautical miles total  distance with 3 points and one segment of at least 25 nautical miles between takeoff and landing; and
• 3  takeoffs and landings at a controlled airport

 The private pilot helicopter test consists of a written test (taken on a computer), oral test (one on one with a FAA Designated Examiner) and finally your flight test (also with a FAA Designated Examiner).  Once you pass all three tests in that order, you will be a new licensed helicopter private pilot.   If you want to get paid for flying a helicopter you will have to go on to the sixth step.

6. After you have passed your helicopter private pilots test you will have to build your helicopter flight hours to become a Commercial helicopter pilot. You will need to build about 150 total hours of helicopter flight time to be eligible to take your Commercial Rotorcraft License test.  If you plan on working as a helicopter pilot, you will need the commercial helicopter license; you cannot fly for hire without it.

FAA Part 61 Commercial Helicopter Pilot Requirements

For a Helicopter Rating:
Total Helicopter Flight Time: 150 hours of flight time as a helicopter pilot that consists of at least:

• 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters.
• 100 hours of pilot in command flight time, that includes at least:
• 35 hours in helicopters; and
• 10 hours in cross-country flying in helicopters
• Dual: 20 hours of flight training on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation that includes at least-
• 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft;
• 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the departure point;
• 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the departure point;
• 3 hours of flight training in a helicopter within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
•  Solo: 10 hours of solo flying in a helicopter on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation, that includes at least
• One cross-country flight with 3 points of landings of a straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from original departure point; and
• 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a controlled airport.

7. Now you will have to build more helicopter flight time.  Most pilots decide to get their flight instructors certificate so that they can teach other students how to fly, build their hours and get paid for it.

Click here to start your search for a helicopter school today!