How long helicopter pilot license

The process of picking the right flight school is the most important decision you will make regarding your flight training. Midwest's instructors are extremely knowledgeable and professional, and really care about your progress toward your certificate. Whether it is for a career or personal enjoyment, Midwest can help make your dreams of helicopter flying a reality. I would recommend them to anyone. Midwest offers pilot training in a beautiful Robinson R44 Raven I helicopter.

Recently overhauled and equipped with state-of-the-art avionics. Chief Pilot Charlie Duchek is the area's most experienced flight instructor in various makes and models of piston-powered helicopters. Our training rates in the R44 are competitive with what other flight schools charge for training in a two-seat R22 helicopter. SFAR No. Questions about SFAR 73? Contact Charlie Duchek at or email charlie rhctraining.

RHC Training. Frequently Asked Questions Answers to common questions about helicopter pilot training. General Questions. Do I have to be an airplane pilot before I can learn to fly helicopters? How many hours of flight training does it take to get my helicopter license? How long a period of time will it take to earn my helicopter license?

Is a helicopter easier to learn to fly than an airplane? After I earn my helicopter license, what kinds of helicopters can I fly? Can we train in the winter, too? I've heard I have to take a flight physical. And what does that involve? Do I have to take a written FAA pilot test at some time? Is flying helicopters dangerous? If the engine quits, does the helicopter fall from the sky like a rock? Can I land the helicopter anywhere I want to? What kind of flying missions do helicopter pilots perform?

What does it take to become a professional helicopter pilot? Are there any minimum formal educational requirements to become a helicopter pilot?

Does Midwest accept students from foreign countries? Sorry, but we are NOT able to accept foreign students at this time. Does Midwest offer helicopter instrument flight training? Can my personal physician administer the FAA Medical exam?

What are the eyesight and color vision requirements for becoming a helicopter pilot? Are there minimum or maximum height or weight requirements to become a pilot? Are there minimum or maximum age requirements for obtaining a pilot's license? What kinds of medical problems might prevent me from obtaining the required medical certificate? Interested in becoming a professional helicopter pilot?

Schedule a Training Flight. Contact Us Today! Contact Midwest Aeronautical. Testimonials Charlie Duchek and his staff are the best possible choice I could have made for helicopter flight training. Chuck Talent - Past Helicopter Student The process of picking the right flight school is the most important decision you will make regarding your flight training. Chad Boyd - Past Helicopter Student. Read more testimonials. Learn More. Louis Chief Pilot Charlie Duchek is the area's most experienced flight instructor in various makes and models of piston-powered helicopters.

Learn more. Competitive Training Rates Our training rates in the R44 are competitive with what other flight schools charge for training in a two-seat R22 helicopter. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great.

By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Turn You need to be at least 16 years old to obtain a private helicopter license. You need a private helicopter license before you can get a commercial helicopter license.

Once you have your private helicopter license, you'll need to be at least 17 to obtain your commercial helicopter license. Visit the doctor. All pilots have to pass a medical exam provided by an FAA approved physician.

You can be disqualified if you have any health problems that might imply the risk of lapses in consciousness. These could include heart problems, psychological disorders, or a history of drug abuse.

Your hearing and vision will also be checked, as well as your ability to perceive color. Students with poor color vision may be prevented from becoming pilots. Pilots need to distinguish colors in order to understand light-signals when operating a helicopter. If you think you may have poor color vision, ask your optometrist to administer a test before you begin pursuing a career as a pilot. If you are worried about being disqualified for any of these conditions, talk to an FAA approved medical examiner about your concerns.

Study up. You do not need to graduate from college to fly a helicopter, but having a degree can make it a lot easier to find a job. Most employers require you to have at least an associate's degree, and prefer a bachelor's. If you know you want to fly helicopters for a living, consider going to college for math, physics, or aeronautical engineering.

Helicopter pilots need to know algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. There will be math questions on the test, and you will need especially good math skills to fly commercially. You can take math classes at your flight school or aeronautical college. You can also study with books and study guides: look for guides written specifically for pilots. Save or take out a loan. Getting civilian training is expensive. Flight schools will require you to provide some proof of funds before you are admitted.

The tests themselves must be taken through an FAA approved testing company. If you choose to take out a loan, you might want to look into a Career Training Loan. If you are already a pilot with a fixed wing license, you can apply for a rotorcraft add-on license, and you will not be required to fly as many hours to qualify for it. There are few scholarships available for students of rotorcraft. There is a non-profit called Whirly-Girls that provides women who have already gotten their private pilot certification with scholarships to help them achieve a commercial private pilot certification.

Pick the flight school that's right for you. You can find flight schools listed at the FAA website. Before you choose, ask yourself where you want to be employed as a helicopter pilot in the future. If you want to fly in a mountainous area, you will get more practice if you go to a flight school in a mountainous area. Opt for schools that can boast of a high graduation rate and good job placement for graduates. To be admitted, you will need to have passed your medical examination.

You will also need proof of funds and a high school degree or equivalent. Consider attending a college or a university that offers an aviation program. That way, you can get your associate's or bachelor's degree at the same time that you obtain your helicopter licenses.

Part 2. Get your flight experience. In flight school, you will learn all the controls and maneuvers used to fly and land a helicopter. You will use simulators at first, then fly helicopters with an instructor. Before qualifying for your private license, you will do at least three hours of dual cross-country flying, three hours of dual nighttime flying, and three hours of solo cross-country flying.

You will perform one nautical mile cross-country flight, and perform three solo takeoffs and landings. If you are interested in individual ratings instead, we customize our helicopter flight training to meet your needs. Private Pilot Certificate As the foundation of your flight training, this certification allows you to fly helicopters for recreation and is required to begin your Commercial Pilot Certificate training.

Commercial Pilot Certificate This certification is a requirement you need to fly people or property for compensation or hire. Airline Transport Pilot ATP This certification is the highest license a pilot can obtain and is the qualification that allows the holder to act as Pilot in Command.

If you want to become a professional pilot, commander of a multi-crew aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 12, pounds, this is a requirement. This course will teach you how to guide the helicopter effectively for a safe landing. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate and full down autorotation endorsement for CFI Practical Test if applicable. Prerequisite: FAA Commercial Pilot Helicopter License Aircraft Transition This course is designed to transition pilots into new airframes in order to increase experience and marketability.

Ground school covers basic aircraft compositions, systems, limitations and performance. Flight training teaches flight characteristics and emergency procedures.

Prerequisite: FAA Private Pilot Helicopter License Aircraft Refresher Designed for pilots whom currently or have previously flown various types of aircraft and need to review flight characteristics and emergency procedures. Ground school reviews aircraft systems, limitations and performance.

Prerequisite: FAA Private Pilot Helicopter License Mountain Flying This course trains pilots to safely navigate and operate in the mountainous terrain, offering pilots the opportunity to dynamically use the techniques learned in ground training in a practical situation.

Ground training covers the unique weather and wind dynamics that occur in mountainous terrain and gives pilots skills and techniques to make flying safer. This course teaches pilots the conditions where flight in IMC might be encountered. You will review several accidents that occurred when pilots have encountered IMC conditions without having the proper training to transition to flight reference instruments. Simulator training gives pilots the skills to maintain control of the aircraft and return to VFR conditions.

See current pricing Ground School. Flight Simulator. About Part 61 training Flexible training for those with other life commitments. What is Part 61 Training? Part 61 helicopter flight training provides flight instructors with more flexibility to adjust your training program as necessary for you. This approach is generally more realistic for people with jobs, families and other time commitments. Please refer to this page on Salary.

Helicopters are extremely versatile and are used as a tool in various industries, including: Firefighting, Electronic news gathering ENG , Aerial land surveys, Executive transport, Emergency medical services EMS , Powerline and pipeline patrols, Wildlife protection services, Aerial crane services, Sight seeing tours, Aerial filming, Aerial photography, and more.

Pilots tend to fly for multiple types of work throughout their extensive careers. Corporate Helicopters is very well connected within the helicopter industry.

We have aided in the acquisition of jobs for many helicopter pilots, both students and staff. We pride ourselves on the level of training provided to all of our students, and encourage them to pursue their passion for aviation. We offer an introductory helicopter flight lesson. This is the perfect opportunity to gain actual flight time and see whether or not you would like to pursue a future in aviation. This package includes 15 minutes of ground instruction and 45 minutes of flight time over the beautiful San Diego coastline!

On average, if you are flying part time, hours a week, it will take months to complete your Private Pilot training. The duration of your training will depend on how frequently you are able to fly and how much time you dedicate towards your studies. The FAA minimum requirement is 40 hours of flight training and 40 hours of ground school to qualify for your Private Pilot check ride, however these minimums are rarely met. You will need to keep training until you are proficient enough to pass your check ride.

According to the national average, most students take hours of flight time, and our students typically fall in that range as well. Only the Flight Instructor Certificate must be renewed every 24 calendar months. The cost for this can vary, but for the Certificate it would consist of a minimum of an hour of ground and an hour of flight in a helicopter. The instrument rating currency is every 6 months, but this can be done in the simulator to save costs.

We suggest an introductory flight to anyone considering becoming a pilot, it is a great way to experience the thrill of flight and determine if you would like to pursue a career in aviation. This is the academic aspect of your flight training. We have professional instructors that provide one-on-one training to teach you to be safe and well prepared for the rating you are seeking.

Some of your ground school will take place before and after each flight, this instruction includes:. For your remaining ground school, we have a fully equipped classroom for your individual instruction and on occasion, group lectures.