How To Become A Helicopter Pilot
by Robyn Tellefsen
Are you ready to discover a career that doesn't just fly, it soars? Learn more about helicopter flight careers - they can take you higher.
How do I become a helicopter pilot?
You must be at least 16 years old to fly a helicopter solo, 17 to get a private pilot's license, and 18 to get a commercial pilot's or flight instructor's license. Once you earn your private pilot's license, you can continue on to earn your commercial pilot's license. Professional helicopter pilots must hold a commercial pilot's license with a helicopter rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In order to earn a private pilot's license, the FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of total flight time in the aircraft, including at least 30 hours of dual instruction with a Certified Flight Instructor and 10 hours of solo flight. If you enroll in helicopter flight school full time, it could only take a few weeks to complete a flight training program. Even if you are only able to commit to part-time study, you should still try to fly at least twice a week in order to make progress.
Once you've earned your private pilot's license, you'll need additional helicopter flight training to earn your commercial pilot's license. The FAA requires a minimum of 150 hours of flight time with a minimum of 100 hours of Pilot in Command flight time. You'll also need to pass four FAA written knowledge tests prior to taking each of the required FAA practical flight tests.
You may also choose to pursue flight instructor's ratings while you're training for the commercial pilot's license, since the majority of your commercial helicopter flight training hours count toward flight instructor's ratings. You'll just need to pass two additional written tests and a practical flight test to become a Certified Flight Instructor.
What will I learn in helicopter flight school?
As you work through your training program at helicopter flight school, you will master the material you'll need to know for the FAA written test. This knowledge test complements your practical helicopter flight training, because the more you understand about the helicopter, the faster you will master flying the aircraft.
When pursuing your private pilot's license, you will need to put in a minimum of 40 hours of helicopter flight. Your flying hours will include at least three hours of dual cross-country helicopter flight training; three hours of dual instruction at night; one 75 nautical-mile cross-country solo flight with one 25 nautical-mile leg; three hours of cross-country solo flight; and three solo take-offs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower.
When pursuing your commercial pilot's license, your 150-hour minimum flying time will include 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft; 10 hours of cross-country helicopter experience; three hours of night dual instruction; two-hour dual instruction flights with a 50 nautical-mile leg during the day and at night; five hours of night solo flight experience with a minimum of 10 take-offs and landings; and one cross-country solo flight with three landings and one 50 nautical-mile leg.
Many helicopter flight schools offer helicopter instrument flight training because more and more professional helicopter pilot jobs require a helicopter instrument rating. However, a pilot is not required to hold a helicopter instrument rating to become a Certified Flight Instructor.
How do I become a helicopter pilot?
You must be at least 16 years old to fly a helicopter solo, 17 to get a private pilot's license, and 18 to get a commercial pilot's or flight instructor's license. Once you earn your private pilot's license, you can continue on to earn your commercial pilot's license. Professional helicopter pilots must hold a commercial pilot's license with a helicopter rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In order to earn a private pilot's license, the FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of total flight time in the aircraft, including at least 30 hours of dual instruction with a Certified Flight Instructor and 10 hours of solo flight. If you enroll in helicopter flight school full time, it could only take a few weeks to complete a flight training program. Even if you are only able to commit to part-time study, you should still try to fly at least twice a week in order to make progress.
Once you've earned your private pilot's license, you'll need additional helicopter flight training to earn your commercial pilot's license. The FAA requires a minimum of 150 hours of flight time with a minimum of 100 hours of Pilot in Command flight time. You'll also need to pass four FAA written knowledge tests prior to taking each of the required FAA practical flight tests.
You may also choose to pursue flight instructor's ratings while you're training for the commercial pilot's license, since the majority of your commercial helicopter flight training hours count toward flight instructor's ratings. You'll just need to pass two additional written tests and a practical flight test to become a Certified Flight Instructor.
What will I learn in helicopter flight school?
As you work through your training program at helicopter flight school, you will master the material you'll need to know for the FAA written test. This knowledge test complements your practical helicopter flight training, because the more you understand about the helicopter, the faster you will master flying the aircraft.
When pursuing your private pilot's license, you will need to put in a minimum of 40 hours of helicopter flight. Your flying hours will include at least three hours of dual cross-country helicopter flight training; three hours of dual instruction at night; one 75 nautical-mile cross-country solo flight with one 25 nautical-mile leg; three hours of cross-country solo flight; and three solo take-offs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower.
When pursuing your commercial pilot's license, your 150-hour minimum flying time will include 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft; 10 hours of cross-country helicopter experience; three hours of night dual instruction; two-hour dual instruction flights with a 50 nautical-mile leg during the day and at night; five hours of night solo flight experience with a minimum of 10 take-offs and landings; and one cross-country solo flight with three landings and one 50 nautical-mile leg.
Many helicopter flight schools offer helicopter instrument flight training because more and more professional helicopter pilot jobs require a helicopter instrument rating. However, a pilot is not required to hold a helicopter instrument rating to become a Certified Flight Instructor.
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