Helicopter pilot training is one of the most difficult journeys a person can embark on. The process of becoming a helicopter pilot is demanding on your time, mental, and physical energy. But we can assure you that it is very rewarding.
As tasking as the process is, it is not impossible to achieve seeing as choppers pass over our heads daily. The responsibility of transporting passengers and packages 10,000 feet in the air can put pressure on a person.
If you really want to become a chopper pilot, here is everything you need to know about helicopter pilot training, what is required, and the benefits you get to enjoy. Let’s get into it.
What are the Criteria for Beginning Helicopter Pilot Training?
Get Ready to Fly High! Here are the Requirements to Start Your Helicopter Pilot Training:
- Private Helicopter Pilot License:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- Valid documents to prove your identity
- Third-class Medical Certificate
- Commercial Helicopter Pilot License:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Fluency in spoken and written English
- Valid documents to prove your identity
- Second-class Medical Certificate
- Private Helicopter Pilot License
What Helicopter Pilot Training Involves
- Right Education
All trainees are required to go through two different types of education. The ground lab, which is the classroom teaching, and the flight lab, which involves a certain amount of flight time.
For classroom teaching the trainee is to be well-versed in mathematics, especially trigonometry, and geometry. Knowledge of science and English is also required.
For the flight lab, a trainee first works with a simulator, then they are paired with an instructor on a real chopper, and finally, they start flying solo.
- Medical Check-Ups
The job of a pilot is too important to breeze over certain illnesses. A visually or auditory impaired pilot can not be safe for anyone involved.
To be qualified to control a chopper, you must be free from certain ailments. These include;
- Frequent fainting
- Mental Disorders
- Deafness or Partial deafness
- Eye problems
- Heart diseases, etc.
- Obtaining Your License
Requirements for a Private License include;
- 10 hours of flight alone
- 3 hours of cross-country flight with an instructor
- 3 hours of night-time flight with an instructor
- 3 solo take-offs and landings
- 3 hours of cross-country flight alone
Requirements for Commercial License include;
In order to obtain a commercial pilot’s license, aspiring aviators must meet a number of rigorous requirements. These include:
- Passing the FAA’s written, oral, and practical tests
- Completing 20 hours of flight instruction with an instructor
- Making a solo cross-country flight
- Completing 10 hours of equipment training
- Logging 10 hours of solo flight training
- Accruing 100 hours of pilot-in-command experience
Job Opportunities for Chopper Pilots
- Military Pilots
You can get training and eventually work for the military and embark on rescue missions. You will also be needed sometimes in combat.
- Emergency Services Pilots
You can get civilian jobs and be involved in medical emergency services, agricultural services, and fire services.
- Private Pilots
You could also be a pilot for rich executives or movie stars.
Cost Of Helicopter Pilot Training
A single 60-minute flight costs AUD 400. A single 45-minute flight costs AUD 300. A single 30-minute flight costs AUD 250. Special flights over certain scenic areas like Sydney Harbour cost around AUD 500.
Salary
A typical helicopter pilot training instructor earns around $30,000 per annum. Tour pilots are paid around $50,000 per annum.
Emergency services are one of the most lucrative parts of flying a chopper. Depending on the kind of emergency, a chopper pilot can earn anywhere between $50,000 to $90,000 per annum. A firefighting pilot can earn up to $75,000 per annum.
Pilots for business executives and private individuals can earn as much as $100,000+.
Conclusion
As daunting as becoming a chopper pilot is, you can’t say that there are no benefits. Besides the attractive salary and view from the sky, it is a very prestigious occupation.
We hope you found this article useful in your quest to become a pilot. If you decide to become one, good luck with your helicopter pilot training.