how long does it take to get a helicopter license and how old do you have to be?
Cody M asked:
where can i get a license and how?
Possibly Related Posts:
- What does it take to get a commercial helicopter license?
- What do you fly when getting a private license?
- What are the qualifications needed for getting a private pilots license?
- When should i start training for my private helicopter license?
- How to get a free private pilot’s license?
In the United States, you can start training at any time, you may solo as a student pilot with an instructor’s endorsement at 16, and you may get your private license at 17.
Requirements (United States):
You will undergo flight and ground training at a local flight school, a flight physical, written tests, and practical tests. A private helicopter license takes 40 hours minimum flight time. If you are planning on completing the private only, you should expect to go beyond the minimum. Perhaps 60-80 hours is average. How many hours it actually takes will depend on how frequently you train. If you can fly at least 2-3 times per week, you will be more likely to finish in less time, and therefore less cost.
You will spend additional time on the ground with your instructor, and studying on your own.
Duration:
How long it will take depends on how frequently you fly, and what your ultimate goals are. Of course it will take longer to get a commercial certificate than a private. I’ve seen some people complete all of their ratings (private, instrument, commercial, CFI, CFII) in as little as 8 months. I have also seen others take several years just to get their private.
How often you fly will depend on three things: your schedule, the flight school’s schedule, and the availability of funds. Any one of those may cause you to get stuck, and to take longer. Do some research, and plan ahead carefully to minimize delays created by any of these.
Costs for Private License:
Flight time is the bulk of the expense. If your average instruction rate is $250/hr., then 40 hours will cost $10,000. If you take 60 hours, that would be $15,000. Your books, supplies, written tests, ground training, etc. will be in addition to that.
To find a helicopter school near you, you can refer to this website:
Vertical Reference is also a great site for the helicopter industry in general, and the forum in particular is a good resource for many of your questions.
On Training Aircraft:
The two main civilian training aircraft are the Robinson 22 and the Schweizer 300. Investigate the differences between the two, as there are pros and cons to each. Some people prefer one or the other. I personally prefer the Schweizer.
Flying Airplanes:
Some people make the argument that you should fly airplanes first to save money. They assume this to be true rather than actually tallying the costs to see if it holds true. They are basing this on the assumption that you will finish your helicopter add-on in the minimum time, which is unlikely. In my opinion, if you really want to fly helicopters, then fly helicopters.
For Further Information:
Aviation is a lot of fun, but you can get burned if just dive in head first. Talk to pilots, research schools, get information from several different sources, figure the costs, and go into it fully prepared and knowledgeable about every possible path towards your goals. Don’t start until you can prove to yourself that the path you have selected is the right one.
Good luck, and have fun! Apollo
I would have to say Apollo gets the best answer award. HANDS DOWN jeremy_mcdonald2003