Accelerated Helicopter Pilot Training
An accelerated helicopter pilot training program is a program directed at a transition into helicopters from a current fixed wing pilot's standpoint. Those that are interested in such a program have a desire to learn to fly helicopters from scratch for a future purchase to satisfy upcoming business needs or have a desired career choice.
Other People Are Reading
-
Current Pilot Transition
-
From a pilot's standpoint, transitioning into a helicopter to expand your range of abilities with private practices in mind, it would take 35 to 50 hours in a reciprocating engine or turbine helicopter. This all depends on your personal manual dexterity rather than IQ. This by no means makes you commercially viable because 300 hours in type is needed in any category to make you commercially insurable.
Business Logistics Expansion
-
Someone with the foresight to anticipate a need for a helicopter to expand business operations needs to anticipate a nine month or longer daily training syllabus to complete training. The training results in a private pilot's license with an instrument rating in either a reciprocating engine rotorcraft or advanced turbine.
-
Cost
-
According to Mike Stettner, chief turbine helicopter instructor at Bristow Aviation in Titusville, Florida, the cost for the basic reciprocating course as of May 2010 carries a tag of $50,000 to $60,000. As of 2010, the price tag has remained fairly constant over the past five years. Turbine time is in a Bell Jet Ranger 206B at the rate of $850 plus an hour, of which 35 hours are necessary, just for the transition. A total of 300 hours are needed in the turbine in order to acquire insurance. This is why the vast majority of all commercial helicopter pilots are military trained.
Career Oriented
-
For the career oriented, it is important to know just a few essentials. All career jobs are in turbine helicopters. The most common are the Jet Ranger and from there are the more advances versions. The Jet Ranger is the most economical and least expensive, so there are many in service, as of 2010. It has weight and speed limitations that make larger, faster helicopters more appealing to larger corporations. Helicopters are extremely expensive in comparison to fixed wing aircraft, making them non-viable for many smaller corporations. Many companies and corporations would like, but can't afford helicopters. This makes the market for helicopter pilots smaller than standard fixed wing positions. It requires nine months or longer to acquire your commercial license and a cost that will choke all but the most influent.
Summary
-
Helicopters are far more expensive from both training and operating standpoint than a fixed wing aircraft. If used for business purposes, the increase in profits must justify the cost in time and money. The career oriented must realize that anything less than 300 hours in a turbine helicopter would be unacceptable for most enterprises.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit helicopter image by Jim Dubois from Fotolia.com
