How to Become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot
A commercial helicopter pilot can pursue any number of jobs, from working for private airlines to flying for Medevac or even a television station. In order to become a commercial helicopter pilot, you must satisfy all of the necessary legal criteria, plus whatever your employer might require. For example, you don't have to be a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), but it is swiftly becoming an essential for flying careers. Read on to learn how to become commercial helicopter pilot.
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Things You'll Need
- FAA medical evaluation
- Student, private and commercial licenses
- 1,000-plus hours of flight experience
Instructions
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Obtain a complete family medical history. Although this isn't always necessary, some employers will require that a commercial helicopter pilot not have certain predispositions toward life-threatening conditions. If your family has a history of heart disease, for example, you might have trouble finding work.
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Pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical exam. You will have to complete a physical in which your overall health will be scrutinized, as well as hearing and vision tests. Contrary to popular myth, your eyesight does not have to be perfect in order to pursue a career in aviation, but any defects must be correctable with lenses.
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Determine whether or not you will need financial assistance to become a commercial helicopter pilot. To advance through student, private and commercial flight training, it can cost upwards of $50,000. For this reason, many aspiring pilots need to obtain financial aid in order to complete their training.
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Locate a flight school in your area. It should be an accredited institution that teaches all levels of flight training, from student to CFI. This way, you won't have to switch schools to continue your education, thereby jeopardizing any financial assistance you might have obtained. Consider choosing a school that operates under both 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 141 regulations.
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Pass the federally-mandated license exams for student, private and commercial helicopter pilot certification. Not only will you need to have completed the requisite training in order to do this, but you will also need a specific number of flying hours in order to take your exams. The precise requirements vary depending on where you live.
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Understand that some people can become a commercial helicopter pilot in as few as six months, while others might take several years to complete the required training. Don't push yourself beyond your limits, but know that the more classes you take each week, the faster you will be able to obtain your license.
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Realize that most employers require a commercial helicopter pilot to have at least 1,000 hours of flight time before being hired. Others have increased that minimum to 2,500 hours and sometimes even 5,000 hours, depending on the type of work and the employer's needs.
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Tips & Warnings
You might be able to make more money as a commercial helicopter pilot if you have a college degree. Plus, an education gives you something to fall back on should your health or some other obstacle get in the way of your career.
