Becoming a Helicopter Pilot

Often, if you are looking into becoming a helicopter pilot you can earn benefits from a potential employer. For example, if you apply in the helicopter division of the Los Angeles Fire Department they may pay for your training if you sign a contract saying that you will work for the department for 10 years. This is a great bargain, as you get your training for free and you will have a job waiting for you when it is through.

Earning Your Private Pilot Certificate

The first step to becoming a working helicopter pilot is earning your private pilot certificate. To do this there are several requirements and commitments that you must adhere to. First of all, to apply for your private pilot's certificate you must be at least 17 years of age. You also must be able to read, write, and understand the English language. This ensures that you will be able to communicate with your instructor and absorb what they are teaching you. You must then pass a written knowledge test and a practical test in which your flying skills come under scrutiny. Preparing for this portion of the certification is often the most time consuming. It is required that you log at least 40 hours of flight time before you apply to take the practical test. Of these 40 hours, at least 20 must be with an authorized instructor while you must complete 10 hours of solo flights. To earn a special helicopter certification you must undergo 3 hours of cross country training in a helicopter in addition to 3 hours of night flying in a helicopter. You should also log 10 hours of solo flight time in a helicopter. After passing these tests and receiving your private pilot's license you move on to the commercial pilot certificate.

Earning Your Commercial Pilot's License

The requirements for the commercial pilots license are a bit more involved than earning your private license. While there isn't as much flight time the education portion of the certification is much more intense. In order to receive your commercial license you must be 18 years old and again be able to read, write, and understand the English language. Since you have had your private pilot's certificate for a while, logging the 150 hours of flight time shouldn't be difficult. Yes, it takes time, but it's not a difficult endeavor. Again, you must pass both a written, knowledge test and a practical exam.

For more information about earning your pilot's license, check out GG Pilot.