Is a helicopter pilot a good career?

If you like helping people and want to make a difference in the world, then flying helicopters is a great career for you. Some jobs available to helicopter pilots that will help you do this include flying for emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire fighting, humanitarian support, search and rescue, and more.

How long does it take to become a professional helicopter pilot?

How long does it take to get a helicopter pilot license? This depends on how often the student trains per week. On average, if you are flying part time, 3-5 hours a week, it will take 6-8 months to complete your Private Pilot training.

How much does it cost to become a professional helicopter pilot?

Helicopter pilot training costs $200 per hour for flight time with an instructor, and $150 to $175 per hour for solo-flying time. Training on the ground costs $30 to $40 per hour. The national average price to earn your private helicopter pilot license is $10,000 to $15,000 overall.

What age do helicopter pilots retire?

Federal law requires pilots to retire at age 65.

Are helicopter pilots in high demand?

Pilot Demand is High The demand for helicopter pilots is extremely high. A recent study by Boeing estimated that there will be a shortage of 59,000 helicopter pilots worldwide through 2037.

How many hours does a commercial helicopter pilot need?

150 hours
A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least: 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time.

Are helicopter pilots in demand?

The demand for helicopter pilots is extremely high. A recent study by Boeing estimated that there will be a shortage of 59,000 helicopter pilots worldwide through 2037. This means that for at least the next 17 years (and probably much longer than that), good helicopter pilots are almost guaranteed a job.

Is 45 too old to become a helicopter pilot?

I don’t think you’re ever too old to learn the aircraft. You can learn to fly the helicopter. You can learn what you have to know to pass the test to become a helicopter pilot. The biggest thing if you’re thinking about changing career later in life, some people are going to tell you you’re too old.

How dangerous is it to be a helicopter pilot?

Helicopters are dangerous in that simple mistakes and oversights can be fatal. You can put 100 different pilots in the same helicopter, and that helicopter becomes a lot more and/or a lot less dangerous depending on who’s making the decisions pertaining to that flight.

Can I become a helicopter pilot?

Most employers require you to have at least an associate’s degree, and prefer a bachelor’s. If you know you want to fly helicopters for a living, consider going to college for math, physics, or aeronautical engineering . Helicopter pilots need to know algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus.

How do you pilot a helicopter?

Every helicopter pilot must obtain a private helicopter pilot license to fly. Students must be at least 17 years old, obtain a FAA medical certificate and pass a FAA written test. Additionally, the student must take at least 40 hours of flight time, 10 of which must be solo flight time.

What are the requirements for a helicopter pilot license?

Helicopter pilot license requirements also include practical flying with and that too without an instructor. Authorities issuing helicopter licenses in most parts of the world would require you to undergo at least 40 hours of flying. Out of the total flying hours, around 10 hours should be solo flying experience.