Can I get a fixed wing private license and then get a helicopter license?

Question

I'm 13 and I really want to be a helicopter commercial pilot so I'm already looking at my future. I read that if you have a Fixed-wing certificate (I don't know what type, student, private, etc) then learning to get a commercial license is easier because you already know all the radio phraseology, airspace, etc EXCEPT flying A helicopter. So how does that work? I get a private airplane pilot license and then get a helicopter commercial license? Or start with a student license? Please tell me so I can help my future. XD

Answer 1

What you want is called an Airman's Certificate. It is legally different from a license. The certificate is the same for all registered aircraft be they balloons, airships, fixed-wing or rotor craft. The written test for all of them contain the same core questions about weather, FAA regulations, and air-space designations.

As you accomplish and demonstrate your mastery of different categories and types of aircraft, they are just added to your existing Airman's Certificate.

I have many flying buddies who have endorsements for hot-air balloons, fixed-wing, and helicopter. If you love to fly, collect them all!

Curl up at night with the Federal Aviation Regulations (buy the book) and the Airman's Information Manual. That will give you a head start. Don't be afraid to start with balloons (crew in exchange for flight time, cheap...) or fixed-wing (lots of flying clubs) so that you will be a competent airman when you train for rotor-craft (much more costly for training, and really expensive to own.)

All the best to you, soft landings...

Answer 2

There is no difference when it comes to your Private Pilots License or Commercial Pilots License. The difference lies in what class of aircraft you are allowed to fly (Airplane, Rotorcraft, Glider, Lighter-than-air).

You can be certified to fly one, some, or all of the different classes of aircraft. If you first receive the license with the Airplane class of aircraft, you can add another class by receiving the appropriate training and passing another checkride.

The same applies when you upgrade from a Private Pilot License to a Commercial Pilot License. You can obtain that license for one, some, or all classes of aircraft by receiving the appropriate training in each and passing the checkride for each.

Answer 3

You will save quite a bit of money by obtaining a PPL in an airplane before transitioning to helicopters. This will allow you to learn all of the regulations, communications, flight planning, and the like while flying cheaper aircraft.

It will also mean that when you start training in helicopters, you will follow the additional ratings rules rather than the student rules. This will mean many conveniences, like not needing an instructor to sign off before each of your cross-countries, easier solo requirements for licensing, and so on.

So you'll need a student license first so you can solo. Then you need a PPL with an airplane rating. Then you can seek a PPL with a helicopter rating and then you can go after your commercial.

One other huge benefit, you can acquire a good number of the hours needed for your helicopter commercial in an airplane (I'm pretty sure, someone double check me). This will save you big bucks.

Answer 4

I took helicopter lessons for about 3 months. I have about 30 hrs in a Robinson R22. I had not flown fixed wing prior to flying rotary wing. The instructors said It is easier to learn rotary wing first because the aerodynamics are different. Adding on a rotary wing cert is more difficult (they said) because you have to un-learn the fixed wing dynamics. Yes much of the required communications and laws are the same, but flying is very different. My plan was to get licensed, then become an instructor to build up hours, then I had a connection to fly from tuna boats spotting schools of tuna in a turbine helicopter until I had about 1,000 hrs of turbine time. Commercial helicopters are almost all turbine aircraft. I was planning this route because I am middle aged and military was out of the question.

I know 2 young men who went through Warrant Officer training in the Army and are military helicopter pilots today. They will have good opportunities awaiting them when they get out, with an air ambulance service or Fire Dept or flying for an oil company. God willing. That's assuming they will get out okay.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 5

I would first suggest that you wait a few years before beginning training. You must be 16 to fly solo, 17 to get your private, and 18 for your commercial. Don't hesitate to take introductory lessons and research the various career paths, but starting now will be inefficient because you will quickly reach a point in your training where age will prevent you from advancing to the next step. In addition, you should be focusing on your schoolwork now, and eventually preparing for college as well.

Airplane pilots who have never flown helicopters will often recommend flying airplanes first to save money. Their claim is based on the assumption that you will finish your add-on rating in the minimum time. This assumption never works because flying helicopters and flying airplanes are very different skills. The minimums for the add-on aren't that much lower than the initial anyway.

Some might say that having airplane experience helps you finish helicopter training in less time than if you had no experience at all. This is only true for the ground school. The controls, maneuvers, and emergency procedures are completely different for both, so airplane experience will not reduce the time it takes you to learn helicopters. Flight planning, airspace, weather, regulations, etc. are all ground school material, and ground school is only a very small part of the expense. Besides, you will still need ground school for an add-on to learn helicopter systems, performance, limitations, some aerodynamics, emergency procedures, etc.

The bottom line is that a helicopter private add-on will still take the same 50-60 hours or more that you would need starting from scratch. Flying airplanes first will only add to your expense.

Now, for the career pilot. Take a look at the website below. If you scroll down a bit, you will find his recommendations for completing training in both with the least expense.

http://www.helicopterflight.net/Who%20ca...

You will see that he recommends doing helicopters first, and then adding airplanes. He concludes that you can become rated in both for ~$48,000 vs. ~$55,000 by doing helicopters only. Note that he neglected an additional 10 hours of helicopter solo for the commercial, which would add $2,500 or so to the first number.

I personally think these savings will only come if you do your helicopter private first, and they represent a best case scenario. That is, his estimates assume no inefficiencies or overlap, no delays or unexpected circumstances, etc. They assume consistent and frequent training as well. In the real world for an average student, you will probably end up spending a little more to include airplanes.

The shortest distance between two points is always a straight line. I recommend to people that if you want to fly helicopters, fly helicopters. If you want to fly airplanes, fly airplanes. If you want to fly both, then follow the site above for the training sequence, but you shouldn't reasonably expect any major savings.

For more on helicopter training, read here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Good luck!