If I am a helicopter pilot, can I get my private plane certificate faster?

Question

If you've read any of my other questions, you know I'm going to be a whirly pilot. I am going for my commercial license. I'd like to learn to fly planes eventually. I know it works that you knock a few hours off by going through plane lessons first, but does it work in reverse?

Answer 1

The key is here ....(pasted from Apolo)

"You will not require a written test, and you will also need less ground instruction because you will already have some knowledge of things like weather, regulations, navigation, etc"

The only time you save is common knowledge like RT , weather ,some ground work etc. Min Number of flight hours one requires to get the license for each of the bird ( rotary and fixed wing) are not adjusted against other

Consider also the following

1. Hours needed to maintain the license/s (proficiency)..

Unless you own both types and fly for fun ... with very deep pocket

Answer 2

The minimum requirements for an airplane add-on will be lower if you already have a helicopter pilot certificate, but there is no guarantee that you will finish in the minimum time. You will not require a written test, and you will also need less ground instruction because you will already have some knowledge of things like weather, regulations, navigation, etc. At the end of the day after you have already spent so much time and effort on your helicopter training, the savings on the fixed-wing add-on versus a pilot with no experience will be small, but it will take less time and expense for the average person.

Also, do not do airplanes first thinking you will save money on your helicopter training. That is a common misconception that doesn't work out if you actually tally the costs. If you want to fly helicopters as your career, then start with helicopters.

Caretaker - Sorry for the thumbs down, but I disagree with some of your statements. You make it sound like a helicopter pilot certificate has fewer privileges than an airplane certificate. In fact they are the same except that they apply to different aircraft. For flying airplanes, you need an airplane certificate. For flying helicopters, you need a helicopter certificate. For flying both, you need both. That's it. Sure, more people fly airplanes, but he has already stated that he wants to fly helicopters.

Also, I am not sure what you mean by "more learning aids dedicated to fixed wing". There are textbooks and supplies for helicopters just as there are for airplanes, and there are many that apply equally to both.

I do agree that you should not attempt to train in both at the same time. That will just confuse you and cause problems for both.

Answer 3

Maybe, maybe not.  The difference in flying rotary and fixed wings are very different. Some of the things learned flying a helicopter are best forgotten when flying an airplane and vice-versa.

Learning to start the engines on either is useful, but from there on it is way different.

Answer 4

Fixed wing is the normal path.  This gives you all the FAA and Instrument flying criteria.  Work on one at a time.  If you set multi-goals you may set your self for multi-failure.  There are more learning aids dedicated to Fixed Wing so get that our of the way first.