Flying a helicopter?

Question

Im restless at my job, I need something else. I've always been curious about flying a chopper...sounds funny I know..say what you will, ..I can do it....someone elighten me please...do you need any other qualifications to take pilot lessons and how easy is it to get a job doing this...I don't want to go to the army and fly or anything like that.....any body have any thoughts?

Answer 1

Helicopter training is ridiculously expensive. The typical training chopper, a Robinson R22 will cost $250 an hour, and an instructor will cost anywhere from $20-$50 an hour. The cost of getting all the way to your commercial certificate can easily run over $100,000. In addition to this, most companies require turbine experience, which is even costlier.

Most helicopter operators will only hire pilots with military flight training.

If you have LOTS of money to spend on training then by all means go for it! otherwise the military is the only option.

Answer 2

I'd just as soon you not take a helicopter job away from somebody who's flown for the army in service to his country. Just stay restless at your job.

Answer 3

Rotorwingflight (another answer guy on here) can answer this best but in order to do it for a living, you will have to obtain a Commercial rotorwing certificate with an Instrument Rating. That being out of the way, you must then build up a good number of hours before you will be employable by most companies, primarily due to insurance qualifications. The only way to do this is to obtain your Instructor's certificate as well and build up your hours teaching. It is quite expensive. Costs usually run up to about $65-75,000 for all the ratings. You can of course obtain student loans.

Answer 4

it takes about 12 weeks and you will spend a bit and the jobs they have out there they are great check what you want to do with it before you start and some places give you a flight demo which give s you a chance to see if you want to do it and the let you fly the aircraft.