Let Your Career Take Flight…

Private rating

The private rotorcraft license is the first step to an exciting hobby or career. The private license will allow you to fly for fun, take friends and family for rides, provide yourself with aerial transportation, and/or build flight time for future ratings

During the process of achieving your private license, you will receive both flight and ground instruction in multiple areas from meteorology to the operations of helicopter systems. You will start out in the cockpit from day one getting hands-on practical experience which coincides with your ground training

Your first major milestone in flight training is your inaugural solo flight. This experience will always be a cherished memory when looking back on your training. In preparation for your solo flight, you will become competent performing maneuvers such as hovering and normal airport operations as well as various emergency procedures. Once you solo, you will move onto more advanced lessons covering areas such as night flight, cross country flights, and landing away from airports.

During the final stage of training, you will sharpen and polish your practical skills and knowledge in preparation for your private pilot check ride (oral and flight test). It is on the successful completion of both the written and practical examination, you will be issued a private pilot rotorcraft helicopter license

The FAA requires a person seeking a private pilot rotorcraft helicopter license to have 40 hours of flight time but the national average for completion of the private pilot rotorcraft-helicopter license is in between 50-60 flight hours. The reason is flying a helicopter requires a great deal of hand-eye coordination and multitasking skills which can take time for some to learn.

Cost: See Flight Training Guide for updated average costs

Instrument rating

Now that you have your private rating, the next stop on the road to becoming a professional helicopter pilot is receiving your instrument rating. An instrument rating allows you to fly an appropriately equipped and approved helicopter without external visual reference to the ground. In other words, you, as a pilot, would be rated to fly through the clouds in “Instrument Meteorological Conditions” (IMC) under “Instrument Flight Rules” (IFR).

In your instrument training you will achieve a greater understanding of the aircraft and gain a deeper knowledge of how the instruments within the helicopter operate. Why do you need this? There are several reasons why it is prudent to get an instrument rating after you receiving your private. If you are on the road to becoming a professional pilot, it would be the most efficient use of your hours. Once you receive your Private License, you will need between 90-110 hours of flight to receive your Commercial License. You don’t need 90-100 hours of flight time to prepare for your Commercial so it is prudent to fulfill some of these hour requirements by training for your instrument rating.

Cost: See Flight Training Guide for updated average costs

commercial rating

Once you receive your private license, your time in the helicopter can then be logged as Pilot In Command (P.I.C.) time. You need a minimum of 100 hours PIC time as well as 150 hours total time to receive your Commercial Pilots License.

After the Instrument Rating, the commercial license is the next step on the professional helicopter pilot’s path to success. This is required to fly for hire. In addition to making your maneuvers you learned training for your private pilot license more precise, your commercial training will introduce you to advanced helicopter maneuvers and more practical application of these. Your ground training will include advanced helicopter aerodynamics as well as the rules and regulations governing commercial helicopter operations.

Cost: See Flight Training Guide for updated average costs

CFI RATING

(CFI) Flight Instructor is often the first flying position a helicopter pilot will acquire. A Certified Flight Instructor Rating (CFI) is required for a pilot to give instruction training other pilots and future pilots (YOU!?). A CFI is responsible for all aspects of training pilot applicants so our CFI program is designed to provide you with the skills to instruct both helicopter flight and ground lessons. The primary focus of our CFI program is to train you to be an effective educator, evaluator and motivator. This is a great way for pilots to build flight time while enjoying a rewarding career.

Generally, the flight time for the CFI is the difference between your flight time upon earning a commercial license and 200 hours of total time needed by law to teach in Robinson Helicopters.  The average training program consists of 15 to 25 hours of flight training and about 30 hours of ground training. Students learn best when having fun!

Cost: See Flight Training Guide for updated average costs