Helicopters have a variety of commercial applications, including transporting passengers on sightseeing tours, assisting in search-and-rescue operations, and patrolling oil pipelines, to name a few. To become a commercial helicopter pilot, you must first obtain your private pilot’s license, after which you must fly additional hours. To obtain a commercial helicopter pilot’s license, you must be at least 18 years old.
If you want to become a commercial helicopter pilot, you’ll need to first find a flight school where you can learn how to fly a helicopter. Local airports, online, and in the phone book are all good places to look for flight schools. It’s a good idea to take a test flight in a helicopter before committing to a full program of lessons to ensure that you enjoy flying in rotor-powered vehicles. Inquire about the credentials of instructors, the types of helicopters they fly, the number of helicopters the school has, and how long the school has been in operation when choosing a school.
It’s not all about being in the air once you start pilot training. Before you leave the ground, you’ll have to take courses on safety and other topics. If you want to test for a private pilot’s license, you’ll need at least 40 hours of helicopter flight time and a student helicopter pilot certificate (which you’ll need to fly solo during testing). You must be at least 16 years old to fly solo. When you reach the age of 17, you can apply for a private pilot’s license.
Before you can test for a commercial helicopter pilot’s license, you’ll need at least 150 hours of flying time after you’ve obtained a private pilot’s license. In the United States, a second-class medical certificate from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical examiner is also required. It can be difficult to find work in the field at first because the higher-paying jobs require even more flight time. Consider getting a pilot teaching certificate if you want to get more flight hours as a new commercial helicopter pilot.
You can look for jobs with charter companies, tourism and sightseeing organizations, and other places that use helicopters in their operations if you have enough hours and experience. Some employers may also demand that their pilots have at least a high school diploma. If you want to be a commercial helicopter pilot, you should take classes in aeronautics, physics, and related subjects. Other characteristics that will aid your career as a commercial helicopter pilot include the ability to remain calm under pressure, the ability to solve problems quickly, and a tendency to prioritize safety. Commercial helicopter pilots may be subject to weight restrictions, so being in good physical shape can help.