A commercial helicopter pilot has completed private pilot training and holds a private pilot license. In order to obtain a Commercial Pilot License for helicopters [CPL (H)], additional flight training, including in-air flight time and passing an extensive test, is usually required. Although some commercial helicopter pilots have received training in the military, many others complete their training at civilian flight schools and pay for it themselves.
Once qualified and experienced, a commercial helicopter pilot will typically have a variety of job options. However, until they have logged a large number of flight hours, newly qualified commercial helicopter pilots may find it difficult to find work. In addition to obtaining a commercial pilot’s license, new commercial pilots frequently obtain an instructor rating and gain experience by instructing others on how to fly helicopters. If the new commercial helicopter pilot is lucky, he or she might be able to find work flying pleasure or charter flights, or in countries like Australia, where cattle-mustering by helicopter is a popular option.
Depending on where a commercial helicopter pilot lives in the world, a variety of jobs are likely to become available as he or she gains more experience. A commercial helicopter pilot may work for the police, as an air ambulance pilot, on search and rescue missions, or in emergency medical situations. Pipeline patrol, working with wildlife, or chartering flights for VIPs are all possible jobs in some countries. Helicopters are used to transport workers to and from oil rigs, as well as for pleasure flights and sightseeing trips in the leisure industry.
However, there are drawbacks to this way of life. Commercial helicopter pilots are typically paid less than their fixed-wing counterparts, who are more likely to work for major airlines. Few rotary flying jobs provide job security, and commercial helicopter pilots must be willing to travel to where there is work, which can make family life difficult. Many of the jobs are difficult and dangerous; search and rescue helicopter pilots, for example, frequently work in bad weather and at odd hours.
It is extremely rare for someone to pursue a career as a commercial helicopter pilot solely for financial gain. A helicopter license is typically obtained because a person enjoys flying flexible rotary aircraft. For some, having a helicopter for a desk and an office in the sky is the best perk.