Becoming a helicopter pilot can take a person around 2-4 months to get a training certificate. And getting a helicopter license really is not all that easy on top of this. In order to get a helicopter license, it will require you to have a whole year of training on PPL, CPL, CFI & CFII. These trainings are very crucial for you to reach your final destination, which is the helicopter license. Getting a helicopter license will help you officially become a helicopter pilot.
In this article, we have written everything you need to know as to how long it take to get a helicopter license. If you want to know more, make sure to read till the end!
How to apply for a helicopter license?
Before you make an attempt to get a helicopter license, you have to apply for it. There are a few steps that you need to keep in mind when you are applying for a helicopter license. You will have to contact an institution providing helicopter flying training to students. And, make sure that you go to the place that fits your needs right. You will also have to go through a medical assessment which is further going to help you in successfully getting a helicopter license. Keep in mind, though, anyone who does not pass the medical assessment test will have very less or no likelihood of getting a helicopter license. You will have to be in sound health and have a properly fit body if you really want to apply for a helicopter license.
Likewise, you should be at least 17 years old to apply for a helicopter license. When one is visiting a place with helicopter training, he will be provided with the course that best fits him. Applying for a helicopter license should tick all the necessary bars.
How long does it take to get a helicopter license?
A lot of people are curious as to how long it will take for them to get a helicopter license. Getting a helicopter license normally takes you different times as per the type of license you are applying for. Not every type of license is going to take you the same amount of time. The more your training period lasts, the longer it takes for you to get a helicopter license.
Once you are done with your Private Pilot training, you can easily get your Private Pilot License (PPL). But, for this, you will have to wait from 6 months to a year. The processing of getting a PPL depends on how much time is being taken in training sessions. You must have at least 45 hours of flight hours, where 25 hours will be spent as dual flight instruction and 10 hours will be spent for supervised solo flight time.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL) will require you to already own a PPL. Hence, without a PPL, you won’t be able to get a commercial pilot license. To get a CPL, you have to undergo 650 hours of theoretical training and 20 hours of Multi Crew Co-Operation (MCC). Likewise, you need to have a minimum flight hour of 135 hours in order to get this license. It takes you 18-24 months to get this license.
Airline Transport Pilot License is another license that you will be looking forward to getting if you want to become a helicopter pilot. This license is going to check how much theoretical knowledge you have to become one. Hence, a good amount of knowledge will definitely help you secure the license. The theoretical test has a variety or different range of topics that you must answer. The practical aspect of this license is going to need at least 1000 flight hours.
Do flight hours really affect the likelihood of getting a helicopter license?
Yes, flight hours vary as per the license you are applying for. But you don’t have to worry about exceeding the necessary flight hours. This only means that you are a very passionate and driven pilot, and you have greater chances of getting a helicopter license in the long run. One needs to keep in mind, however, that a helicopter license is a very important aspect of becoming a pilot, and one cannot get the license without having the least amount of flight hours.
How much does a helicopter license cost?
You have to know that helicopter licenses don’t cost the same. Different licenses are going to cost you differently. Hence, you have to ask your advisor or the institution you are training from how much you are going to pay for the helicopter license.
Moreover, one thing that should be kept in mind is your helicopter license cost also depends on the training time that you take. Not everyone who has different training times is going to pay the same amount for a helicopter license. It really wouldn’t be wrong to say that helicopter license cost is a very tricky subject.
What are the minimum ages required to get a helicopter pilot license?
A lot of potential pilots want to know when exactly they are going to get a helicopter pilot license. You should be at least 17 if you want a helicopter pilot license. But, the rules are different for different training institutions; while many such institutes don’t really accept a student who is 16, there still are a few places that are going to accept a 16-year-old as a helicopter training student.
Likewise, in many other institutions, the students must be at least 18 years old to apply for a helicopter pilot license.
How long does it take to train as a helicopter pilot?
You must at least train for 3 to 5 hours every day if you want to become a helicopter pilot for a total of 6-8 months if you are applying for Private Pilot training. While there is no specific time period set for you to complete your training as a pilot, your skills and potential have to do a lot with how much time you will be taking in learning and training as a helicopter pilot.
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