What do I need to be good at to pilot a helicopter?

Question

How old do I have to be as well??

Answer 1

Minimum age to fly solo is 16 in the UK. You need to be fairly good at maths, be able to multitask, keep calm and have a lot of money as it is not cheap!

Answer 2

In Canada you can hold a Student Pilot Permit for helicopters at age 14, & you can hold a Private Pilot Licence for helicopters at age 17. If you are in the US, then go to www.faa.gov & search under Pilots, you will probably find that there are a lot of similarities between Canada & the US aviation regulations.

To answer your initial question, you will have to learn numerous subjects such as meteorology, navigation (includes some math), radio communication, etc, as well as the actual skill of flying your aircraft.

If you are 14 or older, then contact your nearest Helicopter training facility & ask what they charge for an introductory lesson. That way you can try it out before you have invested much time & effort.

Answer 3

You need a really good spatial sense. The ability to use each foot and hand for different things, and not get mixed up. The ability to act quickly and react well to different situations.

Like any aircraft training, most teaching centers will let you start at 16, studying theory and meteorology and doing dry runs on the computer simulators. It is entirely individual about when you would be allowed at the controls of the actual helicopter.

Answer 4

Collecting large amounts of cash for doing very little is a useful trait!

Be able to treat engineers as if they just fell off the bottom of your shoe is useful as well!

Oh yeah, make sure you know how to look down on the rest of the world as well, in more ways than one!

My experience of helicopter pilots is that they certainly know how to use their hands on their sticks!

Answer 5

Hi james,
To be a good pilot, just relax , be quick on responses, a helicopter is like a brick not meant to fly.
But the theory of flight helps it, with fixed wing you can power glide, with choppers you auto and pick your field.
To be a good pilot doesn't come easy, just determination.

Answer 6

Its often said if you can pat your head, rub your stomach and tap your feet all at the same time then you have the dexterity to pilot a chopper.
You need 45hours flight time to get a PPL(H) licence and must be over 16 for the PPL, unsure if the age is different for the PPL(H)

Answer 7

You have to have a fine sense of hand-eye coordination and the ability to do several things all at the same time.
As for age, I don't know. My bro had flying lessons at 13. Experience websites like Red Letter Days sell flying lessons if you're interested, and there are small flying schools at most minor airports. Hope that helps!

Answer 8

Thinking ahead and knowing how to react is definitely something you need to be good at, that goes for driving too but your decisions when flying are much more critical, and could mean the difference between hitting the ground and dying or staying in the air and living.

Answer 9

you will need to be good at multi tasking and mental dexterity. practise patting your head and rubbing your tummy. you have to be able to operate 2 foot pedals and too different hand controls simultaneously with precise adjustments to make the thing hover, never mind fly.

prety sure you have to be 21

good luck.

Answer 10

A helicopter and a licence.
Out of nappies.