How do you become a helicopter pilot?

Question

Yesterday on the radio I heard about a free seminar to learn more information on becoming a helicopter pilot. Are these seminars legit? Where would you go to learn to be a helicopter pilot?

Answer 1

Northeast Helicopters Inc. at [phone]. They are in Ellington, CT. Tell them that danuitti sent you.

http://www.helicopter-training.net/helicopter-schools/connecticut.htm

Answer 2

I have no idea if they are legitimate or not. You become a pilot, whether helicopter or fixed-wing, by taking lessons at a flight school. A friend who's done so started as a fixed-wing pilot, and transitioned to helicopter. He said that he had a lot he had to unlearn, and it would have been easier to learn to fly a chopper had he started there first.

I don't know what the demand is for helicopter pilots commercially. I doubt that it's much - they are expensive to own and operate, compared to airplanes. They are also usually slower than a comparable airplane. I would think that most commercial helicopter pilots learned to fly while in the military.

Answer 3

The FAA's web site has information on the requirements to become a pilot, whether helicopter or fixed-wing. Go to http://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/.

Many flight schools will offer seminars or even low-cost (or free) introductory flight lessons. They are legit, but the only give you a "taste" of what it would be like to fly an aircraft. Go ahead and attend the seminar. But before you sign up, I recommend that you contact a local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and speak to a Safety Program Manager. They will have information on what you need to do, how to get started, FAA-approved schools versus schools that are not FAA approved, etc. You can find your nearest FSDO at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/.

BTW, you don't need "perfect" eyesight to become a pilot. For a Class 3 medical, you need 20/40 vision, and corrective lenses are allowed!

Good luck!

Answer 4

First off lets clear the water. Flying cost money, lots of money. To become a Commerical pilot or ATP (Air Transport Pilot) eather fixed wing or helicopter you'll need lots or schooling and flight time. In other words, lots of money. But then to become a doctor isn't cheap eather.
Depending on how far you want to go in flying will depend on how much it will cost.
If you want to be a private pilot, then the cost is only a few thousand dollars, but if your set on being a ATP/Instrument rated pilot your looking at major amount of money. Now comes the hard part. Most major airlines won't hire you with all your licences unless you have a collage degree.
So now were back to square 1. The best way to fly heavys for the major airlines is to go to collage, then join the Air Force and let them teach you.
Now were to square 2. You'll have to have good eyesight and be in good physical shape before the Air Force will accept you for flight training. Plus you'll have to give the Air Force 6 years of your life but the good part is then you'll be able to go to collage at the tax payers expense. At this point you'll have invested 10 years of your life and spent a few million dollars of the tax payers money, and that will only get you into the right (co-pilot) seat of a heavy for a major airline.
Neather a doctor or lawyer will spend the time or money training for there jobs as a ATP captian for the majors will.
An ATP requires a person who's welling to give years of there life for the love of flying.
An ATP and IA mechanic that works for the Majors airlines are the highest trained people on earth.
The sad part is there's cab drivers and car mechanic's that earn more than they do, but then it's cause they love what they do.
Is that seminar legit? I'm sure it is, but it's just the begining of a very long road.
Lot's of luck

Answer 5

I went to the Army after researching the cost of private instruction. The army trained me for free and paid me a good wage while training. I got more experience in two years then a civilian would in ten.
However, you have to be in good physical shape, have a high score on the entry exams, not be color blind, and enlist in the Army before you can go to flight school and become a Warrant Officer. If you have two years of college and fit the above requirements, then this is the best training you can get.

Answer 6

I would go to the airport and talk to current pilots. my son in law flies the state police helicopter and he received his initial training in the military. A helicopter is a very complex machine and demands maximum attention at all times. There is tons of bookwork to do and you must keep up with the latest gadgets. It is a very rewarding career and like most things rewarding it is worth the effort.

Answer 7

My boyfriend is doing this, you have to have so many hours of lessons. You have to learn how to hover (the hardest part from what the pilot said) and everything else, then you have a test on it. He takes lessons at the local executive airport. Like one of the small ones where people keep their own private planes.

We live in Florida.
Good luck

Answer 8

I really doubt it's legit.. from everything I've heard, it costs a lot of money to learn to be a pilot.. either that or you can get training for it in the military.. of course if you don't have perfect eyesight you're out of luck..

Answer 9

Shure there are plenty of flight training schools. THey hope if you go you will sign up for lessons. I hope didn't think that was free????

The most popular option is the military filght schools.

Answer 10

you go to a local flight school and pay them $15,000 and you get trained then get ur license