COULD YOU BECOME A HELICOPTER PILOT?
Are you looking for a career that’s fun, exciting and challenging? Or perhaps you have an interest in aviation and want to learn a new skill? If you have a strong desire to fly and excellent hand-to-eye coordination then helicopter pilot training could be for you.
Why Learn to Fly a Helicopter?
There are many reasons that you may want to learn to fly a helicopter. Flying a helicopter professionally is incredibly interesting and rewarding. It’s a career that allows for an unusual, varied and exciting lifestyle. If you’re not interested in a change of career, learning to fly a helicopter can still be a rewarding challenge. Getting a helicopter licence is an amazing personal achievement and can provide a logical progression from getting a fixed-wing pilots licence. Whatever your reasons for learning to fly a helicopter, it’s sure to be an exciting and interesting journey.
Getting Started
There are a number of ways to get started with your helicopter training. If you’ve never been up in a helicopter before, a pleasure flight can be a great way to get a taste of what the experience of flying is like. Helicopter pleasure flights also make great gifts for people who are interested in pilot training. Central Helicopters offer pleasure flights in Nottingham, the Peak District, the Lake District, Blackpool and Yorkshire, starting at just £30.
To get a real taste of what it is like to fly a helicopter, why not take a trial lesson? They are a great way to get behind the controls of a helicopter, without committing to training for a licence. Trial lessons from Central Helicopters range from 15 to 60 minutes flying time, along with a pre-flight briefing and presentation of a certificate on completion. If, after your trial lesson, you decide that pilot training isn’t for you, nothing is lost and you’ve still experienced something incredible! If you wish to continue with training, your flying time in the trial lesson can count towards the requirements for the Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL(H)).
Which Licence?
With Central Helicopters, you can choose to train for your Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL(H)) or Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL(H)).
The PPL(H) is the logical progression from a helicopter trial lesson. Once you have this licence, you will be able to hire an aircraft and take your family and friends for flights, flying all over Britain and Ireland. In order to obtain a PPL(H), you will have to complete a minimum of 45 hours flight time (including 10 hours solo), then take a test with a CAA approved Flight Examiner.
If you would like a career flying helicopters, you will need to get your CPL(H). This is often the next step for people after they have achieved their PPL(H). In order to get your CPL(H), you must be over 18 and currently hold a PPL(H). You must also have completed at least 155 hours flying time in helicopters and have passed the CPL(H) theoretical knowledge exams. Training will consist of 30 hours dual flight instruction.
