| The road to becoming a commercial helicopter pilot | | | | Instructor) and CFII (Certified Flight Instructor |
| and getting that dream job may be longer than you | | | | Instrument). These pilots are now qualified to be Flight |
| think If you would like your career to involve flying in | | | | Instructors and teach student pilots. |
| the gulf, tours, emergency medical services, corporate | | | | Most new pilots use the Flight Instructor position as a |
| work, agriculture, or something along those lines, there | | | | stepping-stone to obtain the hours they need for the |
| are a few details you should pay close attention to | | | | job they really want. They regard this time as paying |
| before embarking upon your career as a commercial | | | | their dues while someone else (the student) pays for |
| pilot. | | | | their time building. New Flight Instructors are generally |
| The first realization is that after you have completed | | | | not very well paid. The real money comes after the |
| your initial training and hold that well earned | | | | 1000 hours. |
| Commercial Pilot certificate, you will have a minimum | | | | A positive way to view Flight Instructor pay for new |
| of 150 flight hours. The FAA minimum requirement | | | | pilots is to recognize that someone else is paying for |
| under Part 61 to qualify for a Commercial certificate is | | | | your flight hours. It brightens the picture when you add |
| 150 hours of flight time. You will most likely have | | | | the 'soft dollar' income that comes from students |
| somewhere between 150 and 180 hours of flight time. | | | | paying for you to build your flight time to your earnings. |
| It is the exception rather than the norm for new pilots | | | | For some, Flight Instructor is the dream job. Pilots who |
| to complete their certificates/ratings with FAA | | | | enjoy teaching and flying build their career around flight |
| minimums. | | | | instruction. Many of them learn the business and build |
| You have created the foundation for your career by | | | | an excellent reputation in their first few years of |
| successfully obtaining your Commercial Pilot certificate. | | | | instructing. They then go on to open their own flight |
| At this point, you should hold a Private Pilot certificate, | | | | schools. A Flight Instructor career is both challenging |
| Instrument rating and Commercial Pilot certificate. | | | | and rewarding if you enjoy teaching. |
| These ratings are the very minimum you will need to | | | | There are alternatives to building your hours if you |
| work commercially. You are, however, probably not | | | | choose not to follow the traditional path of becoming a |
| qualified enough to go after that dream job just yet. | | | | Flight Instructor first. You could obtain your Commercial |
| Research the requirements for commercial pilot jobs. | | | | certificate and then purchase an aircraft. Helicopters |
| You will notice that 1000 hours is typically needed for | | | | are expensive machines and require maintenance and |
| entry level positions - with one exception. This one | | | | insurance, so splitting costs may prove to be beneficial. |
| exception allows new pilots to be employed with low | | | | There are websites and flight journals that advertise |
| hours. Let's explore the 1000 hour requirement first. | | | | aircraft partnerships. You could go into partnership with |
| Insurance companies dictate the 1000 flight hour | | | | one or more pilots and use your own helicopter to build |
| minimum. They use various statistics to determine the | | | | your time. |
| risks for insuring pilots. One of the major factors used | | | | Another option is to purchase a helicopter and learn to |
| to determine risk is flight hours. This drives the 1000 | | | | fly in it. This will help reduce your up front training costs. |
| hour minimum for entry level jobs. The exception to | | | | Ensure that your school of choice will train you in your |
| this is the Flight Instructor position. | | | | own helicopter before making this purchase. |
| Flight Instructor job requirements vary by flight school. | | | | In summary, the training for commercial helicopter pilots |
| The majority of helicopter flight schools accept Flight | | | | requires dedication and commitment. Learning to fly a |
| Instructors with low hours. The thought process in our | | | | helicopter is expensive. Building your flight time |
| industry is that the best way to learn is to teach. | | | | demands long hours with low pay if you follow the |
| The career track for most new pilots is to continue on | | | | Flight Instructor path. Once you successfully navigate |
| with their training after they get their Commercial | | | | this course, you can look forward to a magnificent |
| certificate. They obtain their CFI (Certified Flight | | | | career where you get paid to do what you love - fly! |