Is being a helicopter pilot a good career?

The demand for helicopter pilots is extremely high. A recent study by Boeing estimated that there will be a shortage of 59,000 helicopter pilots worldwide through 2037. This means that for at least the next 17 years (and probably much longer than that), good helicopter pilots are almost guaranteed a job.

How do helicopter pilots make hours?

Pilot License Flight Hour Requirements To earn a private helicopter or airplane license, a student needs 40 hours of flight time. To qualify for a commercial license, a helicopter pilot needs 150 hours and an airplane pilot needs 250 flight hours.

Is helicopter Flight School Hard?

Learning to fly a helicopter is difficult, but becomes easier with practice. It requires hand and feet coordination, looking where to go, talking to air traffic control, and planning ahead. The average student takes between 50 – 80 hours and costs between $15,000 – $25,000.

What state pays helicopter pilots the most?

Oregon, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and New Mexico provide the highest Helicopter Pilot salaries.

Is it harder to become a helicopter pilot or airplane pilot?

Is it easier to fly a helicopter or plane? Overall, flying an airplane is much easier than flying a helicopter, particularly for beginners, and there are a few reasons why. In a helicopter, the pilot is expected to have their hands on the controls at all times and be actively engaged in every second of the flight.

What can you do with a helicopter pilot license?

There are so many jobs that a person can do once they have their helicopter pilot license and having a goal to work towards throughout their career is a great way to chart a path to gaining the right experience in the right helicopters. Like most jobs, there are upsides and downsides, and getting started in this industry is one of the hardest.

What is a heli-logging job?

Most operations consist of two-pilot crews, with the left-seat pilot flying and the right-seat co-pilot monitoring weights, turns, and instrumentation. Heli-logging is one of the jobs many low-time pilots can begin their career as a right-seat co-pilot.

Do Eng helicopters have pilots?

Most ENG helicopters now have a pilot and then either a camera operator and/or news reporter in the back. There used to be times where the pilot did the flying, filming, and reporting but this has long gone due to health and safety concerns and accidents.

How long does it take to become a co-pilot on a helicopter?

On some of the larger twin-engine helicopters, Co-Pilots can be taken on with only a few hundred hours depending on the operator and the contracts they have.