Helicopter pilots have very versatile career paths. They can choose to work in the military, in transportation, as tour guides, and so much more!
Perhaps that’s one reason why plenty of people are interested in pursuing this profession and launching a career as a pilot of one of these machines.
If you want to become a helicopter pilot yourself, the main thing you’ll need to do is to get your pilot’s license. However, there are a few more steps involved than just that.
This guide walks you through how to become a helicopter pilot and all the steps you’ll need to take to get there!
Industries That Need Helicopter Pilots
I’ve already mentioned a couple of different jobs you can get as a helicopter pilot. However, if you’re still unsure of what your options are, here are a couple of other industries you might want to get into:
- Emergency medical services
- Law enforcement
- Agriculture
- Executive transport
- Firefighting
- Search and rescue
- Flight instruction
- Sightseeing
Any of these industries can be great ways to put your new skills to the test and to take off on a new career (and a new adventure).
Step 1: Earn a Degree or Go to Flight School
The first step to becoming a helicopter pilot is to get some studying under your belt. Although having a four year degree isn’t always required to be a helicopter pilot, there are some jobs that will want you to have a degree in a related field.
On top of that, university courses can get you prepared for learning how to fly by teaching you about things like aeronautics and engineering.
Some universities also have the added benefit of offering programs that help you get your license while you finish up a different degree. So, you could graduate with not just a BS but also a pilot’s license!
On the other hand, if you don’t want to get any kind of degree, you can also skip the university classes and head straight to flight school. At flight school, you’ll get hands-on experience and take written, oral, and flight exams.
Most of your training will be done using simulators, although you’ll also get some behind-the-wheel experience as well.
Step 2: Get Your Pilot’s License
Once you graduate from your program, whether that’s flight school or a formal university, it’s time to get your pilot’s license. Without it, you won’t be able to operate a helicopter, no matter how much you know about doing so!
There are two main types of licenses you can get:
- Private
- Commercial
Let’s break down the requirements for each of these in a bit more detail.
Private license
If you want to get a private license, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Be 17 years old or older
- Pass an FAA written test
- Log 10 hours of solo flight time
- Log 3 hours of cross-country flying
- Log 3 hours of night flying
- Log 3 hours of solo cross-country flying
- Log 3 hours of mixed night flying
- Perform three solo takeoffs and landings
- Perform one 75-nautical-mile flight cross-country
You’ll also need to have at least 40 total hours of flight time before you can get your license.
Commercial license
For a commercial license, the requirements look a bit different. First, you’ll need to get your private pilot license. From there, you’ll have to meet the following requirements:
- Be 18 or older
- Have an FAA medical certificate
- Complete ground instruction
- Have 100 hours of flying as a pilot-in-command
- Do 20 hours of dual flight training
- Pass FAA exams
- Complete one dual and one solo cross-country flight
- Perform 10 hours of instrument training
- Perform 10 hours of solo flight training
From there, you’ll need to take your commercial pilot’s exam. If you pass, you’ll be granted your commercial license and will open up a wealth of new job opportunities.
Step 3: Update Your Resume
Once you’ve got your chosen license, you’re almost ready for take-off! At this point, the most important thing to do is to update your resume so that it includes all your recent training and your new licensure.
If you have any additional flight-related experience, you’ll want to include that in your resume, too. You can also include related volunteer or nonprofit activities, as this helps showcase that you’ve got experience.
Step 4: Find a Job
Now that you’ve got your license and updated resume in hand, you’re ready to get out there and start finding a job. You can look on job boards or register with organizations that will list you in their database.
The good news is that the US currently has a shortage of helicopter pilots, which may increase your chances of being able to land a job.
Because of this shortage, there are also some companies that will sponsor visas for foreign pilots. Just keep in mind that if you fall into this bucket, you may need to complete additional training once you land in the United States.
Take Off on a New Career
Now that you know how to become a helicopter pilot you’re ready to get on your way to a new career. Just remember—the first thing is to get your pilot’s license so that you can start safely and legally flying this aircraft.
With that out of the way, you’ll be ready to move on and start piloting helicopters to just about anywhere in the world. So, get out there and go show the world what you’re made of!
