How Much Does It Cost To Get A Helicopter License?

When it comes to earning a helicopter pilot’s license, the most frequently asked question is about How Much Does It Cost To Get A Helicopter License? When it comes to flying schools, the price of a program will be a major deciding factor.

Before you start looking at prices, you must first decide whether or not you want a degree along with your license. If you attend a flight school affiliated with a university, such as Southern Utah University Aviation, you will earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree by the time you complete your training. Your training will be less expensive if you attend a non-university flight school, but you will not receive a degree when you complete it.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Helicopter License?

A Private Pilot Certificate will set you back roughly $18,000, while a Commercial Pilot Certificate can set you back up to $28,000. Expect to pay roughly $85,000 for a full career training course with a Flight Instructor Certificate, plus lodging, food, and travel charges.

Commercial Helicopter License Cost

Helicopter pilot training costs $200 per hour for instructor-led flight time and $150 to $175 for independent flight time. On-the-ground training costs $30 to $40 per hour. The average cost of obtaining a private helicopter pilot license in the United States is $10,000 to $15,000.

What Do You Need To Get A Helicopter License?

Fly for at least 40 hours. This must comprise 20 hours of instructor-led flight training. A three-hour cross-country flight. Obtain a passing grade in a written exam. Pass an oral examination. Pass an FAA-approved examiner’s final skills test.

Requirements For Obtaining A Helicopter Pilot’s License

To gain the privilege of flying your own helicopter, you will need to work hard and meet specified standards, as with most aviation-related licenses. You must, according to current Federal Aviation Administration regulations:

• Before taking the written knowledge test, you must be 17 years old or older, have complete command of the English language, and have the endorsement of an authorized flight instructor.
• Obtain a passing grade on the written knowledge exam
• Before you can take the final practical test, often known as the “check ride,” you must have approval from a flight instructor stating that they provided you with all of the necessary instruction.
• Demonstrate that you have enough aeronautical experience by completing the required amount of flying hours and training circumstances.
• Obtain a passing grade on the final check-ride exam
• Obtain medical clearance in order to obtain a valid student pilot certificate.
• Comply with all current Federal Aviation Regulations governing helicopter operations.

The Expense Of Flight Instruction At A School

You’ll have to pay university tuition in addition to your flight fees and other flight charges because you’re studying at a university. This implies that the program’s ultimate cost will vary based on the institution you attend and whether you pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.

Not all colleges have an aviation program affiliated with them. When looking for university flying schools, your goal should be to find one with a good reputation, good aircraft, and a lot of resources.

In addition to the needed private pilot and Commercial Pilot Licenses, university flying schools frequently offer advanced instruction. You’ll be better equipped to enter the workforce and start earning money if you have more training.

Additionally, the more training you have, the more likely you are to land those higher-paying jobs because employers will see that you are credentialed and skilled in a variety of fields.

After tuition, materials, flight fees, and other expenses are factored in, earning all of your helicopter pilot’s licenses and certifications is likely to cost around $130,000. This may appear to be a hefty sum, but keep in mind that it includes all program fees and costs.

If other schools quote you numbers that are significantly lower, double-check that you’ll graduate with at least 200 flight hours and all of the Helicopter Licenses you’ll need to land a career flying helicopters ( commercial, private, instrument), as well as your CFI and CFII.

Some schools offer fewer hours and licenses in order to appear less expensive, such as supplying you with a private and commercial license without the equipment. The cost of $130,000 is an estimate that may vary depending on tuition costs, fuel rates, and aircraft upkeep.

This number may also increase depending on the aircraft you are flying. Because you’ll have to fly on commercial airlines that consume more gasoline, you may have to spend a lot more money on your based education on your weight.

It’s important to remember that getting your pilot’s license is an investment. Yes, you will have to pay a lot of Costs To Get Your Helicopter License, but once you begin working, you will be able to recoup that cost and more.

Helicopter pilots have a $40 return on investment (ROI). This means that for every dollar you spend on education, you can expect to get back around $40. To put this into perspective, a doctor’s ROE is $36 and a lawyer’s ROE is $30.

These are the prices you may anticipate paying at several university flight schools if you’re paying out of pocket. If you’re a veteran, the GI Bill may be able to help you pay for your education.

Training At A Non-University Flight School Costs

The Cost Of Flight Training will vary depending on the flight school. The following factors will influence the cost of obtaining your license:

• Instructor costs
• Aircraft model
• Supplies
• Aircraft maintenance and fuel
• The time it takes

Many non-university Flying Schools Charge students by the hour rather than by the semester, as universities do. When training with a non-university flying school, you may anticipate paying around $30 to $40 per hour for your Private Pilot License. This will most likely cost between $10,000 and $15,000 in total.

This is just for the purpose of obtaining your private Helicopter Pilot’s License. This is good if your objective is to merely purchase a helicopter or fly one owned by a friend, but it will not earn you a job flying helicopters.

To operate as a pilot, you’ll need a private Pilot’s License, a commercial pilot’s license, and maybe an instrument pilot’s license. Obtaining a commercial license will cost you an additional $30,000-45,000 in training. At a non-university flight school, you may expect to pay between $45,000 and $70,000 for the very minimum licenses.

You can fly helicopters for a living if you have your private, commercial, and instrument licenses, but with only these three licenses, you won’t be able to find a very high-paying job that you enjoy, and some of the most advantageous jobs, such as flight instructor, will be out of reach unless you pay for additional training.

You should obtain as many licenses and qualifications as possible in order to land a high-paying job. You may or may not receive advanced training, such as high-density altitude training or long-line training, depending on the non-university flight school.

Even though training at a non-university flying school is less expensive, you’ll receive more for your money by attending a university flight school unless they provide the same advanced training. You’ll graduate with a degree, greater training, and more flight hours from a university flight school, all of which will help you land those sought high-paying positions.

Cost Of A Commercial Helicopter License

Getting your Private Plane Pilot License, you ought to spend an extra $18,000 to $20,000 on commercial pilot training and requisite hours. You’ll also need 150 total flying hours, with at least 100 of those hours being “pilot in command,” or “PIC” hours.

The good news is that PIC hours can be earned in a variety of methods. These hours can be added if you spend time flying solo while getting your private pilot’s license.

Even if you are having a flight lesson while flying the aircraft, any time after you earn your private license when you are flying helicopter counts. Those of you who originally obtained a fixed-wing pilot license will receive additional credit toward obtaining your helicopter pilot license.

Conclusion

In order to know How Much Does It Cost To Get A Helicopter License? You have to read all instructions above. Hopefully, you did that! If yes, then you can get admission to any flying school to fulfill your passion for becoming a pilot.

Frequently Asked Question