I currently hold an airplane private pilot certificate with instrument rating but no rotary wing certificates or ratings. If I embark upon a professional helicopter training program, how much money can I expect to shell out? I’m considering a school like Hillsboro in Oregon.
#1 by Lorenzo Von Matterhorn on January 12th, 2011
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at least 50-60k to get a commercial pilot’s license (maybe more if you’re not a fast learner)
#2 by dallenmarket on January 12th, 2011
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The training school in Vegas says about $40 grand, but that is a bare minimum. They also are honest about saying that it will take lots of years of commercial flying to earn back your investment. Most helicopter jobs do not pay very high salaries. Tour pilots in Vegas (the ones that do the Grand Canyon runs) only make between $20-30,000/yr.
#3 by captsead0nkey on January 12th, 2011
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Around 100k.
Helicopters are very expensive,and the jobs limited. Most helo pilots come from the Army.
#4 by Tinpanallycat on January 12th, 2011
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The CHEAPEST WAY would be to BUY OUR OWN HELICOPTER then hire an instructor on an hourly basis… once you get your ticket.. sell the helicopter to recover some of your investment.. that way you can get your ticket for $25000 or less. Another option would be to buy a light airplne and then get your commercial SEL license then take the additional 10 hours of Helicopter training to get your rotary wing endorsement.
#5 by Apollo on January 12th, 2011
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You want to make sure to get an instrument, helicopter rating to be employable at all. You will also likely need CFI and CFII ratings to build helicopter time as an instructor, so we must make sure to include these costs in the estimate.
I would guesstimate that you will need between 130 and 160 hours to complete a commercial, instrument, CFI, and CFII helicopter certificates and ratings. $250 – $300 per hour is not uncommon for dual instruction. Estimating high, 160 hours at $300 per hour would be $48,000. There will be at least another $5,000 or more for ground school, books and supplies, examiner fees, aircraft rental for checkrides, etc.
Therefore, for the training alone, the $40,000 – $60,000 range is not unreasonable.
However, your helicopter time may be low for many employers. My first instructor job required CFIs to have 200 helicopter hours. Some schools require their CFIs to have as much as 300. R22 schools will also require completion of a Robinson factory training course. It is my (admittedly very biased) opinion that the greater likelihood of higher insurance minimums negates the slightly lower rental rates Robinson schools often tout. In any event, you need to understand that there is a strong possibility of additional cost to meet employer insurance minimums.
Good luck!
(Added)
“Another option would be to buy a light airplne and then get your commercial SEL license then take the additional 10 hours of Helicopter training to get your rotary wing endorsement.”
61.129(c) requires a minimum of 50 hours “in helicopters” for a commercial, helicopter rating.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=dd272edaae1562ee9359d745503a425a&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.2.6.1.5&idno=14
And even if it allowed an add-on in 10 hours, there is no way that anyone would ever be able to become proficient in that time. Even 50 is highly unlikely, plus the instrument add-on requires at least 15 hours, and then the CFI/CFII.
As for buying a helicopter, I knew one guy who made this work and the total expense was a little lower than renting. Do your homework on this option first, though. There are a lot of factors to consider.