Comments on: For Helicopter training, cheaper to fly Airplanes first?

By: Obelix

Obelix — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:52:59 +0000

I don't think it would be cheaper, but it probably wouldn't be that much more expensive and you'd end up with both licenses rather just one. If someone wanted to get both licenses I would definetly recommend getting their airplane license first and then adding on the helicopter license rather than the other way around.
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By: Joe D

Joe D — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:15:59 +0000

average cost of Helicopter rental $150/hour

average cost of airplane rental $90/hour

Time needed for commercial license 250 hours

250 x 150 = 37,500

250 x 90 = 22,500

Even if you took 50 hours to make the transisiton to rotary wing after you had a fixed wing license that would be another $7,500

22,500 + 7,500 = 30,000

That is still $7,500 less that doing the whole thing rotary. None of this includes any other expenses except the aircraft needed for training. Add in the CFI. Rotary wing CFI’s cost more that Fixed wing CFIs. It is a simple matter of supply and demand. there are lots more fixed wing CFIs than there are rotary wing CFIs so they can charge more.

In addition, add in the extra hours needed to be employable as a commercial pilot. Most angencies require a minimum of 1500 hours total time before they’ll hire a helicopter pilot. How do you get those hours? Teaching is the answer, so is renting. Well, 1500 minus the 250 leaves 1250 hours. It will take an awful long time to build those hours if you only have a rotary certificate in your hands. How much does that cost in lost income…

ok, I stand corrected on the aeronautical experience for commercial helicopter but the TT requirement for employment doesn’t change so now add the other 100 hours to the time you have to take after certification to be able to get a job other than flight instructing and the money still doesn’t change much. As for the 50 hours, I can say from personal experience that if you already hold a Commercial certificate fixed wing, 50 hours of instruction for transition should be adequate for most people. I have seen people learn to hover in as little as 3 hours. Not to mention, not everything has to be learned independently, some of those training tasks can be combined. Also, how can 50 hours not be sufficient? That is one third of the total time required by the FARs. By your own estimate then there is no way that a person could possibly learn everything in 150 hours when starting from the beginning.
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By: Thom

Thom — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:33:59 +0000

If you are going to fly primarily helicopters, then start with them. It’s easier to transition from rotary to fixed wing than the other way around. And if you are going to try and get hired as a copter pilot, i think you’ll find they look at time in the copter as a factor for hiring. I realize its more expensive, but it’s just better to train in what you are going to fly, imho…
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I’m a pilot, 3 years, My CFI was helicopter pilot for 25 years…

By: Tom B

Tom B — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:50:59 +0000

I live in CA. and theres a radio commercial out there beggin for helicopter pilots, ya know, will train,financial assistance guaranteed placement ,never herd one for airplanes though.but as far is it cheeper to get a license for airplanes first? oh I dont know. would it be cheeper to go to poditiary school first if you were planning on becoming a dentist
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By: John B

John B — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:14:59 +0000

I learned to fly helicopters before airplanes in the army. Didn’t have to pay for either so I doubt that I could help with your calculations. I would think though, that if you wanted a commercial helicopter ticket with an instrument rating, you’d be better off beginning in the airplane but only if you wanted to make use of the airplane ratings too. The reason is that all of the instrument and cross country hours that you’d need to build would be cheaper in the airplane. You’d still have to repeat some of it in a helicopter to prepare for the check ride but not as much.

But if you have no interest in ever flying airplanes, I’d have to believe that doing it all in a helicopter would be the way to go. It should be easy enough to work through though. Talk to the helicopter school about how much it costs to do the whole thing in their helicopter and how much it would cost to add a helicopter category rating to a commercial, instrument airplane certificate. Then call the airplane folks and ask them how much to take you through the commercial and instrument check rides. Add that number to the helicopter add on number and if it’s less than the helicopter completely training, you’ll have your answer.
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