More About Helicopter Flight Careers
by Robyn Tellefsen
A high-flying career lies ahead for those who aspire to become professional helicopter pilots. With top-notch helicopter flight training, you can steer your route to a profession in aerial photography, aerial tours, chartering services, motion picture and TV support, search and rescue, and much more.
What does a helicopter pilot do?
If you've never flown a helicopter, it's a good idea to take an introductory lesson before you commit to a complete helicopter flight training program. Many helicopter flight schools offer a hands-on lesson for beginners; take advantage of that opportunity.
It can be difficult to learn to control a helicopter since helicopters are less stable than airplanes. But with hours and hours of training from helicopter flight schools, pilots master the controls and their flying becomes instinctual.
Because helicopters are used for short trips at relatively low altitude, helicopter pilots must constantly be on the lookout for bridges, power lines, transmission towers, trees, and other obstacles as well as low-flying general aviation aircraft. Helicopter pilots fly year-round, and are only temporarily grounded by fog, high winds, and storms. If pilots do encounter bad weather or have mechanical problems, they can land safely almost anywhere within a minute or two, as long as the landing area does not represent a hazard to persons or property on the ground. This is why helicopter pilots are trained to exercise good judgment.
With a helicopter pilot license, you can legally fly any type of helicopter, including turbine (jet) engine-powered helicopters or multi-engine helicopters up to a gross weight of 12,500 lbs. But safely flying a different size or type of helicopter usually requires additional training and hours of experience in that aircraft.
How much do helicopter pilots get paid and what kinds of helicopter pilot jobs can I get?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2008, median annual earnings for commercial pilots were $65,340; the top 10 percent earned more than $129,580.
Employment of commercial pilots is expected to grow 13 percent by 2016, projects the BLS. According to Helicopter Foundation International, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia, we are currently experiencing a shortage of experienced helicopter pilots. Whether due to pilots retiring or the war, which has pulled experienced personnel from the ranks, the helicopter industry is in desperate need of qualified commercial helicopter pilots. Employment is also growing due to wider recognition of the versatility of the helicopter itself as well an increasing array of sophisticated aviation endeavors.
A wide variety of helicopter pilot jobs are available to those with a commercial pilot's license. Helicopter pilot jobs include aerial photography, air-ambulance hospital work, business transportation, crop spraying, fire fighting, heavy-lift work, law enforcement (border patrol, customs, local and state police), military operations, news gathering, offshore oil rig transport, pilot training, search-and-rescue, sightseeing, traffic reporting, and many more. Though you are not required to hold a flight instructor rating to become a helicopter pilot, most entry-level helicopter pilot jobs are for Certified Flight Instructors.
What does a helicopter pilot do?
If you've never flown a helicopter, it's a good idea to take an introductory lesson before you commit to a complete helicopter flight training program. Many helicopter flight schools offer a hands-on lesson for beginners; take advantage of that opportunity.
It can be difficult to learn to control a helicopter since helicopters are less stable than airplanes. But with hours and hours of training from helicopter flight schools, pilots master the controls and their flying becomes instinctual.
Because helicopters are used for short trips at relatively low altitude, helicopter pilots must constantly be on the lookout for bridges, power lines, transmission towers, trees, and other obstacles as well as low-flying general aviation aircraft. Helicopter pilots fly year-round, and are only temporarily grounded by fog, high winds, and storms. If pilots do encounter bad weather or have mechanical problems, they can land safely almost anywhere within a minute or two, as long as the landing area does not represent a hazard to persons or property on the ground. This is why helicopter pilots are trained to exercise good judgment.
With a helicopter pilot license, you can legally fly any type of helicopter, including turbine (jet) engine-powered helicopters or multi-engine helicopters up to a gross weight of 12,500 lbs. But safely flying a different size or type of helicopter usually requires additional training and hours of experience in that aircraft.
How much do helicopter pilots get paid and what kinds of helicopter pilot jobs can I get?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2008, median annual earnings for commercial pilots were $65,340; the top 10 percent earned more than $129,580.
Employment of commercial pilots is expected to grow 13 percent by 2016, projects the BLS. According to Helicopter Foundation International, a nonprofit organization based in Virginia, we are currently experiencing a shortage of experienced helicopter pilots. Whether due to pilots retiring or the war, which has pulled experienced personnel from the ranks, the helicopter industry is in desperate need of qualified commercial helicopter pilots. Employment is also growing due to wider recognition of the versatility of the helicopter itself as well an increasing array of sophisticated aviation endeavors.
A wide variety of helicopter pilot jobs are available to those with a commercial pilot's license. Helicopter pilot jobs include aerial photography, air-ambulance hospital work, business transportation, crop spraying, fire fighting, heavy-lift work, law enforcement (border patrol, customs, local and state police), military operations, news gathering, offshore oil rig transport, pilot training, search-and-rescue, sightseeing, traffic reporting, and many more. Though you are not required to hold a flight instructor rating to become a helicopter pilot, most entry-level helicopter pilot jobs are for Certified Flight Instructors.
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