Are You Seriously Interested in Becoming a Professional (Commercial) Helicopter Pilot??

Then Where Do You Start??

Schedule an Introductory Flight Training Lesson in the Helicopter
(Click on Link for More Information)

** Note: NO Prior Airplane or Aircraft Experience is Required to Earn a Helicopter Certificate.

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Estimated Training Costs for the Professional Helicopter "From Scratch" Pilot Training Programs*

For those with No Prior Flight Experience - 150 hours minimum required Average Cost based on 160 Flight Hours, a Realistic Average Time Required. (Optional Instrument and Instrument Instructor Ratings are Additional).

Required Flight Training and Aeronautical Experience for the Basic Professional Pilot Program

In your 150 hours (or more) of Flight Training in the helicopter for your Private, Commercial, and Flight Instructor Pilot Certificates, you are required by FAA regulations to obtain a minimum of training and experience in specific flight areas. 150 Hours (Minimum) Total Pilot Time in Helicopters* Must Include:

• 150 hours of Flight Time (100 hours of which must be "Pilot-in-Command" (PIC) Flight Time)
• 20 hours of Dual Instruction in the Required Areas of Operation for Each Certificate Level
• 10 hours of Cross-Country Helicopter Experience
• 3 hours of Night Dual Instruction
• 10 hours of Instrument Training in an Aircraft
• 1 DAY VFR 2-hour (minimum) Dual Instruction Flight with one (1) 50 nautical-mile "leg"
• 1 NIGHT VFR 2-hour (minimum) Dual Instruction Flight with one (1) 50 nautical-mile "leg"
• 5 hours of NIGHT SOLO Flight Experience with a minimum of 10 Take-Offs and Landings
• One (1) Cross-Country Solo flight with three landings and one (1) 50 nautical-mile minimum "leg"
• 3 hours of dual instruction in the 60 days previous in Preparation for each Practical Flight Test or "Checkride"

NOTE 1: Hourly rates shown are based on the advance purchase of 10-hour "blocks" of flight training time. Add $10 per hour if training is purchased hour-by-hour. Rates are subject to change without notice. Students may elect to take an outside ground school or study on their own with Midwest's guidance for written exams. Supplemental individual personalized ground instruction (if requested) will be charged at current ground school instructor rates.

NOTE 2: You are NOT REQUIRED to hold a Flight Instructor Rating to Become a Professional Helicopter Pilot Flying for Compensation and Hire. HOWEVER, MOST entry-level Jobs in the "real world" are Flight Instructing Positions. You Can Obtain Your Flight Instructor's Ratings Essentially in the same 150 hours Required for the Commercial Certificate. You Must Only Hold a Commercial Certificate, Pass Two (2) Additional Written "Knowledge" Tests, and Pass the FAA Practical Flight Test (checkride) to ALSO obtain your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Rating. Most of the Dual Flight Training Required to Prepare You for the CFI Flight Test Can Be Accomplished AT THE SAME TIME as You are Preparing for the Commercial Flight Test. In fact, You Could Actually Take the Commercial Flight Test and the Flight Instructor's Flight Test on the Same Day or the Next Day! We Strongly Encourage Our Students to Earn the Flight Instructor's Rating in Addition to the Commercial Certificate.

NOTE 3: These Requirements are for Those Individuals who earn their Private, Commercial, and Flight Instructor Helicopter Certificates without any prior flight time or experience. Pilots already airplane rated can also earn Private, Commercial, and CFI "Add-On" Ratings. See our Pilot Training Web Pages on "Add-On" Programs for More Information.

Read Midwest's Copyrighted Article on The Path to Becoming a PROFESSIONAL HELICOPTER Pilot


* Minimum cost estimates are based on the FAA MINIMUM training requirements. The number of hours any individual may require depends on that person's abilities, personal initiative, desire to learn, outside study, and frequency of training. Average Costs are based on our considerable experience in training helicopter pilots. We have found that it takes most students approximately 160 hours of flight training to gain the skills required to pass the required FAA Private, Commercial, and Flight Instructor (CFI) Pilot Practical Flight Tests.

Please call or E-Mail us with your specific questions.

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