You will be expected to meet the standards in the FAA Practical Test Standard (PTS) for the helicopter Flight Instructor Rating. You will be expected to demonstrate all the Commercial PTS flight maneuvers from the "non-PIC" (Instructor's) seat in the aircraft as you explain those maneuvers as you would to a student pilot. You are also required to demonstrate a "touchdown" autorotation to the ground ("touchdowns" are NOT required for the Private or Commercial Rating).

You will also be required to pass a rigorous Oral Examination with an FAA Inspector on the subject matters covered in the FAA's Certified Flight Instructor Practial Test Standard (PTS) publication.

You are also required to pass two written FAA "Knowledge Tests." One covers the "Fundamentals of Instruction" and covers how people learn and how they should be taught. The other is a test on general aviation information that any Certified Flight Instructor should know.

If you already hold an Airplane CFI Rating (or higher), you DO NOT need to take the "Fundamentals of Instruction" written test again, but you WILL need to take a very short Helicopter CFI Written "Knowledge Test", which consists of 20 general helicopter questions.

Note: You can begin your flight training in the helicopter TODAY! There are NO prior requirements before you begin dual instruction in the helicopter. You can begin at any age, but you must be 16 years old to solo, 17 to earn your Private Pilot Certificate, and 18 to qualify for the Commercial Certificate and Flight Instructor Rating. (See our pages on Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot Requirements)

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

Where Do You Start?? What's the First Step ??

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

Certified Flight Instructor-Helicopter (or 'Add-On') Rating: FAA Requirements
References: FAR 61.183; 61.185; 61.187

Hold an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate

Hold a Current Third Class Medical (or Higher)

Log 3 Hours in Dual Instruction (Minimum) in the Previous 60 Days Prior to the Practical Flight Test (Checkride)


Have Passed The "Fundamentals of Instruction" FAA Written "Knowledge Test" With the Previous 24 Months

Have Passed The FAA Written Helicopter Flight Instructor (CFI) "Knowledge Test" With the Previous 24 Months

Pass the FAA Flight Instructor Practical Test (Checkride) Oral and Flight Portion

Note: For the CFI "Add-On" Rating, you are NOT required to take the "Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI)" test again.
You ARE, however, required to take a shorter, 20-question "CFI Helicopter Add-On" FAA Knowledge Test. Call for Details.

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Estimated Training Costs: Certified Flight Instructor-Helicopter (CFI) Rating*

(For those who already hold a Commercial Pilot-Helicopter Certificate with a minimum of 150 Flight hrs)
5 Hours Minimum Training, 10-15 Hours Average Time Required.

NOTES: 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.

* 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. Based on our considerable experience, we have found that it takes most students approximately 10-15 hours of flight training to gain the skills required to pass the required FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practical Flight Test.

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