For Northwesterners Seeking Thrills, Helicopter Pilot Training in Washington is Making Dream Jobs Come True

If you’ve ever dreamt about being a helicopter pilot, training at an FAA-approved flight school can make your dream come true. Conveniently, Washington has several great helicopter pilot training schools.

Helicopter Pilot: A Dream Job

The role of a helicopter pilot comes in many shapes and sizes. From the intensity of a search and rescue or firefighter helicopter pilot to the more leisurely pace of a sightseeing tour or aerial photography helicopter pilot, a career as a commercial pilot is becoming a reality for many, thanks to increasingly abundant training schools. The surge in helicopter flight training in Washington and other northwestern states is a two-part answer to growing demand. Part one is the demand for all types of commercial pilots, which is projected to increase by 10% in Washington State through 2022 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ONetOnline.org. Part two is the fact that more people are actually chasing the dream of becoming a helicopter pilot.

Do You Have What It Takes?

To become a full-fledged helicopter pilot, certain prerequisites must be met in order to enroll in helicopter pilot training programs in Washington and elsewhere. The basics include being at least 16 years of age (although many helicopter pilot training schools have a minimum age requirement of 18);having a high school diploma or equivalent; obtaining an FAA Class I medical certificate; passing a background check; and being able to read, write, speak and understand English.

Beyond the basics, there are some skill sets that commercial pilots should simply have by nature. They include strong communication skills, observational skills, problem solving skills and a quick reaction time. Sound familiar? Then you may be closer to living the dream than you imagined.

Flight Schools That Soar

So what should you look for in a helicopter pilot training school? There are a few key factors. First, find out if the school is FAA Part 141 approved. Next, find out the average experience of the flight instructors. And lastly, be sure to ask what the pass/fail ratio is for any helicopter flight school you consider. These three factors will give you a good idea of the caliber of flight training you’ll receive.

The Realities of Helicopter Flight Schools

One thing that aspiring helicopter pilots might not know is that there’s more to helicopter flight training school than just learning to physically operate a helicopter. Many flight training programs include a number of related subjects including meteorology, safety, law, physiology and aerodynamics.

Another little-known fact is that while helicopter pilot training may be expensive, there are resources available to get on the flight path to your dream job. Financial aid packages and scholarships are available to those who qualify. Those with VA education benefits may be able to cover a portion of tuition costs, as well. Accredited aviation programs, like Charter College Aviation, can offer qualified student pilots Title IV Financial Aid in the forms of Federal Student Loans and Pell Grants. These resources, along with the surge in helicopter flight schools in Washington and other northwestern states are helping make careers as a commercial pilot a reality.

Career Up In the Air? Consider Flight Training School in Nevada or Texas

Aviation career opportunities can be found through aviation education in Nevada, Texas and other parts of the country.

As Confucius shared, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” For people who love to travel, now is the perfect time to follow that advice by diving in to aviation education in Nevada or Texas to get the necessary education and skills to become an airplane or helicopter pilot.

Industry leaders have looked in to their crystal balls (along with their extensive research) to predict a continued strong demand for aviation professionals — from airplane and helicopter pilots to aviation maintenance technicians. Airlines around the world are already expanding fleets and schedules, and they need the manpower to go along with the mechanical expansion. According to information provided in Boeing’s Long-Term Market report, between 2015 and 2034, the world's aviation system will require:

·558,000 new commercial airline pilots

·609,000 new commercial airline maintenance technicians

Now is the time for people looking for new exciting careers that will potentially allow them to travel all over the world to consider aviation education in Nevada, Texas, California and other states.

The key is to look for flight training schools that offer well-rounded educational opportunities, offering students the knowledge, technical skills and practical training necessary to earn their FAA licenses. As Helicopter Association International President Matt Zucccaro shares, “Flight training comes in all forms and shapes, but no matter the level — basic, advanced, simulator, recurrent, mission-specific, or military — the one element critical to a high-quality training program is an instructor who, along with flight skills, teaches and practices safety and professionalism.”

A few Nevada aviation education programs include: Carson Aviation Academy (fixed wing) and Reno Tahoe Helicopter in Northern Nevada and Elite Flight Training & Management (fixed wing and helicopter) in Las Vegas. There are dozens of flight schools in Texas, including Marcair Aviation (fixed wing) located at the Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke and Veracity Aviation (helicopter) based in Seguin, Texas with a satellite office at the Georgetown Municipal Airport.

In addition to flight hours, it’s important for future airline and helicopter pilots to understand the basics of aviation, navigation, aerodynamics, meteorology, safety, flight law, aircraft systems and components, physiology and crew resource management.

After earning an FAA license, potential jobs could include flying for private or commercial airlines, conducting helicopter tours, agricultural flying, fire fighting, search & rescue, news broadcasting, law enforcement, aerial photography and much more.

Upon completion of the right flight training program and earning an FAA license, the sky is the limit. Literally.