Helicopter pilot careers appear to be pretty thrilling. Medical
evacuation, fire fighting, law enforcement, mountain search and rescue, and border
control are some of the high intensity, high reward careers available to
trained commercial pilots. Aerial photography, advertising, sightseeing tours, geological
survey, fish and game census, highway patrol, and carrying workers and supplies
to and form offshore oil rigs are some other heli pilot careers.
What do helicopter pilots earn?
According to salary.com, median salary for
a helicopter pilot is $86,627, with the top 10% earning $133,998
How
to become a helicopter pilot
If you want to fly as a commercial pilot,
versus a private pilot, you will need to enroll in an FAA certified flight
school, earn a series of certifications and complete a certain number of flight
hours – typically 210.
Helicopter training programs can be found
everywhere. In mild, sunny climates like those in Nevada, Arizona and California, Pilot Training programs have
proliferated. But even rainy and extreme weather prone areas
like Washington and Texas have seen helicopter pilot training schools that are
thriving. Programs tend to concentrate in or near larger population
centers, so you may need to extend your search if you live in a small
community. Some aspiring pilots will transplant for the duration of their
training program to one of the sunnier locations in order to maximize their
good weather flying time and complete their program faster.
Programs vary in length, but a full time
student could complete the required curriculum and flight hours in a year and
half to two years.
The
cost of flight school
Flying a helicopter for a living is not for
everyone. It can be an exciting, adrenaline-inducing adventure, but it does
require an investment. The training and flight
school hours required to earn a commercial helicopter pilot license can run
$75,000-$85,000.
For
those with VA education benefits,
the majority of tuition costs may be covered. For others, financial aid
packages and scholarships are available. Flight schools with Department of
Education accreditation, 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 can significantly affect both the
out-of-pocket cost to the student and provide options for long-term loans.
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