How Helicopter Flight Training Works

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flight lessons

Learning to fly a helicopter is a combination of flight training, ground instruction, independent study, and experience building.

Learn more about your student experience

Flight Lessons

Flight lessons are where you learn to physically operate the helicopter.

Most lessons include three parts listed below.

Every pilot begins by learning the fundamentals and gradually progresses toward more advanced certificates and ratings. Whether your goal is to fly recreationally, become a professional helicopter pilot, or eventually teach other students, FAA Part 61 provides the framework for your training.

Preflight Briefing
Before flight of the helicopter
Part 1 of your flight lesson
Always performed with your instructor. you and your instructor will review the objectives of the flight, weather, aircraft performance, procedures, and maneuvers that will be practiced.

Consists of reviewing all of the following:
  • Objectives of the flight
  • The Weather
  • Aircraft performance
  • Procedures
  • Maneuvers that will be practiced
Get Started
Flight Training
During flight of the helicopter
Part 2 of your flight lesson
You will fly with a Certified Flight Instructor and progressively learn helicopter operations
including:
  • Aircraft control & coordination
  • Hovering
  • Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings
  • Airport and heliport operations
  • Traffic patterns
  • Navigation
  • Cross-country flying
  • Confined-area operations
  • Pinnacle and slope operations
  • Autorotations
  • Emergency procedures
  • Aircraft systems and limitations
  • Aeronautical decision making
Get Started
Postflight Debrief
After flight of the helicopter
Part 3 of your flight lesson
After the flight, your instructor will review the following and gets added to your record as listed below:
  • What went well
  • What needs improvement
  • What you will work on during the next lesson
  • Flight time is recorded in your pilot logbook
  • Flight time becomes part of the aeronautical experience required for your FAA certificates and ratings
Get Started
Flying the helicopter is only part of becoming a pilot.

Ground Training

Aircraft & Aerodynamics
How the helicopter generates lift, stays controllable, and performs within its limits. Covers helicopter aerodynamics, aircraft systems, weight and balance, and aircraft performance.
Regulations & Airspace
The rules and shared environment every pilot operates in. Covers Federal Aviation Regulations, airspace, airport operations, and radio communications.
Weather & Navigation
Reading the conditions and planning a route from point to point. Covers aviation weather, navigation, aeronautical charts, and cross-country flight planning.
Safety & Decision Making
The judgment that keeps every flight safe when conditions change. Covers emergency procedures, risk management, and aeronautical decision making.
The Flight path

Your Helicopter Pilot Training Roadmap

A professional helicopter pilot will commonly progress through training in approximately this
order:

1
Private Pilot
The Private Pilot Certificate is where most helicopter pilots begin.
2
Instrument Rating
An Instrument Rating teaches you to operate a helicopter primarily by reference to the
aircraft’s instruments and prepares you to operate under Instrument Flight Rules, or IFR.
3
Commercial Pilot
The Commercial Pilot Certificate is the next major step toward becoming a professional
helicopter pilot.
4
Certified Flight Instructor
After earning a Commercial Pilot Certificate, many professional helicopter pilots continue to the
Certified Flight Instructor, or CFI, certificate.
5
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
A CFII, or Certified Flight Instructor Instrument, allows a properly rated instructor to provide
instrument flight training.
Not every pilot needs every certificate or rating.
Someone flying recreationally may stop after earning a Private Pilot Certificate, while someone pursuing helicopter aviation professionally will commonly continue through Commercial, Instrument, CFI, and CFII training.
reference the Helicopter Pilot Training Roadmap for what your journey may look like

Certificates & Ratings

Private Pilot Certificate +

Rotorcraft Helicopter

The Private Pilot Certificate is where most helicopter pilots begin. It allows you to act as Pilot in Command of a helicopter and carry passengers, although you cannot fly passengers or property for compensation or hire.

FAA Minimum Flight Experience

Under 14 CFR 61.109(c), a helicopter Private Pilot applicant must log at least 40 hours total flight time, including at least:

  • 20 hours of flight training with an instructor
  • 10 hours of solo flight

The training must also include:

  • 3 hours of cross-country flight training
  • 3 hours of night flight training
  • One night cross-country flight of more than 50 nautical miles total distance
  • 10 night takeoffs and 10 night landings to a full stop
  • 3 hours of checkride preparation with an instructor within the required period before the practical test

The 10 hours of solo flight must include:

  • 3 hours of solo cross-country flight
  • One solo cross-country flight totaling at least 100 nautical miles
  • Landings at three points
  • At least one flight segment greater than 25 nautical miles straight-line distance
  • 3 takeoffs and 3 full-stop landings at an airport with an operating control tower

These are FAA minimum requirements.

What You Learn

Private Pilot training develops the foundation for everything that follows. You will learn how to safely operate the helicopter, communicate with air traffic control, navigate, plan cross-country flights, respond to emergencies, and make safe decisions as Pilot in Command.

Instrument Rating +

Helicopter

An Instrument Rating teaches you to operate a helicopter primarily by reference to the aircraft’s instruments and prepares you to operate under Instrument Flight Rules, or IFR.

Instrument training is especially important for pilots pursuing professional helicopter careers.

FAA Minimum Experience

Under 14 CFR 61.65, an Instrument Helicopter applicant must have:

50 hours of cross-country flight time as Pilot in Command

Of those:

At least 10 hours must be in helicopters

You must also have:

40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time

Including:

At least 15 hours of instrument training with a CFII who holds an Instrument Helicopter rating

The training also includes:

  • At least 3 hours of instrument helicopter training within the required period before the practical test
  • Instrument navigation
  • IFR procedures
  • Holding
  • Instrument approaches
  • Air traffic control procedures
  • Emergency procedures
  • Flight by reference to instruments

You must also complete an instrument cross-country training flight in a helicopter conducted under IFR that includes:

  • At least 100 nautical miles
  • An IFR flight plan
  • Instrument approaches at the airports used
  • Three different types of instrument approaches using navigation systems

Why Instrument Training Matters

Instrument training dramatically improves your aircraft control, weather knowledge, decision making, navigation skills, and ability to operate in the professional aviation environment.

Even pilots who eventually work primarily in VFR helicopter operations benefit from the discipline developed during instrument training.

Commercial Pilot Certificate +

Rotorcraft Helicopter

The Commercial Pilot Certificate is the next major step toward becoming a professional helicopter pilot.

It allows you to exercise commercial pilot privileges and is always required before you can be compensated for acting as a pilot.

FAA Minimum Flight Experience

Under 14 CFR 61.129(c), a Commercial Helicopter applicant must log at least:

150 hours total flight time

Including at least:

100 hours in powered aircraft

Of which:

50 hours must be in helicopters

The applicant must also have at least:

100 hours of Pilot in Command time

Including:

  • 35 hours as Pilot in Command in helicopters
  • 10 hours of cross-country Pilot in Command time in helicopters

Commercial training also requires at least:

20 hours of training with an authorized instructor

This training includes advanced helicopter operations, instrument reference training, cross-country operations, night operations, and preparation for the Commercial Pilot practical test.

Additionally, the commercial experience requirements include solo flight, or qualifying flight while performing the duties of Pilot in Command with an instructor aboard, including specified cross-country and night experience.

What Changes at the Commercial Level?

Commercial training is not simply about learning new maneuvers.

You are expected to perform everything you learned during Private Pilot training to a significantly higher standard.

Commercial training focuses heavily on:

  • Precision
  • Aircraft management
  • Professional decision making
  • Advanced emergency procedures
  • Advanced helicopter operations
  • Flight planning
  • Passenger considerations
  • Commercial regulations
  • Professional-level airmanship
Certified Flight Instructor +

CFI Helicopter

After earning a Commercial Pilot Certificate, many professional helicopter pilots continue to the Certified Flight Instructor, or CFI, certificate.

A CFI teaches new pilots how to fly.

Flight instructing is also one of the most common ways new commercial helicopter pilots gain experience early in their careers.

Is There a Minimum Number of Hours for CFI?

Unlike Private, Instrument, and Commercial training, the FAA does not establish a separate total-flight-hour requirement specifically for the initial CFI certificate.

Instead, you must meet the eligibility requirements and demonstrate that you can safely teach another pilot.

A helicopter CFI applicant must generally:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Hold the appropriate Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
  • Hold the applicable Rotorcraft Helicopter rating
  • Complete required instructor ground and flight training
  • Receive the required instructor endorsements
  • Pass the applicable FAA knowledge tests
  • Pass the CFI practical test

Learning How to Teach

CFI training is different from previous flight training.

You already know how to fly the helicopter.

Now you must learn how to teach someone else how to fly it.

Ground training includes the Fundamentals of Instructing, including:

  • How people learn
  • Effective teaching methods
  • Student evaluation
  • Testing
  • Lesson planning
  • Course development
  • Classroom instruction

Flight training requires you to demonstrate and teach helicopter operations including hovering, takeoffs and landings, performance maneuvers, emergency procedures, special operations, and other areas required by the FAA.

A CFI candidate learns to perform maneuvers from the instructor’s seat while simultaneously explaining what is happening, identifying errors, and safely correcting student mistakes.

Certified Flight Instructor Instrument +

CFII Helicopter

A CFII, or Certified Flight Instructor Instrument, allows a properly rated instructor to provide instrument flight training.

This is commonly one of the final ratings earned during initial professional helicopter training.

Is There a CFII Hour Requirement?

There is no separate FAA total-flight-hour requirement specifically for the CFII rating.

Instead, the applicant must hold the appropriate pilot and instructor qualifications and meet the FAA requirements for the additional instructor rating.

An applicant must receive the required training, obtain instructor endorsements, and pass the applicable practical test. Applicants adding another rating to an existing Flight Instructor Certificate are not required to retake the Fundamentals of Instructing knowledge test.

What You Learn

CFII training focuses on learning how to teach:

  • Instrument flight
  • IFR regulations
  • IFR flight planning
  • Air traffic control clearances
  • Holding procedures
  • Navigation systems
  • Instrument approaches
  • Missed approaches
  • Instrument emergencies
  • IFR decision making

The goal is not simply to be a proficient instrument pilot.

You must be able to explain instrument concepts, recognize student errors, and safely teach a student to operate the aircraft using instrument procedures.

FAA Minimums vs. Real-World Training +

One of the most important things to understand about flight training is the difference between meeting the FAA minimum hours and being ready for the checkride.

For example, the FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Helicopter Certificate is 40 flight hours.

That does not mean every student will take their checkride at exactly 40.0 hours.

FAA certificates and ratings require both:

Aeronautical Experience

The required flight hours and types of flying specified by the FAA.

and

Proficiency

Your ability to consistently perform to the standards expected for the certificate or rating.

Your instructor must determine that you are prepared before endorsing you for the FAA practical test.

The goal is not simply to build hours.

The goal is to become a safe, knowledgeable, competent helicopter pilot.

Testing Process

The FAA Testing process

Most certificates and ratings involve several major steps.

1
Ground Training
Learn the aeronautical knowledge required by the FAA.
2
FAA Knowledge Test
Complete the required computerized FAA written examination when applicable.
3
Flight Training
Develop and demonstrate the required flight skills.
4
Instructor Endorsement
Your instructor verifies that you have completed the required training and are prepared for the
practical test.
5
Practical Test

Commonly called the checkride, the practical test is conducted by an FAA inspector or Designated Pilot Examiner.

It generally consists of:

An Oral Examination

You demonstrate your understanding of regulations, aircraft systems, weather, performance, flight planning, aerodynamics, emergencies, and other required subjects.

A Flight Examination

You demonstrate the required maneuvers and procedures in the helicopter.

Once you successfully complete the practical test, you are issued the applicable FAA certificate or rating.

Quick definitions

Understanding the terminology

Dual / Flight Training +
Flight time received from an authorized flight instructor.
Solo +
Flight conducted without another person aboard while operating under the applicable student
pilot privileges and endorsements.
PIC +
Pilot in Command. The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during the
flight.
Cross-Country +
Flight that meets the applicable FAA definition and distance requirements for the certificate or
rating being pursued.
Ground Training +
Instruction covering the knowledge necessary to safely operate an aircraft and meet FAA
certification requirements.
VFR +
Visual Flight Rules. Flying primarily using outside visual references and under the applicable
visual weather requirements.
IFR +
Instrument Flight Rules. A system of aircraft operation using instrument procedures, navigation
systems, and air traffic control clearances.
CFI +
Certified Flight Instructor.
CFII +
Certified Flight Instructor with instrument teaching privileges.
Checkride +
The FAA practical test used to earn a pilot certificate or rating.
Simplified Summaries of Major FAA experience Requirements within each bullet point

Part 61 Helicopter Training at a Glance

Private Pilot Helicopter +
40 hours total flight time
Instrument Helicopter +
50 hours PIC cross-country + 40 hours instrument time
Commercial Pilot Helicopter +
150 hours total flight time
CFI Helicopter +
No separate total-hour minimum beyond required pilot qualifications and proficiency
CFII Helicopter +
No separate total-hour minimum beyond applicable instructor and instrument qualifications
Read the following for clarification +
These are simplified summaries of the federal requirements and should not be used as a substitute for the applicable Federal Aviation Regulations.
FAQs

Common Questions

Will I get my license at the minimum hours? +
Not necessarily. FAA minimum hours are exactly that, minimums. Every student progresses at a
different pace, and you must demonstrate the required knowledge and proficiency before being
recommended for your checkride. Your instructor will continuously evaluate your progress and
help keep your training as efficient as possible.
I received training at another school. Do I have to start over? +
No. Your previous flight experience and properly logged training generally carries with you. We will review your logbook, evaluate your current proficiency, and build a training plan around what you have already completed and what you still need.
How often should I fly? +
We recommend flying 2 to 3 times per week when possible. Consistent training helps you retain skills between lessons and can reduce the amount of review needed.
How long does it take to earn a helicopter license? +
It depends on how frequently you train, weather, aircraft availability, and your individual progress. Students who train consistently can progress much faster than those flying occasionally.
Do I need any experience before my first lesson? +
No experience is required. We start with the fundamentals and progressively build your knowledge and flying skills throughout the course.
Is ground school separate from flight training? +
Ground and flight training work together. Ground lessons teach the knowledge behind what you are doing in the helicopter, while flight lessons allow you to apply it. Both are required to become a safe and competent pilot.
When will I fly the helicopter by myself? +
Your first solo happens once you have completed the required training, meet any applicable SFAR 73 requirements, and your instructor determines that you are proficient and ready to safely operate the helicopter on your own.
Understanding SFAR 73

Key aspects of how SFAR 73 impacts your training

Training in a Robinson R22 or R44

If you train in a Robinson R22 or R44, SFAR 73 adds additional FAA training, experience, endorsement, and currency requirements beyond the standard Part 61 requirements.

What SFAR 73 focuses on

SFAR 73 focuses on the unique operating characteristics of Robinson helicopters, including low rotor RPM, low-G hazards, energy management, autorotations, and governor operation.

Student pilots must keep in mind

For student pilots, one of the biggest impacts is solo eligibility. Students generally need 20 hours of dual instruction in the specific Robinson model before solo, with an exception allowing R22 experience to reduce the R44 requirement. Students must also complete the required SFAR 73 training and receive the appropriate instructor endorsements.

In Summary

Simply put, Part 61 establishes the requirements for your pilot certificate, while SFAR 73 adds additional requirements for flying Robinson helicopters. Your instructor will incorporate these requirements into your normal training as you progress.

Ready to start flying?

Schedule a Discovery Flight or contact Texas Heli Academy to talk with one of our instructors
about your helicopter training goals.

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