Why Is Becoming a Helicopter Pilot So Expensive?
Do you dream of becoming a professional helicopter pilot and but the sticker shock of flight school is scaring you away?
Helicopter pilot training is pricey, but don’t let that intimidate you. There are many reasonable factors that contribute to that final price and there are a variety of funding options available that can help make it easier than ever to fund your flight training.
Let’s break down the costs, the reasons why the costs are so high, and how you can make it a manageable and worthwhile investment.
Cost Breakdown
First, let’s get an idea of what types of costs are involved at any given helicopter pilot school. Note that these are approximate ranges since costs are subject to change over time. Flight training costs depend on what type of aircraft you’re using and whether you attend a university flight school or an independently operated one.
All of these factors contribute to a wide variety of pricing which can be hard to nail down unless you have a specific school in mind you’ve been researching. No matter the price tag, each cost is there to help keep you safe, keep programs running within the confines of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and—ultimately—to make you a better pilot.
1. Helicopter Cost
When you enroll in pilot school, you are essentially renting a helicopter from that school on a per-hour basis. Helicopter prices are expensive—in the $400–$600 range. (Yes, per hour. And that number only increases with the size of the aircraft you’re using.)
Just as with any vehicle or aircraft, there are a multitude of costs associated with their upkeep that allow you to ensure passenger safety and usage legality. When you own or lease a helicopter, you’re also paying additional costs for the overhead associated with that machine including insurance, taxes, maintenance, fuel, oil, and storage.
Now let’s go back to that $400 hourly figure. The first step to becoming a professional helicopter pilot is getting your private license. The FAA requires that students obtain a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, however many students opt for 50–60 hours before they feel comfortable sitting for their final exam. That’s about $16,000 right from the start. And that’s just for your first license.
Additionally, trainees typically use a Robinson R22 or R44 aircraft. You’ll notice as we delve into pricing below how varied costs can be. Part of that comes down to which helicopter you're using. Many flight schools list helicopter prices for the cheaper R22, stating that prices increase for using the R44.
While other schools, that may look more expensive, may be quoting you the R44 costs from the start. And although the training in the Robinson R44 is more costly, the benefits generally outweigh the difference as many employers prefer pilots with diverse experience among larger aircraft.
2. Flight School Cost
Next, consider the costs associated with the flight school or training program. You’ll need to pay for your flight instructor, ground training, flight simulations, personal equipment like headsets, iPads, kneeboards, books, and any additional fees that help with the overhead associated with running your school.
While ground training costs are relatively lower, flight instructors are in high demand, so their hourly fee is fairly competitive. Depending on the program, that the price of your helicopter usage may already have been calculated to include the fee of your flight instructor.
3. Exam Costs
There are also medical and FAA certification exams that you’ll need to pay for throughout your training.
Medical Exams
Read up on the FAA requirements for medical exams, here.
In general, you’ll:
● need a first or second class medical certificate;
● from an official aviation medical examiner (AME); and
● pay the test fees
FAA Exams
You must pass the FAA’s written, oral, and practical (flight test) exams, administered by a certified FAA examiner before earning a rotorcraft license or rating. These can range from $100–$1000 per license or rating. You’ll also have to rent a helicopter for the practical exam, also known as a check ride.
4. Types of Programs
Furthermore, the type of license, rating, or pathway you take will also dictate the price you pay.
Pathways
By enrolling in a flight school partnered with a university, prospective pilots can earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. You’ll also open yourself up to additional funding options like student loans, scholarships, or grants. For example, our professional pilot program in partnership with Lake Superior College offers prospective pilots the opportunity to earn their associate degree in conjunction with all the FAA certificates and ratings listed below.
Because degree programs are more comprehensive, they can prepare you for potential in nearly any type of job as a helicopter pilot but will cost you upwards of $180,000.
Alternatively, pilots-in-training can opt for a direct, or à la carte, pathway to earning their certifications. That means you could pre-determine which specific licenses and ratings you want and train for those on an individualized basis.
Why approach helicopter training this way? Because you may already know what job in the helicopter industry you’re looking for or have prior training or education you’re looking to continue in a new way. In that case, you can save yourself time and money by choosing the ratings and customizing the curriculum to fit all that you need.
While this pathway is cheaper, it’s more limiting if you aren’t exactly sure what you need and what you want to do after flight school.
Costs vary by license or rating, which we’ll look at in the next section.
Licenses & Ratings
The ranges can give you a very general idea of what your flight training costs could look like in one lump sum.
Private pilots fly for fun and can’t be paid. Passengers are primarily family and friends. Since it’s the first step to becoming a professional/commercial pilot, everyone must start here. The cost for this license alone can be anywhere in the $20,000–$60,000 range.
An instrument rating allows you to fly with limited to no visibility. It is not required to work as a pilot but is highly recommended as it gives you a leg up when looking for a job and makes you a safer and more skillful pilot. To get this rating you’ll need a private pilot’s license and pay $35,000–$50,000.
This allows you to transition into a turbine engine helicopter from your traditional training piston engine aircraft. Costs range from $5,000–$12,000.
External load training allows you to carry materials or equipment below your aircraft and qualify for a career in fields that require these skills. Costs can be up to $20,000.
A commercial pilot license allows you to work as a professional pilot, meaning you can fly with paying customers as your passengers. To get this license you’ll need a private pilot license and pay around $35,000.
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
A CFI rating means you can now teach other students (and get paid for it). It’s a great rating to get because you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get more flight time that can get you higher-paying jobs even faster. You’ll need your commercial license and costs range from $10,000–$25,000.
Certified Flight Instructor: Instrument (CFII)
Similar to a CFI rating, the CFII rating means you can reap the same benefits, plus teach the instrument rating to flight students, making you more knowledgeable and an asset to a potential employer. You’ll need your private rating, instrument rating, a commercial license, certified flight instructor rating, and to pay an average of $15,000.
While the prices can vary among flight schools and training programs, a majority of the cost depends on the type of aircraft used and the number of hours flown within your time training.
Why Is Helicopter Training So Expensive?
Simple: supply and demand. There’s a high demand for helicopter pilots, but not enough people to fill those positions.
Why? First-generation Vietnam-era pilots are retiring. This means there are more pilots leaving the industry than entering it. Industry experts expect there to be an international shortage of pilots and maintenance personnel through 2036. So that drives the costs up for everything helicopter-related from equipment to pilots to maintenance personnel and flight schools.
For example, the cost to lease and maintain a helicopter can be almost double the cost among those of a traditional, fixed-wing aircraft. And the smaller helicopter pilot pool means there are fewer flight instructors heightening the demand and cost of their services beyond those of their traditional, fixed-wing counterparts.
However, the benefits of the helicopter industry make up for its additional expenses. Since helicopter pilots are in such high demand, it gives many pilots a better chance at landing jobs, gaining valuable experience, and having a better chance of being well paid when they do. Helicopter pilots can also expect it to take fewer flight hours to reach higher-paying jobs than airplane pilots.
Furthermore, the return on investment for helicopter pilots is higher than that of doctors and lawyers—and pilots generally have a longer career. Meaning you’ll earn more money back on your investment and have more working years in the field as opposed to other high-demand industries. Which makes the high price of flight school start to sound much more doable and rewarding.
Funding Options
While the long-term costs and benefits are looking better and better, it can still be daunting to take on that initial investment. Thankfully, there are a variety of options to help out with that.
Funding options offered through flight programs, universities, organizations, veterans affairs, or the military can help lower that initial cost or get rid of it completely-- making your flight dreams a reality.
Scholarships are available through flight schools, colleges, and universities, or well-known aviation organizations. While each scholarship has its own requirements, you’ll most likely need to be enrolled in a certified flight school and may even need to hold your private license prior to applying.
A good starting point is to ask your flight program, college, or university what internal options they have available exclusively to their students. Most schools offer a variety of scholarships for their current and prospective students to take advantage of during their time within the program. See a list of exclusive scholarships we offer our students enrolled in our flight training program.
Then head to the FAA’s list of aviation grants and scholarships.
Additionally, prospective women training to become helicopter pilots can turn to Whirly-Girls (International Women Helicopter Pilots) or Women in Aviation International (WAI) for more specific scholarship opportunities.
And finally, don’t forget to search by industry on more general sites like Scholarships.com or any of these scholarship search engines for additional options that may be out there.
Are you a veteran? Some flight schools accept VA benefits which can cover up to all the costs of your training.
To determine your eligibility, head to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The amount you’ll receive (and your overall eligibility) is dependent on many factors that are specific to your individual situation.
In general, however, you’ll need
● to be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill;
● have a first-class or second-class medical certificate; and
● enroll in a school that accepts VA benefits.
Finally, the last option is to take out a loan. Be mindful of its terms and conditions and whether it’s a practical long-term solution for you.
There are a variety of both private and federal options. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) offers financing options, as do mainstream loan providers like Sallie Mae. Depending on your financial situation, applying for the Federal Pell Grant and other types of federal loans can also be a good option to alleviate associated costs while enrolled in your program.
See a list of all the loans we recommend to our prospective students applying for our flight training program.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that the high cost of helicopter pilot school is an investment in yourself and your future. One that has the potential for a high return, a great salary, and a career that allows you decades of adventure flying and a variety of industries to be a part of.
If you would like to learn more on how to become a professional pilot we recommend reading our blog: Dream to Reality: How to Become a Helicopter Pilot
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