How to Afford to Learn to Fly Helicopters.

Helicopter Training is Expensive, but not as Much as it Appears.

Oct 12, 2008

Helicopter flying costs are about twice those of flying airplanes, especially when learning. But the prospective student needs to consider other factors too.

Many people who want to learn to fly helicopters are put off by the cost. Rotary flying is certainly expensive. But there are ways of saving money when undertaking helicopter training.

Getting More for One's Money with Helicopters

With planes, a lot of time is wasted taxying and waiting on the ground for other aircraft. But this is not so with helicopters. As soon as a rotary aircraft lifts into the hover it is flying – and the student is learning something. So no training time is wasted during helicopter training.

It is also possible to conduct helicopter training during weather conditions which would have airplanes grounded, since in poor visibility or low cloud, helicopter students can practise hovering or other low level manoeuvres.

Helicopter Scholarships and Bursaries

There are not many rotary scholarships and bursaries available. But there are some, and there are often very few applicants for them. In the UK, The Air League, BWPA, and GAPAN offer some scholarships. A specific helicopter scholarship is also offered by Dennis Kenyon, a well-known rotary instructor and display pilot; again, a search should provide the necessary information.

More Economical to do Fixed-Wing Training First?

Some prospective students are told that they will save money on helicopter training if they learn to fly airplanes first. For those who already know how to fly fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter training will certainly be easier and the number of hours required will probably be reduced. However, the difference is not that great, and for those starting from scratch it is probably best to begin as they mean to go on, ie with helicopters.

Other Ways of Saving Money During Helicopter Training

It is occasionally possible to obtain free flight training in exchange for washing aircraft, work around the airfield, or becoming a radio operator at a small airfield. This is worth looking into.

It is worth doing some research to find the cheapest helicopter school, but the prospective student should remember that the basic cost is not everything. It is very important that he or she likes the school set-up and will be able to have an instructor he gets on well with. This can make a significant difference in terms of the number of hours the student takes to learn to fly.

Learning to Fly Overseas

Flight training costs vary significantly in different countries. For those in the UK, it can appear to be cheaper to learn in the USA, South Africa, or Australia. This may be the case, but costs need to be worked out carefully. The student needs to budget for flights and accommodation, but also add in some time spent learning about weather and different radio usage after returning to one’s native land. Savings can often be made in this manner, but care needs to be taken.

Whatever the student does, helicopter training will not be cheap. But if one is careful, costs can be reduced. And everyone agrees that flying these flexible little machines is something very special!

Source

The copyright of the article How to Afford to Learn to Fly Helicopters. in Aviation is owned by Helen Krasner. Permission to republish How to Afford to Learn to Fly Helicopters. in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.