Ive been told that it is cheaper to get my fixed wing rating first, then add-on a commercial helicopter rating. What about that?
The simple answer might be “yes, you can save some money by getting a commercial fixed wing rating first, then adding on a commercial helicopter rating.” Fixed wing instruction will run $70-100 per hour. In order to get a commercial fixed-wing rating, a pilot is required to accumulate a minimum of 150 hours. Following this, the pilot will likely require 60-75 hours of helicopter time before sufficiently proficient in a helicopter to pass the commercial pilot practical test. On the other hand, a motivated student with no previous experience can fairly reliably pass the commercial helicopter practical test with 150 flight hours of pure helicopter time. If planned and executed well, the student could earn an instrument rating in helicopters during that 150 hours. If flying a helicopter for a living is your goal, though, where the rubber meets the road is employability. A student considering going the fixed-wing add-on route, that desires helicopter employment when he has his helicopter ra
Related Questions
- Ive been told that it is cheaper to get my fixed wing rating first, then add-on a commercial helicopter rating. What about that?
- I already have a fixed wing (airplane) pilots license. What are the requirements I need to get my helicopter pilot license?
- Ive got a commercial fixed wing rating. Whats involved in getting a commercial helicopter rating?
