What helicopter pilot training is required?
In most cases, helicopter pilot training occurs in the military or by attending a helicopter pilot flight school approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to qualify for a license. Helicopter pilots are required to have completed no less than 1,500 flight hours in an FAA-approved flight school, be at least 23 years of age, and have earned at least a bachelor’s degree at the time of application for a license. While the military can be a source for earning this experience, some helicopter pilots earn this by taking classes and flight instruction from a private school approved by the government. Helicopter pilots who find work for commercial airlines may be required to prove additional flight training hours and get advanced licenses to operate larger helicopters.
