Commercial Pilot Certificate

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Turn your love of flight into your profession.

Flying is fun! It's even more fun when you can get paid to do it. Imagine a job where you can't wait to get to work? Well that's how you'll feel as a Commercial Helicopter Pilot as you navigate the skies; whether it be carrying a sling load of trees in the forests of Oregon, rescuing a person off a burning ship as a Emergency Medical Service Pilot, or transporting oil rig workers to their platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

The opportunities for Commercial Helicopter Pilots are endless, and due to the nature of the flying we do, our sector of the aviation industry is rarely effected by economic fluctuations.


Remember that this course is also a great way for the holder of a Private Pilot Certificate or aircraft owner to increase and improve their own flying skills and is highly recommended by Heli-Ops.

 

Prerequisites:

1.    Be at least 18 years of age.
2.    Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
3.    Hold at least a private pilot certificate.

 

Steps to become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot:

1.    Pass a written knowledge test to FAA standards.
2.    Fulfill the minimum requirements of flight time and training specified by the FAA (see below).
3.    Pass an oral, and flight test (Practical test) given by the FAA or a Designated Pilot Examiner.

 

Minimum requirements for a Commercial Pilot Certificate:

For a helicopter rating: A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with a rotor craft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:

  1. 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters.
  2. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least--
    1. 35 hours in helicopters; and
    2. 10 hours cross-country flight in helicopters.
  3. 20 hours of training that includes at least:
    1. 5 hours of instrument training in an aircraft;
    2. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
    3. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
    4. 3 hours in a helicopter in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
  4. 10 hours of solo or dual received flight in a helicopter which includes at least:
    1. One cross-country flight with landings at a minimum of three points, with one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
    2. 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern).

Course Costs:

 

Hours Price Total
Schweizer 300c rental**
 150 $305 $15,100
Dual Flight Instruction 20 $45 $900
Ground Instruction
 20 $35 $700
FAA Written Test $100 $150
Books and Supplies
 $150

$150
FAA Examiner Fee
 $400 $400
TOTAL COST
 $17400

**Hours acquired during your Private & Instrument count toward 150 hr mark

PLEASE NOTE:

Our prices are subject to change without prior notice. The CPL course is structured and based on the FAA minimum requirements as well as the average number of hours a typical student may take to complete this course.  It is not guaranteed you will complete the training in the minimum or average number of hours.

Since the Commercial Certificate requires you to have a total of 150 hours of flight time as well as 100 hours of Pilot In Command (PIC) time the course cost of the Commercial Certificate will vary greatly from student to student.  PIC time is any time acquired after getting a Private Pilot Certificate.  Therefore, if you acquire a Private Certificate at 50 hours you will be able to achieve the 100 hours of PIC time needed to finish the Commercial Certificate in the minimum 150 hours.  If it takes you more than 50 hours to get a Private Certificate then you will need more than the 150 hours to qualify for the Commercial Certificate due to the 100 hour PIC requirement.  The regulations for this rating can be a bit confusing at times and we encourage you to contact or visit us for further clarification.

 

Call now to get more information 1-303-466-HELI , download a brochure or email us