copter flying lessons

In Dallas, there's a school that estimates their "typical" student with no experience will take about $17,725 to get their private. Factor in an extra 20% for being in Cali and I bet you're close.

 

Two things to factor in, Hourly rate of copter rental which average $350-500 per hour. Then instructor Hourly $75-150 per hour. Min hours needed will be 40 with the average person taking approx 60 hours to get their licence. I would budget $30k in CA for Flight Training and ground schooling. Consider Buying a used Robinson and hiring a Private instructor. Biggest expense is the Helicopter rental.


Make sure this is what you really want to do. I am a private fixed wing pilot and had been working on my Rotary Add on. What I learned is that you have to be committed and fly every week to stay proficient and safe in my opinion. Its not like in my plane I can go a month or two, jump right in and be right back at it. IN a Heli, your moving and thinking 99% of the time. When S*&% goes wrong you got one chance at saving it. To keep on your toes, you really should be flying weekly. I would not tke my family and friends up in a Heli if I hadnt been flying every week and was not feeling 100% confident. In the plane, I can go a month or so, jump right in with Family and friends and go somewhere. Planes are much easier and more forgiving with a little wider envelope to recover from errors. Helis you better know what the heck your doing and be prepared.

I will tell you this, Helis are an absolute blast and wayyyyyyy More fun than a fixed wing. Much more rewarding and a much better flight experience. If you have the time and are committed to flying all the time, then dont hesitate to do it. Go all in, buy a 4 seat Robinson and have a blast

 

A short time ago a guy told me that if you own a 1/2 ton pickup, fill the box full of money before you go to a school.

 

Reality-based description right there, thanks.

Helicopter flight training was one of those dream "to-dos" for me, but I waited too long (random vertigo/inner-ear problems now).

Bristow has a school just up the road from where I live:

Bristow Academy ? Helicopter Flight Training School - bristowgroup.com

https://www.facebook.com/Bristow-Academy-Inc-179400105430593/

Brevard home to international helicopter training HQ
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My son just finished his PPL in 44 Hours and at just under 17K in Texas. So above estimates seem about right nationally, but Cali likely more. Just because.

 

eastwest7,
Please keep this thread updated on what you find. I've also been toying with the idea. I'm most interested in finding a well qualified and reasonably priced instructor in the area. I would likely buy an R22 for training.

 

Join the Army National Guard.

 

How much would a 4 seat Robinson cost to buy and to maintain?

Matt

 

US Army paid for my rotorcraft instrument rating. Correction. US taxpayers paid for it.
Not a bad deal at all.


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Go to YouTube and view some of the eaa micrcopters people are building for 50k$. They look amazing. Plenty to scratch the itch if you just want to fly local...

 

"If I could turn back time..."

 

That depends on several factors, but probably most heavily on geography.
Along the gulf coast, there's a demand for oil rig support.
Big cities like New York there's executive transport
Logging and industrial are two niche areas.
Law enforcement (usually with prerequisites)
EMT
Sports/News/Media

When I looked at getting out of the service several years ago, Sports/News jobs were paying about $20/hr., EMT about $37K/yr. Of course, that was in San Diego which was a very competitive market. There were always guys getting out of the military and able to augment their salaries with reserve pay. At that time, in order to get higher salries, several squadron mates went to the Midwest to fly for logging companies, the oil industry, or commercial (think delivering big AC units on top of high rise buildings.

I chose to stay in. Flew less hours, but made lots more money and had WAY more fun.

I'd say to anyone who's considering flying helos for a profession: do it because you absolutely love flying. If you don't, or you're worried about the money, you're probably better off choosing something else to do.

 

At the time I couldn't afford the college. AF Helo pilots were mostly Officers. But enlisted folks, if qualified, could get the training to fly choppers.

 

Enlist. Get paid. Kick Ass. The four to six years you'll be in, is way less time and money than you will pay to be "half-fast", and you will be a professional worth hiring. Ninety-nine percent of the pilots we use in the motion picture industry are U.S. Vets. And the are the ONLY ones that I ever trusted during my career as a camera operator. Confidence in your pilot is absolutely everything. One has to know that he's been there, got the T-shirt. I hope that this helps. Jq.

 

I meant Enlisted for the Army could fly helicopters.

Great endorsement!

 

Trade-a-Plane has them listed from $100K to $500K, depending on model, age and operating hours.

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?make=ROBINSON&model_group=ROBINSON+R44+SERIES&s-type=aircraft

Robinson apparently has a hard 2200 hour or 12 year aircraft overhaul requirement, with some people estimating a cost of $100 per hour in the operating cost budget. That implies roughly $220,000 of the cost variance is proportional to operating hours.

 

And I thought 355 ownership was expensive...

 

The 12 year time requirement means that the R44 costs at least $18,300 per year just sitting in the hangar. So personal ownership is probably not a financial savings, unless you're 1) planning to fly at least 3-4 hours per week, or 2) also willing to put it on leaseback so as operate it at least 183 hours per year.

 

Luke, they're like yachts, only more so.

 

Good info. Thanks, Yin.

 

Wade is correct. I was a Warrant Officer. Appointed by Congress as opposed to Commissioned. Warrant Officers have no troop command, only flying duties. Commissioned officers eventually wind up flying a desk.

When I got out, I used the GI Bill to get a few college degrees, then accepted by United to fly jets (only needed 500 hours of turbine time). I turned down the offer with UAL because it'd be like driving a bus, relocating, and I could make more $$$ doing something else. And fly on my own dime.

The Warrant Officer flight training is intense - over half my class washed out. You get E-5 pay while in flight school. I'd do it all over again.


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