Private License
A private license will give a pilot the privileges of being able to fly friends and family for recreational purposes. Private pilots can essentially go anywhere a commercial pilot can go; the only difference is that a private pilot can’t make money off his/her flight.
If you simply want to fly for recreational purposes, taking cross country flights with friends or family, this is the rating that would suit you the best. Not sure if a commercial rating is more suitable, all the hours from the private rating goes towards the 150hrs for the commercial rating.
In order to become a private pilot, one must be at least 17 years old, read, speak, and understand English, and must hold a 3rd class medical. Although it is not required, we recommend obtaining a 3rd class medical prior to starting training to ensure that there will not be any complications later on.
A private license is an essential building block if one wants to make flying a career.
Estimate Costs - based on FAA Minimum Requirements
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30 Hours of Dual Instruction in R22
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$7,800
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
10 Hours Solo in R22
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$2,600
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
Unlimited FREE Ground Instruction
|
$0
|
@ $0/hour
|
|
Aircraft Rental for Check Ride (1.0hrs)
|
$260
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
FAA Written Exam
|
$100
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
FAA Practical Test (Examiner Fee)
|
$400
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
Total
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$11,160
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Estimated Cost
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In today's world, the requirements for helicopter pilots keep raising. Ten to twenty years ago, the demand for instrument rated helicopter pilots was minimal, but with the ever advancing world of helicopter technology and practicality of what a helicopter is used for, many companies are now requiring an instrument rating.
Although most jobs that require an instrument rating are not authorized to fly actual IFR, the fact that the pilot has had the training increases the safety just in case accidently encountering IFR conditions.
Depending on the type of flying desired will determine whether or not an instrument rating is necessary, but in the world of aviation the more qualified a pilot is, the more job opportunities become available. The most likely types of flying that require an instrument rating are; Emergency Medical Services (EMS), offshore (oil rig), and corporate type jobs.
By learning how to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), not only will it open your job opportunities, but will help you become a much safer pilot.
Estimate Costs - based on FAA Minimum Requirements
|
40 Hours of Instrument Training in R22
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$10,400
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
Unlimited FREE Ground Instruction
|
$0
|
@ $0/hour
|
|
Aircraft Rental for Check Rise (1.5 hours)
|
$390
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
FAA Written Exam
|
$100
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
FAA Practical Test (Examiner Fee)
|
$400
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
Total
|
$11,290
|
Estimated Cost
|
Commercial
Having a commercial license will allow you to earn money while flying. With the ever increasing amount of jobs that helicopters are being used for, the demand for qualified helicopter pilots is growing. The commercial license takes advantage of the hours obtained from the private license and can be used towards reaching the 150hrs of flight time.
Although there are an infinite number of ways helicopters can earn money, here are few types of jobs a commercial pilot can expect to have the opportunity to perform; Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Electronic News Gathering (ENG), Tour Pilots, Police, Flight Instruction, Offshore (oil rig), Pipeline Patrol, Search and Rescue, Fire Fighting, and many more jobs just waiting.
In order to be eligible for a commercial license one must have a minimum of 150 hours and at least 100 hours PIC. In order to use both time and resources most efficiently, it's recommend that after getting your private license that you take advantage of getting your instrument license while building time for the commercial license.
A person can get their commercial and then get their instrument, but by doing it this way they will end up spending nearly $10,000 extra.
Estimate Costs - from zero to 150 Hours w/100 PIC
|
150 Hours of Dual Instruction in R22
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$39,000
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
Unlimited FREE Ground Instruction
|
$0
|
@ $0/hour
|
|
Aircraft Rental for Check Rise (1.0 hours)
|
$260
|
@ $260/hour
|
|
FAA Written Exam
|
$100
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
FAA Practical Test (Examiner Fee)
|
$400
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
Total
|
$39,760
|
Estimated Cost
|
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
In any career, finding that first job is the most critical and most important stage in getting a person's career off to a good start. By having a CFI certificate, it not only will open your options for getting a job, but will also help you become a much safer and more proficient pilot by having to react to the unexpected.
The minimum requirement for obtaining a CFI is the Commercial requirements except that you must be able to teach everything you have learned with a good understanding.
Theoretically, depending on the individual, it could only cost an additional $1,000 for the FAA Written Exams, FAA Practical, and aircraft rental for the test.
Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII)
Similar to the CFI certificate, the CFII will allow you to teach instrument flying. Once again, if conditions are correct and you are proficient, the cost of obtaining your CFII can be as low as an additional $800 for the FAA written, FAA Practical, and aircraft rental.
Professional Pilot Program – (zero to 200hrs)
The professional pilot program takes an individual from square one with zero time all the way to being a Certified Flight Instrument Instructor (CFII). This program is simply a merger of all the previous ratings available into one package deal.
Although some companies give the option to pay for the whole program at the very beginning, Sevier County Choppers has chosen not to do this for the simple reason that a lot of things can happen within a relatively short amount of time, both economically as a society and personally.
The professional pilot program has an estimated cost of $50,540