How difficult is it to fly a helicopter?
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
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From: NJ
How difficult is it to fly a helicopter?
Sup guys, I'm new to this forum, 22 and have just one more year of college left. Currently, I further my education at Rutgers University as a Biology major. I have aspirations on becoming an orthodontist in a couple years 
I just found out that I won't have to take summer classes so I thought I might make way at something that interests me, flying a helicopter.
I searched online for a school around my house, closest is 1 hour away, but I don't really mind traveling.
After reading a few websites, it says I will need roughly 45 hours of dual instruction, and 20 solo hours (sounds like a challenge). Expenses can also range from $15k-20k depending on school.
Ultimately, my question, is flying a helicopter really that difficult? I assume the first 4-5 times may be hard/nerve-wracking like when we first drove a car, but after that it should probably become second nature.
I honestly wouldn't mind having a part-time job to pay bills if I get into Dental school. I really want to gain this knowledge though! And I know I can do it.
Also, how long does it usually take one to obtain a license? Will 3-4 months be enough time for this summer? And how many hours should you practice afterwards before someone will actually hire you?
I just found out that I won't have to take summer classes so I thought I might make way at something that interests me, flying a helicopter.
I searched online for a school around my house, closest is 1 hour away, but I don't really mind traveling.
After reading a few websites, it says I will need roughly 45 hours of dual instruction, and 20 solo hours (sounds like a challenge). Expenses can also range from $15k-20k depending on school.
Ultimately, my question, is flying a helicopter really that difficult? I assume the first 4-5 times may be hard/nerve-wracking like when we first drove a car, but after that it should probably become second nature.
I honestly wouldn't mind having a part-time job to pay bills if I get into Dental school. I really want to gain this knowledge though! And I know I can do it.
Also, how long does it usually take one to obtain a license? Will 3-4 months be enough time for this summer? And how many hours should you practice afterwards before someone will actually hire you?
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Reading a few websites, it says I will need roughly 45 hours for dual instruction, and 20 solo hours (sounds like a challenge). Expenses can also range from $15k-20k depending on school.
You will also have theory exams to pass.
Best thing to do ... call that local school and book a half hour trial lesson. Chat to the instructor and he or she will tell you what you need to know.
There are different aspects to flying and what one person finds hard, another may find straightforward whether it be hovering, landing, radio, navigation, handling, theory etc.
Cheers
Whirls
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
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From: NJ
Doesn't sound too far off the mark but it does take more than 4 or 5 hours for it to be second nature - trust me on that one!!
You will also have theory exams to pass.
Best thing to do ... call that local school and book a half hour trial lesson. Chat to the instructor and he or she will tell you what you need to know.
There are different aspects to flying and what one person finds hard, another may find straightforward whether it be hovering, landing, radio, navigation, handling, theory etc.
Cheers
Whirls
You will also have theory exams to pass.
Best thing to do ... call that local school and book a half hour trial lesson. Chat to the instructor and he or she will tell you what you need to know.
There are different aspects to flying and what one person finds hard, another may find straightforward whether it be hovering, landing, radio, navigation, handling, theory etc.
Cheers
Whirls
What exactly is a theory exam?
I'll definitely call for a half-hour trial lesson, I guess from there I'll realize if it's for me or not.
Hire you for what ???
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Theory exam ...er, what it says on the tin ... an exam/test to determine that you know the theory - air law, rules, how the blasted thing works!!!
I think the other confusion is "hire". As a private pilot you are not available for hire as that would be commercial work for which you are not qualified.
However, you will be able to hire an aircraft for your own pleasure and to take friends and family flying. You will not be able to earn any money from this.
Cheers
Whirls
I think the other confusion is "hire". As a private pilot you are not available for hire as that would be commercial work for which you are not qualified.
However, you will be able to hire an aircraft for your own pleasure and to take friends and family flying. You will not be able to earn any money from this.
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
trancebrah....
Hey it is so cool you posted on here.....I was kinda thinking the same thing. I had toothache the other week and thought--"how hard can it be". So I found some websites and stuff, and they show you how to do a root canal.
I fly fire most of the year, but normally November thru February are free. I thought I might study up on this dentist gig, and maybe earn some extra money over the winter. Of course , the orthodontist bit is like one step above a regular dentist right? It might take me a few more months to study for that gig.
Hey it is so cool you posted on here.....I was kinda thinking the same thing. I had toothache the other week and thought--"how hard can it be". So I found some websites and stuff, and they show you how to do a root canal.
I fly fire most of the year, but normally November thru February are free. I thought I might study up on this dentist gig, and maybe earn some extra money over the winter. Of course , the orthodontist bit is like one step above a regular dentist right? It might take me a few more months to study for that gig.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: london
this guy "knew" he could do it too...and he found it pretty easy...
YouTube - Rich Idiot and Helicopter
YouTube - Rich Idiot and Helicopter
Joined: Mar 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 659
Likes: 13
From: Under my coconut tree
Mate,
Don't listen to the morons on this site.
You could teach a monkey to fly a helicopter in short order with none of the attitude...
If you can rub your nuts and toss your helmet at the same time.... your in
Course, I can't torque from personal experience................
Don't listen to the morons on this site.
You could teach a monkey to fly a helicopter in short order with none of the attitude...
If you can rub your nuts and toss your helmet at the same time.... your in
Course, I can't torque from personal experience................
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,413
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From: England & Scotland
Trancebrah
You have to ignore the odd bitter individual who wants to make fun of others through an anonymous forum. It takes less effort to be helpful and it makes the world a happier place.
It is not that hard to learn to fly if you have some basic aptitude. As advised have a trial lesson. Most people can handle straight & level, slow turns at height but don't be put off when you find that you can't hover strait off. It takes almost everyone a few hours instruction and practice to hold a hover.
Your expectation of time is about right but it could be a little quicker if you are considering taking instruction in a block - flying every day.
You have ground exams in Air Law, Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Navigation, Radio, Human factors. Keep up with the exams as many fall behind here.
When you get your Private license you can fly alone or with others but you can't take any paying work. You would nee a lot more studying, ground exams, and flight exams to get a commercial license. Even after that you would need a number of hours practice before you can take paying work.
There is nothing cooler (my opinion) than piloting a helicopter. Go for it!
You have to ignore the odd bitter individual who wants to make fun of others through an anonymous forum. It takes less effort to be helpful and it makes the world a happier place.
It is not that hard to learn to fly if you have some basic aptitude. As advised have a trial lesson. Most people can handle straight & level, slow turns at height but don't be put off when you find that you can't hover strait off. It takes almost everyone a few hours instruction and practice to hold a hover.
Your expectation of time is about right but it could be a little quicker if you are considering taking instruction in a block - flying every day.
You have ground exams in Air Law, Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Navigation, Radio, Human factors. Keep up with the exams as many fall behind here.
When you get your Private license you can fly alone or with others but you can't take any paying work. You would nee a lot more studying, ground exams, and flight exams to get a commercial license. Even after that you would need a number of hours practice before you can take paying work.
There is nothing cooler (my opinion) than piloting a helicopter. Go for it!
Joined: Aug 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 9,330
Likes: 2,175
From: Texas
trancebrah
How difficult is it to fly a helicopter?
Compared to what?
Learning to fly takes study, effort, and "want to."
And money, as noted.
If you are studying science in college, and doing well, you have the mental acuity to handle the ground school/scholastic angle of preparing yourself to fly. You may also need to look into a medical exam. When you contact the flying instruction school, as suggested above, they should be able to recommend why, when, and possibly a few "who" in the local area.
I learned to fly a fixed wing aircraft before I learned how to fly a helicopter. Hovering for the first time was humbling. It's learnable, but I'd say it's an acquired skill. A good flight instructor will see you through.
Flying is fun, for sure, but it's also a deadly serious undertaking. If you take your friends up flying once you earn a pilot's license, you have their lives in your hands. Please remember that the first time you do take a friend up. Things can go pear shaped up there ... so if you take no other advice from "old hands" than this, remember this priority list
Aviate
Navigate
Communicate
Your instructor will of course wish to drill that into you as you learn to fly. May as well have the mantra embedded in your long term memory ahead of time.
Best of luck. Study hard. Take it seriously.
I hope you are able to fund your desire to fly. It's a wonderful thing to do.
How difficult is it to fly a helicopter?
Compared to what?
Learning to fly takes study, effort, and "want to."
And money, as noted.
If you are studying science in college, and doing well, you have the mental acuity to handle the ground school/scholastic angle of preparing yourself to fly. You may also need to look into a medical exam. When you contact the flying instruction school, as suggested above, they should be able to recommend why, when, and possibly a few "who" in the local area.
I learned to fly a fixed wing aircraft before I learned how to fly a helicopter. Hovering for the first time was humbling. It's learnable, but I'd say it's an acquired skill. A good flight instructor will see you through.
Flying is fun, for sure, but it's also a deadly serious undertaking. If you take your friends up flying once you earn a pilot's license, you have their lives in your hands. Please remember that the first time you do take a friend up. Things can go pear shaped up there ... so if you take no other advice from "old hands" than this, remember this priority list
Aviate
Navigate
Communicate
Your instructor will of course wish to drill that into you as you learn to fly. May as well have the mantra embedded in your long term memory ahead of time.
Best of luck. Study hard. Take it seriously.
I hope you are able to fund your desire to fly. It's a wonderful thing to do.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Whirly, John, and Lonewolf, thanks for the help guys!
I did some more research and found out exactly what all of you mentioned. I'll be fine obtaining a Private License, I'll earn my money through Dentistry in the future. Besides, I'm sure it'll look great to put that I have a Private Heli License on my Dental school app I usually do okay on exams as well so I'm not worried about those either. Besides the Radio, the rest sound pretty interesting.
Luckily, I found a place 30 minutes from my house that I frequent quite often! It's going to cost around $11k-13k depending on how many hours I fly, I hope they have a payment plan!!!
It's $250/flight which is the best price I've found
I did some more research and found out exactly what all of you mentioned. I'll be fine obtaining a Private License, I'll earn my money through Dentistry in the future. Besides, I'm sure it'll look great to put that I have a Private Heli License on my Dental school app
I usually do okay on exams as well so I'm not worried about those either. Besides the Radio, the rest sound pretty interesting.Luckily, I found a place 30 minutes from my house that I frequent quite often! It's going to cost around $11k-13k depending on how many hours I fly, I hope they have a payment plan!!!
It's $250/flight which is the best price I've found
Joined: Aug 2008
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 298
Likes: 29
From: KOLM and KBVS
Gordy's humor ain't for everybody, but it works if you don't take it personally.
Flying a helicopter isn't hard. Deciding that you'd rather fly than eat, that's the hard part. And the way things are at the moment, if you're not 100% committed to chasing the work, you'd be better off putting the monetary investment into dental school or whatever else blows your skirt up.
I wouldn't recommend it as a passing fancy unless you just want to get your private ticket and bomb around on the weekends. If nothing else, that'd be a great ice-breaker on dates with cute dental school girls.
Flying a helicopter isn't hard. Deciding that you'd rather fly than eat, that's the hard part. And the way things are at the moment, if you're not 100% committed to chasing the work, you'd be better off putting the monetary investment into dental school or whatever else blows your skirt up.
I wouldn't recommend it as a passing fancy unless you just want to get your private ticket and bomb around on the weekends. If nothing else, that'd be a great ice-breaker on dates with cute dental school girls.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: NJ
haha Hedge that's what I was thinking.
I bet you guys can sweep a girl's heart by taking her on a heli ride. I know if I was a girl I'd find that really attractive (no homo)
You make it sound like flying is really fun!
I'll do the work though, I'm free this summer
I bet you guys can sweep a girl's heart by taking her on a heli ride. I know if I was a girl I'd find that really attractive (no homo)
You make it sound like flying is really fun!
I'll do the work though, I'm free this summer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,413
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From: England & Scotland
You are likely to make much more money from private dentistry than you ever could from piloting a helicopter. Few on here can afford to buy their own machine, professional pilots drive other people's machines (in the main).
There's nothing wrong with having a great day dob that earns you loads and pays for a fantastic lifestyle and expensive hobbies.
Best of luck!
There's nothing wrong with having a great day dob that earns you loads and pays for a fantastic lifestyle and expensive hobbies.
Best of luck!
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
I hope they have a payment plan!!!
DO NOT PAY UPFRONT
Save up or pay as you go ... if you can't afford to go flying, don't go.
Also, it is wise to look at the the location of the poster; in the UK, we have a very different training regime to the States.
Lastly, get a thicker skin. You'll need it.
Cheers
Whirls
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Brah.....
To echo what Whirls said:
And for all the others....especially John.... Y'all did not notice he is from NJ.....
Therefore Brah..... only ONE exam for you. And what is with the "Hawaiian"?....Flew there for many years.......in between dental visits....
To echo what Whirls said:
get a thicker skin. You'll need it.
Therefore Brah..... only ONE exam for you. And what is with the "Hawaiian"?....Flew there for many years.......in between dental visits....
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
SoCal..
I hear ya....I was thinking of opening an "all service bar", that way, said patients would pay for their own liquor, be happy to sit in the chair, and will blame the next day pain on the hangover rather than bad dentistry......
Gordy - I hear that if you skip the classes on Novocain that it reduces the overall course quite considerably. I mean who needs that stuff.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 304
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From: Amazon Jungle
Oh Man! With all this rumour around, reading this forum cracks me up..
My PP cost me 18k 4 years ago. You prob won't do the checkride flight until 60 hours.
And Job wise... you wont get any "part-time gig" until you are a comercial rated with at least 500h.
My PP cost me 18k 4 years ago. You prob won't do the checkride flight until 60 hours.
And Job wise... you wont get any "part-time gig" until you are a comercial rated with at least 500h.