Additional Information
Many experienced helicopter pilots don't have an airplane license. Although
it's an advantage to have airplane experience, building helicopter flight
hours will land that first job.
"Probably the hardest part of the job is getting the job. In obtaining
a pilot's license, you must go through training -- which can cost upwards
of $150 per hour -- and then accumulate flight hours to qualify you for a
series of ratings," says pilot Joy Keishian.
Helicopter pilots need a commercial pilot's certificate with a helicopter
rating. You must be at least 18 years old and have at least 250 hours of flight
experience. A strict physical examination is required, as is 20-20 vision
(with or without glasses), good hearing and the absence of physical handicaps
that could impair performance.
"Since helicopter pilot training is so expensive, consider getting your
initial training in the military," says Leroy Tatom, a helicopter pilot for
a TV news station in Oklahoma City.
"If you don't want to do that, be prepared to go into debt like any other
professional in order to finance your training. You won't see the same financial
return as a doctor or dentist, but it's a lot of fun. And that's what a job
should be."
Another popular way to build hours as a helicopter pilot is joining a tuna
fishing fleet. Tuna boats operating in the Eastern and Western Pacific use
helicopters to spot tuna. Because many of these boats are outside the United
States and Canada, the salary may be tax-free. Typical tours of duty average
three months.