Where to start learning?

[ekernw]

Hello.

 

I am very interested in becoming a helicopter pilot but i have no idea where to start. I have applied for an information package from the silver state flight school in CA and i read up on some websites and wotnot but apart from that i know nothing.

 

I read that when you graduate from the school you will have less than 200 hours flight time, but employers are looking for 1000+ hours? How do you build these hours up?

 

I am currently enlisted US military and will receive my honourable discharge in a little under 6 months. If it is possible i would love to go to school full time for this but what about expenses? I will receive my M.G.I Bill for 52,000 dollars plus i have excellent credit so paying for the actual school will not be a problem but will i have time to work?

 

How did you guys do it?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thankyou.

[Copterpilot213]

Hi I'm new to the forums but I can attempt to answer your questions.

 

You gain the extra ~800 hours usually by becoming a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) and teaching others how to fly. It sounds a little strange at first but all the CFI's I've worked with are fantastic and as the saying goes "A great teacher learns as much from the students as the students learn from them". Depending on where you are a CFI at you can usually get that 800 hours in 1-2 years.

 

As far as going to school full time and the expenses, I recommend you find an accredited flight school where you can use your M.G.I. Bill. I don't know too much about the details, but I'm pretty sure the school would have to be a part 141 accredited school. Anyone else know any further details on this?

 

Some people I know do work full time while going to flight school, it's very tough for them but they do it. An important thing to know about this is the more often you can fly, the better it is. To fly a couple times every two weeks, the first 10-20 mins of the flight might have to be review of what you previously learned.

 

I hope this info helps you.

 

Hello.

 

I am very interested in becoming a helicopter pilot but i have no idea where to start. I have applied for an information package from the silver state flight school in CA and i read up on some websites and wotnot but apart from that i know nothing.

 

I read that when you graduate from the school you will have less than 200 hours flight time, but employers are looking for 1000+ hours? How do you build these hours up?

 

I am currently enlisted US military and will receive my honourable discharge in a little under 6 months. If it is possible i would love to go to school full time for this but what about expenses? I will receive my M.G.I Bill for 52,000 dollars plus i have excellent credit so paying for the actual school will not be a problem but will i have time to work?

 

How did you guys do it?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thankyou.