Helicopter Training Process

Step 1: Prepare for Your Introductory Flight

Helicopters are complex machines and we have found that most prospective students take more away from their introductory flight if they have some background knowledge before taking the controls.

Download a free PDF of the FAA’s Rotorcraft Flying Handbook from the Pilot Resources section of our website, as well as the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (hard copies are also available for sale at our school).

From the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, please read the following:

• Chapter 1, Introduction – Note that Robinson helicopters have semirigid rotor systems.
• Chapter 2, General Aerodynamics.
• Chapter 3, Aerodynamics of Flight – Figure 3-6 shows the underslung rotor system of the Robinsons. Please look carefully at the material on autorotation as it will be covered in ground school before your first flight.
• Chapter 4, Helicopter Flight Controls -  On page 4-2 is an important explanation of correlators and governors. Note that the Robinson R44 has both a mechanical correlator that opens and closes the throttle as the collective is raised and lowered and an electronic governor that twists the throttle slightly in order to hold rotor RPM at 100 percent.
• Chapter 5, Helicopter Systems - Note that the Robinson R44 you’ll be flying has a piston engine, semirigid rotor system, and hydraulically boosted flight controls.
• Chapter 9, Basic Flight Maneuvers - Concentrate on Vertical Takeoff to a Hover, Normal Takeoff from a Hover, Straight and Level Flight, Turns, Normal Climb, Normal Descent, and Normal Approach to a Hover.

From the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge:

• Chapter 7, Flight Instruments -  Those relevant to the R44 are the Altimeter, Vertical Speed Indicator, Airspeed Indicator, and Magnetic Compass.
• Chapter 13, Airport Operations – Note that Hanscom Field is a towered airport. The airport diagram and other information are available from airnav.com. The Wikipedia article for Runway is also useful.

Step 2: Take an Introductory Flight

An experienced helicopter instructor will take you through an abbreviated flight lesson during which you will experience all phases of flight, from pre-flight to tie-down. The flight will be logged toward your license!

Step 3: Post-Flight Evaluation

It’s time to determine whether flying helicopters is for you. Flying helicopters is usually a new experience for most people. If you found the experience a bit nerve-racking, but still feel deep down that you would like to learn to fly, you are not alone. Take a few more lessons. It often takes a couple flights for a person to become accustomed to the unique sensations experienced while in these agile aircraft.

Step 4: Determine How to Finance Your Training

Obtaining a license is an expensive proposition, but most people are surprised to learn that you do not necessarily have to have thousands of dollars in the bank in order to pursue a pilot’s license. Flight lessons can be paid for as you go using cash, check or credit cards. We are also pleased to offer financing through a third party vendor, Pilot Finance. For those who would like to pay a lump sum at the onset of training we do offer account bonuses that may be applied to deposits made using cash, check or debit.

Step 5: Start Your Training

You will begin flying at your very first lesson. Lessons typically consist of a pre-flight ground brief, a flight and a post-flight brief. At this stage all of your will be with an instructor.

Step 6: Get an FAA Medical Exam / Student Pilot Certificate

Shortly after you begin your training you will be provided with a list of local FAA Designated Medical Examiners. You must visit an examiner for a physical-like checkup to ensure that you are in good enough health to fly.

It is a common misconception that people without perfect vision are banned from flying; however, this is not true. Examiners will test your corrected vision. Upon successfully completing the exam you will have a current medical certificate and a student pilot certificate that must be endorsed by your instructor.

Step 7: Fly Solo

One of the proudest moments in a student’s training is taking the runway for the first solo flight. This flight will be in the traffic pattern only, to practice takeoffs and landings, but soon after, the student will venture to the practice area and then off on cross-country trips.

Step 8: Pass the FAA Written Exam

By this point you will have spent a great deal of time learning from your instructor both on the ground and in the air and are more than prepared to pass this multiple choice exam.

Step 9: Complete Your Flight Training

Your instructor will determine when you are ready to take the FAA Practical Test, which is comprised of an oral exam and a flight test with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. Before your skills are tested, the instructor will take you on at least one mock test.

Step 10: Pass the FAA Practical Test

The big day has finally arrived. You have trained hard and by all means are a safe and competent pilot – we know that – you just need to prove it to the FAA. You may be nervous, but we are confident that you will pass because you have demonstrated to your instructor that you have what it takes.

Step 11: Enjoy the Freedom of Flight

Congratulations! You are a certificated pilot! You can now travel to different places and expose your family and friends to the joys of flight.