Helicopter Flight Training Cost
Most of our flight training is available in the following pricing options:
If you choice to purchase flight training in pre-purchased blocks, the following rates apply.
- 5 hour block: $2,400 ($480/hr)
- 10 hour block: $4,700.00 ($470/hr)
- 20 hour block: $9,300.00 ($465/hr)
The block hours, include the instructor during flight, if a flight instructor is desired or required. Block hours are non-refundable and must be used within two years.
If you desire to purchase block hours at a specific dollar amount, the rate will be based on the previous block rate rounded to the nearest tenth, to be compatible with our scheduling and billing system.
Most courses we provide a fixed price. This option allows you to know what your training cost will be for that course. The “per hour” rate is lower.
Some of the key highlights for fixed price courses.
- Most of fixed price courses are based on a rate of $465.00/hour.
- Payment is due in full before training is conducted for fixed cost courses.
- Students have up to two years to complete training.
Our Current Fixed Price Courses
$28,650 (60 x $465.00 + 10 hours ground) see note 1
Private Helicopter Rating Add On: $19,350 (40 x $465.00 + 10 hours ground) see note 2
Instrument (IFR) Helicopter Rating: $20,745 (43 x $465.00 + 10 hours ground)
Instrument (IFR) Helicopter Add On Rating: $10,050.00 (20 x $465.00 + 10 hours ground)
Commercial Helicopter Rating: $72,825.00 (155 x $465.00 + 20 hours ground) see note 3
Commercial Helicopter Rating Add On: $28,650.00 (60 x $465.00 + 10 hours ground) see note 4
Professional Pilot Program: $97,500.00 (200 x $465.00 + 60 hours ground)
ATP Rating: $8500.00
Pinch Hitter – Emergency Operations: $1950.00 per student
Custom Program: quoted at $465.00/hour
Note 1: If you obtain your rating prior to the 60 hours, you can continue to fly the remaining hours.
Note 2: If you obtain your rating prior to the 40 hours, you can continue to fly the remaining hours.
Note 3: Includes Private, Commercial and IFR ratings.
Note 4: The regulatory minimum for a commercial add on rating is 30 hours. However, 14 CFR 61.129(c) requires 35 hours of helicopter PIC. As the pilot is not rated in the category, this time must be flown solo. The 35 of solo hours are included in the course
This options allows you to pay for your training after each flight or ground lesson.
- Flight Training: $495.00/hour (includes instructor when dual)
- Ground Training: $75.00/hour
Helicopter Flight Training Pricing Questions
Yes, you can change from the pay-as-you go pricing to a fixed-price later.
We provide fixed pricing for helicopter training for two primary reasons. 1) Many people don’t complete their training because they run out of money, or don’t know what it will cost. We remove this burden as we give a clear cost of the training. 2) Providing a fixed cost allows us plan our schedule as we don’t have to wonder if someone will be flying this week.
We provide several different payment options. As the name sounds, our Pay-As-You Go options allows you to pay for each flight after the training is completed. Our Fixed-Price Courses require payment up front.
If you have trained elsewhere and would like to finish up a rating with us, we require at least 10 hours of flight time with us for each rating you are attempting even if you have previously meet regulatory minimums.
The answer is the a helicopter has more life-limited parts. For example, a training airplane’s primary moving parts are the engine and propeller. With the helicopter, these would include the engine, main rotor system, transmission, tail rotor. The rotor systems are also much more complex, with requires more maintenance. As a result, the parts are more expensive. Lastly, there are not as many, so the cost to manufacture helicopters parts is more per unit produced.