Helicopter pilots are saddled with the responsibility of flying single and multi-engine helicopters for emergency services, leisure, or business. A helicopter pilot can earn an average of $35,000 per annum at the beginning of their career but with growth in the experience level, the salary potential increases.
Without a doubt, the job role of a helicopter pilot is highly rewarding. However, you must go through rigorous helicopter training Sydney to gain the license to fly a helicopter. This post looks at how you can train to become a helicopter pilot in Sydney and what the job entails.
How to Become a Helicopter Pilot in Sydney
There are two major ways you can explore to become a helicopter pilot in Sydney. You can choose to take a university course or go through specialist courses offered through private helicopter training Sydney organizations.
Helicopter Training through the University
An individual can go through a university degree program in aviation or air transport. The courses include helicopter training with one of the approved flight training organizations. To go through the training process, you will be required to meet some requirements. You have to be above 18 years old and must have at least ‘A’ levels or their equivalent.
You should also have at least a Class 2 medical certificate and at some point, you may be required to apply for a higher level Class 1 medical certificate to attain your Commercial Pilot License. Going through helicopter training Sydney through the university requires that you pay the standard university tuition and other fees as well as the flight training course fee.
Training schools
Going through helicopter training Sydney with a flight training organization is another way you can obtain your Commercial Pilot License. You should know that you need to obtain the CPLH to commercially fly a helicopter. To apply for the training course, you need to have a minimum of 5 GCSEs from grade 9 to 4, including science, mathematics, and English.
You may also be required to take and pass some skill tests and go through an extensive medical assessment. You will be required to acquire at least 155 hours of flying time to obtain your license. To get started with the training, you may enroll for a Private Pilot License, which enables you to fly a helicopter for personal use.
With this, you can gain the prerequisite flying hours that you need to obtain your CPHL. While going through the helicopter training Sydney, the school will evaluate your skills and may request that you take some other pre-course training to validate that you possess the ability and skill level required for commercial training.
It should be noted that training to become a helicopter pilot in Sydney is expensive and there is no scholarship offered in the school. Oftentimes, you have to personally fund your training.
What Skills Do You Need for Helicopter Training Sydney?
Training to become a helicopter pilot in Sydney comes with a lot of potentials and career prospects. However, you must gain the requisite experience and skills before you can be allowed to fly a helicopter. While preparing to enroll for the training course, some skills are required. These include:
- Competence in controlling and operating equipment
- Adequate attention to detail and thoroughness
- Understanding of transport costs, method, and advantages
- High-level customer service skills
- Exceptional skills in verbal communication
Becoming a helicopter pilot has a lot of benefits and potentials but you have to go through helicopter training Sydney to acquire the requisite skills and experience needed for the role. You can be sure to find reputable and efficient training platforms and organizations that can make your dream of becoming a commercial helicopter pilot a reality.