How to Become a Helicopter Pilot (Ep. 001) | Helicopter Training Podcast

Dreaming of flying helicopters? This episode is your guide to starting your journey as a helicopter pilot. Whether you're curious or ready to begin, we’ll cover everything from earning your pilot certificates to choosing a flight school and the right helicopter airframe. We’ll also explain how VA funding, scholarships, and loans can help cover costs, share free ways to get started, and recommend essential supplies and books to set you up for success. Prefer watching? See if your podcast player has video or watch on YouTube: tinyurl.com/HTP-Video-Podcast Send us ideas, corrections, and questions: HelicopterTrainingPodcast.com/Contact Timestamps: 00:00 Start 00:33 Outline 01:16 How hard is it to become a helicopter pilot? 05:28 Age requirements 06:52 Education requirements 10:21 Medical requirements 17:15 Do I need to be a U.S. citizen? 18:50 Helicopter pilot path 21:53 Private Pilot 26:37 Instrument 32:28 Commercial 36:46 CFI 44:05 CFII 47:03 ATP 49:23 Airplane before Helicopter? 52:15 Part 61 or 141 57:41 Which helicopter? 1:04:33 Cost 1:09:18 Funding 1:12:09 Choosing a flight school 1:17:29 The next steps 1:19:02 Study on your own 1:23:10 Pilot supplies 1:23:51 Your questions 1:24:11 Links 1:24:20 Next episode 1:24:38 Outro Show Links: FAA English Language Standards - tinyurl.com/FAA-ENG-Standards AOPA BasicMed - tinyurl.com/AOPA-Basic-Med FAA Medical Classes - tinyurl.com/FAA-Medicals Find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) - faa.gov/pilots/amelocator Part 67 Medical Standards - tinyurl.com/FAA-AME-Finder FAA Pilot Statistics - tinyurl.com/FAA-Stats Helicopter ACS Videos - tinyurl.com/ACS-Playlist TSA Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) - fts.tsa.dhs.gov FAA list of Aviation Scholarships - tinyurl.com/FAA-Scholarships AOPA list of Aviation Scholarships - tinyurl.com/AOPA-Scholarships EAA list of Aviation Scholarships - tinyurl.com/EAA-Scholarships Whirly Girls Aviation Scholarships - tinyurl.com/Whirly-Scholarships SFAR 73 Training Video - youtu.be/RJ8SAnwxD6I SFAR 73 Quiz (FAA WINGS) - tinyurl.com/SFAR73-Quiz Student Discovers Fire at Night - youtu.be/62GOuRxUbUM Light Gun Video - youtu.be/U7sVkPnCB3Y Guimbal Cabri G2 Helicopter Video - youtu.be/8QPGv9GA4Xg Enstrom Helicopter Video - youtu.be/Wk6qQDnLWeI Helicopter Flying Handbook - tinyurl.com/FAA-HFH Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - tinyurl.com/FAA-PHAK-Book Aviation News Talk Podcast Color Blindness Details - tinyurl.com/ANT-Ep359 Robinson Instructor Course - <a href="http