Flight Training

Are you looking for something different, something exciting, something that will change your life? Becoming a helicopter pilot is just that. No day will be like the previous, you will continuously be challenged, and your life will never be the same.

At Tallahassee Helicopter we care! We offer the highest-quality helicopter flight training at the most affordable rates. Give us a call to discuss how we may be able to assist you to achieve your dream of flying helicopters.

Introductory Flight

The best way to experience what helicopter flight training is all about is to indulge yourself with an introductory flight lesson. You will spend about 1 hours with one of our experienced flight instructors who will explain to you the basics of helicopter flight and what you can expect from your training. Included in this introductory lesson is also your first helicopter flight. You will not only experience the thrill, enjoyment, and satisfaction of flying in these most remarkable aircraft but you will actually take the controls and experience how it feels to pilot a helicopter - of course under the close supervision of your instructor. After that flight you will debrief and will have plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you may have. This introductory flight lesson is currently only $139, i.e. $60 off its regular price. And best of all, your introductory flight lesson will be absolutely FREE if you decide to train with us.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call right now and schedule your unforgettable Introductory Flight Lesson.

Our Training Environment

All our Pilot Training Programs consist of the highest-quality flight training and ground school in a professional and inspiring environment. We understand that each student learns differently and is going to excel in different areas. That's why we will work with you one-on-one to optimize your learning progress not only to systematically prepare you for successfully passing both the written and the practical tests with ease but to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and tools that will enable you to operate helicopters safely and competently. Safety is the number one priority and that is the reason why our students are held to the highest of standards in the flight training industry.

By the way, you DO NOT need any prior aviation knowledge or fixed-wing flight experience prior to starting your training. In fact many experts agree that it is easier to learn to fly helicopters if you are not already a fixed-wing pilot.

Our Training Aircraft

To emphasize our commitment to safety we conduct all our flight training in a new 2008 Robinson R44 Raven I helicopter. This helicopter is much safer and easier to fly than older or other training helicopters such as the Robinson R22 or the Schweizer 300. Additionally, our training provides you with valuable R44 experience which is essential for employment opportunities and also for being insurable in case you decide to purchase an R44 for your own pleasure and business needs as the R44 is the top-selling helicopter in the world. In fact, Robinson sells more R44 helicopters each year than all other helicopter manufacturers in the world combined!

Cost of Training

We tailor and optimize your training to your schedule and progress which minimizes your cost of training. You only pay for the actual time you fly our aircraft and for the one-on-one ground instruction you receive from your instructor. Additionally, you can pay as you go rather than having to pay huge sums up front.

Even though a factory new R44 with excellent instrumentation and avionics such as ours typically rents for $450 to $550 per hour, we are proud to be able to offer our R44 for the low price of only $397 per hour. If you want to pay for your training program upfront, you may fly our new 2008 IFR R44 for as low as $355 per hour - among the lowest R44 rental rates world-wide!!!

Most flight schools charge $40 to $60 per hour for the instructor. The charge for our instructors is only $35 per hour but the quality of instruction and the instructor's dedication to your success are among the best in the helicopter flight training industry.

Give us a call, stop by and visit us, or book an introductory flight lesson to find out what flight training at Tallahassee Helicopters is all about.

In the sections that follow you find additional details on various flight training programs:

• Career Pilot
• Private Pilot
• Instrument Rating
• Commercial Pilot
• Flight Instructor
• Add-On's

Please refer to our Price List for information on the cost of any of our pilot training programs.

There is a shortage of helicopter pilots in the industry due to the retirement of the Vietnam era trained helicopter pilots and the reduction of military training. The increased use of helicopters in many fields such as Air Medical Service, law enforcement and offshore oil transport has created an additional demand for qualified helicopter pilots, all providing a great potential for someone wanting to start a new career.

Thus, if you are ready for an exciting new career as a helicopter pilot you came to the right place. We specialize in a Career Pilot Program that takes you from zero knowledge and zero flight experience through being a certified helicopter flight instructor in about 10 to 18 months depending on whether you train full-time or part-time. During this training program you will receive your Private, Commercial, Instrument, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Instrument Instructor (CFII) certificates/ratings. You will have also obtained 200 hours of flight time experience in the R44 and the skills, knowledge, and proficiency which will enable us to hire you as a flight instructor. From then on you will be paid for your flying (about $30,000 a year) and gain additional experience which will allow you to move on to more challenging helicopter pilot jobs after instructing for about 700 to 1,000 hours. At that time you can earn from $60,000 to $100,000+ as a professional helicopter pilot.

The course tuition of our Career Pilot Program is competitively priced and covers all your helicopter flight time, instruction time in the helicopter and on the ground, all books and materials and all fees for all written and practical tests. With our financing options, all training may be covered with little to no out of pocket cost and deferred payments until after training completion. For more details on our Career Pilot Program please look at our Career Pilot Program Flyer.

Our Private Pilot training program is your first step towards enjoying all the excitement and privileges of helicopter flying. This program is intended for people who want to learn to fly helicopters for pleasure or for personal business or for people who are planning to purchase their own helicopter. The Private Pilot license is also the first major milestone for seeking more advanced certifications or for starting a career as a Professional Helicopter Pilot.

With your Private Pilot License you are allowed to take family, friends, co-workers, and cargo on board a helicopter you own or rent while acting as Pilot in Command. Even though you may share the operating expenses with your passengers, you are not allowed to be compensated for your piloting skills. To fly for compensation or hire you must carry a Commercial Pilot License.

The Instrument Rating training program teaches you the techniques to fly when there is no or very poor visual references outside the helicopter such as when flying in fog, clouds, or at night over unpopulated areas and no moon light. You will develop the skills to evaluate adverse weather conditions and the ability to maneuver and to navigate the helicopter precisely with reference to the inside gauges only, instead of purely looking outside of the aircraft. In addition to increasing your capabilities as a helicopter pilot, it also enhances your confidence, safety, and your ability to control the aircraft. It also provides you with a better understanding of the flight environment in which most flights are conducted. One of the major causes for general aviation accidents has been as a result of continued flight in deteriorating weather conditions. A pilot with this rating is more prepared when weather conditions deteriorate. They have a better understanding of how to avoid unsafe weather and are able to safely and legally fly through clouds or dense fog when it cannot be avoided. Flying in "Instrument Meteorological Conditions" (IMC) is also often quoted as being the most challenging and most rewarding flying pilots ever do.

The Commercial Pilot training program teaches you several advanced flight maneuvers and teaches you to perform all basic private pilot maneuvers with higher precision and more confidence. As a commercial pilot you may fly helicopters for compensation or for hire.

The Flight Instructor Program teaches you to fly the helicopter from the left seat and to teach all piloting skills and pertinent aviation knowledge effectively to student pilots. There are two types of flight instructor licenses. As a CFI you can teach anyone to become a Private, Commercial, or ATP helicopter pilot or to train any commercial pilot to become a CFI. As a CFII you are authorized to train licensed helicopter pilots to obtain their instrument rating and/or to become CFIIs. Typically, you would first obtain your CFI and then your CFII.

If you already carry a Private, Commercial, ATP, or Flight Instructor certificate for fixed-wing aircraft you may add a helicopter rating to your fixed-wing pilot certificate. Generally, it will take a non-pilot or a fixed-wing pilot about the same time to learn to fly helicopters. However, because fixed-wing pilots already have a lot of general aviation knowledge and experience in air traffic communication, navigation, flight instruments, etc., the FAA minimum requirements for add-on ratings are slightly lower than for initial piloting credentials.