Awesome Flight LLC

Helicopter Flight Training

Do you have the desire to fly helicopters? Flying is a tremendous freedom that allows a select few to go places and see things that most will never get to do. For those that want to live life to the fullest, let the journey begin. Leave the crowded highways and airport terminals behind and let us teach you how to fly. As each student is an individual, we will package a program hand tailored to you.

2006 Robinson R44 Helicopter (Raven II with air
conditioning) available for flight training based at Westchester County Airport (KHPN.)

Individualized initial, commercial and
instructor training available. Remote on site training available.

Training Programs

•Private Pilot Certificate
FAA Minimum - 40 Hours (Most students take at least 60 hours. Other expenses apply.)

•Commercial Pilot Certificate
FAA Minimum - 150 Hours (Other expenses apply.)

•Instructor Certificate
FAA Minimum - 200 Hours (Other expenses apply.)

So You Want to Become a Helicopter Pilot? Let the Adventure Begin

By: Keith Vitolo

Being a helicopter pilot with the freedom to fly is one of life’s greatest experiences. The magic carpet known as the helicopter allows one to float away from the ground and see the beautiful scenes from above. Helicopters offer an efficient and relaxing transportation solution, and a unique and exciting career path. Let’s explore becoming a helicopter pilot with three different objectives: scene seeker, transportation seeker, or career seeker.

For the scene seeker the helicopter is like no other aircraft. While airplanes offer some beautiful scenes from above, the helicopter can fly lower, slower, and hover allowing the scene seeker to have incredible three dimensional views. It’s like a dream!

The helicopter offers the transportation seeker a convenient and efficient method of transportation. Flying above the crowded highways and busy airport terminals the helicopter bypasses the traffic congestion headache. The transportation seeker would have to complete the steps taken by the scene seeker to obtain a private pilot certificate.

While there are no guarantees with any career path today, the helicopter pilot position offers the career seeker the most promise in the aviation industry. Being a helicopter pilot is one of the best professional careers available today. It’s not limited to a region, but ultimately extends worldwide making it a profession of choice. Helicopter pilots are an exclusive group in the aviation industry and the demand for them is growing. The military is no longer training as many helicopter pilots creating a helicopter pilot shortage. That’s great news for commercial helicopter pilots who are finding themselves in high demand.. Being a helicopter pilot offers an adventurous lifestyle and at the end of the day, for the most part, you can go home unlike many airplane pilots.

The first step in the process of becoming a helicopter pilot is to obtain a private pilot certificate. Private pilots are allowed to take passengers, but are not allowed to accept compensation for their flights. To reduce the expense of rented aircraft, private pilots are allowed to split costs evenly with passengers. Obtaining a private pilot certificate will require the average student sixty (60) hours of flight training (the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a minimum of 40 hours.) Flight training consists of basic maneuvers, advanced maneuvers, and emergency procedures. Also required is ground school which is generally accomplished as a home study.

With proper planning and organization, obtaining a private pilot certificate can be very enjoyable. Awesome Flight LLC individualizes training based on student needs and schedule. For instance, if a student takes one (1) lesson per week, with each lesson on average taking 1.5 hours of flight time, it will take that student approximately one (1) year. If a student takes five (5) lessons per week, it will take that student approximately three (3) months.

Okay, so how does one begin? Awesome Flight LLC offers discovery flights and discovery flight gift certificate for $500. This includes a thirty (30) minute pre-flight briefing (safety considerations, controls and their use, etc.,) approximately one hour of flight time, and a post flight briefing for questions. During the flight time the instructor takes off to a safe altitude and in a coordinated process exchanges the controls with the student. There is a full set of dual controls so the instructor can quickly take over at any time. The student will perform straight and level flight, turns, climbs and descents. If the instructor and student feel comfortable with the student’s performance the student will fly over New York City and see "hands-on" what being a helicopter pilot is like. Upon completion of the discovery flight there is no obligation to continue, but we hope you do!

How much does it cost? Awesome Flight LLC charges $500 per hour for flight training (helicopter, fuel, and instructor all included.) Students pay as they go with no large deposits necessary. A private pilot certificate typically takes sixty (60) hours to complete so a reasonable estimate would be approximately $30,000 plus some other small expenses. If a student purchases blocks of time, discounts are available.

Why should you train with Awesome Flight LLC? We are not just a flight training school, but also a helicopter charter company, scenic tour operation, and aerial photo and film business. As a result students fly with instructor pilots who will transfer their experience. Within reason, you make your own training schedule and your flight training program is tailored to you as an individual. Because our helicopters are used for charter they are held to a safety standard equivalent or better than the airlines. You will fly in a modern, clean, comfortable, technology equipped, and safe helicopter with features not typically found in flight training aircraft. We are not the least expensive option, but highest in quality!

Contact us today and let the adventure begin?"

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