Finding the Right Helicopter Flight Instructor for Training


Finding a flight instructor that suits you is much like finding an instructor for any other subject, except that with helicopters, your comfort and safety are overshadowing issues. At AU$150-$450 per hour, learning to fly a helicopter is also an expensive undertaking. An appropriate instructor helps you get the most out of your training time.

The more flight hours the instructor has, the better prepared he or she will be to train you. However, high flight hours alone do not make for a good instructor. Look for someone that is relaxed and confident. Another factor is the instructor's ability to communicate with you. Does the instructor listen to your questions and answer them to your satisfaction? Does he or she explain concepts in a way you can quickly understand? Does the instructor allow you sufficient hands-on training without nervously taking over the controls every time it looks like you are about to make a mistake?

Try training with more than one instructor. Once you complete your ground training and master the basics of hovering and straight flight, you will know enough about flight and your learning needs to properly vet an instructor. As you advance to more complex flight maneuvers you will want someone you can trust next to you.