How Much Does A Helicopter Pilot License Cost?

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How much does it cost to get a helicopter pilot license? How hard is it to get a helicopter pilot license? Those are questions I’m asked all the time. To answer both I recruited Steve Bush from Lone Star Helicopters, a helicopter tour/training company based near Austin, Texas at the Lago Vista airport.
According to Steve Bush, flight instructor/owner at Lone Star Helicopters, the average private helicopter pilot license costs about $15,000. Though that price can vary depending on a student’s skill level and time commitment.
For students who want their commercial helicopter pilot license, the total price runs about $50,000, according to Steve Bush, flight instructor/owner at Lone Star Helicopters in Austin, Texas.
Special thanks to Steven Bush for taking me out in his Robinson R66 helicopter. If you need flight training, aircraft sales, or helicopter tours near Austin contact Lone Star Helicopters here: www.lonestarheli.com/
Thanks for flying with me! #MicahFlies
0:00 Turbine Startup
0:28 Takeoff
1:20 Private Helicopter License Requirements
3:42 Private Helicopter License Cost
4:40 Commercial Helicopter License Requirements
6:10 Commercial Helicopter License Cost
6:35 Helicopter Pilot Career Options
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[@MicahMuzio]

Have you ever seriously considered getting your helicopter pilot license?

[@RevolutionaryThinking]

If there’s financial aid provided. Not that easy to afford coming from a generation of two gigantic economic downturns while getting our education and then looking for opportunity in a pandemic.

[@Cletusaz]

Yes I’ve had sims since I was a lil kid but no real stick time!

[@ryanfrisby7389]

I want to be a commercial pilot flying United 787’s, but I can’t be a pilot because I can’t see 3D!😿

[@julesd810]

I been thinking about it, getting my helicopter pilot license, for sure sure it will be so fun once you learned show to fly. I saw your solo flight video in your Enstrom 280C Helicopter very nice. $15K to get the Helicopter license no bad. Do you recommend or you maybe know any Helicopter Flight school in Arizona?

[@adrian126]

Honestly, hadn't SERIOUSLY thought about it or thought it could be a reality until watching your videos, especially since I am from southern California

[@Jason-33W]

Great info. I've been working in IT for over 20 years and I'm at the point where I just can't do it anymore - just burned out and realized now (at 40 yrs old), it isn't something I want to do anymore. I did my first discovery flight today and I'm making the move all the way. Using my small IT business to fund my costs and even though the pay would never match what I'm getting now, I realize that it is more about job satisfaction and loving what I do more than the money. Great video and very informative!

[@battshytkrazy156]

N 0 T clear

[@serronserron1320]

And if you want to get that commercial rating looks like you're going to need a small IT business just to pay for it.

[@joefro1116]

Micah have you ever told us what the hourly cost of your helicopter is ? I mean all of it-pro rated maintenance, an hours depreciation, along with the actual operating cost. That might require another video. ;)

[@StarcraftGT500]

Hmmm the couple places I’ve looked around are 80k-100k for commercial.

[@bamf6603]

yeah me too

[@dododostenfiftyseven4096]

Jesus Christ wtf

[@1cavscout160]

Got my private helicopter license in 89 and my commercial in 92. Even back then it was expensive compared to a fixed wing. Flying a Hughes 300C back then was $200.00 an hour solo.

[@Acc0rd79]

I spent almost 15K for my Airplane pilot's license. I was sorta drug out though to build hours so we won't discuss that...I am doing IFR now though and they quote around 10K for your instrument rating at the school I currently attend. Funny because Commercial license in a plane is 250 hours! Great video man.

[@James-mi5qt]

Good luck on your Instrument Rating man! Hope you eventually are able to go commercial and really live the dream! This coming from a current student pilot.

[@topofthegreen]

Helicopter jobs are very hard to get, there are far more opportunities in fixed wing, also drones are replacing helicopters in many jobs.

[@cameronschindler25]

R66!!! I fly out of KSRQ and do a lot of VFR in my 182 and occasionally with my buddy Mike around over the Atlantic! I love having a fellow aviation enthusiast! I agree the R66 is one of the best Helis out there!

[@rovers141]

Those prices are not what I've been seeing. When I first started looking for a school to train at I was being told the prices would be more like 25k for private and 90-100k for commercial. This is what the schools I was talking to were saying, and it's also about the same price that a lot of pilots in online forums were saying. Thank god the VA is paying for my training so I don't have to worry too much about it!

[@BaldKiwi117]

Yes! I got really excited watching this video but as I did a little digging I found similar prices that you did. I am non-military so I'm afraid I will have to find something else to do.

[@kentbullard6917]

Very good job covering a subject that most of us with an interest in helicopters have thought of. And in a video under ten minutes to boot.

[@shawnedwards5369]

@MicahMuzio I had my Schweizer 300 introduction flight with Steve today. We flew over these same areas this morning, so this is extra cool watching the vid this time around! Your series with Lone Star Helicopters led me to his flight school, and I'm very glad that they did; it was exactly what I'm looking for at this time in my life and flight training. Thanks so much for sharing these!

[@BiggHoss]

What about funding? Are there grants, scholarships, specialized loans for some of these schools? I'd love to do it but it doesn't seem practical financially

[@echonuim]

Best bet is go the warrant officer path through the army. Otherwise flying planes is much more economical because it pays better and costs much less to get licensed.

[@CFChristian]

@@echonuim Yeah but planes are lame. :P

[@aggressivesewerpipe6290]

@@CFChristian planes are fucking hard to fly I flew one about 5 years ago my instructor allowed me to fly over Canada but didn’t go far after that he had to land the plane for me cause I was super nervous and finding a straight path to get in the run way

[@CFChristian]

@@aggressivesewerpipe6290 See?! I mean other than an SR-71 planes can't compare to anything cool like Air Wolf or Blue Thunder. Shoot, even that Nic Cage movie eiyy the Apache...

[@aggressivesewerpipe6290]

@@CFChristian yeah it all depends on how well you study and how confident you are when flying I personally want to fly a helicopter if and when I get to be an warrant officer to be an Army pilot

[@flyingwithrobertjohnston7029]

Landed at Lago Vista one night when fog rolled in and kept me from landing at any Austin airports. My client had to Uber all the way to Lago Vista from Austin Bergstrom so I could pick him up and fly him back to Stephenville. I’m an ATP and CFII with over 8500 hours and not one hour even RIDING in a helicopter. I’d seriously like to give it a try but I’m afraid there will be no going back if I do. It looks like it would be so much fun and so rewarding.

[@eganjos1]

Will I ever fly?, no. Did I thoroughly enjoy this video? yes.

[@DialloMoore503]

Why wouldn’t you fly?

[@Henderson711]

Fly mfer

[@lookingforwookiecopilot]

For what its worth, my instrument training made me a worse vfr pilot. For a guy who flys by the "seat of my pants" spending forty hours staring at the gauges really roughed up my "feel" for when I took the hood off. To make matters worse, four months after instrument training I decided to go up with the hood on, and was amazed (and disappointed) at just how much my IFR skills had deteriorated in such a short time! I don't know, an instrument rating to give rides in a VFR only helicopter just seems like a completely ridiculous requirement!

[@codmott286]

I agree, instrument rating in a helicopter is absurd, you will never fly in conditions that require it. Helicopters are VFR only devices unless you are in the military. And even if you somehow ended up in a dense fog where you couldn't even see the ground 500 ft below you, trying to fly a helicopter looking at purely instruments is incredibly difficult

[@triggerdude]

So its basicly useless for older, mid 30's to try this because the younger ones are gonna have the jobs locked up by your 1000 hrs is done. Since getting 1000 flight hours would take roughly 2 years if you're going out every week and doing between 8-10 hrs weekly. No one has the money for that.

[@Davide608]

Thank you, straight forward, clear and honest. Appreciated. Maybe a future video with the costs breakdown for different heli models? Thank you

[@fightingfalconfan]

I have always wanted to be a pilot ever since I was a toddler and I saw my first ever Cessna sky hawk 172s fly over my head and wanted it to take me with it. But being a kid I was under my mothers thumb on everything and she absolutely freaked out about me wanting to be a pilot because of the stigma of all the crashes the news always seemed to report about. Fast forward to now I would love to take on official pilot training, I just don't have the money for it and I could only dedicate one day a week to learning. I already know how air craft stay airborne and how aerodynamics work. I would just have to learn how to speak with ATC again. I used to know it but since it's not a language I use I forgotten 99% of it.

[@brandonbrown9489]

Go to a recruiter and express your interest and knowledge in flying and that it is your passion. I am sure if you can pass the first standard testing and get through basic they would send you to get your wings. I wanted to go armor and figured out i was actually qualified for way more but i just love tanks. Unfortunately collections debt kept me out so if you dont have that and a crimjnal record of course its your best shot

[@goose5718]

@@brandonbrown9489 unfortunately flying helicopter in the army will sign you up for a ten year minimum

[@aristarchinski272]

Go get a medical, that will pretty much determine wether or not you should look into getting your license

[@danmeuse496]

so far i went from flying helis in video games as a kid, to building and confidently flying a quadcopter, to successfully flying a full cockpit apache simulator without white-knuckling it. Planning to eventually move to alaska after i graduate college

[@kxixp]

I have been waiting for this episode

[@Chucky90tt1]

With Flight instructor and the Robertson R22 it costs around $400 /hr. I already the my pilot license for fixed wing aircraft. It certainly is fun.

[@DialloMoore503]

Quick question; if you can fly (operate) one helicopter, would you say that you can fly them all?

[@error.418]

@@DialloMoore503 No.

[@JaredSVX]

Add this to the list of shit I can't afford 😂😔🤣

[@richcreager7877]

Lol

[@goldbuyer]

Get your PPL in a plane first. Then transition to Helo's.

[@matt309]

Why?

[@realisticthought1781]

@@matt309 gives you flight background to make it easier

[@evankatz2893]

Great video as Always My Brother lives in Austin, Great area views!

[@FlyGuy457]

At about the 4th flight with a less than interested instructor, while cruising the pattern, the latch on the cowl of the 150 can loose and half of the cowling was flapping in the wind. I turned and said, hey that's an issue, he shook his head and said, nah no biggie. I wonder what he is doing now.

[@Russellsagecline]

Learning skydiving.

[@ben.04f]

U already know I have the notifs on :D

[@MicahMuzio]

Love it. Thanks, Ben!!

[@SJ76]

I think I'd be too nervous to commit. Very expensive too!

[@JoeGM24]

Thank you so much for making this video, Micah! Very informative and fun to watch as always. I have been considering getting my private pilot license after I am finished with my MBA. A goal of mine is to own a Cessna 182 Skylane

[@pshattuck1]

I’ve always heard that helicopter insurance, for Private Pilot’s, is VERY EXPENSIVE. Is this true and if so, what is required to start seeing more reasonable costs?

[@MicahMuzio]

Insurance costs are dictated by the value of the helicopter you're insuring plus your experience as a pilot and how you plan to use the aircraft. If you have no insurance claims and lots of flight time, insurance rates are more reasonable...but they're never cheap.

[@cjj7264]

Best summary I have seen on youtube!! Great info.

[@brianmcdonald1547]

Always thought being a pilot would be awesome. My grandfather was a pilot in the Navy. Never really knew how/where to get started and now I feel too old to start.

[@joeypts]

Never too old brian. If you can see and have a good head on your shoulders you can do it

[@brianisgett1095]

@@joeypts i didnt look at the name of op at first and nearly freaked out when I read your reply then I looked at op's name and laughed at myself

[@jorgevalenzuela8584]

Very interesting video and good information!👊🏼

[@spammusubi1607]

Thanks for this info!! Def something I’d look into in the future once I can afford it in like 40 years lolll

[@heli.thatSTEVE]

Micah, Great summary - Steve. HCPL

[@deansiracusa3966]

Great episode!

[@darioinfini]

Brutal honesty (won't be butthurt because I've already heard the answer but just to check Juan Moe time) -- is 59 yrs old too old to be a viable commercial pilot?

[@FrankTaylor74]

Fascinating, thanks!

[@Potencyfunction]

I consider this. You guys are awsome.

[@itsalexnow1223]

Micah you should try to fly with Bill Burr sometime

[@MicahMuzio]

I would love to! Hey, Bill. If you're reading this...call me!

[@agujaracing2950]

Thanks for the info

[@happyhappyjoyjoy6563]

posted 11 seconds ago ahhaha, love your videos! cheers

[@MicahMuzio]

Love you too. 😁

[@illuminaticonfirmed2751]

what helicopter liscence do you need to be an EMS pilot

[@CaptainHelisim]

$15K for a license. A figure that weirdly resonates with how much it would cost to get as close to the real thing as possible in a home simulator. In the real thing, you fly for real. Everything is real, it doesn't get more real than real. But after that $15k you pay per hour which is not super cheap. In the sim, realistic is at best maybe 85%? You don't go anywhere, the resolution gets worse as you get closer to anything, but you can get out and go to the bathroom at will plus unlimited respawns. Also you can fly where they won't let you (including the White House lawn). 🤔

[@rudolfgyorkei9558]

What about the operating cost to fly a few times a week? I live in south TX now , and here I don't see any private planes or helicopters like I did in CA. It seems like everybody has their pilot license in CA.

[@MikeFoster-hx2bv]

Certificate not license, there is no such thing as a pilot license. Talk to a pilot and ask hem/her to read their document. It never uses the word license.

[@luzdivina2235]

Does the PP 40hrs flight count for the CP 150hrs flight requirements?

[@MicahMuzio]

Good question. Yes it does.

[@venzuellomcmillan5860]

Yes what about getting your PPL H Helicopter license in Florida? I live in Orlando, Fl. and suggestions? Thanks.

[@gabrieldiniz7669]

Great video!! I got my ppl in Brazil, and I came to Torrance to learn english and eventually get my Cl. However my wife got pregnant and my dream had be set aside in order to prioritize family. Watching your videos make me wonder how great it would be if had worked. All of success for you! God bless.

[@mycatlion]

Am so sorry to hear that. Life's definitely full of uncertainties. I'm a teenager looking forward to be a heli pilot with an empty pocket because I believe in miracles😅 May Almighty Bless you🎀

[@salembeeman370]

Steve looks like he'd be a great instructor

[@joeego5046]

Do any of the Robinson helos have any level of autopilot? Like GPS Steering and Altitude Hold? If so, how much does it add to the purchase cost of the help?

[@MicahMuzio]

Yup. It's called the Genesys Aerosystems HeliSAS. It costs about $41,000...not including installation. 😬

[@ZenithE8]

The school I inquired at wants $850+ per hour or approx 35k. I almost choked. Its in NY.

[@nik_karpage]

Hey Micah, great video, love the channel. Can you recommend any flight helicopter schools in the LA area for an international student to get his commercial license? Thanks

[@MicahMuzio]

I got my commercial rating with Anthelion at KLGB and I can't recommend them highly enough. Excellent school! Tell 'em Micah sent you. :)

[@Anthelionhelicopters]

@@MicahMuzio Thanks a lot for the recommendation Micah!

[@MicahMuzio]

@@Anthelionhelicopters I've had a lot of great times flying with you guys. Happy to spread the word. 🙌

[@Anthelionhelicopters]

@@MicahMuzio don’t be a stranger when you get your R44, come back for some more training! 👍💪🚁

[@jayfullerton6981]

I live in Southern Missouri, wanting to get my private, anybody know of any instructors near me?

[@RoadKing187]

Damn to go commercial you gotta be rich to accomplish it

[@MrGlendale111]

I'm noticing your videos have switched from LA to Texas.

[@boostedbadboyzx12r31]

I have a question. Is there a such thing of a LSA license for helicopters like there is airplanes?

[@MicahMuzio]

There isn’t. I think the closest equivalent would be single seat helicopters like the Mosquito that qualify as an ultralight…therefore not requiring any license to fly.

[@captainron7904]

What if i have my PPL already and want to add Helicopter to my license

[@georgesqalli6756]

I’m 19 and looking for careers to get into. Being a helicopter pilot seems interesting but how would I find work? How much can it cost?

[@realisticthought1781]

Best time to get a commercial pilot license especially for airplane dude. Airlines are desperate for new pilots

[@broadcasttttable]

Let me get right to it...do I have to be a math whiz to pass the helicopter ground school/written tests?

[@MicahMuzio]

I'm no math whiz. So no.

[@bamf6603]

To get license is easy. To get enough flying hours and your first job is the hardest part. For foreigns its probably close to impossible to get a heli pilot job.

[@boombuilds2424]

what camera have you used for this?

[@Reblwitoutacause]

Poor guys in the back, gotta hold those phones the whole time

[@Maverickmiro]

Its for free in Sweden :)

[@rparret]

If you already have a fixed-wing airplane private license, I am interested in knowing the cost of adding on the helicopter license. Would it still be the 40 hours because if the need of the minimum time in the helicopter, or maybe a bit less?

[@stevebbush]

Roy Parret for an add-on, the FAA minimum is 30 hrs.

[@cliffterrell4876]

30 hours from what my son has told me.

[@fuertesfj1]

Call Randolph Engineering and see if they are interested in partnering up with you. I’ve seen you wear there sunglasses so I know you like them. I have 5 pairs and I love them.

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Awesome video Micah! I actually can’t be a pilot because I don’t have 3D vision which also means that I have no ability to see 3D movies!😸😻😸

[@Patriottoo2]

3D vision only functions within a distance of about 20'... beyond that there are multiple cues that we rely on in order to reference objects in the visual field. Are there no one-eyed pilots?

[@keyboard3429]

I wanted to get a bell ranger so bad lol rip my chances

[@libertarian4life221]

Probably the saddest things I can’t do is to become a pilot.as I can’t afford the loan.and I can’t get a cosigner

[@RetreadPhoto]

I like the idea of helicopters more because you can SEE where you’re going, there’s no honking huge panel and shield in your face. But 2-3x more expensive than something that’s already expensive means they’re in high end BMW and Mercedes range, if not Ferrari and Maserati. So unless you’re rich, have rich parents, or own a company that can pay for it, it’s a pipe dream for most people. Shame.

[@lawrence_flies7158]

What setup are you using to record all the audio?

[@digitalranger4259]

One question you didn't answer: How much to add a helicopter rating to your existing private pilot license?

[@error.418]

30 hours minimum instead of 40 hours

[@martincontento3141]

Dude... just because you are speaking into a set doesn't mean you have to double your speech speed.

[@Efkarpidis]

Once you get the license, is there any retesting that you have to do? Or is it like a drivers license where it’s basically permanent

[@MicahMuzio]

The license is basically permanent though you have to have a flight review with an instructor every 2 years to keep using it.

[@Efkarpidis]

@@MicahMuzio thank you. also, is it easy to find helicopters to rent for leisure like a car rental? expensive?

[@MicahMuzio]

@@Efkarpidis If you want to rent a helicopter it'll most likely come from a flight school. Requirements vary but the flight school will almost certainly want to have you fly with an instructor first before signing you off to rent their aircraft. As for price, it also varies but a flight school near me rents their R22s for $335 per hour.

[@toshawebster6523]

I do 😊very interesting 😇🙏

[@Deadpearboremore]

Awesome

[@Sinahdlngs]

Micah thanks for the great video. Did you purchase a helicopter? Leased? Or renting one each time you desir to fly? How does that work and how much is the cost of leasing? I'd love to get my private license and I was wondering about these questions and the cost on top of the $15k for lessons and licensing. Thank you!

[@MicahMuzio]

I've never leased a helicopter but, for the first 7 years I flew, I did rent. Basically, you pay an hourly fee for however long you're in the air. For a Robinson R22 that could be $300 per hour or more. However, 6 years ago I bought an Enstrom 280C. In addition to the acquisition costs, there are also insurance, storage, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and fuel costs to consider. Long story short, there's no cheap way to fly. But, if you can manage, it's nice to own.

[@Sinahdlngs]

@@MicahMuzio great. Thank you.

[@cliffterrell4876]

@@MicahMuzio for just fun flying, I bought a Mosquito 2 seater 20+ years ago. I have flown is so much that it has had two sets of main and tail rotors replaced, the engine overhauled, tail rotors gearbox rebuilt etc. And it runs on premium automotive gas. Hour for hour, much cheaper to fly. Want to get a Safari baby Bell 47 but will have to build up my account a little more first. Have also flown a friend's 206 and 47 since he lost his license about 15 years ago due to medical problems.(he was also my instructor in 1984) He lets me fly them to "keep the cob webs out". Have used the 206 for cross country flying for vacation with my family. "Just pay for the fuel and if anything breaks". Lucky for him, his son is an A&P mechanic so he maintains the birds and keeps them in excellent condition.

[@0hleg]

How long does it take to get 1000 hours flight time as an instructor?

[@error.418]

it takes 1000 hours

[@0hleg]

@@error.418 bruh… I meant while working as an instructor how long does it take to get 1000 hours. Months years etc.

[@error.418]

@@0hleg That's personal. It will depend on what you can afford for both time and money, what's available, whether you got a job that helps pay for getting flight time, etc. The date coverage varies too much to give a reasonable answer. Estimate how many hours per week you can do, divide 1000 by it, that's how many weeks approximately.

[@0hleg]

@@error.418 I wasn’t asking for specifics and I wouldn’t ask if I knew how all that worked. I’m not in training or anything

[@Jackknife-TV]

$15,000 Well that killed that thought 🤔 .....

[@avagarica9682]

I said the same 😂

[@justinheiden7998]

Bro 50 grand no wonder people don’t chase this down lol

[@retydeere1111]

Hungry for rotors!

[@ellieroseroleplayaccount6182]

I have a idea

[@carlmoore9409]

Did you wait 14 days in Hawaii before you could fly due to covid.

[@Jguzman-eo6jw]

what if you want to fly blackhawks?

[@Vicariously...I]

Be an Army Warrant Officer.

[@galacticreaper9239]

Definitely want to pursue my pilots license, but it’s too expensive...

[@silverecho1201]

Is it though? Google says you can make a lot of money flying commercial.

[@galacticreaper9239]

@@silverecho1201 acquiring your license requires a good financial stance.

[@danielnunn9438]

I think I have to be a pilot someday to be happy.

[@mr.b1750]

I was thinking about getting my pilots license till you said the price.WOW 15000 DOLLARS. THATS CRAZY. So the average person can afford to get Their pilots license. All about the dollars I guess.

[@BaldKiwi117]

That's not even bad. The commercial license is what's crazy.

[@blacksharkus]

Where did y'all fly over?

[@MicahMuzio]

Mostly over Lake Travis in this video. But we shot a ton of cool stuff during my Texas trip. More videos coming soon including an Austin flyover, COTA flyover, and a heli trip to Salt Lick BBQ.

[@halllwd94]

Wait wait wait. What? I haven't found a single place that would give me a private pilots license for less than 30k..

[@josephpalen7149]

I would love to take a ride in a helicopter but it would scare the living crap out of me to try to fly one.

[@orisonsquirrell]

Enstrom shake is what it's all about..

[@jguillermoii]

I got the money for flight training but I'm bad in high school mathematics.

[@michaelbatista2869]

Do you need a commercial pilot license to take friends out on flights?

[@Anthelionhelicopters]

No you do not, as long as they pay their own pro-rata share of the flight. The real issue is that the requirements by individual schools allowing you to take passengers vary, mainly because, as a new private pilot, taking passengers potentially adds a level of risk in terms of your likelihood to get distracted.

[@JOHNSMITH-dc6lr]

Bell jet rangers and long rangers thee sexiest helis ever made!!! do u have to certify each aircraft? Robinson un attractive and basic

[@jjjww975]

R-22 - budget $16,000

[@jazzyful399]

Lmao where i am its 30-40 thousand dollars

[@daniellevert6646]

8,000-10,000

[@kalanatorres845]

HELICOPTER HELICOPTER

[@DialloMoore503]

$14,000 can easily be saved up in a year or so.

[@messijr5145]

Cool story breh

[@edwinmaganda1087]

he’s not wrong

[@johnparish1432]

Pilots don't have a "license", they have "certificates".

[@WarInHD]

Army: Sign away your soul