How to become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot in Australia (Part-1, Getting Started)

[@toobasaurus23]

Thanks, mate. Keen to learn and your channel is awesome. I'm subbed.

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for a kind comment and the sub mate! 🙏

[@awesomo660]

I recognise phs, did my trial flight with them and plan on doing my cpl with them in the future

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for the comment, good attention to detail. When did you do your TIF? I hope to see you around if you do join CPL training soon. If you haven't already, please consider subscribing. I have got a lot more Helicopter/CPL content lined up for the channel.

[@mitchnh2550]

very helpful mate thankyou

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you found it helpful.

[@kobrapromotions]

This is honestly brilliant

[@JassieKECG]

Thank you so much man. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@michaelkennedy9064]

Thanks for sharing. I'm also in Melbourne and trying to decide on fixed wing vs rotary. How did you decide? Also how did you decide on which flight school?

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for your comment! When I was researching, I looked at a few different options, I had a few prerequisites. Training school with good history, opportunities for work after you finish training was important to me and of course the cost of training (work is not guaranteed but some schools have pilot pathways after they get their CPL, like any job it depends on what other value you bring in other than your pilot license). I decided on rotary because it's mostly local and day work. I wasn't interested in starting a fixed wing career at a late stage. It depends what you want to get out of your training and what are your objectives. Let me know if you have any other questionsband all the best!

[@michaelkennedy9064]

@@JassieKECG I feel I am certainly leaning towards rotary. Allowing me to strive towards search and rescue, fire service etc. Thank you for your response

[@JassieKECG]

@@michaelkennedy9064 Both areas are definitely growing as more resources are put towards it. There is always movement in the industry to plenty of room to move around and get some experience. Highly encourage you to think about what other skills you'd develop along with learning to fly to make you more desirable candidate for the job.

[@janainaschiestl9204]

Hi, my name is Janaína, I'm from Brazil, could you make a video telling how, for exemple I could study in Australia. Like an Exchange Program. It's the first time that I see your vídeo and I really enjoyed. 👍

[@JassieKECG]

Hi Janaína, thank you so much for your comment. I wish I could help you with your question but it's not something I know a lot about these days and I don't want to give you the wrong information. Maybe try reaching out to a study counsellor or talking to local universities depending on what you want to study etc. All the best!

[@cooper_hodgson]

Hey mate Just wondering what the estimated cost is overall, very much wanting to be a helicopter pilot and trying to decide weather to go through Army

[@JassieKECG]

Hi Cooper, thank you so much for the comment. The costs are variable based on multiple factors. The biggest cost is flying lessons fee. Here in Melbourne, it can be $535ex GST for CPL(H) or $588.50 inc. GST for PPL(H) per hour. For commercial pilot training, you don't pay GST. You will need 105 hours of minimum flying experience for CPL and 70 hours for PPL. The last 30 hours must be done in the last 3 months of doing your final CPL test so you will have to budget a big chunk and time for the last three months. If you don't do last 30 hours in 3 months, then the required hours are 150 for CPL(H). I have been told to estimate between 115 to 120 hours because you may have some areas in your training that may require some extra lessons for you to refine your skills. On top of that you will need study material, medical cost, and exam fee which is not as much compared to flying lesson fee. Hope this helps and feel free to private message if you have more questions.

[@helicopter2630]

Cost me around $50,000 for a private fixed wing & commercial helicopter license 20yrs ago. If Military training is an option that will be your ticket to success in the civilian sector.

[@rillpoogue8838]

How do you bridge the gap between your 105 hrs and becoming employable? Can you self fund your 2-300hrs to achieve employability (however long it takes) or would this not look good to employers? I’ve also heard lots of recommendations to do CFI?

[@JassieKECG]

Hey Rill, great question. I can't really speak on everyone's behalf but a few pilots I personally know tell me that networking as you are learning is critical. A lot of pilots I know also worked as a hanger assistant before getting to fly. Some worked for 5 months whilst others did nearly two years until the right opportunity came up for them. I don't know what it's going to look like for me as I am still learning but be sure to follow for more updates. I have more helicopter content coming soon.

[@Lollllll50]

I wonder if we could easily get job opportunities after we got cpl or ppl licence.

[@JassieKECG]

You can't really do any paid jobs in Australia with PPL as it's only for Private Flying. I want to say for CPL(H), there is plenty of work as there is always a pilot shortage with all operators. I must say first 500 hours may require a lot of patience as you may be doing hanger work and ground work while doing some flying. If you are flexible with moving, willing to contribute to other jobs other than flying and bring additional skills other than flying then you will be a very desirable pilot. I hope this make sense and it's only my 2 cents based on my own experience. All the best!

[@nathanshanks6926]

Hey mate, what has your experience been so far with PHS? Would you recommend them over other Melbourne based schools? Also, any update on completion/job hunting?

[@JassieKECG]

Hi Nathan, My experience has been great so far and my short answer would be yes, i would absolutely recommend them. All the instructions are extremely qualities and have a variety of experience. The great thing is instructions still work various missions like arial fire fighting, power-line work, charters, events or flying sideways for a film shoot and they bring all that experience to the training. I am aiming to complete this year. There are plenty of jobs for the right person, you just have to be open to the opportunities that may present to you. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other specific questions. I have been filming my lessons and i also plan to release them regularly this year, will go in more detail about training and studying for exams in them.

[@223o]

I guarantee if you go to a cattle station in the NT or WA with or without a heli licence you will end up a heli pilot, unfortunately vast majority don’t have it in em to give it a crack. Everyone wants to be flying twin engines doing the cool job but nobody wants to work the dirty jobs to get in the game. I had to mix chemicals for three years before I got a crack flying spraying crops but I have never met a fellow pilot that went to a cattle station and didn’t get a start. The failures stick around the city looking like airline pilot wannabes sending out one resume a month then complain no one would put them in a million dollar machine. Generalisation but very true. Also, DO NOT GO THROUGH A SAUSAGE FACTORY. go through a school where the company does more than just flight training, where the boss has respect in the game and if you do well it takes one call and you’ll have a start. It’s who you know not what you know. Although the schools offering VET student fee licences might be your only option getting in the game but they sure as shit will leave you on the back foot when your done, schools like those are a joke to the real pilots in the industry.

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for your comment and sharing some insights. It's exciting that you got a crack flying spraying crops. I agree, NT and WA may be a good option but that is just one of the several pathways available to the aspiring pilots. I highly agree that a good school has a lot to do with if or what kind of work you may be doing after you have your commercial license. I don't believe there is any rotary wing school in Melbourne offering VET fee. I think it's also important to network while you are at training and not to wait to get to know people when you have the license.

[@bestnameonthisplatform352]

Hey just a quick question sorry if it’s obvious but I assume if you get the commercial licence you also get the personal as well

[@JassieKECG]

Thank you for your question my friend. You are right, Commercial Pilots are require more flying experience (105hrs) and studying extra subjects than the Private Pilots (70hrs). Also, with Private Pilot License you can not fly for compensation where as a Commercial Pilot you can. Getting a commercial pilot license is just a start of more training because after that you can do your low level flying training, night flying training and many other endorsements. I will cover these in later videos, so be sure to be subscribed for that. I hope this answers your question :)

[@helicopter2630]

I did a commercial license just over 20yrs ago. I spent 4 yrs traveling all over Australia looking for a start in the industry. I was more then willing to work for no pay. I could not get a start. Potential employers would say come back when you get your hrs up. Financially I had to give the dream away. Such a waste as I chased that dream since childhood.

[@JassieKECG]

Hey mate, thanks for sharing the story. It must have been heartbreaking for you at that time to give that dream of flying away. I hope you have found a new dream since. I agree, work after getting the license is not guarantee but we must try our best. I hope you find a way to get back into it my friend, all the best.

[@Swiftss]

Is it worth picking a tough subject like Physics for the HSC to be a helicopter pilot as a career, I would prefer not too because it’s quite a lot of tough content, in think normal maths would suffice. So do you need physics to become a helicopter pilot or is it just, if you know it it’s good, but you don’t need to... especially since, you can just learn what you need to know for aerodynamics when you go for the license and some training schools teach you all that anyway thanks :)

[@JassieKECG]

I don't personally believe studying Physics makes a better pilot. However, understanding Helicopter physics is absolutely critical. There are two types of pilots. Ones who study to pass, and the others who study to become a better pilot. Everyone has to decide at some stage which one are they going to be :)

[@Swiftss]

Ahh ok, Thankyou so much for clarifying this for me, have an amazing rest of your day man :)

[@CFazz]

Hi, where's Part 2?

[@JassieKECG]

Hi Mate, thanks for the comment. Apologies that I never got around to filming and posting part 2. Maybe because my progress hasn't been as fast as I hoped for. What would you like to see in part-2?

[@CFazz]

@@JassieKECG Where are you up to with your CPL? I'm 50 and would love to go for mine, but would also like to work as a pilot. From what I'm learning I might of left it to late. I was just interested to see your journey as Part 1 was informative.

[@PolatAlemdar-bk4lz]

Can we start a job after completing commercial pilot training and how much do we earn on average?

[@JassieKECG]

Thanks for your question. Technically… yes, you can start a job after getting a CPL license. However, I don’t know anyone who started a job as a pilot as soon as they got their license. I might make a video on this going in more details, the answer is not as simple as yes or no.

[@PolatAlemdar-bk4lz]

@@JassieKECG how soon do they start work

[@JassieKECG]

The answer is not very simple unfortunately. It depends on so many different factors, I am a student myself. I will do some more research and make a video about it and if you want to wait a few years. I can let you know how I go about getting work after acquiring the licensing. However, for now. We are in lockdown and I haven't had any lessons in 3 months.

[@PolatAlemdar-bk4lz]

​@@JassieKECG i will be waiting thanks!

[@helicopter2630]

You need enough hours to make you an employable asset. The potential employer’s insurance company will hate you because your a liability. A license is minimum hours. Unless your parents own a helicopter company you will struggle to find work.