Learning to Fly - Frequently asked questions
Below are a common set of questions people often ask. We are always here to answer any further queries you may have.
Are the Ground exams difficult?
No, but you will need to do some studying. Ground School, including one to one instruction is available. Generally however, directed self-study, plus some assistance from your instructor is normally sufficient.
How long will it take?
This depends on you. In order to meet your requirements, we provide anything from a 3-4 week full time residential course, to more leisurely training programs lasting up to a year or more.
The Medical
Providing you are in good health, the medical should not be a problem. However, it does have to be conducted by a CAA authorised medical examiner.
How do I keep my license valid?
The UK private pilots license is valid for 5 years, but in order for it to remain valid, you must maintain a current medical and complete a minimum of 2 hours flying every 12 months. These hours include an LPC check which is similar to your Skills Test but is specific to the type of helicopter that you fly.
After the license
Once you have your license, you can self-fly hire a helicopter, taking passengers on a private basis, with surprisingly few restrictions. You may also want to consider some of the following options:
- A night rating
- Converting to a different type of helicopter (Colibri EC120, Robinson R44)
- Mountain flying course
- Advanced navigational flying
The next step
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact us, or call in to see us. Better still why not book a trial lesson? This will give you an insight into helicopter flying and give you the opportunity of discussing your requirements with one of our instructors.