Please feel free to give us a call if you don’t find your answer below. Or request a flight training information pack.
There is always an element of risk associated with any form of aviation. With huge advances in technology and strict maintenance and training regimes, flying helicopters is now safer than it has ever been. The Cabri G2 has been designed with safety in mind, and is capable of handling severe weather conditions, whilst being a stable platform for beginners to learn in.
You can choose the timescale to complete your licence. We organise one-on-one lessons with you when you are available to come in.
For example if your goal was to attain a Commercial Pilots Licence, you must build up a minimum of 105 flight hours. If you flew for 2 hours a week, it would take approximately 1 year. If you flew for one hour a week, it would take two years and so on.
The only limit regarding a time frame is for your CPL theory exams; all seven must be completed within a two year window. We also recommend flying at least once every two weeks, so as to retain your muscle memory for flight.
Private Pilot Licences can be completed in one year if you fly once a week, or as little as 6 weeks if you work at it full time.
Probably not. At Melbourne Helicopters we have trained students for licences ranging in age from 14 all the way through to 86. And if you just want to have a go there is no age limit at all as long as you can reach the controls. Our chief pilot started his training at 40, and has been flying for 20 years.
No – whilst you are doing your initial training with an instructor a medical is not required. However you will need at least class 2 medical before flying solo.
You should undergo your appropriate medical examination sooner rather than later. If you have any medical issues that might prohibit you from obtaining a medical certificate, it would be good to know this before investing time and money in your training.
Cost vary depending on how long it takes for individuals to master flight operations. However as a guide you should budget $45k for a Private Pilot Licence, and $90k for a Commercial Pilot Licence. We’ve prepared an example of these costs with a breakdown for review in our training information pack.
We teach you on a one-to-one basis in two and a half hour lesson blocks, each lesson covering a small section of the flight training syllabus. Lessons follow the basic structure of a pre flight brief followed by a practical flight, and conclude with a post flight brief. A pre flight brief will see you and one of our instructors sit down to discuss which manoeuvres will be flown and the safety surrounding them, you’ll then head out to the helicopter for flight practice, and lastly sit down for a post flight discussion on how the lesson went. Once you have mastered a given section of the syllabus, you move on to the next section.
The frequency of lessons will depend on your availability. Generally speaking you can fly as little or as much as you like in order to complete the entire syllabus. We recommend a minimum of one flight every two weeks to make progress.
Some students study at home in to complete the theory components of each course. We also offer one-to-one theory lessons in addition to this should you need some extra help. We also run a full time PPL Theory class which runs for 2 weeks, four times a year. Students can sit their theory exam here at Melbourne Heli on completion of the course.
A PPL holder can do all the same things as a CPL holder just not for hire or reward. If you intend on being employed as a pilot you would need a CPL.
With an RPL you can only fly non-turbine helicopters, carry one passenger, and not more than 25 nautical miles from where you take off. These restrictions do not apply to a PPL.
Good news! You don’t need perfect eyesight to fly here in Australia. In 1989 Dr Arthur Pape proved that perfect colour vision wasn’t necessary to safely pilot an aircraft.
Spectacles, contact lenses, and reading glasses are also fine, as long as you take them with you on the flight.
Visit the schools you’re interested in training with. It’s the best way to see if they are a good fit for you. You can head out for a trial flight, or simply sit and have a chat about how lessons are run, and what it’s like to be a helicopter pilot for fun, or commercially. If you would indeed like to see what a flight is like with, us please book below – we’d love to see you.
Not necessarily – CASA have some articles on common conditions, but you should check with a DAME (Designated Aviation Medical Examiner) to see if your condition is a barrier to flying.