How much are helicopter lessons
If you're thinking about taking helicopter lessons, prices vary from country to country, with what helicopter type you wish to learn to fly in effecting the cost.
Helicopter trial lessons with prices based on per hour blocks will cost £275.00 to a whopping £600.00; well the quoted prices excludes taxes, so expect to pay up to 40% more. To receive your Private Pilot License (H) you'd need a minimum of 45 hours flight time, so the total price to pay would exceed £40K.
How much are helicopter lessons will depend on the type of helicopter you wish to fly in, with a big saving if you learn to fly in a pistol engine over a turbine engine.
Robinson helicopters will be the go-to model for most students as the price to fly these machines is the lowest of all training helicopters.
Well there's savings to be had there; taking helicopter lessons in a Robinson R66 or Bell JetRanger 206 will almost double the cost.
It would be entirely up to you which helicopter type you wish to take helicopter lessons in.
One hour trial lesson prices
How much are helicopter lessons would rely entirely on the helicopter you wish to fly; so while a single piston engine is the cheapest option, a turbine engine could double the cost.
That means learning to fly in a Robinson helicopter would be the option for people on a budget, and so would the Guimbal Cabri G2.
If you're like me and would prefer to fly in what I would call a real helicopter; then look to taking helicopter lessons in a Bell JetRanger 206.
Prices quoted are the average cost taken from publicly available information, so will vary depending on where you register your interesting in trial lessons.
Helicopter type
First thing you need to think about is your budget, with unlimited funds you can learn to fly in a Bell JetRanger helicopter, which I intend too in the near future.
However, and this would apply to most of you; taking helicopter lessons in a Robinson helicopter will absolutely save you a ton.
Helicopter type is where you lean to fly in a single helicopter model; so if you lean to fly in a Robinson R44, that is the model you can fly only with your Private Pilot License (H).
Reliable training helicopters you'd often get the option to take lessons in include:
- Robinson R44: Four seater, dual controlled, piston engine
- Robinson R22: Three seater, dual controlled, piston engine
- Bell Jet Ranger 206: Five seater, dual controlled, turbine engine
- Guimbal Cabri G2: Two seat, dual controlled, piston engine
- Robinson R66: Four seater, dual controlled, piston engine
Lessons Per Hour
Helicopter lessons are usually quoted at per 30 minutes or in 1 hour blocks. Here I've listed how much a typical trial lesson would cost per hour.
| Type: | Per 1hr. |
|---|---|
| Robinson R44 | £275.00 |
| Robinson R22 | £550.00 |
| Robinson R66 | £600.00 |
| Bell Jet Ranger 206 | £600.00 |
| Guimbal Cabri G2 | £375.00 |
Private Pilot Licence (H) Completion
Completing your Private Pilot License (H) would bring your total cost to the figures listed, though this is not typical to the total cost you'll end up paying.
| Type: | Total: |
|---|---|
| Robinson R44 | £22,275.00 |
| Robinson R22 | £13,500.00 |
| Robinson R66 | £26,550.00 |
| Bell Jet Ranger 206 | £26,550.00 |
| Guimbal Cabri G2 | £16,900.00 |
Minimum Flying Time
Regardless of the helicopter type you take lessons in, you would need to take a minimum of 45 hours, with more time expected for all students.
| Type: | Time: |
|---|---|
| Robinson R44 | 45 hours |
| Robinson R22 | 45 hours |
| Robinson R66 | 45 hours |
| Bell Jet Ranger 206 | 45 hours |
| Guimbal Cabri G2 | 45 hours |
Unrelated prices add up
If you intend to only take one or two helicopter lessons for pleasure, then the following statistics will not relate to you.
It has to be said the price you pay per hour does not end there; if you include VAT if you are based in Europe with, or other taxes elsewhere....
That is another twenty to 40% added on, so a drastic price rise there.
Prices stated per hour will include additional costs, including landing fee's which will depend on the airfield or heliport you take helicopter lessons from.
To put that into perspective, here are additional services you'd expect to pay over the course of your Private Pilot License training:
- Enrolment and Insurance Excess waiver
- Ground School Tuition
- PPL(H) exams
- Landing and Circuit Fees
- Landing Fees at other Locations
- Instructor Services
- Flight Bag and Starter Kit
- Examiners Fee for the PPL Skills Test
- EASA/CAA License Issue Fee
Summary
Depending on the helicopter type you take lessons in, the prices can be quite low to unaffordable costs for most of us.
However, there is a fine line with lessons in a Robinson R22 or R44 being the cheapest option.
If you wish to take lessons in a turbine engine helicopter such as that of the Robinson R66 or Bell JetRanger 206, the cost will almost double.
Prices will be on a per 30 minute or 1 hour block, so you're free to take helicopter trial lessons on a full hour, whereas the 30 minutes would be far cheaper.
Taking helicopter lessons for fun will add up but not as nearly enough as if you want to take it seriously, with costs exceeding forty to fifty grand when all costs are added on.
Depending on where you take your flying lessons, the airfield would require a landing fee every time, so imagine the cost of that, with up to £15.00 a time.
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