The first step towards an exciting adventure as a helicopter pilot. Your first lesson starts with a 30-minute ground briefing covering helicopter flight controls, flying technique and safety procedures. The ground briefing is followed by a 25-minute, one-on-one flight with one of our professional flight instructors. Once airborne we'll give you control of the helicopter and let you fly while taking in stunning views of Westchester County, the New York/Connecticut coastline, the Hudson River and the NYC skyline. We've even equipped our helicopters with HD video cameras so you can relive every moment of your flight.

The Private Pilot course is an exciting opportunity for those with no flying experience to start flying for business or pleasure.  If you would like to fly as a commercial pilot, this is also your first step toward a career as a professional pilot.

• Be 17 years old at the completion of the course
• Be a U.S. citizen or be approved by the Transportation Security Administration
• Be able to read, speak, write and understand English
• Pass an FAA third class medical examination
• Fly a minimum of 40 hours, including 30 with an instructor and 10 solo
• Pass the FAA private pilot written test
• Pass the FAA private pilot practical test

Upon completing the Private Pilot course, you will receive a Private Pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category rating and a helicopter class rating.

The estimated minimum cost to obtain your Private Pilot certificate is $15,000.00.

Ready to get started?  Call us to schedule your introductory flight.

Airplane Pilots who already hold Private, Commercial, ATP or CFI Ratings in fixed-wing aircraft can earn an "Add-On" rating in a helicopter. Those pilots are not required to take the FAA Commercial Helicopter written exam and the minimum number of total required dual training hours is reduced.

• Log a minimum of 30 hours, 20 dual and 10 solo
• Hold a valid FAA private pilot certificate
• Attain at least a Third Class Medical
• Pass an FAA practical test

The Commercial Pilot Program is oriented toward the student who wishes to make a career as a helicopter pilot. The syllabus is designed to prepare you for the practical demands of professional flying. The certificate you obtain at the end of this course will qualify you to fly most of the commonly-used civilian helicopters.

Phase I (Private Pilot)
This phase will be conducted as outlined in the Private Pilot Program. The main advantages to obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate are that you may carry passengers and that the time you spend flying with your instructor can be recorded in your logbook as Pilot In Command (PIC) time.

Phase II (Solo experience)
During this phase your instructor will concentrate on two areas as you build-up your PIC time to the required 100 hours. The first of these is congested-area flying. Together you will make several flights through the busy New York City airspace. This type of flying puts considerable demands on the pilot, both in terms of flying skills and aeronautical knowledge.

The second area on which your instructor will concentrate is off-airport operations. You will learn the techniques of pinnacle approaches as used when landing on a mountaintop or on a rooftop helipad. You will also practice confined area landings. These include forest clearings, narrow streets, and other situations where the flight-path is severely restricted by obstacles.

Phase III (Pre-checkride)
The last few hours of training will be spent with your instructor, preparing for the specific requirements of the flight test.

FAA Requirements
The minimum number of flight hours required for the Commercial Certificate is 150 and it is reasonable to expect that you will attain the required standard to pass the checkride with that number of hours.

Ground School
This class prepares you for the written exam and also introduces you to commercial operations.  Essentially, the Commercial Pilot written examination is based on the same material as the Private Pilot test, but at a higher standard. The additional detail and depth of knowledge will be attained through one-on-one tuition with your instructor, combined with a program of home study.

Medical Requirements
To be eligible to take the test for a Commercial Pilot Certificate you must hold a Class II Medical Certificate.

The majority of professional civilian pilots start their aviation careers as flight instructors. To become a flight instructor, you must possess an FAA Commercial Pilots License and pass the CFI Practical Exam.

The CFI Program is primarily a ground course, with heavy emphasis on the fundamentals of instructing and refining your knowledge to the standard required to train a new pilot. Students in the CFI program are expected to create a lesson plan book which will serve as a teaching aid during the practical exam and eventually, as a resource during their new career as an instructor.

The flight-training portion places emphasis on teaching from the co-pilot seat and mastering full-down autorotations. CFI applicants are required to demonstrate that they have the ability to land the helicopter, without any assistance from the engine.

Instrument training gives a pilot the certification needed to fly in zero visibility conditions by referencing a special set of instruments in the cockpit. Aside from allowing you to fly in less than ideal weather, the advantages of an instrument rating are numerous. In the modern aviation world instrument training is vital; approximately 80% of commercial helicopter jobs require an instrument rating. A pilot who is instrument rated is better prepared for accidental IMC (unintentional flight into poor visibility conditions), highly proficient at reading instrument indications and has in depth knowledge of aviation meteorology. In addition, pilots who are instrument rated receive better insurance rates than those without an instrument rating.

Obtaining the instrument rating is arguably one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges a pilot can take on. With a fully equipped instrument ship, an FAA certified flight simulator and every one of our flight instructors certified to teach instruments, Wings Air can provide you with everything you need to conquer the instrument rating and join an elite group of pilots.