How long does it take to get a helicopter pilot licence?

The regulatory minimum is 45 hours in the air plus theory and exams. With flights twice a week the course usually wraps up in a few months, with less frequent visits it can stretch to a year.

How much does a helicopter pilot licence cost?

The bill is made up of flight hours, theory, aviation medical examinations, exam fees and the licence issue fee. The scale is set by the hourly rate, which depends on the helicopter type, and by the number of hours above the minimum. We prepare quotes individually.

Do I need aviation experience to get started?

No, PPL(H) is training from scratch. If you hold an aeroplane licence, part of the theory may be credited, but you learn helicopter piloting from the ground up, since it's a different flying technique.

What medical checks are needed for a helicopter licence?

A Class 2 aviation medical certificate, issued by an authorised medical examiner or an aviation medicine centre, is enough. If you're planning a professional career, get Class 1 straight away.

Can I earn money flying with a PPL(H)?

No, PPL(H) is a non-commercial licence: you fly privately and with passengers, but without pay for the flight. Commercial flying requires a CPL(H).

Is a PPL(H) licence valid abroad?

Yes, a licence issued under EASA regulations is recognised across member states. Outside Poland, an aviation English proficiency endorsement is useful to have.

PPL(H) Helicopter Pilot Licence

PPL(H) is the first licence that lets you fly a helicopter on your own. No instructor on board, with passengers, on private flights. We run the training at our EASA ATO based at Radom-Piastów airport, on aircraft from our own fleet. For some it's a goal in itself, for others a step on the way to a professional CPL(H).

Who the helicopter course is for

You don't need any aviation experience to start PPL(H). The programme is written for people sitting at the controls for the very first time.

The licence is issued once you turn 17, but training can start earlier: the regulations allow a first solo flight from age 16. You'll need a valid Class 2 (or higher) aviation medical certificate. If you're planning a professional career, it's worth getting Class 1 straight away, since it will be required for CPL(H) anyway. English is useful at the level of aircraft documentation and aviation phraseology.

What the PPL(H) training covers

The course consists of a theoretical part and 45 hours of practical flight training, in line with EASA Part-FCL. You fly at least 25 hours with an instructor and 10 hours solo under supervision, of which 5 hours are navigation flights, including a cross-country flight of at least 185 km with landings at two aerodromes other than the departure one.

The theory covers nine subjects, from air law and meteorology to performance, flight planning, navigation and operational procedures.

In the air you start with hovering, then take-offs and landings, the aerodrome traffic circuit, cross-country flights and radio work. Emergency procedures run through the whole course, above all autorotation, meaning landing the helicopter after an engine power loss, which is also checked during the skill test.

Which helicopters you fly

Basic training is carried out on piston helicopters: the Cabri G2 or the R44. The Cabri was designed from the start as a training aircraft, with a fenestron instead of an exposed tail rotor. The R44 is one of the most common piston helicopters, so it's easier to get access to one once you hold a licence.

We run type ratings on four aircraft: the piston Cabri G2 and R44, and the turbine R66 and AS350. The other helicopters in our fleet, described separately on the Fleet page, fly display and operational tasks. We settle on the starting type at enrolment, since it affects the programme and the availability of slots.

Exams: theory at the ULC and a flight with an examiner

The theory exam is taken before a board at the Polish Civil Aviation Authority (ULC), separately for each of the nine subjects. These are single-choice tests, with a pass mark of 75 percent.

The practical part is closed off with a flight with a state examiner: flight preparation and route planning, hovering and circuit flying, navigation, radio communication and reaction to emergency situations, autorotation included. The instructor sends you for the exam once your level is consistent, not once the minimum number of hours has been reached.

What a PPL(H) holder is allowed to fly

PPL(H) entitles you to fly a helicopter on non-commercial flights, meaning without remuneration for performing the flight. You can take passengers, fly around Poland and across Europe, in a rented or your own aircraft, within the type rating entered in your licence. EU regulations allow cost sharing with passengers on defined terms.

PPL(H) is also a starting point: a Night VFR rating, further types including the turbine R66 and AS350, and then CPL(H), ATPL(H)/IR and instructor training, FI(H).

How much the PPL(H) course costs and what makes up that amount

There's no single number that answers the question of what a licence costs. The scale is set by the flight hour, and the rate for it depends on the aircraft type: a piston helicopter is noticeably cheaper to operate than a turbine one, which is why basic training runs on the Cabri G2 or R44.

The regulatory 45 hours is the floor the budget calculation starts from. How much you actually fly depends mostly on regularity: with breaks measured in months, part of the time goes to going back over what you've already covered. Autumn and winter weather adds to that, when cancelled slots stretch the course out.

Beyond flying, the budget includes theoretical training with materials, aviation medical examinations, exam fees, the cost of the skill test and the licence issue fee at the ULC. We prepare a quote after talking through your plans, available slots and the helicopter you choose.

Course programme

45 hours of practical flight training, in line with Part-FCL
minimum 25 hours of flights with an instructor
10 hours of solo flights under instructor supervision
5 hours of solo navigation flights, including a cross-country flight of at least 185 km with landings at two other aerodromes
theoretical training meeting EASA requirements, nine subjects
hovering, take-offs and landings, aerodrome traffic circuit, cross-country flights
emergency procedures and autorotations, briefing and debriefing for every flight
preparation for the theory exams at the ULC and referral for the skill test

Once you pass the skill test and submit your documents to the ULC, you receive a PPL(H) licence with the type rating for the helicopter you trained on entered into it. Further types and the Night VFR rating get added to the same licence.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a helicopter pilot licence?: The regulatory minimum is 45 hours in the air plus theory and exams. With flights twice a week the course usually wraps up in a few months, with less frequent visits it can stretch to a year.
How much does a helicopter pilot licence cost?: The bill is made up of flight hours, theory, aviation medical examinations, exam fees and the licence issue fee. The scale is set by the hourly rate, which depends on the helicopter type, and by the number of hours above the minimum. We prepare quotes individually.
Do I need aviation experience to get started?: No, PPL(H) is training from scratch. If you hold an aeroplane licence, part of the theory may be credited, but you learn helicopter piloting from the ground up, since it's a different flying technique.
What medical checks are needed for a helicopter licence?: A Class 2 aviation medical certificate, issued by an authorised medical examiner or an aviation medicine centre, is enough. If you're planning a professional career, get Class 1 straight away.
Can I earn money flying with a PPL(H)?: No, PPL(H) is a non-commercial licence: you fly privately and with passengers, but without pay for the flight. Commercial flying requires a CPL(H).
Is a PPL(H) licence valid abroad?: Yes, a licence issued under EASA regulations is recognised across member states. Outside Poland, an aviation English proficiency endorsement is useful to have.