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Written by Mumtaj Khan
Feb 01, 2026

Helicopter Pilot Path:Rescue, Transport & Adventure

Being a Helicopter Pilot is becoming a career really quickly. It is not just seen as something people do for fun anymore. Nowadays people think that Helicopter Pilots are one of the ways to travel. In the past Helicopter Pilot jobs were not very exciting because there were not options available mostly just in the defence organization. The situation is totally different now. Over the couple of decades things have changed a lot. We have new types of jobs that need people to fly a Helicopter. This means that people who have a Helicopter flying license have a lot of choices. They can do different things with a Helicopter flying license. The Helicopter has become very useful. People are using the Helicopter for many things. This is good for professionals, with a Helicopter flying license because they can use their skills to do different jobs with a Helicopter.

People who become helicopter pilots can get jobs in different areas. They can fight fires help out at sea work with the police or assist farmers. Some helicopter pilots even get to fly people around or take tourists on sightseeing trips. They can also go fishing help people who are hurt search for people who are lost or lift cargo. Some helicopter pilots work in the news business take pictures from the air or help survey the land from above. They can also work in the woods help control animal populations or report on traffic. Helicopter pilots can even teach others how to fly as a Helicopter flight instructor or test helicopters as test pilots at flying schools. They have options for their career, as Helicopter pilots.

To become a Helicopter Pilot you have to be really dedicated and hardworking. The job of a Helicopter Pilot is tough. A Helicopter Pilot has to go through training. This training is not easy. A Helicopter Pilot has a lot of responsibility. They have to complete tasks in weather or other difficult situations. To be a Helicopter Pilot you have to be disciplined and patient. You have to be responsible and committed to your work. The job of a Helicopter Pilot is not easy. It can be very rewarding if you are dedicated and hardworking.

The person needs to learn a lot of things to do their job well. They have to know about air navigation. They have to understand the weather reports. They have to know how to use electronic and mechanical controls. They have to be able to fly the Helicopter when things get tough like when the weather's bad or there is an emergency. The person has to be trained to handle the Helicopter in these situations. They need to know what to do when there are problems with the weather or other things that can go wrong. The Helicopter is a responsibility and the person has to be ready, for anything.

Helicopter Pilot Eligibility : 

For Private Helicopter Pilot's License (PHPL)

Age Limits : To get a DGCA license you must be least 17 years old when you apply for the DGCA license. When you think about how the course is the student should be at least 16 and a half years old when they start the course, for the DGCA license.

Educational Qualification:

  • The person who wants to apply for this job should have completed their class or something similar, from a school board that is well known.
  • They must have passed Class 10 from any recognized Board.

Medical Fitness : Medically fit class II as certified by a DGCA empanelled doctor or Medical Establishment for the issue of Student Pilot License, FRTOL(R) and PHPL license.

For Commercial Helicopter Pilot's License (CHPL)

Age Limits : You have to be at 18 years old on the date you apply to the DGCA for the licence. This is after you finish your flying training. The flying course takes some time to complete. The student should not be less, than 17 years old when they join the flying course. The DGCA licence is what you are applying for after completing the flying training.

Educational Qualification : Aspiring candidate should have passed in Class 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics or its equivalent from any recognised Board / University.

Medical Fitness : Class II medical fitness as certified by a DGCA empanelled doctor or Medical Establishment is adequate for issue of Student Pilot's Licence and to commence flying training, he/She should preferably obtain class I medical status prior to commencement of flying training or soon thereafter to avoid becoming ineligible for issue of CHPL Licence should he/she be declared UNFIT Class I during the middle of his/her flying training resulting in wastage of flying fee paid.

Helicopter Pilot Required Skills

  • Helicopter Pilots have good hand and eye skills and they know exactly where things are around them. They are also very good at taking care of the Helicopter Pilots and the people who are flying with them this includes the crew and the passengers. The Helicopter Pilots are, in charge of the helicopter. They have to make sure everything is okay.
  • People who do this job should be able to focus well. They need to stay calm when things get tough and make good decisions fast. It is also very important for them to be able to write and speak clearly so that everyone understands what the job requires, which is written and spoken communication skills like good communication skills.
  • People should be able to work by themselves and also work with a team. They should have judgement when it comes to the work of the team and their own work. The team and the person working alone should have judgement.

How to become a Helicopter Pilot?

There are two different way to get a Helicopter pilot license and pursue it as a career.

One way to become a helicopter pilot is to join the Defence Services. This means you can join the Army, the flying branch or the Navy, which also has a flying branch or you can join the Indian Air Force. Then you can choose to fly helicopters. The Defence Services are a place to start if you want to fly helicopters. You can join the Army or the Navy or the Indian Air Force. Then pick helicopter flying services.

  • To join Defence service one has to clear either NDA (after +2) exam or CDS exam (after Graduation)
  • To become a Helicopter Pilot is a dream, for many people. A person who wants to be a Helicopter Pilot can make this dream come true. They can learn to fly a Helicopter Pilot without spending all their money on lessons. At the time they can serve the country where they were born which is a great thing for the Helicopter Pilot to do.
  • The person who wants to join should know that they have to work in the Defence force after they get the training. They have to do this for an amount of time which is written in the bond when they join the Defence force. The Defence force needs people to work for them for this time. The person who joins the Defence force has to do this.

Another way for people who want to become Helicopter pilots is to join a flying club or institute and get the hours of training that they need to be eligible, for a Helicopter Pilot license. They have to do this to get a Helicopter Pilot license. The Helicopter Pilot license is what they are working towards.

Step 1 : To start with people who want to become helicopter pilots need to get into a flying school that is approved by the DGCA.

The people who get into these schools have to follow the Aircraft Act from 1934 the Rules from 1937 the DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements and the rules and regulations of HAL, for Security and Administration.

Step 2 : The candidates will start with ground training. The people who want to do PHPL and CHPL will have to do 100 hours of ground training. This training is necessary for them to be able to take the student pilot license viva test. The test will be held at the academy. The main goal of this ground training for PHPL and CHPL is to make sure the candidates are ready, for the test.

  • After that CHPL students will have to do training on the ground for 250 hours. This training is necessary for the CHPL students to be allowed to take the exams in subjects, like Air Regulations, Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology and Technical subjects that deal with aircraft and engines. The CHPL students will have to study these subjects according to the syllabus that the DGCA has prescribed for the CHPL students. The DGCA has set the syllabus for the CHPL students to follow.
  • CHPL Students will thereafter need to qualify in Radio Telephony Restricted to Aviation RTR (A) test conducted by the Wireless Planning Cell (WPC) under Ministry of Communications, at different centres in the country every alternate month of the year. On passing this test called a Certificate of Proficiency in RTR (A), issued by the WPC, the DGCA issues FRTO license.

Step 3 : The candidates get the training on the ground first. Then they have to do flying training to get the PHPL and CHPL. For the PHPL they have to fly for least 10 hours. This is so they can take the ground subjects examinations that the DGCA conducts. After that the candidates have to do more flying training, which is 30 hours and they have to follow the syllabus that is given to them. The flying training, for PHPL is very important. The PHPL and CHPL require a lot of work and practice.

To become eligible, for the ground subjects examination a Commercial Pilot License student must complete 25 hours of flying. This is a requirement that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has set. After that the Commercial Pilot License student has to complete a 125 hours of flight time. The Commercial Pilot License student has to follow the syllabus that has been laid down for this. The Commercial Pilot License student has to do this to get the Commercial Pilot License.

Note: It usually takes around 20 to 24 months to get the training for a Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence and 8 to 10 months to get a Helicopter Pilot Licence. The training for Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence is pretty long. You have to spend a lot of time to get a Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence. On the hand the training for Private Helicopter Pilot Licence is shorter. The Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence and Private Helicopter Pilot Licence are two types of Helicopter Pilot Licences. The Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence takes time, than the Private Helicopter Pilot Licence.

Fee Structure and other Expenses until getting a Commercial Helicopter Pilot License.

  • The cost of pilot training is thirty thousand rupees per hour. It can go up to sixty five thousand rupees. This really depends on the type of helicopter you are training in. The fee for pilot training in a helicopter can be different. Pilot training in some helicopters costs more than others. The fee, for pilot training is based on the helicopter you choose.
  • Fee for Proficiency Check/Skill Test Rs.30,000 per hours up to Rs.70,000 depending upon the course
  • One time Registration Fee for Pilot’s Training Course Rs.20,000
  • Training Kit, onetime payment of Rs.7,500
  • Library Fee, onetime payment of Rs.5,000
  • The cost of getting a Commercial Helicopter Pilot License can be really high. It can go up to Rs.13 lakh, which's the same, as Rs.1.3 million. This is a lot of money to spend on a Commercial Helicopter Pilot License. The Commercial Helicopter Pilot License is very expensive.

Helicopter Pilot Job Description

  • The Helicopter Pilot has a lot of jobs. The Helicopter Pilot is very important. Has to do many things.
  • The Helicopter Pilot has to fly the helicopter, which's a big responsibility. The Helicopter Pilot also has to make sure everyone on board is safe.
  • The Helicopter Pilot has to check the weather before flying .The Helicopter Pilot has to know how to handle emergencies
  • The Helicopter Pilot has to be very careful and alert when flying the helicopter. The Helicopter Pilot is in charge of the helicopter and everyone, on it. Research relevant information on expected weather conditions, airspace restrictions, and destination landing facilities.
  • Calculate fuel requirements and maximum loads.
  • Check instruments on board prior to take-off.
  • Communicate with air traffic control to request clearance to take-off and coordinate flight plans.

Helicopter Pilot Career Prospects

  • A Helicopter pilot can get a job in lots of areas. For example they can work in firefighting or offshore support. They can also work in law enforcement or agriculture. Some Helicopter pilots work with pipeline and utility support. Do executive transport.
  • Others like to do sightseeing flights or go fishing. Helicopter pilots are also needed for emergency services and search and rescue missions. They can work in logging. Do cargo lifts. Some Helicopter pilots even work with news media. Do photography from the air.
  • They can also do surveying or work in forestry. Some jobs include game control or traffic reporting. Besides all these jobs a Helicopter pilot can also make a career as a Helicopter flight instructor. They can teach people how to fly a Helicopter. Some can even be test pilots in flying institutes, like a Helicopter pilot testing new Helicopters.

Helicopter Pilot Salary

Helicopter pilots can earn from Rs.1,00,000 to Rs.2,50,000 per month, depending on the company/organization and one's flying experience in various Private and Government owned aviation companies. Helicopter pilots in Government sector also get attractive remuneration and incentives including contributory provident fund, gratuity, medical facilities and free/concessional air passage etc. They are also provided with a range of benefits and allowances in addition to housing facilities, medical expenses and out-station allowances etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone meeting medical, age, and educational requirements with a passion for flying can become a helicopter pilot.
Most aviation authorities require 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics.
A Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (CHPL) is required for professional flying.
By completing flight training at an approved flying school and clearing written, oral, and flight tests.
Hand-eye coordination, situational awareness, decision-making, multitasking, and communication skills.