Obtaining A Private Pilot's Licence

Many describe flying as the ultimate thrill, and once you have experienced the awe of manoeuvring a helicopter for yourself, you will find it addictive and will want to fly more than ever.

Students come from all walks of life and from a wide range in age, but all have a single aim: to master the ultimate challenge of flying a helicopter and to pass their Private Pilot's Licence.

A private helicopter pilot's licence will enable you to achieve your goal, be it enjoying the beautiful New Zealand countryside, taking friends for a ride, hunting in the remote bush, or a more efficient method of travel for business and pleasure — these are just some of the reason our students have learnt to fly.

Courses are individually designed to your individual requirements, timeframe, and financial situation. Our commitment is to support you through, from your initial trial flight, to the Private Pilot's Licence flight test, and beyond.

Passing the flight test is simply the beginning of the adventure, and we hope to build lasting professional and personal relationships with all of our students. You will be able to join us on trips throughout New Zealand, to competitions or for continued personal development, and upskilling to different helicopter types.

After basic helicopter familiarisation, your first lesson will be to understand and feel the effect of the helicopter controls. This will help you to feel how the controls work in unison to manoeuvre the helicopter safely. As you progress, we will teach you more advanced manoeuvres, such as engine-off landings and mountain flying. We teach to the CAA syllabus, so rest assured, your skills will be well practiced and honed ready for the flight test.

Not all training will be done with the instructor in the helicopter — once we are confident you have reached a certain standard, you will do your first solo. This is a major milestone in every pilot’s flying career and it is one to be cherished. You will fly the helicopter by yourself, and as the training develops, you will undertake more advanced solo flights. Real experience is what makes a good pilot, and this can be gained when it is you making all the decisions.

Flying is a dream that can be achieved and we can assist you. The magic of being above the earth can only be realised from being there. The Private Helicopter Pilot Licence can be completed in as little as ten weeks, or at a more leisurely pace, depending on your commitments.

To obtain the Private Helicopter Pilot Licence you must:

Have a minimum of 50 hours flight experience in the following:

PPL Costs

Approximate Cost of Flight Training based on CAA Minimum Requirements for a Private Pilot's Licence