Twizel Area School
Helicopter Pilot Kaiwhakarere Toparere
Helicopter pilots fly helicopters to transport goods, people including photographers, spread fertiliser, spray crops, lift items into difficult sites and provide air rescue and ambulance services.
Helicopter pilots may do some or all of the following:
- prepare and check flight plans
- do preflight checks of weather, equipment and the helicopter
- calculate the amount of fuel needed for flights, and refuel the helicopter
- explain flight and safety details to passengers
- control the helicopter on the ground and in the air
- provide ground support such as maintenance, tying down loads, and safety control.
Specialised helicopter pilots may also:
- provide a commentary to tourists during scenic flights
- fly photographers so they can take photos or videos
- instruct new pilots
- apply fertiliser, bait or other chemicals to farmland or conservation areas
- work with other emergency services (such as hospitals or search and rescue services)
- muster animals such as sheep, horses or cattle
- carry and dump large buckets of water to put out fires,
- lift items into difficult sites
Physical Requirements
Helicopter pilots need to have:
- good hearing and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses)
- good reflexes and co-ordination
- a good level of fitness and health (to pass a medical exam every year).
Useful Experience
Useful experience for helicopter pilots includes:
- experience in the industry you want to fly in
- flying experience
- customer service roles, logistics or staff management
- engineering or mechanical work.
Personal Qualities
Helicopter pilots need to be:
- responsible and safety-conscious
- good at planning, thinking logically and following procedures
- excellent at working under pressure
- able to make quick, sound decisions
- good leaders
- skilled communicators
- able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds
- resilient.
Skills
Helicopter pilots need to have:
- excellent flying skills
- knowledge of flight theory and flight planning
- skill in interpreting flight plans, weather and navigation data
- understanding of civil aviation laws
- knowledge of helicopter mechanics and aerodynamics.
Conditions
Helicopter pilots:
- may work regular business hours, or weekends, or do on-call work
- work in conditions that are often noisy, and can include hazards such as bad weather or smoke
- may travel nationally or internationally for work.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a helicopter pilot, but NCEA Level 3 English, maths and physics are useful.
Helicopter pilots may progress to set up their own business, move into safety manager or operations manager roles, or become flying instructors.
Helicopter pilots may specialise in a number of roles, including:
- Agricultural Helicopter Pilot
- Agricultural helicopter pilots apply agricultural chemicals or fertiliser, flying close to the ground.
- Air Force/Navy Helicopter Pilot
- Air Force/Navy helicopter pilots fly military helicopters.
- Charter Helicopter Pilot
- Charter helicopter pilots work in oil and gas, tourism and forestry areas.
- Firefighter Helicopter Pilot
- Firefighter helicopter pilots put out large fires, dropping water from buckets they carry.
- Mustering Helicopter Pilot
- Mustering helicopter pilots round up animals such as sheep and horses.
- Rescue Helicopter Pilot
- Rescue helicopter pilots work with search and rescue services and fly people to hospital.
Years Of Training
<2 years of training usually required.Commercial helicopter pilots
To become a commercial helicopter pilot you need to have a Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter, also known as CPL(H). To get this you need to:
- hold a Private Pilot Licence for helicopters (PPL (H))
- complete at least 150 hours of flying
- pass a Class 1 medical exam, written exams, an English language test, and a flying test
- satisfy the Civil Aviation Authority's fit and proper person requirements
You can gain your CPL(H) as part of completing a New Zealand Diploma in Aviation - Aeroplane and Helicopter (Level 5).
You need to pass the ADAPT pre-pilot screening test and attend a selection interview first.
- Information on New Zealand Diploma in Aviation
- ServiceIQ website - information about the ADAPT pre-pilot test
Flying instructors
As well as a CPL(H), flying instructors need a Flight Instructor Rating (C Category).
Military helicopter pilots
To become a military helicopter pilot, you need to join the navy or airforce and complete their training.
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