Hillsboro Heli Academy
Troutdale, Oregon, United States
- CPL(H)
- helicopter
- FAA
Helicopter Professional Pilot Program
- Flight hours
- 200 h
- Tuition from
- USD 90,600
View program
Career path · Helicopter training
Become a helicopter pilot.
Rotary careers are diverse and well-paid. Offshore rigs, air medical, search and rescue, aerial filming, instructing. We map your route through PPL(H) and CPL(H), the licenses that get you into the seat.
- 1 program on this path
- 1 partner school teaches it
- 1 country to train in
01 The careers
Four careers, one license track.
Rotary does not have a single path. The licenses are the same, but where you take them diverges fast. These are the four most common destinations.
- Offshore
Offshore operations
Flying crews to oil and gas platforms in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. Long rosters, high pay, twin-engine IFR machines like the S-92 and AW139.
- Pay
- USD 95k-170k
- Entry
- CPL(H) + IFR + 1000h
- EMS · HEMS
EMS, HEMS and SAR
Air medical, search and rescue, mountain extraction. Mission-driven work with tight crew dynamics, often single-pilot IFR with night-vision goggles at night.
- Pay
- USD 75k-135k
- Entry
- CPL(H) + IFR + 1500h
- Utility
Utility and aerial work
Aerial filming, agricultural spraying, power-line inspection, sling loads, logging. Highly varied work, often single-engine VFR, frequently as the sole pilot in command.
- Pay
- USD 60k-115k
- Entry
- CPL(H) + 500h
- Instructing
Flight instructing
Train the next generation of rotary pilots. A common way to build hours toward offshore or EMS roles; many instructors hold utility or charter contracts alongside.
- Pay
- USD 50k-85k
- Entry
- CPL(H) + FI(H) rating
Pay figures are approximate ranges for Europe and the English-speaking markets, and they move with your operator, your hours and the machine you fly. Offshore and EMS pay scales with experience; instructor pay assumes full time at an established flight school. The entry lines are the minimum license and hours operators typically ask for, not a guarantee of a seat. Treat both as a starting point for a conversation with an advisor.
02 The licenses
How the rotary licenses work.
PPL(H) builds to CPL(H) builds to ATPL(H). Type ratings decide which helicopters you may fly.
-
Stage 01
PPL(H)
Private Pilot License (Helicopter)
Your first solo in rotary. Around 45 hours of flight training in a single-engine piston helicopter, plus theory. Lets you fly recreationally, not for hire.
First solo. Recreational rotary flying.
-
Stage 02
CPL(H)
Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter)
The license that opens commercial rotary work. Most students reach it at 150 to 200 total hours with focused commercial training, navigation and procedural depth.
Get paid to fly rotary.
-
Stage 03
ATPL(H)
Airline Transport Pilot License (Helicopter)
The highest rotary license, required for captain on multi-pilot helicopter operations. Theory exams plus minimum total experience. A common path for offshore captains.
Captain on multi-pilot operations.
-
Stage 04
Type
Type ratings
Under EASA, every helicopter type needs its own type rating, the Robinson R22 and R44 included, and your license comes with the type rating of the helicopter you take your skill test in. Under the FAA, a type rating is needed for large helicopters, over 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight; the R22 and R44 need none, but an FAA rule (SFAR 73) requires special training before you fly them.
Machine-specific endorsements.
Each license requires a medical certificate and language proficiency, and the details vary by country regulator.
New to helicopters? Read the helicopter training guide.03 The routes
How the schools sell it.
Schools sell the stages as packages. Every route here is counted from the programs our partner schools publish, with the lowest course fee they ask.
Routes and fees
Course fees as the schools publish them, converted to USD at current rates. Living costs, exams and visas come on top.
Estimate your whole budget04 The programs
Every program on this path.
05 Before you start
Is rotary for you?
Rotary pilots filter on a different mix than fixed-wing: spatial reasoning, coordination on several axes, working memory under noise and vibration. Two assessments show where you stand, and the estimator what the path will cost.
- Free · about 5 minutes · no account Quick aptitude check Sixteen quick questions on the core skills rotary work asks for. A directional read on whether to pursue training.
- Free account · 35 to 45 minutes Full rotary profile Cognitive and personality modules with a written report on your strengths, your blind spots and the rotary track that fits how you think.
- No sign-up · about 30 seconds Estimate your budget Pick your route and country and see a realistic total: course fees and living costs together.
NEED GUIDANCE
Not sure which program fits?
Let our team help.
School selection, application support and clear visa information: our advisors walk you through every step. Our school advisory is free for students.