Ratings
Private Pilot Program
Introduction
A private pilot helicopter rating entitles you to fly recreationally or for personal purposes, but you cannot fly “for hire” (to be paid to fly). Our private pilot helicopter course includes 10 hours of ground instruction at our training facility. You’ll learn all the aspects of flight that you need to be a safe pilot and pass the FAA examinations. Our online course E Classroom or another Home Study Course is required. Course requirements are:
• Be at least 17 years of age (Student Pilot can start at 16 years) and speak English.
• Can carry passengers, but not for hire or compensation
• Pass a written, oral and practical test
• Must log at least 40 hours of flight training (national average is 50 to 65 hours). All our Pilot
Classes listed below are based on the FAA Part 61 minimum hours. Each Pilot may vary on the required hours to meet ACS or PTS standards.
• Can include 7.5 hours in our Simulator
• All prices are subject to change without notice.
Course Approximate Cost using our R22 Helicopter and Simulator meeting FAA Part 61 minimums (Weight Limits of the R22, 240 lbs per seat, 2 seats with an average total weight of Pilot and 1 passenger not to exceed 400 lbs)
Robinson R22 Rate
20 hours dual instruction $8,000
7.5 hours dual in our Simulator $1,425
10 hours solo flight $4,000
10 hours additional flight $4,000
Ground Instruction
10 hours $750
FAA Medical Exam (approx.) $150
Oral and Flight Exam (by Designate Examiner) $500
Books and Supplies $150
Total Course Costs
Approximately $18,975
Course Approximate Cost using our R44 Helicopter and Simulator meeting FAA Part 61 minimums (Weight Limits of the R44, 300 lbs. per seat, 4 seats with an average total weight of Pilot and 3 passengers not to exceed 800 lbs.)
Total Course Costs Approximately $26,975
*additional fuel surcharge of $20 per hour will be added to the above R-44 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
*additional fuel surcharge of $10 per hour will be added to the above R-22 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
Commercial Pilot Program
Introduction
A Commercial Pilot Helicopter rating entitles you to fly for hire as well as recreationally. The maneuvers taught for this license are more advanced than for a Private Pilot, and the FAA test standards are higher as well. Additionally, to get your Commercial rating you must have 150 hours of flight time logged, with a minimum of 100 hours of “Pilot in command” flight time as a Private Pilot. Use those Instrument Rating hours for your benefit to help get this valuable rating.
Course Approximate Costs: (meeting FAA Part 61 minimums) Prices subject to change without notice.
Robinson R22 Rate
20 hours dual instruction $8,000
5 hours Simulator instrument flight training $950
25 hours of Simulator time getting your Instrument Rating can be used toward your 150 hours of aeronautical experience.
55 hours additional flight $22,000
Ground Instruction
10 hours $750
Written Test $100
Oral and Flight Exam (with Designate Examiner) $450
Books and Supplies $100
Total Course Costs (Using our R22 Helicopter)
Approximately $32,350
Course Approximate Cost using our R44 Helicopter and Simulator meeting FAA Part 61 minimums
Total Course Cost (Using our R44 Helicopter)
Approximately $47,350 *additional fuel surcharge of $20 per hour will be added to the above R-44 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
*additional fuel surcharge of $10 per hour will be added to the above R-22 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
Instrument Pilot Program
Introduction
Full instrument training is not required by the FAA for you to fly in most “private pilot” applications, but some instrument training is necessary to qualify for a commercial certificate. It is also an excellent way for pilots to learn more about the aviation environment and thereby increase the safety of all their flights.
Having instrument certification enables a pilot to fly under instrument conditions, making that pilot more attractive to prospective employers. At White Pine Helicopters, we have an instrument training helicopter and our Advanced Aviation Training Simulator along with an excellent training environment due to our proximity to several airports with instrument landing capabilities. Use our online E Classroom or other training Home Study Course for the Ground Training.
Course Approximate Costs: (meeting FAA Part 61 minimums) Prices subject to change without notice.
Robinson R44 Rate
20 Hours dual instruction $12,000
Simulator Rate
20 Hours dual instruction $3,800
Ground Instruction
10 Hours $750
Written Test $100
Oral and Flight Exam (with Designate Examiner) $550
Updated GPS database $375
Books and Supplies $100
Total Course Costs
Approximately $17,675
*additional fuel surcharge of $20 per hour will be added to the above R-44 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
*additional fuel surcharge of $10 per hour will be added to the above R-22 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
Long Line Introduction Course and Vertical Reference
Flying without using the natural horizon is...well...unnatural.
It seems pretty simple to the average helicopter pilot. But hauling a load under a helicopter isn’t something that can be done the first time using basic flying skills. It takes knowledge of and proficiency in vertical reference flying. That skill must be mastered first.
Vertical reference flying is the ability to look out and down, or out and back rather than using the natural horizon that you’ve been taught from day one to use. It’s just an extremely unnatural way to fly a helicopter. It’s probably the hardest flying you’ll ever do.
We use our R44 Helicopter to introduce our students of what it looks like to do Vertical Reference and Long Line operations.
3 Hours of Ground School introducing the Student on Operations in the Long Line field.
3 Hours of Helicopter Vertical Reference Operations and Practice
10 Hours of Introduction to Long Line training using our R44 Helicopter
Ground School $75
Helicopter Vertical Reference $600
Introduction to Long Line training $600
Certified Flight Instructor Program
Introduction
A Certified Flight Instructor rating is required in order to teach students, and many pilots start their helicopter flying careers as flight instructors. During this training you will become even more proficient in your flying, and you will practice talking through and demonstrating the maneuvers as you would when teaching a student.
The amount of additional flight time for most students is minimal, but you can plan on a lot more “homework”, as the FAA’s Oral Examination for CFI is very challenging. Must have the Commercial Helicopter rating to Instruct.
Course Approximate Costs: (meeting FAA Part 61 minimums) Prices subject to change without notice.
Robinson R22 rates
15 hours dual instruction $6,000
Ground Instruction
20 hours $1400
Written Tests $200
Oral and Flight Exam (with Designate Examiner) $500
Books and Supplies $250
Total Course Costs
Approximately $8,350
Course Approximate Cost using our R44 Helicopter meeting FAA Part 61 minimums:
Total Course Costs
Approximately $11,350
*additional fuel surcharge of $20 per hour will be added to the above R-44 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
*additional fuel surcharge of $10 per hour will be added to the above R-22 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
Certified Instrument Flight Instructor Program
A Certified Instrument Flight Instructor rating will enable you to instruct students as they earn either their instrument ratings or the instrument time for their commercial license. There is no flight time required beyond the hours necessary for your initial instrument rating. 3 hours of flight time for preparation for the exam are necessary, but overall times vary greatly from student to student. Call us for further details.
Add On Rating Program
Introduction
It is not as difficult as many people believe to add a helicopter rating to your fixed wing license. Many fixed wing pilots want to continue their flight education and add a helicopter rating, here at White Pine Helicopters we will do our best to make it as efficient and cost effective as possible.
Flying a helicopter requires a different set of skills than flying an airplane. Many fixed wing pilots experience some initial difficulty adapting what they already know about flying to a helicopter. Some of the ingrained reactions in a fixed wing pilot are inappropriate to rotary wing flight, and it can take some extra flight time for pilots to "break" those old habits.
The requirements vary depending on which license you are trying to earn, so click on the appropriate one below, and see how easy it can be to add a rotorcraft rating!
Rotorcraft Private Pilot (Add-On) Basic criteria:
20 hours of dual flight instruction
10 hours of solo flight (solo cross countries included)
NO FAA WRITTEN Exam required
Hold a Current 3rd. Class (or higher) FAA Medical Certificate
Based on FAA Part 61 minimum hours. Individual times DO vary.
Prices are subject to change w/o notice.
Private Add On Course Approximate Costs:
Robinson R-22 Rate
12.5 hours dual instruction $5,000
7.5 hours dual in our Simulator $1,425
10 hours solo flight $4,000
Ground Instruction
10 hours $750
FAA Medical Exam $100
Oral and Flight Exam (with Designate Examiner) $450
Books and Supplies $150
Total Course Costs
Approximately $11,875
*additional fuel surcharge of $20 per hour will be added to the above R-44 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
*additional fuel surcharge of $10 per hour will be added to the above R-22 hourly price until further notice starting March 2022
Instrument Add On Course Approximate Costs:
The Helicopter Instrument Add-On Rating is for those who already hold an Airplane Instrument Rating and Private Pilot Rotorcraft (minimum) plus the training requirements to fly the Robinson series Helicopters. Training times may vary; the rates and hours listed below are FAA minimums. For information on your own personal needs, call us at (248) 730-1230.
Rotorcraft Added Instrument Rating Basic criteria:
15 hours of Simulated Instrument (Simulator & in Rotorcraft) (including a filed IFR Cross Country in an actual Helicopter of 100 nm)
Price includes Simulator and Aircraft required hours under FAA Part 61 minimums, Ground School, Oral and Flight Exam and Database update of GPS (one time approx. $375).
Total Approximate Course Costs
Approximately $8,200
Commercial Add On Course Approximate Costs:
To add a commercial helicopter rating to your fixed wing, there are several factors to consider. Most pilots will need more than the minimum hours that are listed below, but each pilot's experience will be different. The hours and costs listed below are a representation of the FAA requirements, keep in mind that your costs may be different. Call us at (248) 730-1230 to discuss your specific needs.
Basic criteria for Commercial Add-on:
Rotorcraft Commercial Pilot (Add-on) (150 hours TT, 50 Rotorcraft, 35 PIC)
20 hours dual flight instruction to include
5 hours of instrument flying in helicopters and or Simulator
2 hour daytime cross county of more than 50 nm
2 hour nighttime cross country of more than 50 nm
35 hours PIC to include
5 hours in night VFR conditions
Cross country flight of at least 50 nm with minimum three points
FAA 2nd Class Medical
Approximate Total Cost (R22)
Approximately $19,675
Approximate Total Cost (R44)
Approximately $25,975
Certified Flight Instructor Add On Course Approximate Costs:
The Helicopter CFI Add-On Rating is for those who already hold a Commercial Helicopter Certificate and meet the Robinson Helicopter FAA minimum hours in the Robinson Helicopter. Training times may vary; the rates and hours listed below are FAA minimums. For information on your own personal needs, call us at (248) 750-1230.
15 Hours Combination in a Robinson Helicopter and Simulator FAA Part 61 minimums
Total Approximate Course Costs
Approximately $10,965
Certified Flight Instrument Instructor Add On Course Approximate Costs:
The Helicopter CFII Add-On Rating is for those who already hold a Helicopter Instrument Rating. Training times may vary; the rates and hours listed below are FAA minimums. For information on your own personal needs, call us at (248) 750-1230.
15 hours in our Simulator trainer and Helicopter is the FAA Part 61 Minimum hours.
Total Approximate Course Costs
Approximately $10,500