Commercial Pilot License
This certificate is for pilots who want to get paid to fly helicopters. Training in the Robinson R44 out of Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, you'll build the precision, advanced maneuvers and judgment that tour, EMS, utility and charter operators expect, in busy metro airspace that sharpens every skill. Ditch the office cubicle and get paid to fly.
150 hrs
FAA minimum
100 hrs
Pilot in command
18
Minimum age
About the Course
This certificate is for pilots who want to get paid to fly helicopters. Training in the Robinson R44 out of Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, you'll build the precision, advanced maneuvers and judgment that tour, EMS, utility and charter operators expect, in busy metro airspace that sharpens every skill. Ditch the office cubicle and get paid to fly.
With This License You Can
- ✔︎Fly helicopters for compensation or hire
- ✔︎Work toward tour, EMS, utility, charter and agricultural jobs
- ✔︎Build paid flight time toward a rotorcraft career
- ✔︎Qualify to train as a Certified Flight Instructor
Before You Start
- 01Hold a private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating
- 02Hold a current medical certificate
- 03Be at least 18 years old to hold the license
- 04Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
Flight Time You'll Log
- 150hrTotal flight time, at least
- 100hrPowered-aircraft time, 50 in helicopters
- 100hrPilot-in-command time, 35 in helicopters
- 20hrTraining from an authorized instructor
- 10hrSolo flight in a helicopter
Pass the FAA written exam and practical test (checkride)
PLAN YOUR INVESTMENT
Know the Real Cost Before You Start
Flight training is an investment in your future. You should have a realistic picture of that investment before your first lesson.
The FAA sets minimum experience requirements for every certificate and rating, but proficiency, not the minimum hours, decides when you're ready for the next step. The rates below help you plan for a realistic total, not a best-case number that may not match your training.
Current Training Rates
Robinson R44
$650 /hr
Flight & ground instruction
$65 /hr
CFI & CFII instruction
Incl.
Our aircraft are dedicated to flight training and aren't available for standalone rental.
Certificate or rating | FAA minimum experience (Part 61) |
|---|---|
Private Pilot License | 40 hrs total, incl. 20 hrs with an instructor and 10 hrs solo in a helicopter |
Instrument Rating | 40 hrs instrument time; 50 hrs cross-country as PIC, 10 of them in helicopters |
Commercial Pilot License | 150 hrs total flight time |
Certified Flight Instructor | No minimum hours; commercial helicopter certificate required |
Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument | No minimum hours; helicopter CFI and instrument rating required |
Why Do Training Costs Vary?
No two students learn the same way or at the same pace. Your total can shift with how often you train, how you prepare between lessons, previous experience, weather, and the flight and ground instruction needed to meet FAA standards.
The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot Certificate with a helicopter rating under Part 61 is 40 flight hours, but most students need more — plan for about 50 to 60. Plan for the reality of learning to fly, not just the regulatory minimum.
Build a Plan Around Your Goals
Starting from zero, transferring previous flight time, or adding to a certificate you already hold, we'll help you understand where you're starting, where you want to go, and what it will realistically take to get there.
Our goal isn't to sell you flight hours. It's to make every hour count.
From your first lesson through CFII, each stage of training should build the knowledge, skill, judgment and professionalism you'll need for the next one.
Private Through CFII
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START FLYING
IN KANSAS CITY
Questions about the course? Send us a note and an AIRO instructor will get back to you.