Helicopter Training School

Heliflight have been training helicopter pilots since 1996. With both full time and part time instructors, including two chief instructors and an in house flight examiner we are well equipped to provide you with comprehensive training from an initial private Pilot’s licence (PPL) through to Instructor ratings.

We are centrally located Gloucestershire Airport, between Cheltenham and Gloucester. We have a range of helicopters you can train in from Robinson R22’s to Robinson R44’s and Bell 206 Jet Rangers when you want to fly a turbine machine.

So what’s involved in learning to fly a helicopter and what opportunities lie ahead once you are qualified? The first step is to obtain a Private Pilot’s Licence. This is a qualification that allows you to fly a specific type of helicopter and it is recognised throughout Europe. The licence allows you to fly for fun and take your friends and family out and about. You can progress to qualify to fly bigger helicopters, learn to fly at night, and get an instrument rating.

If you want to fly helicopters for a living you need to train for a commercial licence. This licence permits you to be paid for flying helicopters and requires some additional training. You must have your PPL and a total of 155 hours of flying under your belt before you begin the course.

Beyond the commercial licence is the Instructor rating. This rating allows you to train students for their private pilot’s licence. Instructors are always in demand, so this can be a good qualification to have if you want to work in the industry.

Heliflight can also offer a wide range of ancillary ratings such as night flying, mountain flying, advanced navigation and conversion courses for different types of helicopters: these include the Robinson R22, R44, Bell 206 Jet Ranger, Enstrom 480, Hughes 300 and Hughes 500.

Heliflight also has an "in-house" Radiotelephony examiner and can also provide radiotelephony training.