Annual Salary
£25,000 to £45,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Helicopter pilots fly single- and multi-engined helicopters for business, leisure or emergency services.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; as customers demand
There will be
2.9% more Helicopter pilot jobs in 2027.
On a day-to-day basis you may:
You could work on an aircraft or at an airport.
Your working environment may be at height and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
Although not essential, you could do a university degree in air transport or aviation, which includes helicopter pilot training with an approved flight training organisation.
To start a course, you'll need:A levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications; a minimum of a Class 2 medical certificate; to be over 18
You'll need to apply for the higher level Class 1 medical certificate during your course to get your Commercial Pilot's Licence. If you wish, you can apply for the Class 1 certificate before your course starts.
As well as standard university fees, you will need to fund the flight training part of your course. Universities can advise you about this.
You'll usually need:
You can apply to join a course with a flight training organisation to get your Commercial Pilot Licence CPL(H). You'll need the CPL(H) to fly helicopters commercially.
Entry requirements vary though you'll usually need:
The number of flying hours needed may be lower for trained aeroplane pilots.
As a first step, you could train for a Private Pilot's Licence PPL(H) which allows you to fly for personal use and build up your flying hours. The flight training school would assess your skills, and could ask you to take some pre-course training to prove that you have the level of ability and skills needed for commercial training.
Training is expensive and you'll usually have to fund it yourself.
You could also join the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force as a trainee pilot.
You'll need to:
If you're thinking of a career as a helicopter pilot, it's strongly recommended that you consider taking a pilot Aptitude Assessment before you start training.
You could also take a trial lesson with a flight school to make sure this is the right career for you.
You could join the The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about becoming a helicopter pilot from:Careers in Aerospace; British Helicopter Association; The Honourable Company of Air Pilots; Flying Start
With experience, you could combine flying with ground duties, recruitment or training.
You could also start your own business, providing recreational flights or freight services, or become a flying instructor.
You'll need: