FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Why should you choose Summit Helicopters for your flight instruction? We offer friendly, personal service in a professional environment. We provide flexible schedules for your flight training. We fly 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Summit operates three different types of helicopters.  We train in the Schweizer 300CBi, Robinson R-22 Beta II, and Robinson R-44 Raven II.  This provides a well rounded training program that produces pilots who can find work anywhere, because they are qualified in multiple types of aircraft. Of course it goes further than that.  We pride ourselves in the condition of our equipment, we take very good care of our helicopters, so they take care of us.  We love what we do, we're passionate about flying, that is why we're here. What is involved in getting a helicopter rating? As a student you will fly with your instructor; learning how to fly and the rules of the air and ground. You will become very knowledgeable of your helicopter, its systems, and its emergency procedures. You will then be required to pass a written and a practical exam. The practical test is taken with an FAA designated examiner and is comprised of an oral exam on regulations, procedures, and your general knowledge, followed by a practical flight test where you will demonstrate maneuvers in the helicopter. When this exam is passed, in both parts, you have received your certificate. When I have a helicopter certificate, what kinds of helicopters can I fly? With an FAA private or commercial helicopter certificate you can fly any United States Registered helicopter under 12,500 lb.  This is almost every type of helicopter out there.  The few exceptions are large air crane-type helicopters and heavy lift helicopters.  Of course insurance regulations limit what you can fly until you have more experience.  If you are interested in a specific type of helicopter or flying, ask us, we'd be happy to answer your questions. How long are the private, commercial and instructor certificates valid? Are there any requirements to extend them? Private, Commercial, Instrument, and ATP certificates are good for life. However, to exercise the privileges of them you must have recent experience and a valid medical certificate.  The CFI is good for 2 years, it can be renewed several ways, including maintaining an 80% pass rate of students, or taking a CFI renewal class in person or on-line. Is there an age restriction to becoming a helicopter pilot? There is only a minimum age restriction of 17 years of age for private helicopter pilots, 18 years of age for commercial pilots and flight instructors and 23 years of age for an ATP. There is no maximum age restriction. There is however a health restriction. Pilots must pass a medical examination and carry a valid medical certificate to be a helicopter pilot. As long as you are healthy, you can fly. Many people fly into their 70's, as long as their vision, health, and mental recall remains, they can fly. What is a medical certificate and how do I get one? The FAA issues three classes of medical certificates: A first class is required for pilots who exercise Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) privileges; that is, those flying scheduled airliners and other pilots whose employers require this level of certification. A first class medical is valid for ATP privileges for six months.  After six months, it downgrades to a Second Class for 6 more months, then downgrades again to a Third Class for an additional 12 or 24 months, depending on your age. Second class is required for pilots who fly commercially; in operations such as crop dusting, delivering canceled checks, or carrying passengers or cargo for hire. The second class medical is valid for commercial privileges for 12 months.  After 12 months, it downgrades to a Third Class for 12 or 24 more months, depending on your age.   This is the type of medical most of our students get. Third class is appropriate for student pilots and private pilots who fly for pleasure or personal business (but not for hire). Student pilots need only a third class/student pilot certificate which is a combination certificate and serves both as a pilot and medical certificate. A third class medical is valid for 24 months (36 months for applicants who have not reached age 40). A third class medical is valid for student, recreational, and private pilot privileges. You get one by going to an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), it takes about an hour or so the first time you go and it consists of a vision test, hearing test, colorblind test, and basic physical.  There are also health questions to answer.  If you have any questions or concerns about specific medical conditions, feel free to ask us, or ask an AME before you apply for your medical certificate.  We have local AMEs we can refer you to. Which helicopters does Summit use for training?  What about turbine transitions? We operate Schweizer 300CB, Robinson R-22, and Robinson R-44 helicopters.  These three helicopters represent 99% of all the flight training being done in the United States, and most of the world.  By getting you flight time in all three types, you'll be more employable and marketable when searching for your first job (unless of course we decide to hire you) We can also make arrangements to send students to turbine transition schools such as Bell Helicopter/Textron and American Eurocopter for transitions into the helicopters of their choice. Both of these schools are located here in the DFW area.  Why don't we offer turbine training ourselves?  These days it really isn't required, you'll get your first turbine time when you reach 1,000 hours and move on to a commercial flying job.  There is no need for you to pay for it yourself.  So why does anyone do it?  Primarily those people who are not looking for a career, and either want a fun new experience, or are interested in purchasing a helicopter. What are the requirements to become a student at Summit? If you are a US Citizen, the only thing you need to bring is a valid US Passport or original birth certificate, and sign our customer agreement. Due to Homeland Security Requirements, if you are not a US Citizen, you must pass a background check before flight training can begin.  This takes about a week to complete, and if you need one, give us a call and we'll walk you through the details.  You'll also have to pay the (Transportation Security Administration) TSA a $130 fee to process your background check.  That fee goes directly to them. If you are here on a Visa, it must allow you to go to school.  A tourist or visitor visa is not sufficient to allow you to attend flight school.  A work visa generally does allow you to train (such as a L-1 visa)  Contact us for details on this. Would it be better to get an airplane rating first if my goal is to be a helicopter pilot? It is a waste of money since the hours in airplanes will not help you to get a job. The insurance companies often demand that entry level pilots have a minimum of 150 hours in helicopters. The insurance companies have a strong influence on our industry. While the FAA will allow someone with as little as 55 hours in helicopters to receive a Commercial add-on, the insurance industry usually will not insure you, thereby effectively denying you an entry-level job. Can I rent a helicopter? Yes, you can.  If you're not a student with us, but simply want to rent a helicopter (you already have your helicopter pilots license), we can do that after a short checkout flight.  You'll go for a flight with a Summit CFI who will evaluate your ability to safely fly the helicopter.  If he/she is comfortable, you're good to go.  If not, you may need some additional training.  We find that pilots who have not flown in more than a year often require two or three flights to get current and comfortable in the cockpit again. That is our general requirement, however we reserve the right to make case-by-case decisions. The insurance requirements depend on the helicopter you want to rent.  For the Schweizer 300CBi, you must have 50 hours of time in a 300CBi. If you don't, you'll need 15 hours of dual instruction with us before you can rent.  For the Robinson R-22, you can rent it for solo flights with your SFAR 73 PIC signoff, however to carry a passenger you must have attended the Robinson Factory Safety Course.  The Robinson R-44 cannot be rented without a Summit CFI onboard per our insurance requirements. How long will my training take? This depends on how often you fly, and what certificates you're wanting to obtain. If you can fly 6 times a week, you can get your private rating in as little as a month, or all your ratings in as little as 6 months. Talk with your flight instructor about your goals and schedule to determine how much time you can expect to spend. Is there financial aid available? Yes, we have several ways to help you pay for your flight training.  See our financial aid page for details. Do you require payment up front? No, we do not require any prepayment for training. Simply pay for each lesson as you take them. Some customers prefer the option to place money on account to avoid having to write a check after every lesson and to take advantage of our block rates. What forms of payments does Summit accept? We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.  There is a discount provided for placing funds on account. Do you accept VA benefits? Not currently, however we expect this to change sometime in 2Q 2008.  The Veterans Administration will not pay for the Private Pilot rating. Once a veteran has a Private Pilot Certificate, the VA will reimburse 60% of the veterans training costs for Part 141 approved courses. To learn if you qualify for these benefits, find out what your personal limit is, and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility, please call the VA at 1-888-442-4551. What are my employment prospects after I have received all of my ratings? You couldn't pick a better time to enter the helicopter industry. Companies are lowering their minimum requirements for helicopter pilots, effectively giving current pilots the opportunity to move up a rung in the ladder sooner than they would have been able to as recently as 5 years ago. This is leaving the bottom rungs wide open. Entry level turbine employers are now paying to transition pilots with as little as 1,000 hours into turbine helicopters. If you study hard, have the proper attitude, network in the industry and take the time to meet with potential employers, the sky is literally the limit to your employment opportunities. What is the path I will most likely take to reach my employment goals? Your career will most likely start as a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor). You will build time until you have about 1000 hours (this takes 12 months on average). At most busy helicopter schools you can budget to fly 800 hours a year. You will then most likely move into a turbine helicopter and expand your flight experience in various operations that can range from tours, charter, and photo shoots, EMS, fire fighting, corporate, and twin engine helicopter jobs. What can I expect to be paid as a helicopter pilot? Flight instructors make between $15 and $20 an hour to start (expect about $25K to $35K your first year). From there the salaries start at about $50,000 for entry level turbine jobs, then go up to $60,000 and $70,000 for mid-level jobs, and upwards to over $100,000.