Commercial Pilot Licence — Helicopter CPL(H)

Train to Become a Professional Helicopter Pilot

If your aim is to fly helicopters professionally, the Commercial Pilot Licence — Helicopter is where your career begins.

A CPL(H) develops significantly more than basic aircraft handling.

Commercial helicopter pilots are expected to demonstrate sound judgement, disciplined procedures, accurate aircraft handling, strong theoretical knowledge and the ability to safely manage changing operational conditions.

Our Phillip Island training pathway combines professional flight training with exposure to an active helicopter operating environment and access to training across both regional and metropolitan locations.

The CPL(H) Training Pathway

CASA requires a CPL(H) applicant to complete approved flight training, the required CPL theory examinations, minimum aeronautical experience and a CPL flight test.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age when the licence is issued and meet the applicable medical and English-language requirements.

Depending on the approved course and the student's circumstances, CASA currently provides different helicopter CPL aeronautical-experience pathways, including a 100-hour integrated pathway and non-integrated pathways of 150 hours or, where the requirements of Part 61 MOS Schedule 9 are satisfied, 105 hours.

We will discuss the appropriate training pathway with you before commencement rather than advertising a single minimum number of hours that may not apply to every student.

What Will I Learn?

CPL flight training builds the aircraft handling skills learned during initial training to the standard expected of a professional pilot.

Training includes areas such as:

  • Precision helicopter handling

  • Hovering and confined manoeuvring

  • Take-offs, approaches and landings

  • Circuit operations

  • Advanced aircraft handling

  • Autorotations and emergency procedures

  • Navigation

  • Cross-country operations

  • Flight planning

  • Aircraft performance

  • Operational decision-making

  • Threat and error management

  • Professional cockpit discipline

  • Preparation for the CPL(H) flight test

The focus progressively moves from simply being able to perform an exercise to performing it accurately, consistently and with sound judgement.

Commercial Pilot Theory

CPL(H) candidates must complete the CASA commercial helicopter theory examination requirements.

The subjects include:

  • Aerodynamics

  • Aircraft General Knowledge

  • Flight Rules and Air Law

  • Human Factors

  • Meteorology

  • Navigation

  • Operations, Performance and Flight Planning

CASA currently conducts CPL theory across the relevant helicopter-specific and common CPL subject examinations, with applicable pass standards for each examination.

Theory training and study support can be coordinated alongside your flying program.

Train in More Than One Environment

Commercial pilots need to become comfortable operating outside a single familiar training circuit.

Phillip Island provides students with exposure to regional and coastal operations, changing weather conditions and real-world helicopter activity.

Moorabbin training can complement this with exposure to a busy metropolitan aerodrome and controlled aviation environment.

Together, this provides a broader training experience and helps develop the adaptability expected of a professional helicopter pilot.

Learn Around a Working Helicopter Operation

Training from Phillip Island also gives aspiring commercial pilots the opportunity to spend time around an established tourism and charter operation.

That exposure is valuable.

Students see that professional aviation involves considerably more than manipulating the controls of an aircraft. It requires planning, customer management, weather assessment, aircraft preparation, operational discipline, safety systems and professional decision-making.

We want students to understand those standards before they begin looking for their first commercial flying position.

From First Flight to CPL(H)

If you are starting with no previous helicopter experience, we can help map out the complete pathway from your first lesson through to commercial licence training.

If you already hold flight experience or another Australian pilot licence, let us know when you enquire. Previous aeronautical experience may affect your training requirements, and the approved training provider can assess what credit or pathway may be available. CASA specifically provides for assessment and applicable experience pathways depending on prior qualifications and course type.

Start Planning Your Helicopter Career

A commercial helicopter licence is a serious commitment of time, money and effort.

Before you commit, we would rather have a proper conversation about what you are trying to achieve, the training pathway, realistic costs and what the early stages of a helicopter career actually look like.

Send us an enquiry and we can discuss:

  • Your career goals

  • Previous flying experience

  • Training pathways

  • Training frequency and availability

  • Theory requirements

  • Medical requirements

  • Aircraft and instructor availability

  • Current training rates

  • Expected progression towards your CPL(H)

All licence training is conducted through an appropriately approved flight training provider and is subject to the provider's approvals, procedures, syllabus, aircraft availability and student training requirements.