Begin your flight training in San Diego Corporate Helicopters Flight Training Academy.
Offering Part 61 training, add-ons, a flight simulator, degree program affiliations and advanced training, this is a great opportunity for veterans, international students or anyone interested in taking an introductory helicopter flight lesson!
Did you know there’s a dedicated web site for Corporate Helicopters Flight Training Academy?
If you’re new to aviation, you’ll find everything you need to know about becoming a helicopter pilot.
If you’re already a pilot, you’ll find the helicopter add-ons and advanced certifications you need.
Financial aid available!
Answers to everything you need to know about pricing, financial aid, enrollment, and careers.
Get answers in the helicopter flight training FAQ.
Here’s why CHFTA no longer accept students using VA benefits.
Try flying a helicopter with an
After just 30 minutes of ground school and safety checks, take off for a 30-minute flight where you actually get to fly a Robinson R44 helicopter!
This is a safe, supervised way to try being a helicopter pilot before making the financial and time investment in flight school.
And it’s just $399!
Intro helicopter flight lesson
Part 61 Flight Training is a more flexible and less rigid approach. More training hours are required.
Learn more about Part 61 helicopter training.
Select from ATP, CFI, CFII, Private Pilot Add-On, Commercial Pilot Add-On or learn how to fly new aircraft!
This course is designed to transition pilots into new airframes in order to increase experience and marketability. Ground school is included – covers basic aircraft composition, systems, limitations and performance. Flight training teaches flight characteristics and emergency procedures.
This course is designed for pilots who currently or have previously flown various types of aircraft. Ground school reviews aircraft systems, limitations and performance. Flight training reviews flight characteristics and emergency procedures.
Recovery from Inadvertent Flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions consists of classroom and simulator training. It teaches pilots the conditions where flight in IMC might be encountered. You will review several accidents that occurred when pilots have encountered IMC conditions without having the proper training to transition to flight reference instruments. Simulator training gives pilots the skills to maintain control of the aircraft and return to VFR conditions.
This course trains pilots to safely navigate and operate in the mountainous terrain. Ground training covers the unique weather and wind dynamics that occur in mountainous terrain and gives pilots skills and techniques to make flying safer. Flight training offers pilots and opportunity to dynamically use the techniques learned in ground training in a practical situation.
This course will develop and implement a helicopter-based aerial fighting program. Students will learn the basic aspects of aerial firefighting that includes tank fill operations (ground and snorkel), bucket fill operations, aerial firefighting strategies and tactics, and safety.
Learn more about this course.
Corporate Helicopters operates under a sophisticated, company-wide Safety Management System. Safety is the number one priority.
Students meet with instructors on a one-on-one basis and are able to progress at their own pace.
Corporate Helicopters flight instructors are also Corporate Helicopters pilots, operating charters, tours and filming flights.
San Diego offers great weather year-round for flying, which is an excellent advantage for students needing to finish ratings as quickly as possible.
Corporate Helicopters’ FLYIT Simulator is used for FAA approved VFR and IFR training.
This incredible, realistic simulator allows students and licensed pilots to safely train in different helicopter models, multiple geographic locations, bad weather conditions and emergency situations.
Learn more about the helicopter flight simulator.
Which helicopter is the best trainer for instrument flight instruction? Since you are investing a lot in your flight training you should make sure to train with the best equipment available.
The Robinson R44 Cadet is a two-seat helicopter that features the latest and greatest in technology that will make it easier and faster for you to get through your ratings.
The training helicopter is configured for maximum ease of learning and is appointed for serious flight training. It is equipped with the best tools available to help you concentrate, as is air conditioned with comfortable leather seats.
This is a great helicopter for larger students too – as the seat weight limit accommodates up to 300 pounds.
This training helicopter will make it easy for you to get through your lessons and focus on your ratings.
The Garmin G500H is the industry standard Primary Flight Display and Multifunction Display (PFD/MFD) that meets the needs of the most demanding helicopter missions.
Dual 6.5” LCD displays are positioned side by side. One screen shows altitude, airspeed climb rate and course heading. The other provides situational awareness using moving map graphics with the helicopter’s current position in relation to ground features, chart data, navaids and flight plan routing.
This state of the art tool will make it fast and easy for you to get your instrument ratings or do cross country flights – and it will prepare you for the same type of equipment you will use as a career helicopter pilot.
Contact us for more information.
This depends on how often the student trains per week. On average, if you are flying part time, 3-5 hours a week, it will take 6-8 months to complete your Private Pilot training. The duration of your training will depend on how frequently you are able to fly and how much time you dedicate towards your studies. The FAA minimum requirement is 40 hours of flight training and 40 hours of ground school to qualify for your Private Pilot check ride, however these minimums are rarely met. You will need to keep training until you are proficient enough to pass your check ride. According to the national average, most students take 60-80 hours of flight time.
Only the Flight Instructor Certificate must be renewed every 24 calendar months. The Airman Certificate (Private, Commercial, ATP) and Instrument Rating do not expire but the pilot must maintain currency (keep them current). The cost for this can vary, but for the Certificate it would consist of a minimum of an hour of ground and an hour of flight in a helicopter. The instrument rating currency is every 6 months, but this can be done in the simulator to save costs.
Helicopters are extremely versatile and are used as a tool in various industries, including: Firefighting, Electronic news gathering (ENG), Aerial land surveys, Executive transport, Emergency medical services (EMS), Powerline and pipeline patrols, Wildlife protection services, Aerial crane services, Sight seeing tours, Aerial filming, & Aerial photography. Pilots tend to fly for multiple types of work throughout their careers.
Corporate Helicopters flight instructors are also Corporate Helicopters pilots. In addition to giving flight instruction, they perform charters, photo and filming flights, rescue flights and many other types of flying missions. As a Corporate Helicopters flight student, you will receive the benefit of that industry experience.
Students meet with their instructor on a one-on-one basis and are thereby able to progress at their own pace. A post-flight debriefing to review and re-emphasize the day’s lesson follows each flight.
Southern California is known for fantastic weather year-round, which is important for flight training. Being able to fly nearly 365 days a year will keep flight students on a timely schedule. This is especially important for out of town and international students who are incurring expenses to stay in San Diego and who need to finish their ratings as quickly as possible.
During free time, students can take advantage of the many attractions San Diego has to offer, including Sea World, the world famous San Diego Zoo, Mission Bay, Rosarito Beach and Baja California.
Montgomery Field is an excellent choice as a base of operations. Montgomery Field has an FAA control tower and is in close proximity to all types of helicopter training environments including the Lindbergh Class B airspace, the international border, the mountains and desert terrain to the East and the coastline to the West.
Fully equipped Bell 206’s and Robinson R-22 Beta II’s and R44’s are on-site, as well as a FLYIT Simulator. Corporate Helicopters operates and maintains all of its helicopters, which guarantees competitive pricing and a high rate of flight readiness.
Unlike many other flight schools, Corporate Helicopters is a full service helicopter charter operator and Electronic News Gathering (ENG) helicopter specialist. This means the student has the opportunity to receive on-the-job training.
Many students choose to do their long cross country flight to Torrance, California, home of the Robinson Helicopter Company. As authorized dealers for the R22 and R44, Corporate Helicopters can arrange a fly-in tour of the factory for its students.
Fathers can often be the hardest people to buy gifts for. When Julie Parnell found herself in this situation, she gave her dad a life experience: an introductory helicopter flight lesson.
Corporate Helicopters has trained hundreds of helicopter pilots over the years.
Recently, we launched a new web site geared specifically toward the experience of new and returning flight training students: Corporate Helicopters Flight Training Academy.
The site provides prospective students everything they need to know about helicopter flight training, in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner.
Corporate Helicopters is now offering a ‘Summer Introductory Flight Lesson’!
You will start your Introductory Flight with 15 minutes of ground school which will cover safety information and how to work the helicopter controls. The Summer Introductory Flight Lesson will fly you and an Instructor over the Southern California coastline for 20 minutes.
Father’s Day is THIS Sunday, June 18, 2017. Are you searching for the perfect gift for Dad? We have the best aerial adventures in San Diego!
We’ve put together some helicopter tour options that will surely impress dad!
I moved to San Diego 3 months ago with the intention of doing a discovery flight with Corporate Helicopters. I absolutely loved it and want to pursue learning to fly helicopters. My instructor Josh was amazing and has great techniques of teaching. He described concepts in the correct terminology but can easily convey to someone who is just learning and relate to other aspects in order for the student to understand what he is teaching. He was very positive and loves what he does. Corporate Helicopters is great, very nice and enthusiastic staff and is in a great location. I go there sometimes just to hang out and gaze at the helicopters. Thanks a lot Corporate Helicopters, I loved my experience and hope there will be more in the near future!
I took the Introductory Helicopter Flight Lesson, and if possible I would have rated it 6 out of 5 stars. My instructor Will was awesome and despite the fact that I’ve never flown a real helicopter before I was fully in control of the helicopter within about 10 minutes! It was a HUGE amount of fun and was the best part of the trip to San Diego. If you’re thinking about giving this a try, stop thinking and just sign up right now! It’s absolutely worth it!
I did an introductory lesson with William today and it was spectacular. Good instruction, good equipment and can’t find a better setting than coastal San Diego.
I got my private pilots license here and am currently going through instrument and commercial instruction. If you want to fly helicopters this is the place to learn.
Took introductory class today. Thank you Corporate Helicopters for such a great experience. My instructor, Jose, was excellent. Patient, calm, clear and funny. A complete professional. I can’t wait for my next lesson!
I had the most amazing experience with my first introductory flight lesson today! Vince Carter was the pilot/instructor and even though I was feeling a little nervous, he made me feel very comfortable. I got a thorough introduction of the controls, how they maneuver the helicopters, and how sensitive they are. Thank you for an awesome experience!
Call Now