A private helicopter license is mainly for flying for recreational purposes. With this type of license you can fly a helicopter for:Travel and Personal EnjoymentTransport a limited number of passengers and cargo (cannot charge a fee)It is illegal for private helicopter pilots to receive any form of payment or form of compensation for operating a helicopter. The only exception that the FAA allows is for you to share your fuel and operation costs.With a private helicopter license you can fly during the day or night as longs as the weather conditions are favorable. Passengers may accompany you however, you they cannot pay you for your services. You will be able to fly anywhere in the United States that has been approved for helicopter flight. It is basically like having a drivers license for the sky.FAA Minimum Requirements are:be at least 17 years oldYou need to be able to read, write, understand and speak EnglishPass the Medical Exam by an FAA Flight Surgeon40 hours of helicopter flight trainingPass the FAA written, oral and practical flight testHow long will it take to get a Private Helicopter License?Generally, the time that it takes to get a private helicopter pilot licenses will vary by the person and by the individual instructor Each school will also vary in amount of time that it will take. However, minimum requirements for licenses can be found here. That said, you can anticipate that it should take you about 8 - 14 weeks to complete your license requirements. Some people will take the leisurely approach spreading the amount of time it takes them out over several months. The most important thing to remember is to go at your own pace. Trying to earn a license too fast may cause you to become less safe over time. Additionally, you can take as long as you like to get your license. There are no restrictions on the amount of time it takes you to train for your license.

Over the next few years the demand for helicopter pilots is expected to rapidly increase. There is an expected 60,000 Vietnam War era pilots who are expected to retire and the void needs to be filled by somebody. Hopefully this is you. In addition to the career prospects available to pilots to those who are looking or already are flying helicopters for fun then there has never been a better time to get started or to expand your training.