Helicopter Instrument Rating

at East Coast Aero Club; updated August 2010

The best helicopter jobs require an instrument rating. The best instrument instructors are those with extensive experience flying in actual instrument conditions. At East Coast Aero Club, many of our CFIIs have Airline Transport Pilot certificates and hundreds of hours flying real aircraft in real clouds.

A helicopter instrument rating will improve the precision of your flying, both VFR and IFR.

You will get your helicopter instrument training in N171WT, a beautifully maintained 2009 Robinson R44, rented at one of the lowest prices in the world. Your school will be East Coast Aero Club, established in 1985 and home to more than 30 aircraft, about 12 miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts at KBED. We can also offer training at our Nashua, New Hampshire (KASH) location.

What's it like?

Check out these videos for a sample of our teaching:

East Coast Aero Club Tour -- a day at the flight school
Briefing an Instrument Approach

What's it cost?

According to FAR 61, you need the following: 40 total hours of actual or simulated instrument time (can be in an airplane), out of which 15 hours must be training in a helicopter from a CFII-H. Therefore, if you already have significant hood or actual IMC time, the cost should be 15 hours times our dual rate, which is less than $400 per hour. Budget $6000.

Our CFIIs

Here are capsule biographies of some of our instrument instructors:

Paul Cantrell, CFII for more than 20 years, a lot of time in an IFR-certified Bell 206L
Philip Greenspun, more than 3000 hours total time, ATP for both airplanes and helicopters, experience flying the 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet for Comair
Mike Rhodes, ATP, FAA Designated Examiner

A good schedule

We recommend flying at least 3-4 times per week in order to maximize retention and minimize cost. Each flight should be roughly 1.5 hours in length.

Ready to Sign Up?

Call +1 781-274-6322 or, for more information, see our helicopter training web page.