You will, without doubt, have a small list of reasons why not to fly, whether that be helicopters or fixed wing. There are many reasons not to do things in life, however that doesn’t mean that you should hide behind them.
Here’s the top reasons we’ve discovered that people fixate upon which ultimately deter them from beginning flying training
- It’s expensive. Yes it is. Compared to other forms of flying, helicopters are expensive. Flying full stop is not the cheapest hobby.
- Flying is dangerous. We’ve kind of dealt with this one already in a previous article, however it is something that will keep coming up when you tell people that you fly helicopters. We’re mentioning it again, because you’re going to have to get used to explaining the wonders of helicopter flight to people and explaining that actually, its perfectly safe, safer than most other forms of transport.
- I’m spending money just on a new skill for me. Very true. It’s a lot like buying a car just for some fun, its not a family car, you can’t pile the dogs in and it won’t look great with a bike rack, so you kind of have to face the fact that its just something you want because you’ve earned it, Helicopter training is a bit like that, except its an investment is in yourself. You’re learning a new skill that will enable you to step through a doorway. You’ll only find the true benefits of this once you make that step.
- I may not complete my training, then I’ve wasted my money. That’s an understandable worry. Very often this is due to an occasional loss of confidence. Very, very few pilots who embark upon flying training don’t complete the process.
- What will I do once I pass my test? We’ve written an entire article on this subject, keep reading the series to find out.
- I’m a woman, this is a male thing. Not true, not in the slightest. There are many female helicopter pilots around flying anything from our Robinson R44’s all the way through to search and rescue, air ambulance and even military attack helicopters. It’s not a male thing. Try it.
You may well have your own specific concern about learning to fly and yet you still have that burning desire to. Drop us a line for a chat and tell us what you have in mind.
The article is part of a series that aim to answer all of the questions you’ve ever had if you’re thinking of learning to fly helicopters. You can read the first post here, or click the links below for the rest of the series
“Helicopters are Dangerous” – And Other Reasons Not to
Do I Already Have Skills That Will Make Me a Helicopter Pilot?
How Hard Is It To Fly Helicopters? Really?
My Family Think I’m Nuts – What Do I Do?
Reasons Why You Should and Should Not be a Helicopter Pilot