Helicopter Flight Training: Guide to Mastering the Skies

Helicopter flying is a unique and rewarding aviation discipline that requires precision, understanding, and hands-on experience. Our Helicopter Flight Training section serves as a comprehensive technical guide for students preparing to earn their Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, or Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificates with a helicopter class rating.

Whether you're just beginning your aviation journey or advancing your skills as a professional, this resource is tailored to help you succeed. We understand that there are multiple ways to teach and perform helicopter flight maneuvers, and that different instructors may offer varying interpretations of aerodynamic theory and flight techniques. That’s why this guide presents a carefully selected approach based on widely accepted methods and best practices in the industry.

From the fundamentals of flight to the intricacies of hover control, autorotation, and advanced maneuvers, this section offers clear explanations and practical insights. Our goal is to ensure that every student gains a solid foundation in helicopter operations and feels confident behind the controls.

Whether you're training for a checkride or simply refining your technique, this guide will be an essential part of your helicopter pilot training toolkit.

HELICOPTER FLYING SERIES - CONTENTS

Introduction

• Introduction to the Helicopter

Aerodynamics of Flight

• Aerodynamics of Flight
• Forces Acting on the Aircraft
• Airfoil Terminology, Definitions and Types
• Airflow and Reactions in the Rotor System
• Hovering Flight
• Vertical Flight
• Forward Flight
• Sideward, Rearward and Turning Flight
• Autorotation

Flight Controls

• Helicopter Flight Controls

Helicopter Components, Sections, and Systems

• Helicopter Components, Sections and Systems
• Helicopter airframe and Fuselage
• Main Rotor System
• Swash Plate Assembly and Freewheeling Unit
• Antitorque and Drive System
• Engines
• Transmission System
• Fuel Systems
• Electrical Systems
• Hydraulics
• Stability Augmentations Systems
• Helicopter Environmental Systems
• Anti-Icing Systems

Flight Manual

• Rotorcraft Flight Manual

Weight and Balance

• Helicopter Weight and Balance

Performance

• Helicopter Performance

Ground Safety and Preparation

• Ground Procedures and Flight Preparations

Basic Flight Maneuvers

• Basic Flight Maneuvers
• The Four Fundamentals
• Straight-and-Level Flight
• Turns
• Normal Climb and Normal Descent
• Vertical Takeoff to a Hover
• Hovering
• Taxiing
• Normal Takeoff From a Hover and the Surface
• Crosswind Considerations During Takeoffs
• Ground Reference Maneuvers
• Traffic Patterns
• Approaches and Go-Around

Advanced Flight Maneuvers

• Advanced Flight Maneuvers
• Reconnaissance Procedures
• Maximum Performance Takeoff
• Running/Rolling Takeoff
• Rapid Deceleration or Quick Stop
• Steep Approach
• Shallow Approach and Running/Roll-On Landing
• Slope Operations
• Confined Area Operations
• Pinnacle and Ridgeline Operations

Helicopter Emergencies and Hazards

• Helicopter Emergencies and Hazards
• Autorotation
• Vortex Ring State
• Retreating Blade Stall
• Ground Resonance
• Dynamic Rollover
• Low-G Conditions and Mast Bumping
• Low Rotor RPM and Rotor Stall
• System Malfunctions
• Multiengine Emergency Operations
• Lost Procedures
• VFR Flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions
• Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear

Night Operations

• Night Operations
• Visual Deficiencies
• Vision in Flight
• Night Vision
• Night Flight
• Helicopter Night VFR Operations

Effective Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)

• Effective Aeronautical Decision-Making
• Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
• Pilot Self-Assessment
• Single-Pilot Resource Management
• Risk Management
• Workload or Task Management
• Situational Awareness
• Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) Awareness
• Automation Management