Helicopter Flight Training In Canterbury
Train with experienced commercial pilots in Canterbury, at the foothills of the Southern Alps.
If you're working towards your first helicopter licence, building a commercial flying career or adding new skills to your licence, Main Divide Helicopters and the New Zealand Helicopter Training Academy provide practical helicopter flight training designed for the real world.
The Best Pilots Never Stop Learning
Flying helicopters attracts a certain type of person. Curious people. Capable people. People who enjoy challenge and responsibility in equal measure.
Learning to fly is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do, though there are moments where it can feel overwhelming.
New skills. New procedures. New ways of thinking.
The right instructor has a way of making all of that feel achievable.
Chris brings years of commercial flying, instruction and mountain experience into every lesson, creating an environment where students feel supported, challenged and excited about what's next.
Private Pilot Licence.
Gaining a private pilot licence (PPL) is a fantastic achievement. With this licence, you can fly for private or recreational purposes and carry passengers. A PPL is great for those wanting a challenge to work towards or those who want to greatly reduce travel times across the country.
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Practical
50 hours flight time (minimum)
20 hours dual instruction
15 hours solo flight
10 hours navigation
5 hours mountain
Theory
Flight Radio
Human Factors
Navigation
Air Law
Meteorology
Aircraft Technical Knowledge
Medical
DL9 NZTA Professional Drivers Medical
ORClass 2 Aviation Medical Certificate
Commercial Pilot Licence.
A career as a helicopter pilot is a career like no other. A Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) allows you to get paid to fly helicopters and can take you all over the world doing a wide variety of work.
The industry is so varied, you could fly in tourism, agricultural spraying/top-dressing, cattle mustering, fire-fighting, off-shore transfers, search & rescue, aerial shooting and pest control, long-lining (sling), VIP charter, police and so much more.
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Practical
150 hours flight time (includes PPL)
35 hours dual instruction
35 hours solo flight
20 hours navigation
10 hours mountain
10 hours sling training
Optional extras
Night Rating
Type Ratings
Theory
Human Factors
Navigation
Air Law
Meteorology
Aircraft Technical Knowledge
Principles of Flight
Medical
Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate
Advanced Training.
A career as a helicopter pilot is a career like no other. A Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) allows you to get paid to fly helicopters and can take you all over the world doing a wide variety of work.
The industry is so varied, you could fly in tourism, agricultural spraying/top-dressing, cattle mustering, fire-fighting, offshore transfers, search & rescue, aerial shooting and pest control, long-lining (sling), VIP charter, police and so much more.
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Night Rating (Restricted)
12 hours flight time
2 hours of instrument flying
5 hours dual
2 hours solo
C-Cat Instructor Rating
25 hours dual instruction
Flight test
Sling Rating (mandatory for CPL)
5 hours for PPL
3 hours dual
10 hours for CPL
7-hour dual
FOR PILOTS ALREADY IN THE SEAT.
Type Ratings
Each helicopter has its own unique characteristics that require some training with an instructor to be able to fly. Our instructors can train you to fly the following helicopters:
Schweizer 269 (Hughes 300)
MD520 Notar
AS350 Squirrel series
Bell 206 series
Robinson R44
Robinson R22
Cabri G2
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3 hours dual (approximately)
Every pilot is different and the amount of flying required depends on the individuals previous flying experience.
Foreign Licence Conversions
New Zealand is a beautiful country to fly and we love helping pilots from overseas meet the NZ CAA requirements so they too can fly in our amazing country.
Particularly popular with Australian CPL holders looking to gain a job flying in NZ, we can help you meet all the flying requirements quickly and guide you through the application process so you can be on your way to that next job.
With no wasted ferry time to the mountains, we are a great cost-effective option. We place a commercial mindset on all our flight training, aiming to give you the best possible start to flying in New Zealand.
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A Typical Australian CPL-H Requires.
10 hours mountain flying
10 hours sling training
Medical
Your CASA Class 1 Medical Certificate is valid until it expires.
You will then need an NZ CAA Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate.
Biennial Flight Reviews (BFR’S)
Complete your next biennial flight review with us, in one of our helicopters, or your own, it’s up to you. We like to treat these as a good training opportunity and hopefully you’ll take some valuable tips away with you.
Please note, two years is a long time between flights with an instructor. We recommend flying and brushing up on normal and emergency procedures every 6-12months. Most helicopter organisations are doing six monthly training with their commercial pilots.
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2 hours dual (approximately)
As with type ratings, every pilot is different and the amount of flying depends on how much the individual has been flying recently.
Reviews from our recent students
Flight training is in partnership with New Zealand Helicopter Training Academy
Ready to talk training?
Tell us where you are at now and where you want flying to take you. First licence, commercial pathway, new aircraft, BFR, overseas conversion or the next skill you want under your belt.