How Do I Begin?
Follow @TheSuckiestManAlive on Tiktok for FREE ground school training.
Get the FREE Helicopter Flying Handbook.
Take an Introductory Ride with any certified Flight Instructor.
This will determine what helicopters you prefer, how your weight is factored into flying, and help determine if there are any obstacles.
Determine Your Goal!
Almost anyone can gain the skill of flying helicopters without a certification. Is your goal to do it for fun as a Private Pilot or professionally as a CFII?
Get a Flight Physical from an Aviation Medical Examiner.
Do you need a Basic Med or First Class Medical certificate to achieve your goal?
Determine How To Save Money
Some Schools are businesses that want to justify their costs and why you should pay for 8 hours of ground school in a day. There are ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. YouTube and Simulators aren’t used enough!
Determine Financing and concurrent enrollment requirements to achieve your Goals.
Complete TSA requirements as needed.
Start Ground School with the Help of the Helicopter Flying Handbook and YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your hourly flight training rate?
$750 per hour in an R44 helicopter. $50 per preflight and postflight session. We do not charge for ground training. Written tests and Checkrides are variable and will need to be discussed when you are ready.
What is the cost of training?
Private Pilot Certifications cost less and can provide freedom for your family in a rented 3-passenger R44 helicopter.
The cost of training for most Professional Pilot Programs (consisting of at least five pilot certificates/ratings) will exceed $100,000.00 unless you can transition to the R22 or another small helicopter after Private Pilot Certification.
Do I have to pay for my training up front?
No. Pay as you go or buy blocks of time as needed.
Why is your school cheaper? Is Higher price going to mean better quality?
The world is running out of Helicopter Pilots and we don’t want you to experience the costs our instructors paid because of ignorance.
Some flight schools give away lavish gifts and expensive trips to their flight instructors during Holiday parties. Some flight schools are charging more just because their owners want to live in expensive houses.
Some flight schools are forcing unnecessary ground training and encouraging more flight time with instructors instead of solos.
We highly recommend that you reach out to Justin @thesuckiestmanalive on TikTok to meet someone who trained at an overpriced school and knows the
tricks to save money.
Can you get scholarships?
Helicopter Pilots are in desperate need of scholarships. We are currently working to create more scholarships and funding programs for the pilots that
will improve the industry.
Do you offer financing for tuition?
We do offer financing options for potential career program students. To qualify, you need two people on the loan with credit scores of 750+. You and one guarantor or two guarantors (i.e., parent and grandparent) are acceptable. Someone must also demonstrate through shown income or assets that they
can accommodate the payment schedule post-training.
What is the enrollment/registration process?
The enrollment process is simple. You’ll need to fill out an enrollment form, provide documents declaring your citizenship, complete an application for a student pilot certificate with one of our instructors, hold a valid FAA medical certificate, and have the funds available to pay for your first certificate/rating.
Does the school issue VISAs and/or help with immigration?
Mars Helicopters have provided flight training to foreign students for many years. We have extensive experience with the processes involved and are approved to issue authorization letters for M-1 Foreign Student Visas, as required, to receive flight training in the U.S. We also work directly with applicants regarding TSA applications and processing.
Do you accept VA benefits for training?
Unfortunately, currently we do not provide flight training under any VA benefits programs.
Do you offer student housing?
We are partnered with numerous hospitality groups in the immediate vicinity of our location, which are well suited for our short-term students. We advise our career program students to seek out an apartment or long-term Airbnb for the duration of their 10-12 months of training.
How is Mars Helicopters better?
We are not being prideful when making the claim that we provide the best training. Justin has developed the most advanced training program combining the best of civilian flight schools and the best US Army flight training. Students are reaching Private Pilot Certification with less hours than a common trend at most flight schools. Students are hovering sooner!
How long does the program take?
Full-time students can complete the highest of our career programs in as little as 6 months. Our Professional Pilot Program includes all the flight and ground training required to obtain the five certificates/ratings necessary to advance as a professional career pilot and enables applicants to pass the written and practical tests associated with each certificate or rating.
Does fixed wing experience help?
It absolutely helps with aeronautical knowledge and general aviation subjects. Helicopters hover. When they hover, they act like Drunk people. Controlling a helicopter in a hover is a unique skill to master that you can’t learn from flying airplanes.
Which certificates and ratings will I earn in one of your career programs?
The five certificates/ratings you’ll obtain throughout either of our career programs are Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument. All of these equate to usually 52 challenge credit hours at a university with an aviation program.
Can I work full-time and be enrolled in a career program?
Working full-time while enrolled in our program is indeed doable, but it will extend the timeline for each certificate/rating. Many of our graduates have completed all five certificates/ratings in 12 months while maintaining a full-time job. Self-motivation and student habits play a big part in your timeline and overall cost.
We recommends a scheduled minimum of three weekly training blocks to minimize attrition and skill loss between training events.
What is the standard career path for a pilot?
The standard career path for helicopter is separated into three phases: the Student Pilot Phase, the Flight Instructor Phase, and the Career Pilot Phase.
During the Student Pilot phase, you obtain all the certificates and ratings necessary to advance as a career pilot. Training typically takes 6-8 months at Mars Helicopters, assuming students take on a full-time training schedule. At the conclusion of your training, you will have at or above the 200 hours required by the FAA to act as a certified flight instructor. This position opens the door to the next phase more effectively.
Enter Phase 2. You can create your own business. Or you can get a job. Working as a paid flight instructor allows you to easily bridge the gap between your current flight time and the 1000/1500+ hours required by helicopter operators in the industry.
After your training, we intend to teach you how to start your own flight school or employ you at Mars Helicopters to build your time.
Many flight schools offer an “accelerated” program. Does Mars?
Yes. Our training structure is designed to maximize the time you spend in the air by fully preparing you on the ground. Our training process has proven to get students hovering in the first hour after your intro flight.
I already have my Private Pilot License; can I start with Commercial or Instrument training?
Yes, we are happy to work with you on any of the certifications you seek. We can begin your training at any certification level, whether complete or not, and finish the certificate or the entire program.
Do you have partnerships with scholarship programs or operators for tuition reimbursement?
Most reimbursements are seen as sign on and retention bonuses in jobs that require 1500-2000 hours.
Do you aid in job placement?
Absolutely. But we are going to encourage your to become your own boss and create your own business for employment.
How is the career outlook for Helicopter pilots?
The career outlook helicopter pilots have never been stronger! Check out Helicopter Pilot Jobs - JSfirm.com
Airlines are addressing their pilot shortage by recruiting from the helicopter industry, which is now facing its own shortage.
Simply put, career outlook, job security, and salaries are at all-time high for helicopter pilots.
When can I start?
Immediately by following and watching @thesuckiestmanalive on TikTok. Ground school is free. We love to teach and help you!
What does a flight training schedule look like?
We generally schedule according to students’ individual needs. Full-time students typically train four to five days per week for an average of 3 flight hours and 2 hours pre/post flight training.
We conduct all training at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Is there an option for part-time enrollment?
You may train part-time towards any certificate or rating. Training schedules are highly customizable to best suit the needs of our students. However, we
often recommend that you train at least three days per week to reduce the attrition or skill loss that may happen with less frequent training, especially for our career-based students.
We generally consider part-time to be anything less than four to five days per week.
Can I train for longer than six hours per day?
Yes! However, student fatigue is a factor we must consider. In our decades of experience, we have found returns diminish greatly after six hours of training per day. For this reason, we recommend six hours of combined flight and pre/post training.
Can I train on weekends?
Yes!
Do I need 20/20 vision to be a pilot?
This is a long-held misconception. The current FAA requirement is 20/20 corrected vision. Glasses or contacts to correct vision are acceptable.
I’m unsure if I want to be a helicopter pilot or airplane pilot. What do you advise?
Well first, we advise you to take an introductory flight in both. Find out which you like best!
There is a higher demand for Helicopter Pilots and the demand is growing. Helicopter pilots often work in the immediate vicinity of their home, and/or can
take on schedules that facilitate them being home more.
Starting pay for helicopter pilots has quickly caught up to that of airline pilots.
What’s the difference between Part 141 and Part 61 training?
Part 61 of the FARs outlines the requirements and standards for pilot certificates and ratings. Part 61 allows flexibility to finish training in as little as 6 months. In a Part 141 school, you will be subject to a more rigid training structure like a college.