How long has Bankstown Helicopters been operating?
Bankstown Helicopters have been in business for over 20 years and trained in excess of 700 Students.

The Chief Flying Instructor has in excess of 10,000 hours of helicopter flying experience.

What are employment prospects in the industry once qualified?

Due to the impressive reputation that Bankstown Helicopters possess in the industry, many of our

commercial students go on to achieve their personal goals they have before they started training with us.

Childflight, Westpac Rescue, Bristows, CHC (Lloyds), NSW Police, Rescue, Film services, VIP charter,

oil rig transfers, instructing and Aerial surveying both locally and internationally, are just the start of where

many of our commercial students now work.

Is it important to train with a well established flying school?

Absolutely! Training at a well established school such as Bankstown Helicopters will ensure that your

qualifications will be well recognised in the industry, giving you peace of mind that your training and future

prospects in the industry are second to none.

I'm not sure whether I would feel comfortable flying a helicopter or not?

We invite you to come and try with a 1/2hr Trial Introductory Flight. One of our instructors will

take you through your first helicopter flying experience from start to finish and from their you can

decide, but be prepared, helicopter flying is addictive. For more information on a

Trial Introductory Flight contact info@bankstownhelicopters.com.au or

contact our office on ph: 9791 0500.

If the engine in a helicopter stops will it just drop out of the sky?

Helicopters have the ability to glide with the engine off. All of these exercises are fully conducted

in your flying training. Unlike fixed wing, helicopters can land with engines off in a confined area with

no forward speed.

Should I learn to fly a fixed wing aeroplane before a helicopter?

Most of our students have never flown before. Flying a helicopter is different and there is no real advantage

in flying a fixed wing first. We also cater for those who do fly fixed wing who now want to learn to fly a

helicopter and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will even offer a reduced amount of flying hours

needed to convert over to helicopter flying.

I'm still undecided as to where to conduct my helicopter training?

One of the major factors that will affect your employment prospects is the school that you train with. Many

helicopter companies that employ pilots have firm ideas about which schools are acceptable and one of the

first questions a prospective employer will ask is where did you do your training? Our advice is to go to

a flying school that has a good reputation and one that has been in the industry for more than 10 years.

Ask the difficult questions, find out how many students they have trained and more importantly where those

students now work, how many total hours their instructors have, and even ask how many students they have

working in the industry.

What type of licence do I need?

A Private licence allows you to carry passengers for recreational purposes, such as taking friends or relatives

for joy flights (but not for hire or reward) whereas a Commercial licence allows you to be employed as a pilot.

If I achieve my Private licence can I continue later on with my Commercial licence?

Absolutely, with more training and a pass in the Commercial theory exams and flight test you will go on to

achieve your Commercial licence.

How long will it take me?

The time taken to gain your licence depends on how long it takes you to complete your theory, and how

often you fly. The frequency that you fly can vary to suit you; it can be anywhere from once a fortnight,

to twice a day – five days a week, depending on the availability of bookings, the weather conditions, and

your availability.

Can I fly at night once I have my licence?

A ‘night rating' is available thru Bankstown Helicopters. This requires a minimum of 10 hours training

plus the flight test. CASA requirements stipulate that this training be in addition to the hours required for

your licence.