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Helicopter Pilot - Personal requirements

Kaiwhakarere Toparere

Skills & knowledge

Helicopter pilots need to have:

excellent flying skills
knowledge of flight theory and flight planning
skill in interpreting flight plans and navigation data
understanding of civil aviation laws
knowledge of helicopter mechanics
an understanding of how weather affects flight
planning and decision-making skills
communication skills, especially when working in the tourism industry
record-keeping skills.

Grant Withers performing pre-flight checks

Kyhala Miller checking the condition of the helicopter and making sure it's well presented

Personal Qualities

Helicopter pilots must be able to:

think logically
work well under pressure
make good, quick judgements
follow procedures
adapt to different situations
get along with a wide variety of people.

Helicopter pilots must also be responsible, calm, confident and alert.

"You have to have an enquiring mind. I go home and think about the aerodynamics, which helps my understanding of what's going on in the aircraft."

Jules Day - Helicopter Pilot

Physical Requirements

Helicopter pilots need to have good hearing and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses), normal colour vision, and good reflexes and co-ordination. They should also be fit and healthy, as they are required to undergo a medical test every year.

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Updated August 2008

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