Good questions, plain answers.

There is always an element of risk associated with any form of aviation. With huge advances in technology and strict maintenance and training regimes, flying helicopters is now safer than it has ever been. Modern helicopters have been designed with safety in mind and are a stable platform for beginners to learn on. We only fly when the conditions are right for training at your level.

You set the pace. We book one-on-one lessons around the times that suit you.

A Commercial Pilot Licence needs a minimum of 105 flight hours. Fly 2 hours a week and you'll get there in about a year. At 1 hour a week, plan on about two years.

The one fixed deadline is the CPL theory: all seven exams need to be passed within two years. We also suggest flying at least once a fortnight, so the feel of the controls stays fresh.

A Private Pilot Licence takes about a year at one flight a week, or as little as 6 weeks if you train full time.

Costs vary depending on how long it takes you to master each sequence required for flight. It also depends on which aircraft you fly.

There's no minimum age to start lessons with an instructor. You need to be 16 to fly solo, 17 to be issued a Private Pilot Licence, and 18 for a Commercial Pilot Licence. There's no upper age limit, as long as you hold a current aviation medical.

You don't need a medical for a trial flight. You'll need one before your first solo flight. For a Private Pilot Licence, that's a CASA Class 2 medical. For a Commercial Pilot Licence, it's a Class 1. Medicals are done by a CASA-approved Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME). We recommend booking yours early in your training, so you know there are no surprises before you invest too much time and money.

Yes. For safety, every helicopter has weight limits. The maximum student weight is 125 kg. If you're close to the limit, give us a call and we'll work out the best option for you.

You can attend a full-time ground school or self-study at your own pace. Before each lesson, your instructor gives you a ground briefing on what you'll be flying. The Private Pilot Licence has one CASA theory exam, and the Commercial Pilot Licence has seven.

Safety comes first. If the weather isn't suitable for training, your instructor will let you know and we'll reschedule your lesson. There's no charge for weather cancellations.

Yes. Your trial flight counts towards your licence hours.

Yes, we do overseas licence conversions. What you'll need depends on your existing licence and experience, so get in touch and we'll explain the steps to get your CASA licence.

Both are great to learn in. The Bell 47 is more economical and teaches you precise handling of RPM. The R44 is the most common helicopter for first jobs as a newly licensed commercial pilot. Tell us your goals and we'll help you choose.

Common first jobs include scenic and tourism flights, flight instructing and mustering. Rotor Training is part of The Rotor Group, which also runs Rotor Tours, giving our best graduates a pathway into their first commercial flying job.

Yes. Our gift vouchers are for a dollar amount and can be used towards any trial flight or training. They're valid for 3 years from the date of purchase.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give us at least 48 hours' notice and there's no charge. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice incur a $100 fee, because the helicopter and instructor have been set aside for you. There's never a charge if we cancel because of weather.