Have you ever dreamed of becoming a pilot? If so, you may have considered attending a helicopter flight school. But before you make the decision to invest your energy into helicopter flight training, it’s a good idea to see if you have the basic characteristics to do well in such an environment.
Below is a checklist of eight personality traits that most successful helicopter flight school graduates possess. Although it’s not necessary for you to see each attribute in yourself, you should have at least half or more of the qualities.
1. Ability to Follow Rules:
In order to stay safe during your helicopter flight training, you must be prepared to accept and follow rules. If you’re a person who always has to "try something new" and who cannot conform, you may not enjoy towing the line when it comes to procedures and policies.
2. Self-Discipline:
Helicopter pilots must possess large amounts of self-discipline. This may mean making choices that are unpopular or unexciting but are best for the safety of the pilot, the passengers (if applicable) and the equipment.
3. Thirst for Knowledge :
Those who do well in helicopter flight training don’t simply study their manuals; they actively seek out all the information they can find. This helps them get more out of the helicopter flight school experience.
4. Ability to Stay Cool under Pressure:
Pilots must be cool under pressure, especially when dealing with the unexpected, such as helicopter malfunctions or incidents attributable to "Mother Nature". If you’re someone who can’t remain calm when there is chaos around you, becoming a helicopter pilot may be too stressful.
5. Enjoyment of Air Travel:
This may seem obvious, but many attendees of helicopter flight schools forget that in order to do particularly well, they really have to enjoy traveling by air. This means feeling comfortable at significant heights and in physically demanding positions.
6. Passion for Excellence:
Do you strive to give 110% all the time, every time? If so, you’ll probably do very well during your helicopter flight training. On the other hand, if you are someone who is satisfied with doing the bare minimum, becoming a pilot may be too strenuous for you.
7. Good Communicator:
As a helicopter pilot, you will be required to communicate on a regular basis with a number of different people. If you’re not able to do so, you may find it a challenge to rise through the ranks of pilots.
8. Respect for Others:
Pilots must be very "in tune" with the people with whom they work. For instance, if a passenger is terrified to fly in a helicopter, the onus may land squarely on the pilot’s shoulders to empathize with that individual. Everyone wants to be treated with respect.
So is attending a helicopter flight school in your future? If you’re the right age and you possess more than 50% of the eight qualities above, why not give it a try? It’s an amazing career path or pastime for the right man or woman. And who knows? That could be you!
For more information, visit www.RotorAviation.com.
Rotor Aviation is an aviation training center specializing in
helicopter flight training. They operate three schools in Southern California. For more information, visit
RotorAviation.com
