Requirements

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has no specific requirements for pilots of turbine helicopters. However, pilots should hold at least a private pilot's license (PPL-H) before proceeding to turbine transition training.
  
  

Equipment

• Turbine transition training can be accomplished in any turbine-powered helicopter. The Bell Jet Ranger series is very popular.
  
  

Location

• Most flight academies offer turbine transition training. Training can be conducted as part of the program for a pilot's license, or as an add-on education program. Working pilots can also receive transition training from their employers.
  
  

Timeframe

• Turbine transition training generally requires at least 10 hours of ground school classes, plus an additional 10 hours of in-flight training. These time frames vary depending on a pilot's aptitude and experience.
  
  

Cost

• Turbine helicopters are more expensive to run than piston-engine aircraft. The majority of the cost of turbine training encompasses the turbine helicopter's rental, which runs approximately $1,000 per hour. The full turbine training program, including ground schools, costs approximately $10,000.