Fight Training - Commerical
Our Commercial Rotorcraft rating is designed for those students who choose flying as their career.
The commercial program is generally the next step after achieving your private pilot certificate. This stage of your training will build upon the basic skills learned thus far and take you to a higher skill level.
You will also master more advanced maneuvers typically found in commercial operations: confined area landings, slope landings, and additional emergency procedures.
After you have a Private Pilot License, earning a Commercial Pilot License would enable you to work as a pilot. The Commercial License is an entry level working license; it is a prerequisite for more advanced ratings such as Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), CFI Instrument (CFII), and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). An individual with a Private License in helicopters could probably earn a Commercial License in 1.5 to 2 months, if they train aggressively. If you intend to earn your CFI rating, you should train for that while you are training for your Commercial, and it could be completed in an additional 2-3 weeks.
Commercial helicopter operations at Gillespie Field include: Blackhawk Helicopters; multiple local news helicopters; as well as Aerial Support To Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA), the air support unit of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department