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Firefighting Helicopter PilotThere are certain jobs in the helicopter aviation community that are just essential, such as the career undertaken by firefighting helicopter pilots. Without these heroic individuals, our wildfires would rage and communities would be dashed.

It’s difficult to imagine a time before we had these heroes to rely upon. There is no doubt that this is a dangerous job that has occasionally led to tragic consequences both on the ground and in the air, but as with our paramedics and policemen, our specialized civil servicemen are our first defense against danger.

They keep families and communities safe and preserve order when chaos would otherwise reign. This particular helicopter career has grown in recent years, thankfully for all of us. Upper Limit Aviation (1-855-HELIEDU) can provide all the training necessary to become a firefighting helicopter pilot (also known as a helitack pilot).

Where Would We Be Without Firefighting Helicopter Pilots?

Certain environmental conditions have emerged, such as prolonged drought in many parts of the country that have contributed to the dangerous potential fire conditions throughout the country.

Whether a blaze starts as an accident or as arson, there have been many major wildfires each summer over the last many years. Without firefighting helicopter pilots, a lot of lives and a lot of property would have been destroyed.

Firefighting helicopter pilots use precision techniques to perform their highly skilled job. Water drops can be made using Bambi buckets or airframe mounted water tanks, or flame-retardant foam may sometimes be employed.

Pilots may also transport hotshot firefighting crews into the fire to fight the blaze on the ground.

Aviation Schools Online promotes helicopter flight training schools that offer the most comprehensive training program ever designed.

Helicopter pilots who wish to enter into the firefighting field will get all the training they need to attain excellence in their chosen careers. To learn more about the kinds of opportunities available, such as assistance for veterans through the Post 9/11 GI Bill that may cover all or part of your tuition.

If you’re looking into helicopter flight training, you’re likely no stranger to seeing some pretty substantial price tags. The question is, given the current economic state, how on earth do you come up with $75,000 or $80,000 dollars to pay for a professional helicopter training program?

Here Are Some Ideas on How to Find Money for Helicopter Training

In the past, before the current credit crisis, it was relatively easy to secure educational loans that would cover programs like helicopter flight training. Now, unfortunately, many financial institutions have all but stopped making these loans and the flight training industry is suffering a significant drop in students.

This made all the worse in the rotary-wing industry by the higher costs associated with helicopter operations.

It’s not all doom and gloom. While the easiest programs may have gone the way of the Dodo, there are a number of options out there. Most notably, companies like Pilot Finance, Inc., have sprung up offering flight training specific loans.

Their programs allow you to pay for your training with fixed monthly payments but train as fast as you’d like. The only drawback is these loans won’t cover the costs of an entire professional program.

Other options include personal and home equity loans, if you qualify, or even credit cards. The trouble is, in the current economic climate, the average program will require a combination of these, as none is likely to cover the entire costs.

If you’ve served in the US military, you have a number of other options available to you. For example, the GI bill will cover 60 percent of your training costs for ratings beyond your private pilot certificate.

While that’s nothing to scoff at, you’re still on the hook for a tidy sum. Until this year, some veterans qualified for 100 percent funding under the Post 9/11 GI bill for training taken at colleges.

An effort to expand this funding to include flight schools passed, unfortunately, this bill capped that funding at $10,000 per year for flight training.

When it comes to paying for your training, there are options, it's just a matter of finding the ones that will work for you. The trouble with the current economic climate is that many entry-level helicopter pilot jobs are hard to find despite looming shortages.

The important takeaway here is that there is money out there, and while it may not cover all of your training, every little bit helps.

For more information on helicopter training and choosing the right school, check out our Helicopter Training Resource Center or find helicopter training near you.

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