Helicopter Flying Lessons in South Africa

Located safely inside the General Aviation Area within Cape Town International Airport, Heli-X has been offering flying lessons, simulations, sightseeing tours and licence training since 2011. With a fleet of bright yellow Robinson helicopters and a team of instructors with years of experience, Heli-X is a fantastic choice for helicopter lessons in Cape Town. Join them for a 30-minute introductory flight in a Robinson RH22 and revel in the magic of aviation – we guarantee you won’t want to come down! The instructor will be on-hand at all times to ensure you’re constantly improving your skills and making the most of your taster flight, so by the time you land you’ll be eagerly signing up for more sessions, eager to see the aerial views of Cape Town over and over again.

Experience the wonder of flying a helicopter with a half hour introductory trial flight in a Robinson R22, all in the capable hands of Helicopter Pilot Training. The clue’s in the name; Helicopter Pilot Training are one of the leading flight schools in Western Cape, also operating out of Cape Town International Airport. With no experience needed, a trial lesson is perfect for those who want a taste of flying without the commitment of licence training, but the best bit? If you do decide to continue with a licence, the time you log on a trial lesson will count towards it – so you’re already part of the way there! Better still, Helicopter Pilot Training offer their trial flights as gift vouchers, so you can give someone the ultimate day out and make their dreams come true.

Base 4 Aviation specialise in licence training, but that doesn’t mean they won’t offer you a mind-blowing introductory helicopter lesson on the outskirts of Cape Town. Having been in operation since 2001, Base 4 is one of the oldest helicopter training schools in South Africa, and therefore benefits from many years of expertise and experience in the industry – you know you’re getting top quality tuition with these guys! The school has a massive fleet of helicopters on its books, and offers everything from aircraft maintenance to private charter, plus all levels of pilot training should you want to continue with getting a licence. They also do helicopter sales, so you could find yourself the proud owner of a ZS-RLG Robinson R22 Beta II if you have a cool R3.2million to spare!

Moving on up to Gauteng, our first choice for helicopter lessons is with Hover, based at Grand Central Airport. On arrival at the airport, not only will you get a hands-on half hour trial flying lesson, you’ll also receive a 30-minute briefing before the flight to cover safety, controls, and general flying etiquette. Having theory-based training before a lesson can be hugely beneficial to your overall achievement, and will ensure you improve quickly under the supervision of a professional pilot. Plus, the time spent in the air counts towards a licence, so you can easily transition from newbie to official student! If you catch the flying bug and want to experience a longer flight, Hover also offer a Helicopter Training Discovery Day that includes two hours of theory training, and another two hours of hands-on flying, so you can choose how far you want to take your schooling.

Our second top choice for Gauteng is Henley Air, a flying school you’ll find at Rand Airport in Germiston. If you’re unsure about whether helicopter flying is for you, then the team of instructors at Henley are ready to change your mind and make you feel confident in your abilities. For only R2990 you can enjoy a 30-minute intro lesson with an expert pilot at the controls, demonstrating the many capabilities of the aircraft and allowing you a hands-on taster if you’re ready to take over. Once you’ve experienced the thrill of a vertical take-off and the incredible sensation of hovering mid-air, we guarantee you’ll be rushing to join the aviation club and start your career in helicopter flying. With Augusta, Bell and Robinson helicopters in their fleet, Henley Air also have one of the largest varieties of aircrafts available!

If you want to experience the excitement and adrenaline of helicopter flight but don’t want to break the bank, then Starlite Aviation in Durban are your best bet. Based at Virginia Airport, you’ll get all the experience of a commercial airport that serves most of KwaZulu-Natal and the rest of the country, without the need of a pilot’s licence. Hop in their Robinson 22 for an 18 minute helicopter lesson and see just what it takes to fly one of these machines – you may surprise yourself! An expert instructor will be by your side the whole time to offer guidance and boost your confidence, so you’ll feel ready to take the controls in no time. All this for only R1300, you won’t find a better price anywhere else!

We know this article is about helicopter flying experiences, but if we’ve already convinced you that being a helicopter pilot is what you want to do and you’re ready to start licence training, then BAC Helicopters in Durban are your guys. With intensive courses covering every possible type of licence, and a comprehensive list of everything required to achieve your goals, BAC do all the hard work so you don’t have to (except for the actual flying bit). That said, BAC do still offer 30-minute hands-on trial lessons, so if you’re not quite ready and still want a glimpse at what’s in store, booking an intro flight is a fantastic way to discover the wonders of helicopter piloting. And you guessed it, the intro hours count towards your licence training, so there’s no excuse to not go for it!

Take in the incredible sights of Bloemfontein during a practical helicopter lesson with Bass Air Aviation, flying high over local wildlife and distant nature reserves. Bass Air have been operating from New Tempe Airport since 1985, so their knowledge of the surrounding landscape is unparalleled – they also know a thing or two about flying helicopters! With this long in the industry, you know you’re getting the best tuition possible, and the beautiful setting in which you’re flying only adds to the magic of the experience. Join pro pilots for an intro flight and see what the fuss is about, then sign up to licence training and start your journey to becoming a pilot yourself. During the flight you’re welcome to take as much or as little control as possible, so you can really make the most of your time in the air!