Air Tours DC- Learn to fly a Helicopter!

This really wasn't the group experience I was hoping it could be, because it is made for 1 on 1 training. But it still has some very cool features.

Location

American Helicopters, Inc.10503 Wakeman Drive
Manassas Regional Airport
Manassas, VA 20110

(703) 368-9599 office
(703) 368-9445 fax
email: info@americanheli.com

American Helicopters, Inc. located at the end of Wakeman Drive. Here you can be taught flight training in helicopters and airplanes. It operates from the Manassas Regional Airport in Northern Virginia, serving the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area, Virginia, Maryland and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic. They will help you with the full process of learning to fly, buying a helicopter, and choosing a company for your airborne needs.

 Helicopters

They have two types of helicopters the R22 and R44. The R22 is a two person machine, therefore only the teacher and student may fly. As I was there and found out, American Helicopters does a lot with activity centers from DC, however, these are also only one on-one-training. The R44 can carry 4 people, but because of regulations they are only allowed to fly with three people.

Photography Tours

American Helicopters also allows for aerial photography flying where they will take you around and you can take camera shots from the air. However, you should really do your research because of the no fly zone around DC. Many pilots cannot enter the no fly zone without special permissions, and you would never get close enough to see the things that count- because all the monuments are located at the heart of DC. However the mountain ranges are close enough!

Pricing

Pre-Paid Professional Program: For $59,500 you can get your private, commercial, instrument and flight instructor certificates/ratings. The program includes 200 hours of flight time, all ground instruction, books and test fees.  However this is more for the serious student looking to become a pilot. That’s about the cost of my MBA!

30 minutes of flight!

For individual requests you may be able to get 30 minutes in a helicopter. After a mandatory safety lesson, you will learn the procedures for checking in the helicopter; communication with the tower; reviewing all necessary instruments; take off procedures, and how to fly your helicopter!

Classes are offered in 45 minute shifts. Only one person flies with a private instructor. Due to the size of the helicopters, there is a height restriction of 6'3 and a weight restriction of 235 lbs.