Question for a helicopter pilot...?

First, understand that ground lessons are a tiny fraction of the total cost of training and yet those lessons are just as critical as the flying. I recommend against trying to do it on your own because the guidance of a good instructor is very important while the savings you would have without one are minimal. The best arrangement for ground school is to do it with your flying instructor directly, and they will need to sign your logbook to take the test anyway. A good flight instructor should be sensitive to the expenses and assign as much work as possible for you to do on your own to minimize costs. I am not a fan of the home study DVD's or prepackaged training supply kits, and I definitely recommend against the community college courses.

Second, the single most reliable way to minimize costs is by planning ahead so that you can train and study regularly and consistently. Starting and stopping, or flying infrequently, will add to your costs more than anything. Many people train irregularly or infrequently due to their work schedule, the finances, etc. It is important that you arrange all of this ahead of time so that you can fly at least a couple of times per week and spend a few hours studying each week. If you cannot setup this type of schedule right away, then it's almost better to wait until you can. I can't stress enough the importance of consistency and frequency for lowering costs and improving your performance as a student.

Books

You will need some additional charts and supplies, but for books, you can get the FAA basics online for free. They aren't always the absolute best explanations, but you can't beat the price. I strongly suggest getting an instructor to explain which parts to study and in what order.

Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (large PDF)

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/media/...

Aviation Regulations (for US)

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=...

Aeronautical Information Manual

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs...

Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/pilot%...

More:

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/

These three sites are good sources of info about helicopter flight in general:

http://www.helicopterflight.net/

http://www.dynamicflight.com/

http://www.ascension-helicopters.com/

For more information about training and flying helicopters, see the following:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agoml...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnSRx...

Good luck!

Check out your local GA airport for a flight school that gives helicopter instruction. You will need to be signed off with a helicopter instructor for the written exam. Yes, you will need a book. Probably several books and charts etc. You will need adequate ground instruction from a helicopter instructor before s/he'll sign you off.

Go to the airport's web site and check, or call.

You have to take a test to pass ground school. Helicopters are expensive to learn. sometimes you can do the ground school at a local collage.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-hp...

Click and pick. There are all sorts of sources for the books you will need. There are even DVDs.

Good Luck

Apollo's pretty spot-on! .. I'd listen to him love.