Helicopter training for Birmingham and the West Midlands
Arcus Helicopters trains pilots at Nottingham Airport, a little over an hour from Birmingham up the M42 and A42. Pilots come to us from across the West Midlands for the fleet, the instructors and what happens after the licence.
Getting here
From Birmingham the usual route is the M42 north-east then the A42 and A453 towards Nottingham, and most people allow around an hour and a quarter. It is the longest regular journey our students make, so West Midlands pilots often prefer to combine two lessons into one visit, or to book a longer block and make a proper day of it.
It is a fair question, and if a nearer school suits you better we would tell you so. What brings West Midlands pilots to Arcus is usually the fleet, the examiner and the fact that the relationship does not stop at the skill test.
Start on the R22 or R44 and add the R66 or Bell 206 later without changing school.
Longer visits and block bookings make the journey worthwhile instead of a rush.
Fly-outs, self-fly hire and the spring party are the reason people keep making the drive.
Where to start
For a first visit we would suggest a trial lesson combined with a proper look round, so the drive gives you both the flying and the answers. Tell us what you are hoping to do and we will plan the day around it.
Make the first visit count, with a briefing and time on the controls.
Read more →Fly-outs, signed blades, the spring party and what happens after you qualify.
Read more →The modular route, hour requirements and career realities.
Read more →Guides, aircraft documents and press.
Read more →Frequently asked questions
Only you can judge that, and we would genuinely rather you visited a couple of schools before deciding. Come and see the hangar, meet the instructors and compare honestly. If somewhere closer suits you better, that is the right answer.
Yes. West Midlands students often book double sessions or a block of hours across a day. There is a limit to how much useful learning fits into one day, so we will be straight with you about what is productive rather than simply selling more hours.
We do not run a fixed residential course, but we can plan concentrated blocks of flying around your availability. Bear in mind that weather has a habit of interfering with tightly packed plans, so some flexibility helps.
With the PPL(H) and a Class 1 medical assessment early, before you spend significantly. The modular CPL(H) route needs 155 hours before the course and 185 before the skills test, so the hour building you do in between matters. Talk to us before you start accumulating hours.
Travelling from Birmingham?
Make the drive once and see what you think. Come for a trial lesson, look round the hangar and ask us the difficult questions about cost and timescale.