Helicopter training for Leicester and Leicestershire
Arcus Helicopters flies from Nottingham Airport at Tollerton, which is a straightforward drive north from Leicester and one of the closest helicopter schools to the county.
Getting here
The A46 runs almost directly from Leicester to the airfield at Tollerton, and most people find it takes around forty minutes. Because Nottingham Airport is a general aviation airfield rather than a commercial one, there is no terminal to negotiate: you park, walk to the hangar and meet your instructor.
People come from across Leicestershire for training that is planned around them rather than around a course timetable, and for a school where they are still welcome after the skill test.
Continuity matters. You are not passed between whoever happens to be free that morning.
Self-fly hire, fly-outs and type ratings mean the licence is a beginning, not an end.
The 45-hour minimum is a regulatory floor, not a quotation, and we will say so before you commit.
Where to start
If you have never flown a helicopter, start with a trial lesson. If you already hold a licence, self-fly hire and type ratings are usually the more relevant conversation.
R22, R44 or Bell 206 JetRanger, 60 or 90 minute experiences.
Read more →Stay current and build hours in aircraft you already know.
Read more →Add the R22, R44, R66 or Bell 206 to your licence.
Read more →The nine theory subjects, £55 each, and how the study works.
Read more →Frequently asked questions
Yes. Most of our students work full time and fly at weekends or on a regular weekday slot. Consistency matters more than intensity, so we will help you plan something you can actually sustain.
Self-fly hire, type ratings on the R22, R44, R66 and Bell 206, a night rating, and London Heli Lanes familiarisation. Plenty of pilots come to us purely to keep flying rather than to train.
It is largely structured self-study using Pooleys-supported textbooks, but our instructors teach the difficult subjects and you are welcome to use the teaching rooms whenever you want to work somewhere focused.
Each of the nine written examinations is £55 at Arcus, so £495 for all nine. The separate Radiotelephony Operators Licence Exam has its own fee on top.
Travelling from Leicester?
Drive up, have a look round the hangar and talk it through with an instructor. We would rather you made an informed decision than a fast one.