If you want to work on helicopter engines, either as part of your own business or working for someone else, then you'll need to get specific helicopter engines education and training. The type of training you need is outlined by federal law, and the schools that offer it meet strict criteria. Even if you want to get helicopter engine education and training to help your business buy and sell new or used helicopter engines, you'll still need to meet the same helicopter engines education and training requirements.

To work on engines for helicopters you'll need to do several things. First, you'll have to spend time actually working on helicopter engines. Next you'll need to get a certified instructor give you permission to take the test. Finally, you'll have to pass a written, oral and practical exam. You can get certified to work on helicopter engines in one of three ways:

1. Go to an FAA-approved school for helicopter engines education and training

2. Apprentice under an FAA-certified mechanic to gain practical knowledge about repair and maintenance of helicopter engines

3. A combination of the above two methods

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Investigate FAA-certified schools for helicopter engines education and training

If you want to work on helicopter engines, then you'll need to get an airframe and powerplant, or an A & P, certification. If you want to repair used helicopter engines for yourself or others, then getting formal helicopter engines education and training at an FAA-certified school provides the most sensible route.

I recommend: Learn from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) what it will take to get certified as a helicopter mechanic. Then you can search for schools in your area. Best Aviation has a list of aircraft maintenance schools throughout the United States.

Find a certified helicopter engines mechanic and work as an apprentice

If you don't necessarily want to work as a helicopter mechanic but instead want to know enough about helicopter engines to buy helicopter engine parts or make an educated choice when considering a helicopter engine for sale, then you may opt to apprentice under a certified A & P. Check with local airports and aviation maintenance academies for the names of certified A & P mechanics who might be willing to take on a trainee.

I recommend: Find fixed-base operators with repair centers close to you at Thirty Thousand Feet. To find mechanics near you, search the Landings.com database.

Take engines for helicopters repair courses and also study under a certified A & P

Because your needs regarding helicopters, engines and their purchase and repair may fall into a gray area, some combination of the above two methods may work best for you. To learn all facets of helicopter repair--including where to find surplus helicopter engines, helicopter motors for sale or how to find the best helicopter engines online--you'll need a mix of learning from books and practical experience.

I recommend: Helicopter-Training.net not only lists helicopter repair schools, but it also describes each academy so you can look for ones based at airports or ones that offer the opportunity to work in the field. If you want more education about where to buy helicopter engines, helicopter engines manufacturer information and helicopter engine supplier data, then check with companies like Turbomeca for white papers, manuals and other information.

If you rely on helicopters, you need to know where to buy helicopter engines to get your business off the ground. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming at times to determine what's best for your organization.

You may wonder if your company needs a brand-new helicopter engine, or is it safe enough to buy used? Should you work only with a manufacturer, or would it be OK to work with a distributor? These are just some of the questions you should ponder. When it comes to finding helicopter engines to meet your company's needs, consider the following:

1. Contact a helicopter engines manufacturer directly, and purchase what you need.

2. Use a distributor to buy engines for helicopters.

3. Consider purchasing used helicopter engines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy engines for helicopters straight from the manufacturer

If you want answers on how a company's helicopter engines work, it's best to go ahead and ask. With the most knowledgeable staff, these types of companies are trained to answer whatever questions you may have. Odds are they have the best warranties, too. They want to maintain their good name and keep you as a valued customer.

I recommend: Pratt & Whitney Canada offers a product line that incorporates 500 through 3,500 shp, which makes it the widest range in the helicopter engine industry. Choose from five of its engines to learn more about the product, specs, applications, warranty as well as contact information. Turbomeca is known worldwide for its civil helicopters, as well as its military ones. So it comes as no surprise that its engines are top-of-the-line. Search through its list of engine families to find what you desire.

Search through listings from distributors to find helicopter engines for sale

It can be confusing at times to work with a manufacturer directly. There are so many options that you may find you end up with something you didn't originally intend to buy. If you use a distributor to help you weed through the massive amount of information, you can end up with a helicopter engine at a lower price.

I recommend: Lycoming sells its helicopter engines domestically as well as internationally. Use its site to narrow down your list of distributors by naming the state you're searching. Helicopterparts.com lists its parts according to manufacturer. You can also do a search to locate the type of engine you desire.

Weigh the option of buying new vs. used helicopter engines

Don't feel like you need to spend top-dollar on brand-new helicopter engines. When searching for helicopter engines online, you can find numerous sites offering used engines that work just as well as newer ones. Most companies provide a warranty of some type to reassure you that newer doesn't always mean more reliable.

I recommend: When looking for helicopter engines online, check out HP Aviation, where you can find a list of engine parts for the Bolkow BO105 helicopter. Do a quick inventory search of Preferred Airparts and its site for a used helicopter engine for sale.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Determine if you should buy helicopter engine parts to fix an older engine before you spend the money on an entire engine. It may be more cost efficient to fix a broken engine, depending upon how damaged it is.

Helicopter engines vary based on the type and style you need or prefer. From turboshaft or "gas turbine" engines to piston-powered engines, you need to know the terminology associated with helicopter engines to choose the best engine options for your helicopter.

Whether you own or sell single-engine or twin-engine helicopter models or want to learn how to fix helicopter engines, know these important helicopter engines key terms to ensure you have a firm understanding of the basic parts of helicopter engines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Turboshaft or 'gas turbine' engines

A turboshaft engine, also referred to as a 'gas turbine' engine, is a type of jet engine used in most helicopters. In a turboshaft engine, air is compressed and mixed with fuel and then burned or combusted. This combustion runs the compressors and the rotor blades of a helicopter.

I recommend: Aerospaceweb.org offers more in-depth information on turboshaft and other types of engines.

Piston-powered helicopter engine

The alternative to a turbine helicopter engine, a piston-powered engine uses pistons to initiate combustion rather than a turbine. The more pistons in the engine, the more powerful the engine is--and the heavier the engine. Because of the weight of piston-powered engines, they are considered less reliable than turbine engines and are not as popular.

I recommend: Hovercontrol.com offers more information on piston-powered helicopter engines.

Airframe and powerplant certification

Airframe and powerplant certification allows a trained and authorized mechanic to service helicopter engines. In order to earn certification, you must enroll in an FAA endorsed and licensed school and pass oral and written examinations.

I recommend: For further information on airframe and powerplant certification, visit Education Center Online.

Single-engine vs. twin-engine helicopters

A single-engine helicopter uses one turboshaft engine unit to lift and power the helicopter in flight. Twin-engine helicopters, usually larger helicopters with a greater weight load, require the power that two turboshaft engines produce in order to support lift and sustained flight. While single-engines are safe and economical, many pilots need twin-engines due to load or prefer the safety of twin-engines if the first engine fails.

I recommend: The Association of Air Medical Services offers more information on single and twin helicopter engines.

Torque effect

Torque effect is the effect the direction the main rotors in a helicopter engine has on the direction the helicopter rotates. Torque effect states that a helicopter will rotate in the opposite direction of the main rotors. Helicopters are equipped with tail rotors to combat torque effect.

I recommend: Read more about torque effect at DynamicFlight.com.

Sprag clutch

A sprag clutch is the key component in a helicopter that takes the power generated by the engine and passes this power to engage and operate the rotors.

I recommend: Renold offers more information on the function of a sprag clutch.