ATPL Talks with Chris: 30-Year Aviation Journey
Airhead is excited to bring you a new ATPL Talks episode featuring Chris Keane, a seasoned helicopter pilot with over 30 years of experience and nearly 8,000 flight hours. As a former Army Air Corps A2 Qualified Helicopter Instructor, Chris has been teaching ground school since 2013, specialising in multiple syllabuses. He’s also a valued ambassador and professional consultant for Airhead ATPL, playing a key role in product development and providing expert guidance on challenging ATPL questions. Check them all here.
In this episode, Chris shares insights into the unique challenges and rewards of helicopter piloting, the essential skills every pilot must master, and the most fulfilling aspects of the job. He also discusses the differences between helicopter and airline training, how to handle unexpected situations in the air, and offers valuable advice for aspiring ATPL(H) pilots.
The ATPL Talks episode with Chris is available on our YouTube
If you prefer reading, the full text is provided below. Keep reading!
The Beginning of Chris’s Journey in Aviation
Airhead ATPL: Chris, your career has spanned over three decades. How did it all start? Was becoming a pilot always a dream of yours?
Chris: Funny enough, it wasn’t really a childhood dream. The closest I got to dreaming about flying was during my time with the Air Cadets, where I did a bit of flying in Chipmunks. I really enjoyed that, but I left school early without any qualifications, so I figured flying just wasn’t in the cards for me. I thought, “Well, I’ll never be a pilot.” Then one night, while I was in the Territorial Army, we were sitting on Salisbury Plain. It was quiet, and I was sitting with my Squadron Commander, and he asked, “What do you really want to do with your life?” I told him I’d always wanted to fly, but I didn’t think it was possible. He said, “Of course you can. Join the Army!”
At that time, I thought flying helicopters was something for the Royal Air Force or Navy, but I was wrong. I joined the Army Air Corps as ground crew, worked my way up to aircrew, and eventually became a pilot and an instructor. I never looked back and loved every minute of it. My journey began as a series of fortunate coincidences, but in the end, I flew for 30 years, and it’s been a fantastic experience.
The Most Critical Skills
Airhead ATPL: What would you say are the most important skills and knowledge areas for a helicopter pilot?
Chris: Well, it’s all about coordination. I joke that if you can pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, you can probably fly helicopters! But in all seriousness, it’s about being able to manage multiple things at once — what I call “chewing gum and tap dancing in the bath.” Helicopter pilots have to be in tune with their aircraft, their surroundings, and their mission all at the same time.
One of the most important things I got out of my flying career was the ability to think on my feet. Especially when flying low-level at high speed in battlefield environments, you have to be alert, adaptable, and ready for anything.
The Most Rewarding Aspects of Helicopter Piloting
Airhead ATPL: After all these years, what has been the most rewarding part of your career?
Chris: I’d say everything I did was rewarding. But right now, I’d highlight my role as a ground school instructor. I’ve been teaching for 10 years now, and I love it. There’s something special about being in the classroom and seeing that “lightbulb moment” when a student finally gets it. That still fires me up.
Whether it was flying for three decades or teaching for the last decade, I’ve never lost my passion for it. Both the flying and the teaching have their magic, and they still motivate me every day.
The Most Unexpected Situations
Airhead ATPL: Can you share some unexpected situations you've encountered during your flying career?
Chris: Oh, where do I start? There have been thousands of unexpected situations! One that stands out was when we were flying in the German Alps, training for deployment to Bosnia. It was a night flight using night vision goggles on a beautifully moonlit night. The goggles worked perfectly until we flew into the shadow of a mountain, and suddenly, it was like someone turned off all the lights. I’ve never felt fear like that in a helicopter, but only for a moment. You rely on your training — start scanning, build a picture with what you have, and fly the aircraft to the best of your ability. I’m still here, so I must’ve done something right!
Another time, I foolishly agreed to do a navigation systems check on a Gazelle helicopter in Northern Ireland. They if I could do it at night, and I said yeah sure, it only involves flying a triangular route and checking the error distances.
We were flying at night, and as we passed over the tip of Port Rush, where it hits the uh the ocean. As we went over the top, we did a fix a double slew up and an enter on the nav computer. At this point, I looked up, and the world had gone black. Paul Rush was now behind me. All I had in front of me was a cloud-covered sky and a sea, and no visible Horizon. I immediately went to instruments, and I remember that being the longest rate-one turn of my life! Needless to say, I didn’t repeat that mistake.
What is More Difficult: Training for an Airline or a Helicopter Pilot
Airhead ATPL: Many people wonder which is more difficult: training to become an airline pilot or a helicopter pilot. What’s your take?
Chris: Both are challenging but in different ways. Airline pilots follow very strict procedures, and there’s a heavy focus on system management and routine. Helicopter pilots, on the other hand, need to think on their feet a lot more. We fly in much more dynamic environments—around mountains, at low levels, and often into unregistered landing sites. It’s not as straightforward as landing on a set runway and taking-off again.
In terms of ground school, it’s quite different as well. Helicopter pilots have to cover a broader range of systems — four different types of air conditioning systems, for example. While airline pilots focus more on pressurisation, which we don’t really deal with. So, I’d say both paths have their challenges, but they require different skill sets.
The Role of Automation in Helicopter Operations
Airhead ATPL: How do you see automation playing a role in helicopter operations?
Chris: Automation has come a long way. When I first started flying in the Army Gazelle, there was no automation at all. The Air Force and Navy models had some basic trim and stick systems, but nothing advanced. The Lynx, when it came in, had a much better flight control system, but even that was nothing compared to what we see today.
That said, I don’t see automation ever completely replacing pilots, especially in helicopters. The environments we fly in are just too complex for full automation. But you never know—I never thought the public would accept driverless trains, but they ride them every day on the Docklands Light Railway and at airports.
When I transitioned onto the Lynx, a colleague and I decided to test the automation as much as possible on a flight from the UK to Bavaria. We relied heavily on it, but honestly, it wasn’t an experience I’d want to repeat. At heart, I’m a stick-and-rudder man. Automation can help, but I don’t think it’ll ever fully supplant a pilot in helicopters.
Advice to Future Helicopter Pilots
Airhead ATPL: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a helicopter pilot?
Chris: My advice is simple — go for it. You’ll never regret it. If you’re serious about it, aim high. If you’re going for a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), don’t stop there. Go for the ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence) exams. Once you pass them, you’ll never have to take another exam again.
I know someone who only did the CPL exams, and now, if they want to fly as a captain in the North Sea, they’d have to sit all 13 exams again! Why put yourself through that? Aim for the highest licence from the start, and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble later on.
Airhead ATPL: Thanks for sharing your incredible journey, Chris. Any final thoughts for aspiring pilots?
Chris: Just remember—whether it’s helicopters or fixed-wing, keep your passion for flight alive. Go for the best training you can, aim high, and never stop learning. Good luck!
