Apply for any helicopter scholarships, grants and fellowships offered through aviation clubs and organizations. Examples of these scholarships include the Donald Burnside Memorial Scholarship, offered through the Aircraft Owners Pilots Organization. Scholarship listings are available online. Apply for every scholarship for which you qualify. Make sure you proofread all essays and applications as competition is fierce and one misspelled word can mean the difference between getting the scholarship and missing out.
Speak with an Air Force reserve recruiter and discuss joining the reserves. Tell the representative you wish to join for helicopter training. You are not guaranteed a placement in the flight program until you test. If you pass the test you get helicopter training for free as well as earning a few extra dollars and serving your country.
Talk to the helicopter flight school about a work exchange for reduced training costs. Ask if they have a work-study program where you give so many hours a week in exchange for reduced hourly rates with the helicopter or flight instructor.
Take out low interest student loans. Aviation academies with accreditation qualify for student loans for prospective students. You are the consumer in the loan process; if you have good credit, shop around to find the best rate for the loan to keep the training costs low and affordable.
Enroll in an accelerated training program. Often, students who train sporadically end up spending extra money as skills get rusty between sessions. While the initial expense may seem big, money is saved through fast and efficient learning.