You should do the minimum of 50 hours of training required to obtain a cheaper fixed-wing pilot's license, and then do the approximately 20 hours to learn how to fly a helicopter later. Unless, of course, money isn't an issue, then do all your helicopter training. The Private Pilot License (PPL) is the most popular certificate and an excellent starting point for those who really want to learn how to fly helicopters. This is mainly because the pilot of a helicopter has many things to control, such as the joystick that moves the helicopter back and forth, the collective control that moves it up and down, the anti-torsion pedals that turn the nose horizontally and the accelerator that drives the engine.
Once this certificate has been obtained, a private pilot will be able to act as a PIC on a helicopter according to Visual Flight Standards (VFR). I've been thinking about getting my driver's license for a while and I've even spent a few hours flying in a Cessna 152. In general, flying an airplane is much easier than flying a helicopter, especially for beginners, and there are several reasons for this. In a helicopter, the pilot is expected to have the controls in his hands at all times and to actively participate every second of the flight. The nature of a helicopter is unstable, so it is necessary for the pilot to have constant control of the aircraft at all times, from the moment the engines are turned on until the rotating blades stop turning once on the ground.
Helicopters have no such restrictions and pilots can use the instrument panel to fly in conditions of poor visibility, as long as the pilot has his level of instrumentation. For example, an airplane needs a long runway to take off, while a helicopter can take off by lifting it up in a straight line. If your goal is simply to own or borrow a helicopter or plane and use it just for fun, then all you'll need is your private license. If the plane is stable and there are no strong winds, just make a few small adjustments here and there and a large plane can seem to fly almost alone.
Some pilots obtain their licenses and certifications in one type of aircraft and then obtain them in the other. Obtaining both airplane licenses requires a lot of work and time, so it's best to choose one at the beginning of the training. The pilot must also know their flight plan better; since helicopters fly at low altitudes and only reach about 12,000 feet until they need to be pressurized, pilots must know the terrain below and the obstacles along the route, such as buildings, mountains and even trees. This means that a helicopter can go to places an airplane cannot, because it will be able to leave again without a long runway.
This makes helicopters especially useful in search and rescue operations, as they can fly over the site while the rescuer goes down and takes the victim up.
