Flying helicopters in Battlefield 6 can be a lot of fun, but it’s not always easy. You need to know how to get one, how to control it, and how to avoid getting shot down. This guide will walk you through everything step-by-step, from grabbing a helicopter at the start of a match to learning the controls and using simple tricks to stay safe while flying.
How to Get Helicopters in Battlefield 6
You will get helicopters right at the start of a match. Simply run to the cockpit to hop in, or, if you miss the first one, you can still grab a chopper later from the deployment map or the vehicle station at HQ. Having a friend or teammate take the gunner’s seat is a huge advantage, as a good gunner adds serious firepower with an autocannon and guided missiles that can lock onto enemy ground vehicles.
If you want to fly a helicopter in Battlefield 6, you will need to be in one of the big game modes like Conquest, on maps that allow air combat, such as Liberation Peak or Operation Firestorm. In these matches, helicopters show up at your team’s HQ from time to time. When one spawns, it will just be sitting there ready for takeoff. You can hop right in and fly.
If you have just respawned, you can also pick HQ as your spawn point and choose any free helicopter that’s available. Helicopters are strong, but they are not easy to handle. And remember, enemy Engineers have weapons made to shoot you down, plus there are tanks and anti-air turrets on the ground that can make your flight short-lived.
How to Fly Helicopters in Battlefield 6
The right stick moves the nose up or down (pitch) and tilts left or right (roll). By default, the pitch is inverted, so pushing forward points your nose down instead of up. The left stick controls turning left or right (yaw) and adjusts your speed. Pressing R2/RT fires your weapons, and each aircraft has two main weapons that you can swap between using Triangle/Y. L2/LT lets you zoom in, while pressing the right stick changes your camera view between first-person cockpit and third-person chase.
Holding Square/X exits your helicopter. All of these controls can be customised in the settings menu under “Helicopter” controls, and there is even a helicopter assist mode that keeps you hovering when you’re not pressing anything.
When flying, avoid hovering in place during combat, as staying still makes you an easy target. Instead, keep moving, strike quickly, and retreat to safety. For manoeuvring, remember that helicopters turn primarily with yaw (left stick left/right) rather than roll. Use the roll mainly to keep your helicopter level, though it can help with sharper turns if needed. Be cautious, though; rolling too much can cause you to lose control and crash.
How to Survive in the Sky
When it comes to surviving in the skies, you will need to stay sharp. Everything wants to shoot you down: missiles, anti-air tanks, enemy aircraft, RPGs, and even ground vehicles, so be especially alert when flying low. Save your flares for when you see the “INCOMING” warning; using them too early just gives enemies another chance to lock on. Once the missile is fired, pop your flares and escape while they recharge.
Use the terrain to your advantage: helicopters can hide behind buildings or hills. For repairs, helicopters can heal automatically if flown low and slow over your spawn area. Switching camera views often can help, with third-person offering better situational awareness and freelook letting you check behind. And if your aircraft is badly damaged with no flares left, bail out and parachute to safety.
