What to know

  • Use left stick or WASD keys for throttle (ascend/descend) and yaw (rotate body left/right).
  • Pitch and roll control helicopter forward, backward, and sideways movement.
  • Alternative button settings are recommended for smoother throttle and shooting controls.
  • Practice hovering by neutralizing controls and use freelook to maintain situational awareness.

Flying helicopters in Battlefield 6 involves mastering several control inputs that allow you to ascend, descend, rotate, tilt, and maneuver with precision. The basics include handling throttle with your left stick or keyboard keys (W/S for up/down), rotating (yaw) the helicopter body, and pitching or rolling to move in directions you want. Using alternative button configurations often improves control by placing throttle on triggers for easier access during combat.

How to control helicopter throttle and rotation

To ascend, push the left stick forward or press W on keyboard. Descending is done by pulling the stick back or pressing S. Rotate your helicopter left or right with the left stick left/right or A/D keys, which spins your craft to point in different directions.

How to move helicopter forward, backward, and sideways

Tilting the helicopter’s nose forward with the right stick or W key moves it forward; tilt backward with the right stick up or S key to go backward. The helicopter will gain speed but risk losing altitude, so balance with throttle. Roll left or right with the right stick or keyboard keys (Q/E or custom) to strafe sideways.

How to hover and maintain control

Hovering is achieved by bringing all controls to neutral, allowing the helicopter to stay in place with small adjustments to maintain position. This is critical for reconnaissance or attacking fixed targets.

Best helicopter control settings and tips

  • Enable alternative button layout for smoother throttle control using triggers.
  • Use freelook controls to look around without affecting helicopter direction, helping maintain awareness without moving the craft.
  • Disable helicopter assist mode if you want full manual control, as assisted mode can fight your inputs.
  • Increase vehicle sensitivity on mouse for faster, more accurate flying.
  • Switch to gunner seat mid-flight to double weapon output, but be aware of altitude loss during gunner use.

Combat tips for effectiveness for Helicopter

  • Use flares wisely since they have cooldowns—avoid spamming.
  • Switching to the gunner seat mid-flight doubles your offensive options but demands good spatial control to avoid crash.
  • Use cover from terrain or buildings when under heavy fire.
  • Use key F to switch between primary and secondary weapons.
  • Alternatively, keys 1 and 2 can select primary or secondary weapons directly.
  • On controller, the Right Trigger (RT or R2) fires weapons, and the weapon switch button (commonly F or a face button) cycles through weapons.
  • Use Afterburner (Shift) for speed bursts during combat.
  • Reload at stations or wait for cooldowns for weapons like the cannon to avoid overheating.
  • Flying with a teammate who’s an engineer in the gunner seat allows for field repairs without landing, greatly extending helicopter durability in combat.