Commercial helicopter
04-11-2018, 06:46 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Feb 2018
Position: Flight Instructor
Posts: 30
Commercial helicopter
Hello all! I made a seaplane commercial thread a week or so ago.
Same question, different rating: I have my CAMEL, CASEL and instrument rating.
I plan on someday getting my helicopter license (add on?) and I知 wondering if I can just go straight to commercial helicopter, or do I have to do private helicopter first?
Also, do I have to take an instrument helicopter checkride too, or just shoot some approaches, holds, etc...
I知 pretty sure there痴 a helicopter written, is there a commercial heli written? From what I知 seeing in the forums, I知 getting pretty mixed signals. I知 lost in the sauce.
Thanks!
Same question, different rating: I have my CAMEL, CASEL and instrument rating.
I plan on someday getting my helicopter license (add on?) and I知 wondering if I can just go straight to commercial helicopter, or do I have to do private helicopter first?
Also, do I have to take an instrument helicopter checkride too, or just shoot some approaches, holds, etc...
I知 pretty sure there痴 a helicopter written, is there a commercial heli written? From what I知 seeing in the forums, I知 getting pretty mixed signals. I知 lost in the sauce.
Thanks!
Last edited by Knudiee; 04-11-2018 at 06:47 PM. Reason: Grammar
04-11-2018, 09:14 PM
#2
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,023
Reading the regulation helps; good idea to read it first and then ask what you didn't find or understand.
There is one pilot certificate. There are levels of privilege. Whether one holds private, commercial, or ATP privileges, it's all the same pilot certificate, which is why one can be ATP airplane, multi-engine land, and commercial single engine land or sea. You'll find this under 14 CFR 61.5.
If you wish to add a category and class rating to your certificate (rotorcraft, helicopter), you may do so with private pilot privileges, commercial privileges, or you can go for the ATP. At this stage, realistically, you'd add at the private or commercial. The private has the added advantage that while working on your commercial, you are already rated and can log PIC. Yes, the instrument rating is an additional rating; if you hold instrument airplane, you'll need instrument helicopter, and yes, that requires an additional checkride, as well as additional training.
You can find information about additional aircraft ratings under 61.63. If you read it, you'll find that 61.63(b)(4) stipulates to add a category rating (rotorcraft, in this case), that you "need not take an additional knowledge test," provided that you already hold pilot privileges at that level in another category (eg, airplane). 61.63(c)(4) states the same regarding adding a class. Boiled down: no, an additional written test is not required.
Helicopters are expensive. The lions share of training operations in the USA are conducted in Robinson R-22's, and the R22 has it's own specific regulations and experience requirements. If you intend to do any instructing in them, which is virtually the only way you'll gain any experience past your elementary flight training (unless you've got a lot of disposable income and buy a helicopter), you'll need to meet the time requirements of SFAR 73, to Part 61. SFAR 73(2)(b) breaks down the requirements. This can effectively limit your ability to rent them or gain additional time in them, or instruct in them, until you have the requisite hours. This requires 200 hours in helicopters, 50 hours in the R-22, and 10 hours of model-specific instruction.
There is one pilot certificate. There are levels of privilege. Whether one holds private, commercial, or ATP privileges, it's all the same pilot certificate, which is why one can be ATP airplane, multi-engine land, and commercial single engine land or sea. You'll find this under 14 CFR 61.5.
If you wish to add a category and class rating to your certificate (rotorcraft, helicopter), you may do so with private pilot privileges, commercial privileges, or you can go for the ATP. At this stage, realistically, you'd add at the private or commercial. The private has the added advantage that while working on your commercial, you are already rated and can log PIC. Yes, the instrument rating is an additional rating; if you hold instrument airplane, you'll need instrument helicopter, and yes, that requires an additional checkride, as well as additional training.
You can find information about additional aircraft ratings under 61.63. If you read it, you'll find that 61.63(b)(4) stipulates to add a category rating (rotorcraft, in this case), that you "need not take an additional knowledge test," provided that you already hold pilot privileges at that level in another category (eg, airplane). 61.63(c)(4) states the same regarding adding a class. Boiled down: no, an additional written test is not required.
Helicopters are expensive. The lions share of training operations in the USA are conducted in Robinson R-22's, and the R22 has it's own specific regulations and experience requirements. If you intend to do any instructing in them, which is virtually the only way you'll gain any experience past your elementary flight training (unless you've got a lot of disposable income and buy a helicopter), you'll need to meet the time requirements of SFAR 73, to Part 61. SFAR 73(2)(b) breaks down the requirements. This can effectively limit your ability to rent them or gain additional time in them, or instruct in them, until you have the requisite hours. This requires 200 hours in helicopters, 50 hours in the R-22, and 10 hours of model-specific instruction.
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