Helicopter Flight Instruction

If you hold a Private Pilot Fixed Wing certificate you can add your helicopter rating to your certificate. The FAA minimum number of flight hours is 30, realistically you will end up flying closer to 50 or 60 hours to be proficient enough to pass the FAA check ride.

You do not have to take another written exam.

Additional Costs:
Practical Exam
Books and supplies

If you hold a Commercial Pilot Fixed Wing Certificate and a Private Pilot Helicopter Certificate you can add your Commercial Helicopter Rating on your certificate. A total of 150 hours of total flight time, of which 50 hours of flight time must be in helicopters to obtain a commercial helicopter add on rating.

• 35 hours in helicopters
• 10 hours in cross country flight in helicopters
• 20 hours of training that includes at least:
  • One cross country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nm from the original point of departure
  • One cross country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR condition consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nm from the original point of departure.
  • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a helicopter which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the check ride.

10 hours of solo flight time in a helicopter which includes at least:

• One cross country flight with landings at a minimum of 3 points, with one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nm from the original point of departure.
• 5 hours of night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern.

Ground school time will vary depending on the student but an average of 15-20 hours can be expected.

Additional Costs:
Practical Exam
Books and supplies

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to read, speak, write and understand the English Language
• You must hold a Commercial Helicopter or ATP certificate.
• Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in 61.185(a)(2) and (3) that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.
• Receive a log book endorsement from an authorized instructor.
• Pass the required practical test

Real world hours to obtain a helicopter CFI Add-on is about 10 hours of flight time and about 5 hours of ground instruction.

Additional Costs:
Books and supplies

To be eligible for a add-on instrument helicopter rating, a person must hold at least a private pilot certificate with an aircraft category and class rating appropriate to the instrument rating for which the course applies prior to enrolling in the flight portion of the instrument rating course.

20 hours of ground training on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in Appendix C to Part 141 paragraph (b)

15 hours of flight training from a certified flight instructor with an instrument rating including at least one cross country flight that:

• Is in a helicopter and is performed under IFR;
• Is a distance of at least 100 NM along airways or ATC directed routing with one segment of the flight consisting of at least a straight-line distance of 50 NM between airports;
• Involves an instrument approach at each airport; and
• involves three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems.

Mountain Flying Course