Rotorcraft Add-ons

[Pietrantonio]

Just wondering if any helicopter pilots might be able to chime in on this one. I've been digging through the FAR, but I can't seem to find a clear cut answer as to the requirements for helicopter add-on ratings. What I have in mind, is to get my fixed wing ratings up to Commercial and possibly CFI, etc... but I also want to go back and finish my helicopter training. I'm just wondering about the hour requirement break downs. If I have my fixed wing ratings: PPL-A, Instrument, Commercial ASEL/AMEL what are the hours required to obtain add-ons for Helicopter: PPL-H, Instrument, Commercial?

Thanks a lot!

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by Pietrantonio

Just wondering if any helicopter pilots might be able to chime in on this one. I've been digging through the FAR, but I can't seem to find a clear cut answer as to the requirements for helicopter add-on ratings. What I have in mind, is to get my fixed wing ratings up to Commercial and possibly CFI, etc... but I also want to go back and finish my helicopter training. I'm just wondering about the hour requirement break downs. If I have my fixed wing ratings: PPL-A, Instrument, Commercial ASEL/AMEL what are the hours required to obtain add-ons for Helicopter: PPL-H, Instrument, Commercial?

Thanks a lot!

Its all in part 61.129 for helicopter commercial addons. To convert to a helicopter commercial you need:

150hrs as a pilot (no problem if you have a commercial) that consists of at least:

100hrs in powered aircraft, 50 of which must be in helicopters

100hrs PIC, which includes at least
35 hrs in helicopters
10 hours cross country in helicopters

20hrs of training on the areas listed in 61.127b3 to include
10hrs of instrument training in an aircraft
1 helicopter VFR cross country of over 50 nautical miles lasting over 2 hrs, and 3 hrs in a helicopter in preparation for the checkride, and 10 hrs helicopter solo, and 5 hrs at night in a helicopter.

Certainly there's more to it than that, but expect to pay about $15000.

[Pietrantonio]

Originally Posted by ppragman

Its all in part 61.129 for helicopter commercial addons. To convert to a helicopter commercial you need:

150hrs as a pilot (no problem if you have a commercial) that consists of at least:

100hrs in powered aircraft, 50 of which must be in helicopters

100hrs PIC, which includes at least
35 hrs in helicopters
10 hours cross country in helicopters

20hrs of training on the areas listed in 61.127b3 to include
10hrs of instrument training in an aircraft
1 helicopter VFR cross country of over 50 nautical miles lasting over 2 hrs, and 3 hrs in a helicopter in preparation for the checkride, and 10 hrs helicopter solo, and 5 hrs at night in a helicopter.

Certainly there's more to it than that, but expect to pay about $15000.

Yeah I looked at 61.129, but like you said, there's probably more than just that. Are you estimating 15K for just the commercial or the PPL-H, Instrument, and commercial? Thanks for the help! I appreciate it.