UZAIR

Commercial Pilot Helicopter Rating Requirements

To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:

Be at least 18 years of age.
1. Be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
2. Receive a log book endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
   • Conducted the training or reviewed the person's home study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in #4 below for a rotorcraft category with a helicopter class rating
   • Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test
3. Received and log ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplish a home study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas for a rotorcraft category with a helicopter class rating:
• Federal Aviation Regulations of Part 61 Certifications of  Pilots and Instructors that apply to commercial pilot privileges, limitations and flight operations
• Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board
• Basic aerodynamics and principles of flight 
• Recognition of critical weather situations on the ground and in flight, windshear avoidance and the procurement and use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
• Safe and efficient operations of aircraft
• Weight and balance computations
• Use of performance charts
• Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations
• Use of aeronautical charts and magnetic compass for pilotage and dead reckoning
• Use of air navigation facilities
• Aeronautical decision making and judgment 
• Principles and functions of aircraft systems
• Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to helicopters
• Night and high altitude operations
• Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System 
4. Pass the appropriate commercial pilot helicopter rating knowledge test since the beginning of the 24th month before the month in which the practical test is taken.
5. Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who
   • Conducted the training in the areas of operation as listed below in #7 that applies to a rotorcraft category helicopter class rating
   • Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test
6. Flight Proficiency Training for rotorcraft category with helicopter class rating
   • Preflight Preparation
   • Preflight Procedures
   • Airport and heliport operations
   • Hovering Maneuvers
   • Takeoffs, landings and go-arounds
   • Performance maneuvers
   • Navigation
   • Emergency Operations
   • Special operations
   • Postflight procedures
7. Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of part 61 that apply to rotorcraft category helicopter class rating before applying for the practical test.
8. Aeronautical experience for commercial helicopter rating are as follows:
• Must log 150 hours of flight time as a pilot 
• 100 hrs in a powered aircraft
• 50 hrs must be in helicopters
• 100 hrs of PIC time which includes 
• 35 hrs in helicopter
• 10 hrs of cross country flight in helicopter
• 20 hrs of dual flight training from an authorized instructor in a helicopter in the areas of operations listed in #7 above including
• 10 hrs of instrument training in an aircraft 
• 1 cross country flight at least 2 hrs in a helicopter in day VFR conditions consisting of a total straight line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the origin point of departure
• 1 cross country flight of at least 2 hrs in a helicopter in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the origin point of departure 
• 3 hrs of flight training in preparation for the FAA practical flight test in a helicopter which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test
• 10 hrs of solo in a helicopter on the areas of operation listed in #7 above which includes at least
• 1 cross country flight with landings at a minimum of 3 points with one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the origin point of departure
• 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings with each landing involving a flight in a traffic pattern
9. Passed the required practical test on the areas of operation listed in #7 above for part 61 for the rotorcraft category helicopter class rating
10. Obtain a written endorsement from an authorized flight instructor certifying that the applicant has been given flight training in preparation for the practical test within 60 days preceding the date of application.  The statement shall also state that the instructor finds the applicant competent to pass the practical test and that the applicant has satisfactory knowledge of the subject areas in which a deficiency was indicated by the Airman Knowledge Test Report.