FW to RW Transition

[Z_Pilot]

How many hours are required for an ATP rated fixed wing pilot to transition to rotorwing....perhaps commercial/instrument, CFI/CFII or ATP? I have heard there is an accelerated program for this case. I can't seem to find a solid answer online...I just keep coming up with rotorwing to fixed wing transition.

Thanks

 

[Andy Neill]

Did you look at 61.129(c)? This gives the commercial requirements for helicopter.
Botom line, you need at least 50 hours in a helicopter of which at least 35 need to be PIC. Of those 35 hours, at least 10 must be XC in helicopters.
You also need at least 20 hours of helicopter commercial training including:
...At least 1 night VFR 2 hr cross country in a helicopter of at least 50 nm from point of departure
...3 hr test prep in a helicopter within 60 days of practical test.
At least 10 hours solo in a helicopter including
...at least 1 cross country with three landings including at least one at least 50nm from point of departure straight line.
...at least 5 hours of night operations with 10 take offs and landings performed within the traffic pattern.

I'll leave you to ferret out the other options on ATP, instrument, etc.




(c) For a helicopter rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least --
(i) 35 hours in helicopters; and
(ii) 10 hours in cross-country flight in helicopters.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(3) of this part that includes at least --
(i) 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft;
(ii) 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 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(iv) 3 hours in a helicopter in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a helicopter on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(3) of this part, which includes at least --
(i) One cross-country flight with landings at a minimum of three points, with one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and (ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern).

 

[Z_Pilot]

Thanks for your reply Andy. I have reviewed 61.129, but I had a nagging feeling that somehow the requirements were reduced if a pilot was already rated in airplanes (lightly looked into this years ago).

I finally stumbled across the term "Add-on rating" while researching online, and now I am getting somewhere.

All I have to do is convince my county to release WIA funds for my rotorwing training and I am good to go! (Haha, longer than a long-shot, I know).

Thanks, and wish me luck.

 

[Andy Neill]

Well, Midwest Helicopters in St Louis has an "Add-On" program that is at least 10 hours longer than the regulartory minimum requirements listed in the first post.
http://www.flymidwest.com/details.aspx?NavID=92

I know when I was working this the other way (already had a commercial helicopter with instrument rating and added on the fixed wing) it was pretty easy because airplanes, unlike helicopters, want to fly.

 

[PA-44Typed]

If you have an ATP fixed wing……
50 for commercial add-on
15 for IFR add-on
200 for ATP add-on
I just looked into this myself; forget the FARs just call a RW flight school.

 

[hawker]

FW to RW ppl

I am a 4700 hour atp FW guy who just finished my RW PPL. I found it to be relatively easy however do not over look SFAR 73 if you are going to do it in a Robinson product. Essentially you need 20 dual before you ever solo. My instructor was ready to turn me loose at 12 hours. I went with my private and will soon work on my INstrument then commercial. As previously stated you need 50 hours toatl and 35 PIC in helicopters. With having my private I can log PIC while working on my instrument (15 hours in category required) then fly 5 hours for commercial prep and there is my 35 pic (15 while working on private, 15 for instrument, 5 comm prep). Not sure what I will do with the ratings but in this job market I will have that exp over the next guy if anything happend to my job.
Good luck if you try it. I did my ppl with small co in St. Louis and paid cash for all my flight time upfront and saved about $1500 if you are interested in the co shoot me a pm.

 

[avbug]

Don't forget 200 hours required in helicopters (& 50 minimum in the R22) if you wish to instruct in the Robbie.

(5) No certificated flight instructor may provide instruction or conduct a flight review in a Robinson R–22 or R–44 unless that instructor—
(i) Completes the awareness training in paragraph 2(a) of this SFAR.
(ii) For the Robinson R–22, has had at least 200 flight hours in helicopters, at least 50 flight hours of which were in the Robinson R–22, or for the Robinson R–44, has had at least 200 flight hours in helicopters, 50 flight hours of which were in Robinson helicopters. Up to 25 flight hours of Robinson R–22 flight time may be credited toward the 50 hour requirement.

 

[ElCid88]

What's an estimated cost for the Commercial Add On with an Instrument?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

What's so special about Robinsons?

 

[Andy Neill]

What's so special about Robinsons?

Issues with loss of main rotor control accidents involving Robinsons as detailed in this report from 1996.
http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1996/SIR9603.pdf