Getting Helo ratings...

[mattpilot]

I tried to get my helo add-on at the bare minimums of 30 hours (part61)**. Instructor doesn't/didn't like that idea. I'm at 33 now and probably gonna go for the checkride at a little above 40 hours.

Previous experience in aircraft include 200 hours in ASEL. I guess what i'm saying is, just because the FAA allows you to do it with a certain amount of hours, don't expect it to happen. You need to be very competent and have a good instructor who will go along with your idea. I had no choice other than a newly minted CFI who had no more than 5 hours on type - and he, as any new CFI, is worried about sending guys off to checkrides to early and having them fail.

oh well...

edit: ** that is PPL add-on, not CPL. I figured it would be more beneficial to get PPL first and then use the 20 hours dual required for CPL to build up my PIC times to apply for a CPL add-on, rather than fly around solo for 20 hours like a douche with nothing to do. Nearest 141 school to do a "quick" 40 hour CPL add on is a 4 hour drive away.

 

[Crimson03]

Nope, that doesn't work either. You can't "go to the checkride" expecting the checkride time to get ya up to the minimums. C'mon, I'm really trying to scope out the minimum helicopter times, because I have heard a lot of different stories about different interprtation of times required in different FSDO's.

I know what the regs say, (61 & 141) but I also keep hearing of guys getting ratings with less than the regulatory times. I'm trying to determine if there are other loopholes, or is it the same as "I caught a fish thiiiis big..."

I just went and looked and I went for my commercial helicopter checkride with 39.1 hours, checkride was 1.4hrs. This was a part 141 add on to ppsel at FSI about 15 years ago.

 

[nosehair]

I just went and looked and I went for my commercial helicopter checkride with 39.1 hours, checkride was 1.4hrs. This was a part 141 add on to ppsel at FSI about 15 years ago.

OK...thanks for clarifying...15 years ago, who knows what the regs said?

 

[eyelevelflyer]

R22 at FCM

The going rate for a R22 at Flying Cloud Airport in Minnesota as of last fall was $248.00 per hour. Ouch!

 

[mattpilot]

The going rate for a R22 at Flying Cloud Airport in Minnesota as of last fall was $248.00 per hour. Ouch!

160 excluding instructor here at RVS

 

[The Saint]

Actually i think heliflight in Ft-L is part 61 but i am not sure, but i did get my comm-heli add on with 38 hrs so... it can be done.

 

[KigAir]

One company that you might want to look into is Boatpix.com they charge about 100 buck an hr for r22 time cause you are working for them but the flying is cool. i got my comm heli-add on though heli-flight in Ft-Lauderdale got it done in 38 hrs and cost me about 6K. After that just to fly for fun i pay boatpix to work for them O'well flame on!

Here are the numbers $$ from a flyer I got in the mail last week from Boatpix.com:

• Dual $210/hr
• Solo $170/hr
• Time building on photo missions $100/hr

 

[wxman13]

Oh man, if only this thread were in a different category, the PFT discussion would be 10 pages long by now. As for the prices above, that really doesn't sound that much cheaper than what other people are quoting. Except for the PFT part. Wow. What a scam.

 

[Flyin Tony]

Do helos need a autopilot to fly IFR? I thought I read about this.

 

[mattpilot]

yes they do

 

[FracCapt]

Do helos need a autopilot to fly IFR? I thought I read about this.

No, they don't. Autopilots in helos are only found in the high dollar equipment. It's not like you find in fixed wing.....autopilots in C172's and larger. You'd be hard pressed to find an autopilot in a helo that is not a multi-million dollar twin turbine. Autopilots are not as simple in a helo as they are in a fixed wing.

ANY IFR certified helo can be flown IFR without an autopilot, unless they are operating under requirements that would require an SIC but allow an autopilot in lieu of SIC. I think that starts when you have more than 8 or 10 passenger seats. Not common in helos.

 

[nosehair]

What??? Helicopter Pilots don't need no stinkin' awto-pilot. Arrrggh!!

 

[Checks]

Pax carrying under Part 135 needs either the AP or the SIC.

yes, boatpix, why would you pay to work? Is it that much fun?

 

[nosehair]

why would you pay to work? Is it that much fun?

Actually, it is...just don't go down that road....

 

[FracCapt]

Pax carrying under Part 135 needs either the AP or the SIC.

That only applies to IFR. Many helo operators are VFR only. The tour operators at Vegas/Grand Canyon, for example.