Helicopter add-on?

[unreal]

Sometime down the road I'd be interested in getting certificated to fly helicopters. However, being a commercial pilot in airplanes, is there a way I could get away with getting private privileges for helicopters? It'd save me money, and I'm not interested in flying helicopters for hire.

I know the rules would be easier if I were to get commercial privileges under 61.63 (category change), but is it necessary to go by 61.109 for private privileges instead?

 

[nosehair]

I know the rules would be easier if I were to get commercial privileges under 61.63 (category change), but is it necessary to go by 61.109 for private privileges instead?

hmmm...61.63 requires the use of 61.109 or 61.129 to determine the amount of helicopter time at either the private or commercial level.
Yes, you can get the helicopter add-on at the private level with the requirements listed in 61.109 (c) 20 hours dual and 10 hours solo completing the requirements listed in (c) 1 through 4.

 

[igneousy2]

I looked into this, and what I gathered from sources I trusted in the helicopter business was that...

It takes about 50 hours in a helicopter to be ready for your Private Checkride, which also happens to be about the same amount of time it takes to Add a Helicopter to your Commercial. So usually what happens is that by the time you are ready for any checkride in a helicopter, you have the time required for the commercial.

anyway, let me know if I shouldn't trust these sources.

Later

 

[FracCapt]

It takes about 50 hours in a helicopter to be ready for your Private Checkride, which also happens to be about the same amount of time it takes to Add a Helicopter to your Commercial. So usually what happens is that by the time you are ready for any checkride in a helicopter, you have the time required for the commercial.

Don't count on it. Read the requirements for the commercial. They state you must have 50 hours in helicopters, and 35 PIC. That means 35 hours of solo. If you only need 15 hours of dual to be ready for the commercial checkride, you would easily finish the private add on in the 30 hour minimum. Chances are you will not be ready for the checkride with only 20 hours dual, though. Some people are...most are not. 35 hours of solo(only necessary if you plan to go straight to the commercial) is not productive since you won't be allowed to practice emergency procedures during those hours....and helicopter flying is all about emergency procedures. They're easy to fly when everything works..the hard stuff starts when things go wrong.

The best way to accomplish the add ons, IMO, is private, instrument, commercial. That way, your 15 hours of helicopter instrument time required by 61.65 for an add-on is PIC. If you start with 10 hours of PIC(the solo time from your private), then you're almost there. 10 hours of commercial maneuvers and a bit of X-C, and you're at the commercial requirements.

Also, keep in mind that if you do your training in a Robinson R22, you must have 20 hours dual before you can even SOLO the thing(per SFAR 73).

I can't recommend helicopter training highly enough. It will make you a better pilot(IMHO), and it's a hell of a lot of fun.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Or, join the National Guard and get paid to do it. Hey, laugh if you want, but to an out of work pilot, $40K/year for 1.5 years and getting your helicopter/instrument added to a commercial aint a bad deal at all. Plus, all of your helo time is turbine time!!

 

[Lead Sled]

I've got a question for you helicopter pilots out there...

I'm looking at getting my commercial add-on, in the near future, as well. Here in SoCal, I've got two basic choices the Scheizer 300 or the Robinson R-22? Which one do I go for and why?

In the fixed/wing world, I'd tell the prospective student that it doesn't really make a bit of difference what airplane he learns to fly in and that the choice of CFI is the most importent factor. I'm assuming that it's probably the same with helicopters, but I want your thoughts.

Lead Sled

 

[nosehair]

Schweitzer 300 hands down. I got my initial helicopter training in the Army in that machine. A great machine! In later years, I've flown the R-22, and gone to the school in CA, but would not want to make a living instructing in it. Imagine flying a 152 at stall + 5 ALL THE TIME! ...at near tree-top level.

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

Schweizer 300!!! I've flown both....R-22's should be controlled by a radio....from the ground.

 

[dolphinjazz]

I've got a question for you helicopter pilots out there...

I'm looking at getting my commercial add-on, in the near future, as well. Here in SoCal, I've got two basic choices the Scheizer 300 or the Robinson R-22? Which one do I go for and why?

Lead Sled

I've looked into the Helo add-on too and am still considering it. Have received the "hands down" advice myself many times. And have received a lot of feedback. I'll share a little here...

Have been advised that the Robinson is the most likely chopper that you will encounter out there when you build that first 1000 to 2000 hours (before you can qualify for a "real" chopper job). AND was told that you will be a much better pilot for having trained in that (crappy?) Robinson. And was told that you would be passed up for that first job if you didn't get trained in the Robinson in the first place. (Unless that first job happened to be in a Schweitzer 300... not as likely as the Robinson, they say.) And, I forget the actual number, but I think you need 100 hours in the Robinson before you are allowed to teach in one... so you best just buckle down and get those hours initially. Can always migrate over to the Schweitzer 300 after you've paid your dues.

I have not made my final decision yet, but think I am leaning toward the Robinson... getting pressured in that direction, really.

Best,

Garrett

 

[nosehair]

Yep! I would agree with that!...IF your objective for the helo add-on is to INSTRUCT to build helo time, and you are hoping in the blind to find a Helicopter Instructor job, then you need to be Robinson trained. And you will be well trained in that helicopter - it requires lightning fast response. In my original post, I said I wouldn't want to make a living flying it with students all day, because it requires so much "high alert" attention - like flying a 152 at MCA at tree-top level. You will be well trained, but also exhausted....and speaking from experience, us airplane pilots, from habit, tend to "relax" a moment after level off and getting it set up for cruise. Well, that never happens in a helicopter. You never "trim" it up and fly hands off. It is like flying in the landing flare all the time. So, experienced airplane pilots tend to relax in cruise, and that is when the Robinson can bite you. Any of them can, really, but the Robinson loses rotor RPM so quickly after engine failure that you must be lightning fast to respond. I thought the Schweizer was quick - until I flew the Robinson.

And forget about getting the CFI in minimum Commercial add-on (dual) time. Expect to spend almost that much time learning to do power off 180 autorotations to the instructor level of proficiency.