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Solo endorsement required for add-on or additional category/class?

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FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Helicopter, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

If a private pilot airplane wants to get helicopter add-on, do they require a solo endorsement to fly solo helicopter? If so, are they therefore required to take a pre solo knowledge test and what do you do about endorsing their student pilot certificate, as they may not have one....   Many thanks

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3 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 17, 2014

    See 61.31(d)(2), that is the endorsement you would get to act as PIC in solo flight.

    You are not a student pilot, you are a private pilot. There is no requirement to endorse a student pilot certificate, as you do not possess one. There is no requirement for a pre-solo knowledge test. As a private pilot, you should be familiar with Part 61 and 91. However, before I would endorse you, I would test you on the aircraft.

    As you are not a student pilot, there is also no need to endorse each cross country flight.

    The endorsement to take the practical test is under 61.63(b) for the additional category rating.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Oct 17, 2014

    …and the recommended standardized form for the endorsement (as with all other FAA standard forms of endorsements)is in Appendix 1 to AC 61-65E, in this case Endrosement #62.

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  3. Sam Dawson on Oct 17, 2014

    Also be advised that since, as Kris pointed out the pilot is a private pilot NOT a student pilot none of the student pilot limitations, WX or time (90 days), apply unless the CFI specifically puts them in the endorsement.

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