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61.129(c) commercial helicopter add-on requirements

Asked by: 11969 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Helicopter

Under the commercial rotorcraft add on requirements listed in 61.129(c) there are 3 cross country flights specified with 1 specified night cross country flight.  Are the night hours logged under 3(iii) applicable to the general VFR night experience in 4 (ii)? Does a CFI have the discretion to do more than 1 cross country at night and credit those night hours flown under the general night VFR experience section (4) (ii) ?

(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.127(b)(3) of this part that includes at least--

(i) Five hours on the control and maneuvering of a helicopter solely by reference to instruments using a view-limiting device including attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems. This aeronautical experience may be performed in an aircraft, flight simulator, flight training device, or an aviation training device;

(ii) One 2-hour cross country flight in a helicopter in daytime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure;

(iii) One 2-hour cross country flight in a helicopter in nighttime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

(iv) Three hours in a helicopter with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.

(4) Ten hours of solo flight time in a helicopter or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in command in a helicopter with an authorized instructor on board (either of which may be credited towards the flight time requirement under paragraph (c)(2) of this section), on the areas of operation listed under Sec. 61.127(b)(3) that includes--

(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).

 

2 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Mar 08, 2015

    You can’t kill all the birds with one stone.

    The hours acquired under (3) are “training”. They would be logged as dual instruction, but only logged as PIC if the student is rated for helicopters (already has a Private Helicopter).

    The hours acquired under (4) are “solo” or “time while performing the duties of a PIC with an authorized instructor on board”. There can be no training given during these hours. The instructor is ostensibly present to satisfy insurance requirements. He must not manipulate the controls or handle communications or provide any training. These hours would not be logged as dual instruction. They would only be logged as PIC if the student is already rated in helicopters.

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  2. Alan scott on Jan 26, 2017

    Get a gyroplane cert then add heli. No mins for heli, just proficiency. A whole lot cheaper too

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