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How to become a private pilot airplane if you have helicopter time

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

As  an instructor, if a client comes to you and has 20 hours of helicopter time, 3 hours of solo, 3 hours of cross-country,and 1 hour of basic instrument time, what are the requirements (hours) and what endorsements does the student need to get to earn a Private Pilot license  in a single engine land airplane. He didn't continue the PPL in helicopter, he wants to do airplane PPL. Also can you provide the references in the FAR/AIM so I can review it.

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1 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Apr 02, 2016

    The reference is 61.109(a).

    It requires 40 hours of flight time with no mention of category/class.

    Pretty much all the other requirements must be done in a single engine airplane.

    Since you are not adding a category or class rating to an existing certificate, you will need the same endorsements as any other student pilot aspiring to the private pilot certificate.

    The endorsements are contained in AC 61.65F.

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