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Private Pilot Multi Experience Reqs (need help for checkride tomorrow)

Asked by: 2560 views , , ,
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Private Pilot

Here is the situation I was presented with, and I'm unsure of the answer.

As an MEI, you are approached by a private helicopter pilot who wants to receive his private MEL. He want's to get this done the cheapest possible. According to 61.109(b), what hours have to be multi-engine, what can be single-engine, and what doesn't have to be in an airplane at all?

What is confusing me here is 61.109 states that the solo time has to be done in accordance with 61.107(b)(2), which is multi-engine operations, but 61.109(b)(5) states "airplane". Furthermore 61.109(a)(5) states "single-engine airplane", making me think that 61.109(b)(5) allows for this to be single or multi.

I'm thinking the answer is

9 to 12 hours of multi-engine airplane time required

19/22 hours of airplane time required

(assuming we're not counting sim/ftd time)

Can an experienced MEI weigh in on this matter for me? 

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1 Answers



  1. jrdelli on Sep 11, 2018

    The minimum flight time to accomplish this would be 30 hours. . 61.109 states they have to have 40 hours total flight time. So if they already have their helicopter cert I would hope they have at least 10 hours of flight time in a helicopter. The other 30 would be 20 hours of Dual, and 10 hours of solo.

    61.109(b) says they must have 20 hours of flight instruction and 10 hours of solo.

    Also, 61.109(b)(5) says the 10hrs of solo don’t HAVE to be in a mea. Regs just state they have to be in an airplane.

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