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Helicopter Add-on: Private Not Always Required

Asked by: 3586 views , ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Helicopter

Doing due diligence, several helicopter schools' web sites use the verbiage for a Commercial Helicopter Add-on, "a private helicopter rating is not always required." Anyone know what parameters define one jumping directly from single-engine airplane commercial to helicopter commercial? How about single-engine airplane CFI to commercial helicopter, would that make a difference? (Thanks in advance. Yous guys are always greats.)

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3 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jul 10, 2015

    If you have a Commercial ASEL and want a Commercial Helicopter, it is an additional category rating and 61.63(b) applies. You need to complete all the requirements spelled out in 61.129 concerning aeronautical experience. You do not need to take a knowledge test.

    If you have a Private ASEL and want a Commercial Helicopter, you are applying for a higher grade certificate. You need to satisfy all the requirements for a Commercial pilot certificate including the knowledge test.

    The big problem is the 35 hours of PIC time in helicopters required by 61.129(c)(2)(i). You can count 10 hours of time spent performing the duties of a PIC with an instructor on board toward this requirement, but you still need an additional 25 hours of PIC time and the only way you can get this time is by being solo.

    The following link is to a legal interpretation that backs up my statement.

    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2013/crowe-palmbeachhelicopters%20-%20(2013)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

    If you were to add on a Private helicopter, then you can log PIC time while manipulating the controls during training for your Commercial helicopter.

    Pilot certificates and Instructor certificates are two different things. You don’t go from a Single Engine Airplane Instructor certificate to a Commercial Helicopter Pilot certificate.

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  2. Latest News | on Jul 13, 2015

    […] Helicopter Add-on: Private Not Always Required | Ask a … http://www.askacfi.com/Doing due diligence, several helicopter schools' web sites use the verbiage for a Commercial Helicopter Add-on, "a private helicopter rating is not always required." Anyone know what parameters define one jumping directly from … […]

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  3. Latest News | on Sep 15, 2015

    […] Helicopter Add-on: Private Not Always Required | Ask a … http://www.askacfi.com/Doing due diligence, several helicopter schools' web sites use the verbiage for a Commercial Helicopter Add-on, "a private helicopter rating is not always required." Anyone know what parameters define one jumping directly … […]

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