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7 Answers

Flight review required before logging PIC for added cat/class training?

Asked by: 3610 views , , , ,
General Aviation, Helicopter, Private Pilot, Student Pilot

I am a private helicopter pilot who hasn't flown in 5 years and am therefore not current with the flight review. I'm doing training to add my Airplane SEL rating and need 10 hours solo/PIC. Do I need to do a flight review in a helicopter before I log PIC time in an airplane? Can my instructor sign me off for a flight review in an airplane that I'm not yet rated in? Once I do my ASEL check ride, does that count for a flight review in a helicopter also? Is a flight review even cat/class specific? Thanks for any help you can give.

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7 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Aug 10, 2016

    You do need a flight review and it has to be done in an aircraft for which you are rated. That means you will need a flight review in a helicopter.

    This legal interpretation deals with the situation:

    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2016/bennett-southern%20california%20soaring%20academy%20-%20(2016)%20legal%20interpretation.pdf

    When you take the practical test in an airplane, it will reset the flight review.

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  2. LTCTerry on Aug 11, 2016

    There is an alternative that could save some money. A Private Pilot certificate include Light Sport privileges. The OP can train with one instructor in a fixed wing Light Sport Aircraft, be evaluated by a second instructor*, then have a flight review in the newly added rating. There is no solo flight time requirement.

    If this is done with a CFI rather than a CFI-S it will all count towards ASEL

    *This does not count as a flight review.

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on Aug 11, 2016

    The only problem with your alternative is that there are no Sport Pilot privileges for helicopters. There sure should be, but there aren’t.

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  4. LTCTerry on Aug 15, 2016

    Kris – I’m not a rotary wing guy, although there’s an entire squadron of Blackhawks across the street from me, so I won’t even try to google to see if there are any Light Sport helicopters!

    The OP’s Private Pilot certificate includes light sport privileges. The lack of LS helicopters does not stop him from adding another LS category and class. Once that’s done, he is rated in something he can then use for a flight review.

    Training in a LSA with a regular CFI all counts towards adding ASEL to his existing private pilot certificate. This would still require a regular checkride.

    Paul Hamilton has been doing this for several years: http://sportpilottraining.sportaviationcenter.com/add-category-pilot-certificate/

    PS I prefer not to disagree with people in public, particularly those I know to be both giving and knowledgeable. I have no way of reaching you outside of Ask a Flight Instructor. Would you mind sending me an email? At Yahoo! I’m LTCTerry2006… Thanks!

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  5. LTCTerry on Aug 15, 2016

    People – why the thumbs down on Kris’ answers? Nothing that he said is incorrect; he referenced an FAA document to backup his statement. (That’s stronger than the commercial business’ website I used as support.) The OP is a rotary wing guy, and that’s currently all he can take a flight review in. I trust Kris’ statement that there are no LS helicopters.

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  6. Kris Kortokrax on Aug 15, 2016

    For a definition of Light Sport, look at Part 1 of the regulations. In there it defines a Light Sport aircraft as:

    “an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:”

    Also, if you look at 61.313, you will see no criteria for obtaining a Light Sport airman certificate with rotorcraft helicopter privileges.

    There are light weight helicopters that could meet the 1320# weight restriction, however, the FAA in its infinite wisdom has elected to exclude them from the Light Sport rules.

    I don’t make this stuff up. I just refer to the rules and interpretations.

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  7. Mark Kolber on Aug 19, 2016

    LTCTerry, I’ve learned from experience that liking or disliking an answer has very little to do with whether it is correct or not.

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