Looking to get my Heli add on.

[flyboywbl]

Hey guys i was looking into getting my Heli add on (at least private) and maybe the CFI. I'm assuming i need the heli commercial and heli instrument rating to get the CFI. I found a place on my feild that charges $245 an hour for their Schweizer 300C and $45 an hour for an instructor. Does this seem reasonable? I thought heli's were more in the 400-500 dollar an hour range. Is this heli just a POS? Any advice would be great. What questions should i ask?

-Matt

 

[AviatorGator]

Hey guys i was looking into getting my Heli add on (at least private) and maybe the CFI. I'm assuming i need the heli commercial and heli instrument rating to get the CFI. I found a place on my feild that charges $245 an hour for their Schweizer 300C and $45 an hour for an instructor. Does this seem reasonable? I thought heli's were more in the 400-500 dollar an hour range. Is this heli just a POS? Any advice would be great. What questions should i ask?

-Matt

You actually don't need your Heli instrument to get the CFI-H. The helicopter school at our field charges around $300 an hour for a 300C with the instructor included. I'm sure Ian J and the other Heli guys on the forum will be on to comment soon.

 

[MikeD]

You actually don't need your Heli instrument to get the CFI-H. The helicopter school at our field charges around $300 an hour for a 300C with the instructor included. I'm sure Ian J and the other Heli guys on the forum will be on to comment soon.

The Schweitzer/Hughes 269/300 is a good training helicopter.....used to be the primary trainer for the Army when they had the TH-55.

 

[flyboywbl]

Ok thanks. It looks like to get the private add on, i need 30 hours in the heli and a practical test. Thats what i found on line. I pulled out my FAR/AIM and read the helicopter private part in part 61. From how i read it, you need 40 hour TT (does not say what category), 20 hours of instruction (does not say in category) and 10 hours of solo (in heli's) Does this mean i only need 10 hours of solo to take the practical? (obviously i'll need training to solo so there will be more than 10 hours in the heli) but could it be less than 30 for the private add on? I'm just trying to gauge the cost. For the commercial i would need 150 TT and 35 hours Heli PIC and a check ride. Is this right? Please let me know if i'm completely wrong here.

I think i'm gonna set up an intro flight and see what it's all about. They quoted the intro flight for $200 and thats for 30 mins of ground, and an hour flight.

thanks
-Matt

 

[LOGS]

How much time does the average commerical addon take? I've always been interested in the Heli.

=Jason-

 

[A300Capt]

Keep in mind that after you spend all that money that's obviously burning a hole in your pocket to get this helo license, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who's insurance will allow you to rent one.

You'll be pretty disappointed spending a lot of money for a license you realistically can't use unless you have a lot more money to build a lot more time.

 

[LOGS]

Keep in mind that after you spend all that money that's obviously burning a hole in your pocket to get this helo license, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who's insurance will allow you to rent one.

You'll be pretty disappointed spending a lot of money for a license you realistically can't use unless you have a lot more money to build a lot more time.

Well I didn't ask for the obvious, I asked for the time for the commerical. OF COURSE I would need to build time, but when there's a way there's a will.

=Jason-

 

[flyboywbl]

understood. But the school lets me solo it, why would they not let me rent it once i complete my rating?

 

[A300Capt]

Well I didn't ask for the obvious, I asked for the time for the commerical. OF COURSE I would need to build time, but when there's a way there's a will.

=Jason-

I wasn't talking to you...I was responding in general to the original poster.

 

[Ian_J]

Hey guys i was looking into getting my Heli add on (at least private) and maybe the CFI. I'm assuming i need the heli commercial and heli instrument rating to get the CFI. I found a place on my feild that charges $245 an hour for their Schweizer 300C and $45 an hour for an instructor. Does this seem reasonable? I thought heli's were more in the 400-500 dollar an hour range. Is this heli just a POS? Any advice would be great. What questions should i ask?

-Matt

That price seems reasonable, and as AviatorGator says below, you don't need an instrument add-on. However, you need it if you want to be marketable. I have a whopping 0.7 hours in a Schweizer 300c and is the only piston helo I've flown. I thought it was a blast to fly.

You actually don't need your Heli instrument to get the CFI-H. The helicopter school at our field charges around $300 an hour for a 300C with the instructor included. I'm sure Ian J and the other Heli guys on the forum will be on to comment soon.

Unfortunately I can't be of much help when it comes to civilian helo training. Scottyboy75 is the resident expert, but I think he's in the process of moving overseas.

Ok thanks. It looks like to get the private add on, i need 30 hours in the heli and a practical test. Thats what i found on line. I pulled out my FAR/AIM and read the helicopter private part in part 61. From how i read it, you need 40 hour TT (does not say what category), 20 hours of instruction (does not say in category) and 10 hours of solo (in heli's) Does this mean i only need 10 hours of solo to take the practical? (obviously i'll need training to solo so there will be more than 10 hours in the heli) but could it be less than 30 for the private add on? I'm just trying to gauge the cost. For the commercial i would need 150 TT and 35 hours Heli PIC and a check ride. Is this right? Please let me know if i'm completely wrong here.

I think i'm gonna set up an intro flight and see what it's all about. They quoted the intro flight for $200 and thats for 30 mins of ground, and an hour flight.

thanks
-Matt

Close, but not quite.

You're right about the 40 hours - category and class isn't mentioned.

However, you need at least 20 hours of instruction and 10 solo in helicopters.

(c) For a helicopter rating. Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(3) of this part, and the training must include at least—

See... it links the 20 hours of instruction and 10 solo by that "AND," and links it to §61.107(b)(3):

(3) For a rotorcraft category rating with a helicopter class rating:
(i) Preflight preparation;
(ii) Preflight procedures;
(iii) Airport and heliport operations;
(iv) Hovering maneuvers;
(v) Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds;
(vi) Performance maneuvers;
(vii) Navigation;
(viii) Emergency operations;
(ix) Night operations, except as provided in §61.110 of this part; and
(x) Postflight procedures.

Which clearly applies to helicopters.

Keep in mind this is all an academic discussion... it will most likely take you longer than 30 hours to be ready for a checkride.

How much time does the average commerical addon take? I've always been interested in the Heli.

=Jason-

No idea. From anecdotal experience I believe the transition from planes to helos is harder than from helos to planes.

(c) For a helicopter rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 35 hours in helicopters; and
(ii) 10 hours in cross-country flight in helicopters.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(3) of this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft;
(ii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(iv) 3 hours in a helicopter in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a helicopter on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(3) of this part, which includes at least—
(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).

My swag based on the mins for a commercial add-on... seeing that since you are getting an add-on only solo time will count as PIC... you'd have to get 35 hours solo. You have to get at least 20 hours instruction so that puts you at 55 minimum.

 

[flyboywbl]

Thanks Ian J! I just talked with one of the CFI's at the school and she said to get the commercail/CFI add on it would be a minimum of 55 hours (TT in heli's) and a maximum of 90 hours. Thats a little be more than i wanted to spend right out of the shoot but the private licance is very apeailing to me as a start. I can always add on the commercail/cfi later.

Just curious, With the heli instrument rating do you have to stay current sepratly from my airplane instrument rating. IE if you went a year with out flying an approch in a heli would you need an IPC even though you stayed current in fixed wings?

I think the best thing to do with my money right now is work on my CFII and get some more multi time. I'd feel alot more comfertable with 100h multi than 75. Also i can start using my MEI and teaching students now.

I might wait til i'm really board this summer to start the heli stuff.

Thanks Guys

-Matt

Thanks
-Matt

 

[Ian_J]

Just curious, With the heli instrument rating do you have to stay current sepratly from my airplane instrument rating. IE if you went a year with out flying an approch in a heli would you need an IPC even though you stayed current in fixed wings?

61.57

(1) For the purpose of obtaining instrument experience in an aircraft (other than a glider), performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions, either in flight in the appropriate category of aircraft for the instrument privileges sought or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of the aircraft category for the instrument privileges sought—

 

[flyboywbl]

roger thanks