Professional Helicopter Flight Training
Where do I start?
Introductory Trial Flight: If you are keen on flying helicopters, either for fun or for a career as a professional helicopter pilot, we recommend you take a 30 minute trial instruction flight.
During this flight our instructor will give you the controls (initially one at a time) and let you feel how the helicopter responds to your control inputs. After you have a basic understanding of each of the helicopters three controls your instructor will give you full control and you will quickly see how challenging and enjoyable a helicopter is to fly!
Private Pilots License – Helicopter (PPLH)
This is where the hobby and the passion for flying begins. Learn how to fly a helicopter, become licensed and enjoy flying for pleasure. To be eligible for a Private Pilots Licence Helicopter you need to meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Hold at least a class 2 CAA medical certificate
- Pass 6 written exams which are listed in detail below
- Meet the flight experience requirements which are also listed below
- Meet the Civil Aviation Authority Fit & Proper Person requirements
- Pass an english language test
PPL EXAMINATIONS:
You also need to sit and pass 6 exams which are relatively straight forward and will teach you all the things you need to know about safely flying a helicopter. These exams are as follows:
- PPL Flight Radio – How to operate your helicopters radio to communicate with other aircraft in the air and to air traffic control on the ground
- PPL Human Factors – Gain an awareness of how your body reacts to the challenging flying environment
- PPL Aircraft Technical Knowledge (Helicopter) – Learn how the helicopter works otherwise known as Helicopter Principles of Flight
- PPL Law – Learn the rules that govern us as pilots and aircraft operators
- PPL Navigation – Manage the aircraft and learn how to navigate the skies
- PPL Meteorology – About the weather and how it affects us as pilots
PPL FLIGHT TIME:
The minimum experience required for the issue of a PPL(H) is 50 hours of flight time. This time is made up of the following minimum requirements:
- 20 hours dual instruction
- 15 hours of solo flight time
- 10 hours of cross country navigation
- 5 hours of mountain flight
- 5 hours of advanced dual instruction
Once you have completed these requirements, flying competently and have passed all your exam credits you will be able to sit your PPL flight test with a flight examiner.
For Medical information and requirements please visit: http://www.caa.govt.nz/medical/how_to_get_med_cert.htm
To download the pilots medical application form please visit: http://www.caa.govt.nz/Forms/24067-001.pdf
For a list of Aviation Medical Examiners please click here
Commercial Helicopter License (CPL H)
Reid Heslop Helicopters also provide advanced commercial helicopter training. We have limited spaces available for these courses as we keep commercial student numbers to a minimum. This training includes on the job work experience and exposure to the "real" helicopter industry. Please contact us for further information and feel free to come and meet us before you decide on your helicopter training organisation. To be eligible for a Commercial Pilots Licence Helicopter you must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Hold at least a class 1 CAA medical certificate
- Pass 5 written exams which are listed in detail below (additional to PPL exams / flight radio valid for CPL)
- Meet the flight experience requirements which are also listed below
- Meet the Civil Aviation Authority Fit & Proper Person requirements (or still current within 2 years)
CPL EXAMINATIONS:
Your commercial exams are more in depth than your private exams & teach you the knowledge needed to act as a commercial helicopter pilot. These exams are as follows:
- CPL Human Factors
- CPL Aircraft Technical Knowledge (Helicopter)
- CPL Principles of Helicopter Flight
- CPL Law
- CPL Navigation
- CPL Meteorology
Please note that your flight radio telephone licence is valid for a private or commercial licence.
CPL FLIGHT TIME:
The minimum experience required for the issue of a CPL(H) is 150 hours of flight time. This time is made up of the following minimum requirements:
- 35 hours dual instruction minimum
- 35 hours of solo flight time minimum
- 20 hours of cross country navigation (10 hours dual & 10 hours solo)
- 10 hours of mountain flight
- 10 hours of sling load training
- 10 hours of night flight training (optional but recommended for the likes of frost protection etc)
Once you have completed these requirements, flying competently and have passed all your exam credits you will be able to sit your CPL flight test with a flight examiner.
Helicopter Type Ratings & Advanced Training
Reid Heslop Helicopters offer advanced type training at competitive rates in the Robinson R44, Hughes 500, Bell 206B and AS350FX Squirrel. Remember your first tubine rating in New Zealand must include a minimum of 5 hours flight time and you must have passed your Basic Gas Turbine exam credit. Call or email us for more information.
If you have any further questions or would like us to send you out an information package and DVD, please email us reidheslop@xtra.co.nz
Or post us your request and return postal address to:
Reid Heslop Helicopters
PO Box 33
Wakefield
Nelson 7052
New Zealand
