Lize Naude Admin Department
Overview - Helicopter Flight Training
To The Aviation Enthusiast
The information that follows is designed to answer the most popular questions, but please feel free to contact us should you have any additional questions. |
WHERE WILL I DO MY TRAINING?
Blue Sky Aviation is a Helicopter Aviation Company, which prides itself in giving exceptional training and personal attention. We are based in the coastal town of George (South Africa) which is part of the Garden Route, well known as an area of exceptional beauty. The George airspace is uncluttered, which gives you more time to concentrate on training and less time worrying about congested airspace. WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO TRAIN AS A HELICOPTER PILOT?
No formal qualifications are required to train as a helicopter pilot, and contrary to popular belief, no previous flying experience is required before learning to fly helicopters.
The minimum age requirement is 17 years and the only other requirement is that you pass an aviation medical exam, which requires only a reasonable level of fitness. Also contrary to popular belief you don’t need 20/20 vision and you are allowed to fly with spectacles. WHAT HELICOPTER WILL I TRAIN IN?
Blue Sky Aviation does most ab-initio instruction in the Robinson R22 or R44 Helicopters. These are the favoured helicopters world wide for training as they offer a solid foundation for the private pilot through to the commercial pilot. Robinson has overtaken Bell as the world’s leading light civil helicopter. Check out website: www.robinsonheli.com HOW LONG WILL MY TRAINING TAKE?
Your training can be done, full time or part time. Your PPL(H) training is done over a six month period. If you plan on continuing you training towards a CPL(H), this will take an additional 12-18 Months. From scratch to CPL(H) should take you 18 months - 2 years. Generally the more frequently you fly the more consistent your progress will be. FLYING HELICOPTERS AS A CAREER – CPL (H)
The Commercial Pilots licence is designed for those who wish to make a career of flying helicopters.
The requirements for a CPL(H) are: *18 years of age. *Commercial aviation medical. *200 hours of flying including the 50 from your PPL. *General Radio Licence. *CPL Ground School and eight CPL exams. *Helicopter Private Pilot Licence PPL (H) |
| YOUR FIRST STEP – PPL(H) LICENCE
What is a PPL(H)?
A PPL(H) is a Private Pilot Licence that will allow you to fly a helicopter you are rated on, with passengers but for private only under VFR (Visual Flight Rules) conditions. Should you wish to become a professional pilot you will need to obtain a Commercial Pilot Licence CPL(H). The acquisition of a PPL(H) is the first step towards that goal. THE PPL(H) AIR EXERCISE SYLLABUS Flying helicopters takes some co-ordination, but nearly everyone can learn to fly them. Our fully qualified instructors will take you through the air exercise syllabus which is designed to take you through 35 exercises. Each exercise is covered both in the briefing room and in the air, each of which is designed as a building block to the next exercise. The minimum requirement of flying time for a PPL (H) is 50 hours of which 35 is dual flight training with one of our qualified instructors and 15 hours solo flight training. THE PPL(H) GROUND SCHOOL
The designated 8 ground school subjects involve comprehensive briefing by an instructor/lecturer combined with self study on the part of the student. The exams for these subjects consist of multiple choice questions and are done through the South African Civil Aviation Authority. THE PPL(H) GROUND SCHOOL
The Ground School subjects consist of: * Air Law * Helicopter Technical and General * Meteorology * Helicopter Principles of Flight * Navigation * Flight Planning and Performance * Human Performance * Restricted Radio Licence
Although this list may at first seem daunting, once a student has started the course, the ground school forms a logical part of the flight exercises. HOW IS PAYMENT ARRANGED? All flights are charged according to the Hobbs meter, which effectively is an hour meter, connected to the oil pressure on the engine so you only pay for flying time. Payment is strictly as you fly in advance. HOW DO I START? Perhaps the best way for us to express what flying is about is to arrange a demonstration flight (40 min’s) with one of our qualified flight instructors. This will give you valuable insight into helicopter flying. |
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