Become a helicopter pilot
The dream begins here
Become a helicopter pilot
The dream begins here
Private Pilot Licence – PPL(H)
Providing flight instruction to train the student pilot to act as pilot in command of a helicopter.
— Pre-entry Requirements
There are no pre-entry requirements for the PPL(H) course. However, before flying solo a student must:
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Hold a valid medical certificate issued by a CAA Medical Examiner – Minimum Class 2.
- Have completed the relevant Emergency Drills training.
- Have English language proficiency equivalent to at least ICAO Level 4.
— Requirements for gaining a PPL(H)
- A minimum of 45 hours’ flight time is needed to complete the course. However, please allow additional flight time for budgeting purposes. For those with a PPL(A) this can be reduced by a maximum of 6 hours.
- The total flight time will include 10 hours’ solo time, including 5 hours’ cross-country with a 100 nm cross-country land away at two airfields.
- At least 35 of the 45 hours’ flight instruction must be completed in the same type of helicopter as is used for the Skills Test.
- Students must be 17 years of age to qualify for their PPL(H).
Course Information
Get a detailed overview about what the PPL(H) course covers.
Written exams are multiple-choice with a pass mark of 75% in the following subjects:
- Air Law
- Operational Procedures
- Navigation
- Meteorology
- Human Performance
- Communications
- Flight Performance and Planning
- Aircraft General
- Principles of Flight
All study material is available through Elite. Study is generally on a self-study basis but any help required can be given by your instructor as private tuition.
- Familiarisation with helicopters.
- Emergency procedures.
- Preparation for flight, starting and stopping the engine and rotors.
- Air experience – an introduction to helicopter flight.
- Effects of controls – what the controls do in forward flight.
- Attitude and power changes – power, attitude and thus speed changes.
- Straight and level.
- Climbing.
- Descending.
- Turning.
- Basic Auto Rotation.
- Hovering.
- Hover taxiing and spot turns.
- Hovering and taxiing emergencies.
- Take-off and Landing.
- Transition – from the hover to forward flight and retuning to the hover from forward flight.
- Circuit, approach and landing.
- Steep and limited power approaches and landings.
- Emergency procedures.
- First Solo.
- Sideways and backwards manoeuvres in the hover.
- Spot Turns.
- Hover OGE and vortex ring.
- Simulated EOL.
- Advanced auto rotation.
- Practice forced landings.
- Steep turns.
- Transitions.
- Quick Stops.
- Navigation.
- Navigation problems at low heights and in reduced visibility.
- Radio navigation.
- Advanced take off, landings and transitions.
- Sloping ground.
- Limited power.
- Confined areas.
- Basic instrument flight.
- Night flying (if night rating required).
Annual requirements for PPL(H)
Providing PPL(H) holders have completed a minimum of 2 hours’ flying on type in the previous 12 months, they will have to sit an Annual Proficiency Check per type, unless aircraft are grouped.
If PPL(H) holders have not met the criteria outlined above, they possibly will require additional training and then a Proficiency Check. This does depend on the date of the last flight and test.
Please call for further information.
Location
Our CAA approved helicopter training courses are conducted from our comfortable, modern flight school located at Goodwood Aerodrome.
Hangar 3
Goodwood Aerodrome
Chichester
West Sussex PO18 0PH
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Need to know more?
If you have any questions about the PPL(H) course or want to know how much it costs to become a helicopter pilot, our friendly team are on hand to help.