Helicopter School

Learn to fly a private helicopter!

Here are the requirements for the Helicopter piloting course as described by Transport Canada.

IMPORTANT: This is for information only. Always check the latest info from the officials sources.

421.27 Helicopters - Requirements

(1) Age

An applicant shall be a minimum of seventeen years of age.

(2) Medical Fitness and Validity

(a) An applicant shall hold a Category 3 Medical Certificate valid for a Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter.

(b) The medical validity period for the licence holder under 40 years of age is 24 months and for a licence holder 40 years of age or over, is 12 months.

(c) The licence is maintained by a valid new Category 1 or 3 Medical Certificate.

(3) Knowledge

An applicant shall have:

(a) completed a minimum of 40 hours private pilot helicopter ground school instruction on the following subjects:

(i) Canadian Aviation Regulations,

(ii) Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight,

(iii) Meteorology,

(iv) Airframes, Engines and Systems,

(v) Flight Instruments,

(vi) Radio and Electronic Theory,

(vii) Navigation,

(viii) Flight Operations,

(ix) Licensing Requirements, and

(x) Human Factors, including pilot decision-making; and

(b) obtained a minimum of 60% in each of the following four mandatory subject areas as well as in the overall written examination Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter (PPHEL):

(i) Air Law - regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services, practices and procedures, and licensing requirements relevant to the licence;

(ii) Navigation - navigation, radio aids and electronic theory;

(iii) Meteorology;

(iv) Aeronautics - General Knowledge - airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments and flight operations.

(4) Experience

(a) An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 45 hours private pilot flight training in helicopters under the direction and superivison of the holder of a flight instructor rating - helicopter. A maximum 5 of the 45 hours may be conducted in an approved helicopter simulator or flight training device.
(amended 1998/09/01)

(b) The flight training shall include a minimum of:

(i) 17 hours dual instruction flight time, including a minimum of 3 hours cross-country flight time and 5 hours of instrument time of which a maximum of 3 hours may be instrument ground time; and
(amended 1998/09/01)

(ii) 12 hours solo flight time including 5 hours cross-country flight time with a flight of a minimum of 100 nautical miles which shall include no fewer than 2 full stop landings at points other than the point of departure.

(5) Skill

Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for the licence, an applicant shall successfully complete a flight test to the standard outlined in the Flight Test Standard Private and Commercial Pilot Licences - Helicopters (TP3077E).
(amended 1999/03/01)

(6) Credits

(a) Knowledge

(i) An applicant who holds a Pilot Permit - Gyroplane or a private or higher type pilot licence for aeroplanes shall, when applying for the issue of a Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter have the 40 hour ground instruction requirement reduced to 20 hours.

(ii) An applicant who holds a Pilot Permit - Gyroplane or a private or higher type pilot licence for aeroplanes shall in lieu of completing the written examination PPHEL obtain a minimum of 60% in the written examination Private Pilot Helicopter Rating - Alternate Category (PHRAC).

(b) Experience

(i) The total flight time must include a minimum of 30 hours in helicopters.

(ii) Where an applicant holds a pilot permit or licence in another aircraft category flight time credits shall be claimed as follows:
(amended 1998/03/23)

(A) Aeroplane and Gyroplane

(I) a maximum of 15 hours towards the total flight time; and

(II) a maximum of 4 hours solo flight time, 2 hours of which may be credited to solo cross-country flight time.

(B) Glider

A maximum of 5 hours pilot-in-command flight time towards the total flight time.

(C) Instrument Flight Time

An applicant who holds a private or higher type licence in another category shall be credited with instrument flight time acquired in the other category towards meeting the instrument experience requirements provided that the instrument flight time acquired in the other category is not credited towards the 17 hours of dual instruction flight time or the 12 hours solo flight time.

(7) Credits for DND Applicants

(a) Active and retired Canadian Forces personnel who have qualified to pilot helicopter wings standard shall be considered to have met the ground school instruction requirement, the written examination requirement, the course requirement and the skill requirement provided that:
(amended 2003/03/01)

(i) the applicant has met the flight time requirements specified in subsection (4) of which a minimum of 10 hours flight time in helicopters has been acquired in the 12 months preceding the date of application, and
(amended 2003/03/01)

(ii) the applicant obtains a minimum of 90% in the written examination Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Air Regulations (PSTAR).
(amended 2003/03/01)

(b) A person who has undergone helicopter pilot flight training in the Canadian Forces may be credited military dual and solo helicopter flight time and helicopter ground school time towards the knowledge and experience requirements for the issue of a Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter.
(amended 2003/03/01; no previous version)

(8) Licence Issued On the Basis of Foreign Licence
(amended 1999/03/01)

(a) An applicant who holds a Private or higher pilot licence - Helicopter issued by a Contracting State shall be considered:
(amended 1999/03/01)

(i) to have met the ground school instruction requirement; and
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(ii) to have met the written examination requirement and the flight test requirement, provided that the foreign licence was not issued on the basis of a licence from another State, and that the applicant:
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(A) has met the flight time requirements specified in subsection (4);
(amended 2000/09/01)

(B) has obtained a minimum of 90% in the written examination Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (PSTAR); and
(amended 2000/09/01)

(C) has completed as pilot in command or co-pilot in helicopters, a minimum of 5 take-offs and 5 landings within the 6 months preceding the date of application for the Canadian licence.
(amended 1999/03/01)

(b) The licence shall be annotated by the Minister to indicate that it was issued on the basis of the foreign licence.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(c) The Minister shall remove the restriction from the licence, provided that the applicant has succesfully completed:
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(i) the written examination requirements (PPHEL); and
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(ii) the skill requirement.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(9) Credits for Foreign Applicants
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(a) An applicant who holds a Private or higher pilot licence - Helicopter issued by a contracting state and who does not wish to obtain a licence issued on the basis of the foreign licence may be considered by the Minister to have met the ground school instruction requirement.
(amended 2003/03/01)

(b) An applicant who holds a Private or higher pilot licence - Helicopter issued by a contracting state other than Canada and who meets the flight time requirements specified in subsection (4) is considered to have met the experience requirements.
(amended 2003/03/01)

(c) A person who does not hold a Private or higher pilot licence - Helicopter  issued by a contracting state may be credited foreign dual and solo helicopter flight training time and helicopter ground school time towards the knowledge and experience requirements for the issue of a Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter, if the applicant provides certification from the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Helicopter that all ground and flight training exercises have been satisfactorily reviewed.
(amended 2003/03/01)

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