TRIAL HELICOPTER LESSON Flying in a Helicopter is a unique and exciting experience, and a Trial Lesson is a popular first step for those who want to taste the thrill of flying at the controls, with a view perhaps to gaining a Private Pilots Licence thereafter. The lessons are usually conducted in the popular Robinson R22 Dual Control 2 seater Helicopter, or alternatively in the Robinson R44 Dual Control 4 seater Helicopter if you would like to take someone else along with you. On arrival at the Flight School, you will be welcomed and introduced to your instructor, an experienced individual who has been chosen in particular because of their excellent customer care approach. During a pre-flight briefing, carried out on a one-to-one basis in one of our briefing rooms, your instructor will describe how a helicopter flies, and explain the main functions of the flying controls. You will then be taken outside onto our helipad and to your designated helicopter. Once strapped in and sitting comfortably, your instructor will then show you how to hold the controls, and explain the interior layout, sitting alongside you. After starting up, and completing pre-flight checks, your instructor will lift into a hover and taxi onto the Airfield, in accordance with instructions from Air Traffic Control. Having then departed from the Airfield, you will be introduced to the use of each of the main controls, one at a time, and experience climbs, descents, turns, and maybe even an autorotation a manoeuvre used to glide the helicopter down to the ground in the event of an emergency. Towards the end of your flight, if the conditions are suitable, your instructor may give you the chance to try the controls in the hover, where the co-ordination required to fly a helicopter will become very apparent indeed! After landing and returning to the Flight School, you will receive a de-brief, allowing you the opportunity to ask any pertinent questions and discuss the next step should you wish to continue your flying. You will also receive a certificate to commemorate your achievement. Incidentally, Heliflight have a range of Gift Vouchers available should you wish to surprise someone else with a lesson or pleasure flight.
INTRODUCTORY FLYING DAY If you really want to know if Helicopter flying is for you, or you want another taste after a Trial Lesson, then why not try our Introductory Flying Day? This includes two lessons taken at leisure during either a morning or an afternoon. Each lesson comprises a flight briefing in one of our briefing rooms, followed by about 60 minutes in your chosen helicopter. The lessons are usually conducted in the popular Robinson R22 Dual Control 2 seater Helicopter, or alternatively in the Robinson R44 Dual Control 4 seater Helicopter if you would like to take someone else along with you. On arrival at the Flight School, you will be welcomed and introduced to your instructor, an experienced individual who has been chosen in particular because of their excellent customer care approach. During your pre-flight briefings, carried out on a one-to-one basis, your instructor will describe how a helicopter flies, and explain the main functions of the flying controls. During your flights, your instructor will teach you to fly the basic manoeuvres including level flight, climbs, descents, and turns, and of course introduce you to the most stimulating and rewarding part of flying a helicopter the hover. After each flight, you will receive a de-brief, allowing you the opportunity to ask any pertinent questions, and perhaps resolve any mysteries that may have occurred to you whilst flying. There s a lot to take in! Your instructor is on hand of course to analyse your capabilities, and discuss with you the next step should you wish to continue your flying. You will also receive a certificate to commemorate your achievement during the day. You will also have the opportunity of meeting and talking to other staff members and other students, people who started flying in just the same way as you. The Introductory Day is an excellent way for you to thoroughly check out your ability to fly a helicopter and good fun at the same time!
GENERAL For many who try their hand at a trial lesson, the goal is to gain a Private Pilots Licence (Helicopters), commonly referred to as a PPL(H). A PPL(H) allows you to fly for your own purposes during the day to virtually anywhere in the country, with passengers, and land off airfield with the landowner s permission. And you don t need your own helicopter! We d be delighted to help you through the PPL(H) course, and when you ve passed, you can hire out one of our helicopters (subject to completing the European Safety Course), and leave the costs of ownership to us. Here are some useful facts for you to consider if the thought of getting a licence is beginning to sound very interesting. Training can be started at 14, but you need to be 16 before going solo, and 17 for licence issue. There is no maximum age. Although you will be required to pass a medical examination, your course requires no previous flying experience. The training is carried out in the Robinson R22, a two-seat piston engine helicopter. With over 4000 aircraft produced and 30 years in the training market it is the most popular and reliable helicopter available. The course may be spread over 12 months or more, taking a lesson a week, or on a full-time basis, where you can expect to gain your licence in 4-5 weeks subject to weather. The Civil Aviation Authority currently require a minimum of 45 hours training, of which 10 hours must be solo (Reduced to 40 hours for PPL(A) holders). You should budget for 50-60 hours. As a very rough guide, including all course material and fees, a PPL(H) licence can be gained for around 15,500. Students must pass a flying test conducted by our own in-house CAA approved examiner, and multiple choice style examinations in AVIATION LAW, METEOROLOGY, AIRCRAFT GENERAL, FLIGHT PERFORMANCE AND PLANNING, HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS, NAVIGATION, and RADIOTELEPHONY. You will also be required to undertake a practical radiotelephony examination. Most of the studying is structured self-study, you will be guided and helped all the way by your Instructor. Our one to one course is designed to cater for your own individual requirements!
FLYING EXERCISES On the commencement of your course, you will receive in-depth information on the many procedures and manoeuvres you will be required to carry out before gaining your licence. We list here the topics for your interest. Ex 01a Ex 01b Ex 02 Ex 03 Ex 04 Ex 05 Ex 06a Ex 06b Ex 06c Ex 06d Ex 07 Ex 08a Ex 08b Ex 08c Ex 09 Ex 10 Ex 11a Ex 11b Ex 11c Ex 12 Ex 13 Ex 14 Ex 15 Ex 16 Ex 17 Ex 18 Ex 19 Ex 20 Ex 21 Ex 22a Ex 22b Ex 22c Ex 23 Ex 24 Ex 25 Ex 26 Ex 27 Familiarisation with the helicopter Emergency drills Preparation for and procedures after flight Air experience Effects of controls Power and attitude changes Straight and level Climbing Descending Turning Basic Autorotation Hovering Hover taxiing and spot turns Hovering, taxiing emergencies Take off and landing Transitions from hover to climb and approach to hover Circuit, approach and landing Steep and limited power approach and landings Circuit emergency procedures First solo Sideways and backwards flight from the hover Spot turns Hovering out of ground effect (OGE), vortex ring Simulated engine off landings (EOL) Advanced autorotation Practice forced landings Steep turns Transitions Quick stops Navigation Nav. problems at low heights and reduced visibility Radio navigation Advanced take off, landings and transitions Sloping ground Limited power Confined area landings Basic instrument flight
THE PRIVATE PILOTS LICENCE (HELICOPTERS) GROUND EXAMINATIONS To help you get a feel for the studying you will need to undertake in order to gain your PPL(H), here is a brief synopsis of each subject. AVIATION LAW The law exam must be passed prior to going solo, and covers the rules of the air, and legal requirements for flying in the UK. AIRCRAFT GENERAL An understanding of how and why a helicopter flies and the mechanics of the aircraft. FLIGHT PERFORMANCE AND PLANNING Covers the basic knowledge and principles of air navigation and weather, and pre-flight planning. HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS This subject covers you as the pilot, knowledge of your limitations and restrictions. RADIOTELEPHONY Communication with Air Traffic Control and use of other services available. METEOROLOGY You learn about weather systems and features, and how they can affect your flying. NAVIGATION How to find your way around, and develop a knowledge of airspace and its restrictions. You will also be required to take a practical radiotelephony examination to demonstrate your ability to use the radio. All the necessary equipment and reference material is available at our Flight School, and can be purchased either as you go along or as a 'starter pack' when you first start the course. Whilst for some the thought of sitting down with books again and studying is not an attractive proposition, this shouldn t deter the would-be pilot all the exams are directly relevant to aviation and your instructor will be on-hand to help and guide you through the whole process.
LIFE AFTER THE PPL(H) Once you have gained your PPL(H) you may wish to fly for pleasure, or become an Instructor / Commercial Pilot yourself. As a private licence holder on the Robinson R22, you will be able to hire out that helicopter to take friends and family flying. During your course you will have learned the correct techniques for making safe approaches to and departures from private landing sites, and can therefore journey to private gardens, restaurants, hotels, and even sporting events. As a HELIFLIGHT graduate, aircraft will always be available to you for 'self-fly' hire as long as you remain current. Continuation training is always available, and you will always find Pilots / Instructors who will fly with you if you are a little 'rusty'. You will be required to complete the European Safety course, again conducted in-house, within 6 months of qualifying. This course is an invaluable experience, and helps to keep down both insurance and hire costs. If you would like to fly other types of helicopter you will be required to complete a conversion course comprising 5 hours flying on type and a flight test. HELIFLIGHT currently operate a fleet of Robinson R22, Robinson R44 and Bell B206 (Turbine) aircraft, with several other types available on request. The PPL(H) is often referred to as a licence to learn. To help you gain experience as a pilot once qualified, and improve your skills further still, you might like to try our Advanced Flying Day, undertake a Night Rating, or join our popular Mountain Flying Course. We also organise many social events and Fly-ins throughout the year, and attend such events as Helitech (Duxford) and Helidays (Weston-super-mare). Our flying trip to France uses both the London and Paris heli-routes, and our annual trip to Los Angeles provides the opportunity to fly helicopters around the city, attend Heli-Expo, the largest helicopter exhibition in the world, and tour the famous ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY, in Torrance. You may of course wish to purchase your own helicopter, and base it either at the Airfield or at home. We will be pleased to assist you in the purchase, maintenance and management of your aircraft, and even lease it from you to help reduce costs.
ADVANCED FLYING DAY Whether you have just qualified or have been flying helicopters for many years, the Advanced Flying Day is an opportunity to try some more challenging flying with an experienced instructor. Your instructor will discuss with you if there is anything in particular that you wish to do, it may be that you would simply like an assessment of your flying if you have not flown with an instructor for a long period. Alternatively, manoeuvres such as more advanced autorotations, engine-off landings, confined area work, limited power and engine management techniques can be perfected. Flights can be conducted in the School aircraft or in your own helicopter. The day can be as exciting as you want it to be, and is a valuable experience giving you peace of mind, and the knowledge that you are still a safe and competent pilot. NIGHT QUALIFICATION Once you have gained 100 hours of flight time, you may undertake a night qualification. The aim of the course is to qualify PPL(H) holders to exercise the privileges of the licence at night. The course must be completed within 6 months, and includes the following: Exercises comprising at least 10 hours of instrument flight instruction. Exercises comprising at least 5 hours night flying, including at least 3 hours dual instruction and 5 solo night circuits. Each circuit must include a take-off and landing. This is a very rewarding course and will develop your ability to deal with less than ideal conditions. It runs between October and March. MOUNTAIN FLYING COURSE A very rewarding and challenging course designed to teach you the special techniques, and give you the ability to fly safely, in mountainous terrain. The course is run in Snowdonia over a long weekend, or on request during the week, and our helicopters are based at a Country House Hotel near the mountains. There are no specific pilot requirements, or rating issue, but you can expect to fly approximately 3 hours over two days with experienced Instructors. This is an invaluable and truly exhilarating weekend.
THE COMMERCIAL PILOTS LICENCE (HELICOPTERS) MODULAR COURSE ROUTE Once you have gained the PPL(H) and achieved a total of 155 hours flying experience on helicopters, you can commence the CPL(H) modular course. The course consists of 30 hours of flight training (including 10 hours of instrument instruction). A total of 185 hours is required for the issue of the CPL(H) licence. CPL(H) candidates will be required to pass written exams in the following subjects: Aviation Law Aircraft General Knowledge Flight Performance and Planning Human Performance and Limitations Meteorology Navigation Operational Procedures Principles of Flight Communications These written exams are taken at an external Ground school in at least two stages, and are preceded by two 2-week refresher courses at that Ground school. Once you have gained both the flying experience required and the necessary written examination passes, you will then progress to the Flight Test. This consists of three parts: General Handling Navigation Instrument Flight Once the Flight Test is successfully completed, and the appropriate fee is paid to the CAA for your Commercial Pilots Licence, your new career as a Professional Commercial Pilot can begin.
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (HELICOPTERS) Once you have attained your CPL(H) you will be in a strong position to add the Instructor Rating to your licence. Before being permitted to begin an approved course, you should have: Completed at least 250 hours flight time, of which at least 100 hours shall be as pilot-in-command if you hold an ATPL(H) or CPL(H), or 200 hours as pilot-in-command if holding a PPL(H). Passed either the CPL or ATPL exams (H). Received at least 10 hours instrument flying instruction of which not more than 5 hours may be instrument ground time in a FNPT ll or a flight simulator. Completed at least 20 hours of cross-country flight as pilot-in-command. Passed a specific pre-entry flight test with an FI within the six months preceding the start of the course. The course consists of 30 hours of flight training, of which at least 25 hours will be dual instruction. Completing the ground school requirement will give you the necessary knowledge to teach to the PPL(H) syllabus. Upon completion of the FI(H) course you will be examined by a CAA authorised examiner. You will have to demonstrate the ability to teach a student to the level required for PPL(H) issue. This will include pre-flight, post-flight, and theoretical knowledge instruction. If you would like to discuss the course in more detail, please feel free to visit either our Gloucestershire or Wolverhampton base, where one of our instructors will be pleased to help you.