Helicopter Training

The Private Pilots Licence (PPL) is perfect for those students who want to learn to fly for pleasure as a hobby, or perhaps you are thinking of purchasing a helicopter for your own personal use. This licence entitles you to fly with friends and family for private purposes, you may not make a charge for the aircraft or your time. The PPL is also the first step on the road to obtaining a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), which after further training and examinations can be used to earn a living as either a commercial pilot, doing charter work or as an instructor, teaching people like yourself to fly.

Heli-Jet Aviation offers basic PPL training in our fleet of 4 Robinson R22 helicopters. These aircraft are the most commonly used type of helicopter in flying schools around the world and have proved themselves to be a safe and extremely reliable helicopter. For further training on additional helicopter types we also operate the 4 seat Robinson R44 and the 5 seat Bell 206 JetRanger.

To obtain a PPL(H) you must be medically fit, able to hold a JAA Class II medical certificate. The minimum flight-training requirement is 45 hours, of which at least 10 hours must be solo. You must sit and pass 7 ground exams all of which are multiple choice and are carried out "in house" throughout your flight training. Finally after all your training is complete you must pass a PPL(H) skills test (Flight Test) with an external examiner.

Ground exams in the following subjects:

• Aviation Law and Operational Procedures
• Navigation
• Radiotelephony (Both written and oral exam)
• Flight Performance and Planning ? Helicopter
• Human Performance and Limitations
• Helicopter General Knowledge/Principles of Flight
• Meteorology

The First Step: Trial Lesson

The first step whether you have decided to go on and learn to fly or not is to come for a Trial Lesson. This is a fantastic opportunity to get behind the controls of a helicopter for the first time. Upon arrival at the heliport you will be greeted by the instructor that will guide you through your first experience behind the controls of a real helicopter. Before flight you will be receive a 15min briefing in the static simulator on the function of the controls and of course safety during your flight. After the briefing is complete its time for your flight you will be taken out to the aircraft where you will seated and strapped into the helicopter.

Your instructor will start the engine and run through the pre-flight checks for you. Once these are complete its time for your first sensation of flight in a helicopter, sit back and relax and enjoy the view for the first few minutes while you get used to being in the helicopter. When ready you will be invited to make a start on the controls, usually one at a time until you feel comfortable enough to take full control.

During the flight you will be shown climbing and descending, turns and an autorotation (The helicopter's form of gliding). You will spend between 20 and 25 minutes in forward flight before returning to the helipad where you will be given the opportunity to take up the ultimate challenge, the hover!! Hovering is what makes helicopters unique and it?s a unique skill that takes a lot of coordination and practice!! How will you do??

After your flight is complete you will receive a certificate to prove you have taken up the challenge of flying a helicopter, remember this first 30 minutes counts towards your 45 hour minimum!

If you decide to go on with your training to get a PPL(H) you need to be aware of what is expected of you. There are 3 main phases to your training.

Phase 1: Pre solo

The aim of this phase is to take you from having little or no helicopter flying experience to a level where you can perform basic flight manoeuvres in order to fly a solo circuit of the airfield. The CFI will decide when you are ready to fly your first solo circuit and this could take place anywhere between 15-25 hours of flight training. Before you can fly solo you must have completed your Aviation Law Exam and hold a JAA Class II Medical Certificate. The first solo is one of the most exciting but terrifying things you will ever do and something you will remember for the rest of your life. Once you have completed your first solo its time to start phase 2.

Phase 2: Student Pilot

During this phase you will consolidate what you have learnt in phase 1 to a more advanced level. You will spend some more time flying solo circuits refining your technique. The other big step is getting to grips with navigation, becoming more proficient on the radio and putting everything you have learnt into practice. The aim of phase 2 is to get you to a standard where you can complete a solo cross-country flight covering a total distance in excess of 100nm with 3 landings on route. Nearly there now, time for the final phase, phase 3.

Phase 3: Basic Instrument Flying and Revision

This is the 3rd and final phase of your training. Up to now your flight training has been carried out by flying using visual references. Now you must learn how to fly if you inadvertently enter cloud and loose your visual references. Flying solely on instruments is a lot harder than you might think, 5 hours of Simulated Instrument Flight is required! In the last few hours of dual instruction any remaining exercises are completed and revision is done as required with an emphasis put on accuracy. This phase ends with a flight test carried out by a CAA appointed examiner.

How much will this cost?

Please note: 45hrs is the minimum number of flying hours required by the CAA, however you are NOT guaranteed to pass after 45hrs. The average number of hours is around 55 but this does depend student ability.

If you have pre paid, any additional hours flown will be charged at pre pay rate. Ground school is not required if you are happy to revise on a self-study basis. The cost of your medical is payable to the doctor and is in the region of £150.00 There is a manufactures max. weight limit on the R22 of 17 stone!!

Type Rating Training

Once you are the holder of a PPL(H) you are rated to fly the Robinson R22. If you want to fly any other type of helicopter, possibly the R44 or JetRanger you must complete a 5 hour type conversion and skills test. Heli-Jet Aviation is a registered FTO and can carry out such training. Should you want to discuss this or any matters further with us, please call and arrange an appointment to one of our instructors.

Hour Building

For those looking to build hours towards a professional licence or to simply gain more experience Heli-Jet Aviation can offer very competitive rates for Self Fly Hire as well as other added benefits that come with flying from Leeds Heliport. To take a look at what we can offer, view the hour building information here.

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