PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATION

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

T he FAA regulations require a minimum of 40 hours of flight training and a passing grade on the FAA written exam. There is large volume of knowledge and level of skill required, so very few students are ready to successfully take the test at 40 hours. A more realistic estimate is 45 to 50 hours

All students must pass the FAA written examination. As preparation for this test, and for the oral portion of the check ride, we offer the well structured “Rotorcraft Ground School” in which the student will receive one-on-one ground instruction with the flight instructor. If a student already holds a Private Pilot (Airplane) Certificate, they will not have to take another written test for helicopters.

Prior to a student’s first solo flight, they must obtain a Class III Medical Certificate, but if the student is planning on getting the commercial rating in less than a year, we recommend getting a Class II Medical Certificate (required for the commercial rating). The school can assist in finding an appropriately certified physician to administer the examination, if requested.

Focused skill sets for the Private Pilot rating

The first skill set involves the pre solo stage where the student learns how to control the aircraft in a safe and correct manner. The object of this skill set is to train a student to a level that allows them to safely perform all the basic flight maneuvers and procedures as prescribed by the FAA. A student will learn and practice take offs, landings, traffic patterns, and radio work, all with the direct instruction from the instructor.

The second skill set is determined by the instructor as to when the student has mastered the initial training sufficiently to begin flying solo. During this phase, a student will develop their skills in the basic maneuvers. Between solo flights, a student will fly with the instructor who will give instruction on the advanced maneuvers and the principles of cross-country navigation. During this skill set, the instructor will also teach the techniques of night flying and mountain flying.

The third skill set of the Private Pilot training is the preparation for the FAA check ride. This consists of the last few hours of dual instruction, during which time the instructor assists in refining the student’s skills in preparation for the practical test. No new maneuvers are introduced during this phase; most of the emphasis is on accuracy and judgment. This phase ends with the check ride which is given by an FAA approved examiner.

Commercial Pilot Program

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum number of flight hours required for the FAA Commercial Certificate is 150 Pilot-in-Command (PIC) hours. It is reasonable for a student to expect to attain the required standards to pass the check ride with 150 hours.

The ground lessons will prepare a student for the FAA written examination and also introduces the student to the field of Commercial Operations through presentations and distributed material. The Commercial Pilot written examination is based on the same material as the Private Pilot test, but to a higher standard. The additional detail and depth of knowledge will be attained through one-on-one tutoring with the instructor, combined with home study.

In addition, to be eligible to act as a Commercial Pilot, the pilot must hold a Class II Medical Certificate.

Focused skill sets for the Commercial Pilot rating

The Commercial Pilot Program is designed for the person who desires to pursue a career as a commercial helicopter pilot. The program will prepare a student for the practical demands of professional flying. The FAA certificate obtained at the end of the course will qualify the student to do most of the common commercial jobs.

During this phase of training, the instructor will concentrate on two primary skills to build-up the student’s PIC (pilot in command) time to the required 100 hours. The first skill set is flying in controlled airspace. With the instructor, the student will make several flights through the various controlled airspaces of the Central Valley. This type of flying puts considerable demands on the pilot, both in terms of flying skills and aeronautical knowledge.

The second skill set focuses on “off-airport” operations. The student will learn the techniques of pinnacle approaches as used when landing on a mountain top or on a roof top helipad. The student will also practice confined area landings. This type of landing includes forest clearings, narrow streets, and other situations where the flight-path is severely restricted by various obstacles. The last few hours of training will be spent with the instructor, preparing for the specific requirements of the flight test.

Instrument Training

If you are interested in doing your instrument rating please contact us and we will gladly help you achieve it.

Flight Instructor ratings

If you want to become a flight instructor and make a career of flying helicopters Larson Helicopter Operations, LLC would love to help you do your training. Please contact us for more information.

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