Ground School

Zero to Hero

Introduction

The road to becoming a helicopter pilot may seem long and complex, but here I will try to break down the legal requirements that the FAA place upon us, the endorsements needed and I will point you in the direction of some study material to help you on your journey. Your CFI will keep track of all the endorsements and legal requirements, but it is nice to know what is going so that you can understand why we have to learn certain things and why we train in the order we do.

On how to write endorsements, please read AC 61-65H.

Initial Requirements before Flight Training

Before we get in the air there are a few things we need to have in place:

• TSA Determination of Eligibility
  The FAA has determined that the TSA shall conduct a security threat assessment of each candidate that wants to undertake flight training.
  FAR 1552.31 (c)
  

• Medical Certificate
  The FAA requires that all candidates that want to act as a student pilot must obtain, at least, a 3rd class medical certificate.
  [FAR 61.23 (a)(3)(i)](tab:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-61/section-61.23#p-61.23%28a%29%283)(i)) \

• Ground Training
  Since we are flying a Robinson R22 we need to know that the FAA and Robinson have agreed on certain special regulations pertaining to the R22 and R44. For us this means that if we want to manipulate the controls in flight we need to understand the associated risks that come with this.
  SFAR 73 (2)(a)

Flight Training Begins!

Now that the above prerequisites are in place we can begin our flight training.

Head on over to the Maneuver Manual to learn about the different flight maneuvers that you will be introduced to and practice throughout your private pilot training.

Flight training is not only practical, there is quite a lot of theory that you will need to learn and understood. Check out the Ground Lessons to get an idea of the theory and material you will need to get your license. To begin with, I recommend reading the material under Stage 1 first, as this is what you will need to know before you go on your first solo flight!

First Solo

Before your first solo there are some requirements and endorsements that need to be in place:

• Pre-Solo Aeronautical Knowledge Test
  Before your solo, you need to demonstrate that you have satisfactory knowledge about Part 61 and 91, airspace rules and procedures at the airport you will be solo'ing at, and finally the flight characteristics and limitations of the aircraft you'll be flying.
  FAR 61.87 (b)
  

• Pre-Solo Flight Training
  You must receive and log flight training for maneuvers and procedures that are appropriate for the make and model of aircraft to be flown during the solo and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency and safety standards.
  FAR 61.87 (c)
  

• Initial Solo Flight Endorsement
  To operate an aircraft in solo flight, you will need an endorsement in your logbook from the instructor that conducted your training, within the preceeding 90 days preceding the date of the flight.
  FAR 61.87 (n)
  

• Additional 90-days Solo Flight Endorsement
  This endorsement allows a student to stay 'solo-current', so that they do not need a new Solo Flight Endorsement, as mentioned above, before every solo flight.
  FAR 61.87 (p)
  

• R22 Solo Endorsement
  The SFAR 73 states that a person who does not hold a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must have logged at least 20 hours of flight training in a R22 prior to operating it in solo flight. In addition that person must have received an endorsement from an authorized instructor that states that the instructor has found the applicant proficient to solo the R22 and has been training in specific emergency procedures. The endorsement is valid for 90 days.
  SFAR 73 (2)(b)(3)

Then, finally, it is time to go solo!

Solo XC

The next step in our training is to go on a solo cross-country. Before we do this we need two more endorsements:

• Initial XC Solo Endorsement
  This endorsement must be given by the instructor who has conducted your flight training and the endorsement must be placed in your logbook for the specific category, make and model of aircraft to be flown.
  FAR 61.93 (c)(1) & FAR 61.93 (c)(2)
  

• Day of XC Solo Endorsement
  On the day of your solo xc, an instructor must give you an endorsement after having reviewed and verified that your xc planning and preparation have been adequately completed. This endorsement will also place any limitations on the student during their flight.
  FAR 61.93 (c)(3)

And off you go!

Before your checkride

We're on the final stretch now! Before we can do our checkride to obtain our private pilot license we need to have done/obtained the following:

• Aeronautical Knowledge Test (AKT)
  The AKT is a written exam that all private pilots have to complete before their checkride. To be allowed to do the checkride, the instructor who trained or reviewed your training on the knowledge areas of the AKT needs to give you an endorsement stating that you are prepared for the test.
  FAA 61.103 (d) & FAA 61.105 (b)
  

• Review of deficiencies
  If we did not get 100% on the AKT, we need to receive an endorsement stating that we have, with help from our CFI, gone through and reviewed our mistakes.
  [FAA 61.39 (a)(6)(iii)](tab:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-61/section-61.39#p-61.39%28a%29%286)(iii)) \

• Prerequisite for practical test
  We need to have an endorsement in our logbook stating that we are ready for the practical test, and have the required flight time, as required by FAA 61.109 (c).
  [FAA 61.39 (a)(6)(i)](tab:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-61/section-61.39#p-61.39%28a%29%286)(i)) & [FAA 61.39 (a)(6)(ii)](tab:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-61/section-61.39#p-61.39%28a%29%286)(ii)) \

• Flight Proficiency Endorsement for the Practical test
  Finally we need an endorsement from the instructor giving us our training, stating that we have received training in the areas of operations listed in FAA 61.107 (b)(iii).
  FAA 61.103 (f)
  

• Retesting after failure
  If we fail our AKT, or the checkride, we have to get an endorsement from the instructor that has given us retraining, stating that we have received retraining and can attempt the AKT, or checkride, again.
  FAA 61.49 (a)
  

• R22 PIC Endorsement
  The SFAR 73 states that a person who holds a rotorcraft rating, and has received 10 hrs of instruction and has been given training in accordance with GIML, may act as PIC in a R22 if they receive an endorsement from an authorized instructor. If they are acting as PIC using this endorsement, a flight review has to be completed every 12 months. Under Part 61, this endorsement has to be given to the student before their checkride. Under Part 141 with self-examining authority, this endorsement is given to the student after their checkride.
  SFAR 73 (b)(1)(ii)
  

Then it is off you go to the checkride!

#zero-to-hero