Switzerland Mountain License

[jimvegan]

Can anyone recommend or had any experience with a training company for the Swiss mountain license.

[Jet Ranger]

Try with Air Zermatt ...

JR

[flapping pilot]

Jimvegan,

I've done my mountain qualification just after the PPL in a club with a R44! Great experience!

I know Air-Glaciers in the Valais or Swiftcopters in Geneva (where I fly actually). They are both good companies.

FP

[turbinturbin]

I have heard about the mountain rating but are not sure what the requirements are for getting it, and what privileges you get when you have it. Can anyone enlighten me?

[Rotorbee]

Ok, here we go.
You must have at least 100 hours in helicopters.
You need 200 landings above 1100 m (not feet) with a flight instructor on official mountain landing sites. There are about 45 in Switzerland.
Takes about 20 to 25 hours ... make that a bit more, if you want to see all of them, which you should, if you ask me.
There is some ground school, too.
Law
Flight Planning
Emergency procedures
Dangers

Now you are allowed to fly with passengers to those 45 sites ... not on a sunday, though (AFIAK).
To keep it valid, you must at least make 50 landings per year or fly with an examiner again.

[jymil]

There are no restrictions prohibiting you from landing on sunday. Mountain landing sites are considered aviation infrastructure (like a helipad), therefore none of the "off-airport" landing restrictions apply.

Here is a list of all flight schools, MOU(H) designates training for the mountain license is available.
http://www.bazl.admin.ch/experten/ausbildung_lizenzen/03160/03161/index.html?lang=de&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1acy4Zn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6 gpJCDd3t5gmym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A

[jimvegan]

Thanks everyone

[turbinturbin]

Thanks for the info Rotorbee.
So if I understand it right you don't need the license for aerial work or for landing with pax outside these heliports?

[jymil]

Not sure what you mean by "aerial work" exactly. For off-airport landings, you need another permit, which has the following restrictions for non-commercial flights:
- no landings at night or on sundays
- no landings above 1.100m
- swiss-registered helicopters only

As I said before, none of these restrictions apply for landing at the designated mountain landing sites if you have a current mountain license. You can legally land there on sunday night with a UK-registered chopper.

[alouette]

Air Zermatt!!!:ok:

[turbinturbin]

I mean operations like external load, surveillance, filming, etc.
I just wonder there is any possibility to fly (and land) commercial above 1100m

[jymil]

Any operation below min altitudes (500 ft AGL) requires a permission from FOCA. Companies can also get extended permissions to land off-airport, I think up to 2000m.
Photo work above 500ft AGL doesnt require a special permission.