Originally Posted by
Dick Smith
Is it a fact that in the USA no specific endorsement is required for A109? as far as the FAA is concerned ? Learn to fly in an R22 and you can fly the 109?
Surely not!
Yes, that is correct. Anything you want under 12,500 lbs with no type rating. No multi-engine rating for helicopters either. You can go directly from a 22 to anything you want. Absolutely no violation of FAA regulations. But you would be uninsurable, of course.
In all US of aviation, FAA regulations reflect only the minimum requirements. The insurance industry effectively takes over after that and they slather a rather thick layer of virtual reg's on top. Want to hire pilots for your tiny little R44 tour operation? The insurer says they have to have 500 hours minimum, not the FAA.
If you choose not to insure, or self-insure, you have a wonderful degree of freedom, at the risk of being sued into oblivion. This is a fine example of how almost pure capitalism works, by the way. If the FAA got out of the pilot certification business and left that to industry as well it would be completely pure.