John Eacott
Back to school old Mate.......
The requirement of ATPL or CPL is no longer based on that fictitious weight of 5700kg....that was scrapped awhile back now.
The requirement now is that:
• Is the helicopter a two pilot aircraft?? [Nothing to do with the number of engines or weight]....this is spelt out in the RFM.
• And whether the type of operation is Private or Airwork verses Charter or RPT.
Basically a CPL can fly a Single Pilot Helicopter in any Flight Category....but if that same Helicopter is then deemed a two pilot helicopter, then the Captain must be ATPL.
Why would a Helicopter change category??....an example of this is say a SK76 with a Hamilton Standard Phase 3 AFCS fitted.....if flown VFR then a CPL can be the Captain, but fly it IFR, it then requires two pilots, hence the Captain is then required to be ATPL.
Just to confuse that issue further, take out the Phase 3 of that SK76 and install a Sperry Flight Director and the aircraft becomes a Single Pilot IFR Helicopter.
Then there is the 9 passenger rule!!!!