Heli Instructing

[Cron]

I've read and read the current requirements and still cannot get a clear picture, would be very grateful for an explanation as to what is the minimum requirement.

OK I understand, nobody will spill the info because they suspect I'm from Birmingham and they would be right!

[This message has been edited by Cron (edited 05 September 2000).]

[Uncle joe's mintballs]

Ditto Cron

Will a 2nd class medical do for instructing and how many hours needed to start course??

[R22]

Cron, sorry, I started to answer this yesterday, but I was too busy, and I thought someone else would probably reply anyway. Nothing to do with Birmingham, honest!

OK, all the following is courtesy of Tiger Helicopters at Shobden, but it should be right.

You now need a CPL(H) before you can go for an instructors rating. For that you need 155 hours total time including 50 hours P1, then a pass in the CPL ground exams. If you get a partial pass before sometime in 2001 you can do the old CAA exams; after that it'll be JAR. You then do a 30 hour Commercial Modular Course and then the Commercial Skill Test. If you then want to instruct you have to have a total of 300 hours, 200 P1; then you can do a Flying Instructor course - 25 hours dual instruction, approx 50 hours ground instruction. And you need a Class 1 medical for any instructing or commercial work, so best to make sure you can get that first.

I'll try to answer anything else I can but I'm not an expert; just a fellow helo instructor wannabe.

[Cron]

helen, Thanks a lot, tried to email you but problem my end.

[muffin]

R22, Are you sure about the Class 1 for unremunerated instructing ? AFAIK in the f/w world you onl;y need a class 2 if you don't want to be paid.

I e mailed the CAA a week ago to get this point c;arified, and am still waiting for an answer

[R22]

No, Muffin, I'm not. You may well be right if you don't want to be paid; I was assuming they did!

[This message has been edited by R22 (edited 06 September 2000).]

[muffin]

I have now had a reply from the CAA clarifying the issue. The difference depends on whether you want to be paid for instructing or not. If you don't want to be paid, the route is:-

PPL(H)
300 hours total time inc at least 200 hours P1
Pass CPL(H) exams before end of 2001
Class 2 medical
Then you can enter FI(H) course after which you can instruct without remuneration.

If you want to be paid for it, the route is:-

PPL(H)
155 hours total time
Pass CPL(H) exams as above
Class 1 medical
Enter and pass CPL(H) flying course (30 hours)
Build total hours to 300 inc at least 100 hours P1
Enter FI(H) course after which you can be paid to instruct.

[Cron]

Sterling work Muffin, any ideas (anyone) what situation will be if no pass in CPL(H) by 2001?

[muffin]

I think that the UK CPL exams will cease to exist after the end of 2001, so you will have no choice but to do it under JAR. That means full time approved courses only.

That's why I am studying for the UK CPL exams now.

[bladeslap]

Mufffin, little puzzled by your understanding of JAR Heli regs.

As I understand it the JAR CPL(H) or ATPL(H) writtens can be studied either full time via an 'integrated'(same as old 'approved') course OR 'modular' either by distance learning (old 'correspondence')or 'short' course combined with distance learning.

BTW excellent info on getting into instructing/commercial on http://www.plh.co.uk