first turbine
 

Do many people actually gain their first turbine rating in the minimum 5 hours? I only have 100 hours mostly on r22, im considering a turbine rating but im concerned it might take ages, in other words ££££££.

Thanks

I suspect not at that level of hours!

I went to South Africa and got five hours dual instruction for half the price in the UK so that, when I come to do a Jet Ranger rating here, I might stand a fighting chance of doing in minimum time! I can't log those hours towards the UK JAA B206 rating but I'm hoping they'll help.

Autotorating a B206 is like a walk in the park in comparison to SEP but it did take a while to get used to!

Cheers

Whirls

Thanks. Was thinking about an md 500. Dont know if that is more complex to fly than a 206.

You should be able to get it in no more than 10 hours in a 206. Autos are a snap in a 206 compared to a Hughes 300.

I did it no probs from r22/r44 to 206 within 5 hours. 206 very easy and forgiving to fly compared to r22. No great complexity for turbines compared to pistons. Just learn the theory of how they work and keep within limits and enjoy the smell and sound of them.

R-M

Beware in a 500 of the sheer speed, the machine will be a good couple of seconds infront of you. R22 cruise 80kts, 500 up to 130kts so your mind has to be that bit sharper !
Where you will have a problem is long range navigation ( not taught in the conversion ) It is easier to get lost !!! due to performance. Think of it like this you have just learnt in a mini metro and have flown 100 hours, you are now getting into a high performance car. While they all drive the same that extra performance can get you into trouble twice as quick

Good luck

Thanks for your replies. That is a big difference in speed, I will take that into account when picking a turbine to fly.

Having only 100 hours if you want to be a commercial pilot you would be better spending the money on more hours in the 22.
It may not be as fun but it will be worth more to you to get 15 hours piston than 5 in a turbine.
if you do go for the turbine enjoy you are going to have alot of fun.

Turbine choice...
 

I, for one, prefer turbine over piston sooooo much. I did turbine transition in Schweizer 330 in 5.2 hrs including exam flight. At that time I totalled 78 hrs. I would beleive that B206 would be a breeze with the R22 in your backbone. For me, B206 was somewhat messy as it was my first two-bladed (they're a bit wobbly).

The 500 will never leave you dissappointed in anything but passenger space. It's just dynamite fun to fly. I agree with previous posts - you need some hours to cope with the speed of that little thingy! I did my 500 about a year after the 330 and distinctly remeber that I flew very carefully the first 20 hours or so. Type rating time was 3.8 hrs (it's very simular to 269/330).

As for time spent on a type rating... The flight course for B206, approved by the Swedish JAA, states - i believe - a minimum of 4 hrs of flight, and a range of manouvers to cover. Most people seem to get it right in 4 to 6 hrs. Ground school was two days of poking around in the machine and taking a written exam. If you feel that the UK is expensive, give Proflight north of Stockholm a shot. They're very good and hold an FTO with B206, AS350, Enström and A109 types in it. Very good! (http://www.roslagenshelikopterflyg.se/pfeng1.html for info in English)

Have fun - a torch on the roof is so good!

I agree with others in that if going commercial use money for more piston time, but if you must go turbine then yes you can do it in 5-6 hours.
Would suggest you go 206 as more about and rates are more flexible, also easier to handle than 500.

Please also bear in mind that, although you can get a conversion in 5 hours, it is unlikely that anybody will lend you one for SFH with less than 20 hours (at least this is the case in the UK).

H300 to AS350
 

I've read that not many people mention the AS350 as turbine endorsement. Example an Hughes 300 to a Eurocopter AS350. Is this not a good turbine to learn in? Would be same as, or better than a 206 right?

It's possible, in fact some owner pilots have done it, but mostly, the sort of jobs that require an AS 350 endorsement would not be given to newish pilots, so it's not worth spending the money unless you have a specific reason.

Phil

Opinions For First Turbine Rating?
 

Hey Everyone.

New PPL(H) holder here, on route to CPL/IR trying to figure out what to do next.

My PPL instructor has suggested a turbine rating to gain experience and hour build, what would people suggest for the first turbine?

I am inclined to think something which could be potentially useful later, like a 350 or 120 rating?

I very much doubt the 120 would be useful . I would go for the 206 or the 350 if at all . I would however wait for an opening before doing this as you are much more likely to be flying a piston with v low hours I'm afraid !!

What about the R66 as the first turbine, this will be easiest to transition to from the R22 and the numbers of them in the UK are increasing all the time, and I think it will be most useful later as a low timer CPL(H)

5 to 8 hours is typical for a turbine rating.

But these days most insurance companies usually want 30+ on type, so I'd have to agree with what paco said above.

it looks like it's gone the days when one might turn up in the mail in return for some other endorsement.

No names, no pack drill.

All this insurance business is a way for companies to rip punters off. On my turbines the difference in insurance between someone with 10 hours on type and 500 hours is less than £ 2000

just buy a turbine helicycle and start flying. love mine.
http://vid1130.photobucket.com/album...e/IMG_0588.mp4
http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...e/_NIK6224.jpg