FAA Part 61 Approved Courses
Includes a pre-flight brief covering safety, helicopter controls and an extended 60 minute hands-on flight. Great for beginners and those considering pilot training at our flight school!
Course Title: FAR 61 Private Pilot Certification Course – Helicopter. When learning to fly helicopters, the private pilot helicopter certificate is the foundation of a pilot’s helicopter training. It allows you to fly any helicopter up to 12,500 pounds. Private pilots may fly for pleasure and carry passengers, but not for hire. All other certificates and ratings build off the private pilot certificate. If you already hold an airmen’s certificate in another aircraft category and type, please see our Additional Ratings courses for more information about what is required for an add-on rating.
Course Title: FAR 61 Instrument Rating Course Rotorcraft – Helicopter While this rating is not required initially, many companies, including those that provide charter, offshore, tours or medieval, require pilots to have a helicopter instrument rating. This rating allows you to navigate and control the helicopter in clouds or fog. Additionally, instrument-equipped helicopters are becoming more commonplace and most operators prefer an instrument rating when looking for prospective candidates for employment. Including a helicopter instrument rating in your flight training will increase your employment chances.
Course Title: FAR 61 Commercial Pilot Certification Course Rotorcraft – Helicopter This is the certificate, sometimes called a helicopter commercial pilot license, you will need if your goal is to have a helicopter flying career and become a professional commercial helicopter pilot.
FAR 61 Flight Instructor Certification Course – Helicopter The helicopter Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate allows a pilot to work as a flight instructor, teaching flight and ground courses to students who are learning how to fly.
FAR 61 Flight Instructor Instrument Course Rotorcraft – Helicopter The helicopter certified flight instructor instrument (CFII) certificate, sometimes referred to as a helicopter instrument instructor rating, allows a pilot to work as a flight and ground instructor, teaching instrument flight and ground courses for IFR certification. The FAR 61 Flight Instructor Instrument course is based on a minimum of 15 hours of flight instruction and 15 hours ground instruction for the instrument instructor certificate. Students training 3-5 days per week can complete the program in 3-5 weeks. Our program utilizes the Robinson R44 II Helicopter and Frasca TruFlite Helicopter Flight Training Device for helicopter instrument instructor, or CFII, training.
Additional Estimated costs - Costs for books are estimated and are purchased online.
Robinson R44 students must meet SFAR73 2(a)3(i-iv) Awareness Training requirements prior to manipulating the flight controls.
Renter’s Insurance coverage or Rental Deductible Waiver is required for rental of Group 3 Aviation when a company flight instructor is not aboard. Insurance can be purchased by shopping for insurance online and waivers can be purchased through Group 3 Aviation. The cost for Robinson R44 is $975 for a 1 year waiver and hourly rate waivers are also available. This includes rental of aircraft for solo flights during flight training and practical exams. Insurance coverage should cover the 10% aircraft hull insurance deductible in the event of an accident. Waivers from Group 3 cover the deductible.
Rental of aircraft for the practical flight exam or “check ride” can be up to 2.0 hours but average is about 1.5 hours of flight time during a flight exam.
Designated Pilot Examiner (commonly referred to as a DPE) is a senior pilot designated by the FAA to conduct oral examinations and inflight or flight simulator check rides (collectively called "practical tests") with pilot applicants to determine their suitability to be issued a Pilot Certificate or additional rating on their Pilot Certificate. Group 3 has a DPE on staff and can also arrange a check ride with the other DPE’s for CFI and CFII courses or if staff DPE is unavailable.
FTD – Group 3 Aviation’s training equipment includes the FAA Approved Frasca TruFlite-H Flight Training Device for helicopters.
Rates current as of October 1, 2020
The following courses are FAA Approved under Part 61 and reflect the course minimums with additional costs not necessarily paid to Group 3.
Robinson R44 students must meet SFAR73 2(a)3(i-iv) Awareness Training requirements prior to manipulating the flight controls.
A Rental Deductible Waiver is required for rental of Group 3 Aviation helicopters when a company flight instructor is not aboard. Waivers can be purchased through Group 3 Aviation. The cost is $975 for a 1 year waiver and hourly rate waivers are also available. This includes rental of aircraft for solo flights during flight training and practical exams. The waiver covers the 10% aircraft hull insurance deductible in the event of an accident and does not protect you from liability.
Rental of aircraft for the practical flight exam or “check ride” can be up to 2.0 hours of flight time during a flight exam.
Designated Pilot Examiner (commonly referred to as a DPE) is a senior pilot designated by the FAA to conduct oral examinations and inflight or flight simulator check rides (collectively called "practical tests") with pilot applicants to determine their suitability to be issued a Pilot Certificate or additional rating on their Pilot Certificate. Group 3 has a DPE on staff and can also arrange a check ride with the other DPE’s for CFI and CFII courses or if staff DPE is unavailable.
FTD – Group 3 Aviation’s training equipment includes the FAA Approved Frasca TruFlite-H Flight Training Device for helicopters.
Rates current as of October 1, 2020
Our flight training is in the Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter.
The R44 has been the ideal 4-place helicopter for training, aerial photography, tours, and charter at Group 3 Aviation since 1995. The R44 Raven II is equipped with a fuel-injected, angle-valve, tuned-induction, IO-540 Lycoming engine which produces substantial power, giving the Raven II greater altitude performance, more payload, and increased speed over similar aircraft. The new fuel-injected engine provides higher power for better performance and eliminates the need for carburetor heat. The engine is derated to 245 HP for 5 minutes and 205 HP maximum continuous rating, to assure a longer life and lower cost of maintenance. Overall, the Raven II provides a favorable 100 lb increase in the R44’s gross weight and increased IGE and OGE hover ceilings, while eliminating the carburetor and carburetor icing problems.
PERFORMANCE
WEIGHT / FUEL