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INSTRUMENT Rating
If you are looking for a long term career in helicopters, flying the
oil rigs, Search and Rescue , Air Ambulance and possibly the Police
Force, then its worth looking at obtaining an Instrument Rating. Having
an IR will make your CV more marketable but it’s not essential.
It does depend on market forces at the time of job application. If demand
for pilots is high and supply is low, it may be possible to obtain a
job on the oil rigs (if you have sufficient hours) and then with sponsorship
from one of the companies involved, obtain the IR .
THE INSTRUMENT RATING (HELICOPTER)
IR(H) Flying Training/Experience Requirements
An applicant for a modular IR(H) course shall be the holder of a PPL(H)
with a night qualification or a CPL(H). Prior to commencing the IR(H)
course, the applicant shall be the holder of the helicopter type rating
used for the IR(H) skill test, or have completed approved type rating
on that type.
When applying for the issue of an IR(H), applicants must have an RT
licence and produce evidence of having met the following flying requirements:
50 hours cross-country flight time as PIC, in aeroplanes
or helicopters, of which at least 10 hours must be
in helicopters and completed an approved course of training at a FTO
(Flight Training Organisation).
For IR restricted to Single-Engine (SE) helicopters:
a. 50 hours instrument time under instruction of which may include
(b) or (c);
b. 20 hours (max) may be instrument ground time in a FNPT 1 (H) or
(A). These 20 hours instruction time in FNPT I (H) or (A) may be substituted
by 20 hours instruction time for IR(H) in an aeroplane, approved for
this course.
c. 35 hours (max) may be instrument ground time in a helicopter FNPT
2 or FS.
The instrument flight instruction shall include at least 10 hours
in an IFR certificated helicopter.
For Multi-Engine (ME) helicopter:-
a. 55 hours instrument time under instruction which may include (b)
or (c) and must include (d);
b. 20 hours (max) may be instrument ground time in a FNPT 1 (H) or
(A). These 20 hours instruction time in FNPT 1 (H) or (A) may be substituted
by 20 hours instruction time for IR(H) in an aeroplane, approved for
this course, or
c. 40 hours (max) may be instrument ground time in a helicopter FNPT
2 or FS.
d. The instrument flight instruction shall include at least 10 hours
in an IFR certified multi-engine helicopter.
SE IR (H) to ME IR (H)*:-
a. 5 hours instrument time under instruction in ME Helicopters.
b. Pass an ME IR(H) skill test.
• The holder of an SE IR (H) wishing to upgrade to ME IR (H)
will be required to hold a multi-engine type rating.
IR (H) SKILL TEST
An applicant for an IR (H) shall complete a Skill Test in order to
demonstrate the ability to perform the procedures and manoeuvres with
a degree of competency appropriate to the privileges granted to the
holder of an IR (H).
a. ME Helicopters - for a ME helicopter instrument Rating, the test
shall be taken in a ME helicopter.
b. SE Helicopters - for an SE helicopter Instrument Rating, the test
shall be taken in a SE helicopter.
c. An applicant for the IR (H) Skill Test shall have received instruction
on the same type of helicopter to be used for the Skill Test. Before
undertaking the skill test, the applicant shall have passed the associated
theoretical knowledge examination and completed all of the related
flying training.
d. An applicant shall pass all sections of the skill test. Failure
in more than one section will require the applicant to take the entire
test again. An applicant failing only one section shall take the failed
section again. Failure in any section of the re-test, including those
sections that have been passed on a previous attempt, will require
the applicant to take the entire test again.
e. All sections of the skill test shall be completed within six months.
For the purpose of IR (H) issue the Skill Test will remain valid for
12 months.
f. Further training may be required following any failed test/check.
Failure to achieve a pass in all sections of the test in two attempts
shall require further training as determined by the Authority. There
is no limit to the number of skills tests that may be attempted.
Note: the IR (H) will be restricted to Multi-Pilot
helicopter if the initial Skill Test was completed with a co-pilot onboard.
This restriction may be lifted by completing an IR Skill Test in an
ME helicopter as a single-pilot.
IR (H) RE-VALIDATION AND RENEWAL
Validity
An instrument Rating (Helicopters) is valid for a period of 12 months.
RE-VALIDATION OF AN IR (H)
A Helicopter Instrument Rating, if held, will normally be combined
with the relevant type rating re-validation requirements by proficiency
check.
IMPORTANT NOTE
• Single Pilot Helicopter (SPH) and Multi-Pilot Helicopter
(MPH) Instrument Rating (IR) privileges are separate and must be re-validated
separately;
• Helicopter IR privileges are type specific - the IR re-validation
is an integral part of the LPC;
• MPH IR privileges do not carry over to single pilot helicopters
- the holder of both MPH and SPH ratings has to complete a separate
SPH IR re-validation to maintain IR privileges on single pilot helicopters.
• Some helicopters are certified single pilot, but are required
to be operated multi-pilot for public transport purposes. If a pilot
completes a multi-pilot LPC (including Instrument Rating re-validation)
in such a helicopter, then this does not confer SPH IR privileges.
RENEWAL
Where an Instrument Rating has expired by less than 5 years and IR
privileges have not been exercised in any other category of aircraft
(e.g. aeroplanes) or under the privileges of an ICAO licence, a proficiency
check will be required.
IR (H) SKILL TEST
An applicant for an IR (H) shall complete a Skill Test in order to
demonstrate the ability to perform the procedures and manoeuvres with
a degree of competency appropriate to the privileges granted to the
holder of an IR (H).
a. ME Helicopters - for a ME helicopter instrument Rating, the test
shall be taken in a ME helicopter.
b. SE Helicopters - for an SE helicopter Instrument Rating, the test
shall be taken in a SE helicopter.
c. An applicant for the IR (H) Skill Test shall have received instruction,
and obtained a 170A on the same type of helicopter to be used for
the Skill Test. Before undertaking the skill test, the applicant shall
have passed the associated theoretical knowledge examination (exceptions
may be made by the CAA for applicants undergoing a course of Integrated
flying training) and completed all of the related flying training.
d. An applicant shall pass all sections of the skill test. Failure
in more than one section will require the applicant to take the entire
test again. An applicant failing only one section shall take the failed
section again. Failure in any section of the re-test, including those
sections that have been passed on a previous attempt, will require
the applicant to take the entire test again.
e. All sections of the skill test shall be completed within six months.
For the purpose of IR (H) issue the Skill Test will remain valid for
12 months.
f. Further training may be required following any failed test/check.
Failure to achieve a pass in all sections of the test in two attempts
shall require further training as determined by the Authority. There
is no limit to the number of skills tests that may be attempted.
Note: the IR (H) will be restricted to Multi-Pilot
helicopter if the initial Skill Test was completed with a co-pilot onboard.
This restriction may be lifted by completing an IR Skill Test in an
ME helicopter as a single-pilot.
IR (H) RE-VALIDATION AND RENEWAL
Validity
An instrument Rating (Helicopters) is valid for a period of 12 months.
RE-VALIDATION OF AN IR (H)
A Helicopter Instrument Rating, if held, will normally be combined
with the relevant type rating re-validation requirements by proficiency
check.
IMPORTANT NOTE
• Single Pilot Helicopter (SPH) and Multi-Pilot Helicopter (MPH)
Instrument Rating (IR) privileges are separate and must be re-validated
separately;
• Helicopter IR privileges are type specific - the IR re-validation
is an integral part of the LPC;
• MPH IR privileges do not carry over to single pilot helicopters
- the holder of both MPH and SPH ratings has to complete a separate
SPH IR re-validation to maintain IR privileges on single pilot helicopters.
• Some helicopters are certified single pilot, but are required
to be operated multi-pilot for public transport purposes. If a pilot
completes a multi-pilot LPC (including Instrument Rating re-validation)
in such a helicopter, then this does not confer SPH IR privileges.
RENEWAL
Where an Instrument Rating has expired by less than 5 years and IR
privileges have not been exercised in any other category of aircraft
(e.g. aeroplanes) or under the privileges of an ICAO licence, a proficiency
check will be required.
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