Index - Links to topics down page

• Theory and hour requirements for Flight Training
• SPL | GFPT | PPL | CPL
• Summary of Requirements to get a Pilots Licence
• Helicopter Theory Course
• Our Theory Course Track Record
• Breakdown of the CASA Final Exam
• Advanced Theory Courses
• Advanced Flying Courses
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Australia
• Trial Instruction Flight
• Enrol in a Course

Helicopter Flight Training

We offer all helicopter flight training for the issue of a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) or a Commercial Helicopter Pilots Licence (CPL) in a Bell 47 and a Hughes 300.  We also do advanced training such as night flying, mountain, sling-loads, low flying, mustering, and water/float training.

If you want to we can also do these licences in a turbine helicopter such as the AS350 Squirrel or Bell Jet Ranger.

The flight training options depend on your previous experience level (if any), your budget and the time frame you have available for training.

Theory and Hour requirments for Helicopter Flight Training in Australia

Student Pilots Licence (SPL) To be eligible to gain a Student Pilots licence the student at the time of being issued a Student Pilots Licence by the Chief Flight Instructor must be at least 16 years old Prior to going solo for the first time the student must also Have either a class 1 (CPL) or class 2 (PPL) medical certificate issued by CASA Have passed the following theory tests as set by the flight school Pre solo Air legislation Basic Aeronautical knowledge Flight Radio Telephone Operators test Have been authorised by the CFI for solo and this authorisation be endorsed in the students logbook. Have completed a minimum of 8 hours dual instructional time.

General Flight Progress Test (GFPT) To be eligible to gain a General Flight Progress Test (GFPT) formally known as a Restricted Private pilots licence In addition to all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence must have completed at least a total of 20 hours dual flying 10 hours solo flying completed a minimum total of 35 hours flying sit and pass a GFPT flight test

Private Pilots Licence (PPL) To be eligible to gain a Private Pilots Licence the student must be at least 17 years old at the time of the flight test, have passed a PPL helicopter theory exam as set by CASA, meet all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence and must have completed at least a total of 20 hours dual flying 10 hours solo flying Included in these hours must be at least 9 hours of dual navigation flying 6 hours of solo navigation flying completed a minimum total of 50 hours flying sit and pass a PPL flight test If the student already holds a Private or Commercial fixed wing licence then the requirements are different as follows The student must be at least 17 years old at the time of the flight test, have passed a helicopter BAK (Basic Aeronautical Knowledge) theory exam as set by CFI, meet all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence and must have completed at least a total of 20 hours dual flying 10 hours solo flying Included in these hours must be at least 3 hours of dual navigation flying completed a minimum total of 38 hours flying sit and pass a PPL flight test

Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL)  To be eligible to gain a Commercial Pilots Licence the student must be at least 18 years old at the time of the flight test, have passed a CPL helicopter theory exam as set by CASA, meet all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence and must have completed at least a total of 40 hours dual flying 35 hours solo flying Included in these hours must be at least 15 hours of dual navigation flying 10 hours of solo navigation flying 25 hours of general flight time as pilot in command (not navigation) where the last 30 hours of the course are done in 90 consecutive days then completed a minimum total of 105 hours flying. Otherwise a minimum total of 125 hours is required sit and pass a CPL flight test If the student already holds a Private fixed wing licence then the requirements are different as follows The student must be at least 18 years old at the time of the flight test, have passed a CPL helicopter theory exam as set by CASA, meet all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence and must have completed at least a total of 30 hours dual flying 25 hours solo flying Included in these hours must be at least 10 hours of dual navigation flying 5 hours solo navigation flying 20 hours of general flight time as pilot in command (not navigation) where the last 30 hours of the course are done in 90 consecutive days then completed a minimum total of 70 hours flying. Otherwise a minimum total of 80 hours is required sit and pass a CPL flight test If the student already holds a Commercial fixed wing licence then the requirements are different as follows The student must be at least 18 years old at the time of the flight test, have passed a helicopter conversion theory exam as set by CASA, meet all that is required for a Student Pilots Licence and must have completed at least a total of 30 hours dual flying 23 hours solo flying Included in these hours must be at least 2 hours of dual navigation flying 3 hours of dual navigation flying 20 hours of genera flight time as pilot in command (not navigation) where the last 30 hours of the course are done in 90 consecutive days then completed a minimum total of 60 hours flying. Otherwise a minimum total of 70 hours is required sit and pass a CPL flight test

 

Summary of Requirements to get a Pilots Licence

Licence held	Minimum Hours required to PPL Helicopter	Minimum Hours required to CPL Helicopter	Exam requirements
Nil Flying Experience	50 hours	105 hours  125 hours * *(if final 30 hours not completed in 3 months)	Flight Radio Telephone Operator Rating "Basic Aeronautical Knowledge" (BAK) Pre-Solo Air Legislation CASA Helicopter Final Theory Exam Flight Test Current Medical Class 1 or 2
Private Fixed Wing Licence held	38 hours	70 hours	Pre-Solo Air Legislation "Basic Aeronautical Knowledge" (BAK) CASA Helicopter Final Theory Exam Flight Test Current Medical Class 1 or  2
Commercial Fixed Wing Licence held	38 hours	60 hours 70 hours * *(if final 30 hours not completed in 3 months)	"Basic Aeronautical Knowledge" (BAK) CASA Helicopter "Conversion" Exam Flight Test Current Medical Class 1 or 2

 

Helicopter Theory Course

This is a full time 8 week theory course covering Meteorology, Air Law, Navigation, Aerodynamics, Aircraft General Knowledge, Performance and Operations and Human Performance.

Our preference is for you to have completed around 10 to 20 hours of helicopter flight time before you start as we have found that this gives you a better understanding of the new topics you are now beginning to learn about.

Think what it would be like teaching someone the theory of how to drive a car and that person had never been in a car before.  Now put that person in a car for several hours then go back to the classroom, imagine the difference in understanding and retention of the information.  This is how we treat Helicopter Training. We like to get you into the helicopter prior to getting you into the classroom. 

You will find the course is fairly intensive as you start at 0800 and finish at 1600 five days a week. If you are like most of our students and have not had your head in a book for several years (10 or more!) then we completely understand. We have found this not to be a problem as our detailed notes, enthusiastic instructors and the constant revision help you learn at your pace and cover every part of the Australian syllabus required for the commercial theory exams.

The course is divided into the following stages

5 Days General Aircraft Knowledge

For most learning about a piston engine is not hard as you have had a go on your car at some stage in your youth.

There are some of us, though, who wouldn't know a piston from a crankcase and for you we will endeavor to bring you up to speed. These two days will be spent revising some stuff you already may know and then showing the differences in helicopter engines. Normally turbine engine training is conducted at a later date when you progress into flying your first turbine powered helicopter or as part of your ATPL theory training.

3-4 Days Aerodynamics

Here is where you gain an understanding of why and how the helicopter flies. What influences control inputs, and why do the blades continue to turn when the engine has stopped?

Also covered are other factors effecting helicopter flight and how can you get the best performance from your helicopter. If you have a good understanding of why your helicopter is flying then in all situations you can get the best from it.

4 Days Meteorology

Unlike our fixed wing cousins (very distant cousins!!), helicopter pilots often do not have the ability to obtain a weather briefing. Being based in a bush camp in a foreign Country means you have to have a good understanding of the weather and how it is going to effect the helicopter performance and your ability to carry out set tasks. You make decisions based on your assessment of conditions so a thorough understanding is important.

4 Days Air Law

8 Days Navigation

This is where you learn to get from point A to point B safely and with sufficient fuel. To do this you need to learn how to use your flight navigation computer to calculate your expected ground speed, heading and fuel consumption during a flight, and then learn how to plot positions on aeronautical charts. We will show you different map scales and how to read them and give you some practical tips on how to navigate safely and efficiently.

4-5 Days Performance and Operations

Performance and Operations is based on a Bell Long Ranger, and guess what, we have one on the airfield being utilised by the local Rescue organisation that we have access to and you can have a look at.

You will learn how to determine the maximum take-off and landing weights your helicopter can achieve under certain conditions, how fast and how high the machine will fly and how far you can travel with the amount of fuel on board. You will gain knowledge and understand the limitations that apply to flying a helicopter and how to avoid dangerous situations.

Half Day Human Performance and Limitation

Throughout the course, you will have been reading the book "Human Performance and Limitations" We will then spend half a day going over the questions in that book so you gain an understanding of what limits with regards to fatigue, smoking, hearing, sight etc are placed on you as a pilot.

We'll prove to you that a hard night out is going to hurt the next day & remember 8 hours bottle to throttle!!

4-5 Days Trial Exams and revision

Here the rubber meets the road and you get a good idea of how prepared you are for the final CASA CPL (H) theory exams. We give you two to three trial exams for each subject which are designed to accurately recreate the work load, style and difficulty of exam questions within time restrictions of the actual CASA CPL (H) examinations. This ensures that by the end of the course, you will have had not only considerable tuition and revision of all subjects, but you will also have developed a very good exam technique. Exam technique can be just as important as knowledge of the topic in the limited time given to complete the CASA exams. If you have not passed at least one of these trial exams we will not let you sit the CASA exams. Instead we will work with you some more, until we are more confident in your results.

1 Day BAK (Basic Aeronautical Knowledge)

This is an in house exam covering all topics and is a pre-requisite to you sitting the CASA CPL (H) final exam. When you pass this exam the Chief Flight Instructor will endorse it in your log book and this must then be presented to the CASA representative supervising your final exam.

Theory Course Track Record To date we have had a very good pass record.  We put this down to each student working very hard to learn the material, not just the answers. Some students do inevitably fail exams but we persist with them and work together to get through them. We have an excellent working relationship with the CASA exam personel and the exam providers, ASL, who allow us to go over problem areas in exams and thereby solve them. 

We are constantly revising, changing and adding to our notes and looking for creative ways to teach to get you the best result.

Theory training is very important and should be an integrated part of your helicopter training. It should not be something you just "have to get done" before you start your flying or "get out of the way" so you can finish.

What to bring

It will help if you have a basic electronic calculator, highlighter pens, pencils and sharpener, and a supply of A4 reinforced ring binder note paper. We will order your CASA documents upon enrolment and you can expect to receive them on commencement of the course.

Helicopter Theory Course Schedule

Our schedule is available here.

Enrol Now

 

Advanced Theory Courses Available

• Dangerous Goods Awareness Course - on demand
• ATPL theory course - studied externally
• Instrument rating theory course - studied externally
• Basic Gas Turbine Ground course - on demand
• English Language Course - on demand and in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast University

Advanced Flying Courses Available - all on demand

• Helicopter Flight Review
• Night VFR course - 2 day ground course plus minimum of 10 hours
• Basic Gas Turbine course
• Sling Load training
• Type Endorsements
• Low Flying Training
• Mustering Training - flown externally minimum of 10 hours

Enquire

 

Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Australia

As of the 1st July 2000 the Australian Federal Government introduced a new goods and services tax of 10%on all goods and services. 

Because we are a registered training organisation and VETEC accredited (Vocational Education, Training and Empoloyment Commision), our commercial courses are GST free. This includes our theory and any endorsements or ratings done within the scope of a commercial course.

Those students wishing to complete a Private pilots licence only, including theory and other training conducted post licence, will have to pay GST.

The bottom line is this; do a commercial licence and do as much within the course as you can afford (for eg. Night VFR, Turbine, Sling, Low flying, etc) and you will minimise the amount of GST you will have to pay.

Text Books / Workbooks

• Mike Becker's Helicopter Handbook
• Meteorology and Navigation by Trevor Thoms
• Human Factors by Bob Tait
• CASA Pilot Log Book

Compulsory Documents

• CASA Helicopter Day VFR Syllabus
• Australian Visual Chart Package - includes VTC's , WAC's and ERC Lows needed for CPL (H)
• Brisbane / Port Augusta / Melbourne WAC Charts
• Flight Plan Forms
• VTC Brisbane (3 minimum)
• Enroute Supplement Australia (ERSA) Spiral Bound
• Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) Package with 12 month Amendment Service (non optional)
• Civil Aviation Orders 20-95 (CAO) Package with 12 month Amendment Service
• Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) Package with 12 month Amendment Service
• Pilot Air Law Index
• CAO 20.10 Hot Refuel Helicopters
• CAAP 92.2 Helicopter Landing Sites
• CAAP 234-1 (O) Refuelling Guidelines
• Planning Chart Australia (PCA) Aviation and Navigation Equipment
• Scale Ruler 180 nm VTC / WAC Ruler
• Protractor
• Jeppeson Slide Graphic Navigation Computer - CR2
• Jeppeson Knee Board for Navigation - Black / Gold
• VFR Map Wallet - holds over 40 maps

CASA has a requirement for certain documents like CAO 20.10 / CAAP 92.2. Exams focus on all areas of Australia so these maps need to be held.

If purchasing your own navigational equipments we recommend you don't buy CHEAP. You will get what you pay for.

On the road to a CPL(H)

At Becker Helicopters we test all our students when they reach PPL(H) level. This assists the student threefold:

1) The "Private Pilots Licence" (PPL) Flight test is a full-on exam! You will either pass or fail this PPL (H) Flight Test and a CASA delegate may attend on the day. The student is given a REAL life test of their exam techniques both in the oral application and flying ability. At the half way mark (50 hours) it's a great benchmark and is excellent experience to prepare the student more readily for the discipline and management of his nerves on the Big day.

2) The student who passes gets issued a PPL (H) Licence from CASA and can fly as a PPL(H) pilot. They then become a senior student here who takes on more responsibility.

3) Our students always say it was one of the best learning curves in their licence and better prepared them for the CPL(H) test. In short it gives the student an idea of where they are up to at the half way point. It highlights areas that need improvement and what to concentrate on

Mandatory Preliminaries

The medical costs are at your care, meaning the payment goes to the doctor and not to the school. At Becker Helicopters we can organise your medical.

Trial Instruction Flights

This is where you do 2 things.

1. You get to see if helicopters are for you, and

2. You get to see if we are the right people to help you achieve your dreams and goals.

The Trial Instruction Flight consists of a 40 minute DVD briefing on the helicopter, how it works, what the controls do and what you will be expected to do on the flight.

We will then take you flying for 30 minutes. We will demonstrate the controls and then give you a go.  This we will do in forward flight and at the hover.

After that we will demonstrate some low flying and what happens when the engine fails. After landing we can then discuss your future and help you map out a plan.