Recreational Helicopter Pilot's Licence Training Course - RPL(H)
For those who are passionate about flying, but do not wish to start a career or have the immediate need to travel far.
Bespoke RPL(H) Courses In Melbourne
This licence is appropriate for students who wish to carry passengers or want to fly for recreational purposes. The RPL will allow you to fly a light helicopter with restrictions to the number of passengers and distance you can travel. Pilots who obtain this licence cannot travel more than 25 nautical miles from the aerodrome which they have departed from, and cannot fly with more than one passenger. However, RPL(H) pilots can have endorsements added to the licence. The Navigation endorsement means you will be able to fly further than 25 nautical miles and with a CTA endorsement, into a controlled airspace.
Recreational Pilot Licence Endorsements Include
- Controlled aerodrome endorsement (RPCT)
- Controlled airspace endorsement (RPCA)
- Flight radio endorsement (RPFR - requires an aviation English language proficiency assessment)
- Recreational navigation endorsement (RPNA - requires a minimum flight time of five hours solo cross-country).
Flight Training And Theory
The RPL(H) course has less detailed theory exams and medical requirements compared to other advanced licences such as the commercial and private licence types. This means you will be able to get your flying underway sooner. An RPL(H) is also a great way for you to buy or build your own helicopter (or even hire one of ours), and fly it without the presence of another pilot.
Course Details
We tailor our course to your needs and learning style, with emphasis on training for the places you are likely to go, like tourist destinations, private properties, and various controlled airspaces. At the completion of the course you will be a qualified helicopter pilot, with the knowledge and experience needed to start your dream.
Course Structure
These are the modules are that are included in the course
Core skills
- Effects of Controls
- Coordination
- Hovering
- Hover Turns and Hover Taxi
- Hover Taxi
- Landings and Lift Offs
- Transitions and Circuits
- Max Perf Takeoffs and Steep
- Approaches
- Slope Landings
- Confined Areas
- Steep Turns
Emergency procedures
- Engine Fail In Hover and Practice Forced Landings
- Advanced Emergencies
- Limited Power Operations
- Basic Autorotations
Solo experience
- Solo Circuits
- Training Area Solo
- Pre test
- Flight test
Course Fees & Requirements
Before you are able to start using your recreational pilots licence, you will need to complete the following:
- Complete a current flight review for the aircraft you are flying
- Complete at least 25 hours of flight training
- Meet CASA medical requirements & Pass the RPL(H) Flight Test
- Conduct a minimum of three-take-offs and landings within the previous 90 days if you are looking to fly with passengers
- Undertake an English language proficiency assessment
Course costs from $15,950 (conditional estimate). Flexible payment options available.
Trial Introductory Flight (TIF)
Duration: 2 hours (Pre-flight briefing plus 40minutes flight time)
From: $400 per person
You may even just want to give a go once- just to see what it’s like. There is no obligation to continue, the only thing you can get wrong is not to try.
SPECIAL HELICRAFT-ONLY OFFER:
If you go on to complete the next stage of your training, the cost of your TIF will be fully refunded to your training account. That means that you may end up paying nothing for your first lesson!
Our Team of Flight Instructors
Our friendly team of instructors have a wide range of industry experience including; tourism and charter , agricultural work and firefighting, utilities and exploration, as well as many others. We strive to stay up to date with the latest training and safety practices and apply them to our personal and professional development, and we encourage you to do the same.
Not only do we provide the practical training required for the RPL but we also provide private tuition and classes for the required theory topics, these subjects are all tested by questionnaires in house.
FAQs About The RPL Course
With an RPL licence you are only allowed to fly solo at night if you are receiving training and flying whilst under the supervision of your flight instructor or school. You are not able to fly with passengers during these flights.
The RPL is not a recognised International Civil Aviation Organisation licence. This means that you will not be able to fly in other countries using this licence type. In order to fly in other countries you will need to comply and seek approval from the specific country’s aviation authority.
Pilots with an RPL are only permitted to fly-single piston engine helicopters.
With a Recreational Pilots Licence you are only permitted to carry one passenger under this licence type. There are however, circumstances where you are allowed to have more than one. For example, if you hold a Class 1 or 2 medical certificate, or if another pilot is flying with you.