Part 61

Helicopter Private Pilot Certification Requirements

For a Helicopter Rating:
Total Helicopter Flight Time:  40 hours which consists of at least-
A. Dual: 20 hours of helicopter flight training with an instructor on the Private Pilot areas of operation that includes:
1. 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a helicopter;
2. 3 hours of night flight training in a helicopter, that includes at least-
a. 1 cross-country flight of over 50 nm. total distance; and
b. 10 takeoffs and 10 landings with each involving a flight in the traffic pattern.
3. 3 hours of flight training in a helicopter within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
B. Solo: 10 hours of solo flying in a helicopter on the Private Pilot areas of operation, that includes:
1. 3 hours of solo cross-country flying;
2. 1 solo cross-country flight of at least 75 nm. total distance with 3 points and one segment of at least 25 nm. between takeoff and landing; and
3. 3 takeoffs and landings at a controlled airport.

Commercial Helicopter Pilot Certification Requirements

For a Helicopter Rating:
Total Helicopter Flight Time: 150 hours of flight time as a helicopter pilot that consists of at least:
A. 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters.
B. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, that includes at least--
1. 35 hours in helicopters; and
2. 10 hours in cross-country flying in helicopters.
C. Dual: 20 hours of flight training on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation that includes at least--
1. 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft; (See Note 4)
2. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 50 nm. from the departure point;
3. 1 cross-country of 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions of a total straight line distance of more than 50 nm. from the departure point;
4. 3 hours of flight training in a helicopter within the preceding 60 days prior to the practical test.
D. Solo: 10 hours of solo flying in a helicopter on the Commercial Pilot areas of operation, that includes at
least-- (See Note 2)
1. One cross-country flight with 3 points of landings of a straight line distance of more than 50 nm. from original departure point; and
2. 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a controlled airport.

Helicopter Airline Transport Pilot Certification

For a Helicopter Rating:
Total Helicopter Flight Time - 1,200 hours that includes at least--
A. 500 hours of cross-country flying;
B. 100 hours of night time, of which 15 hours were in helicopters;
C. 75 hours of instrument time;   
D. 200 hours in a helicopter that includes 75 hours of PIC time, or as SIC performing the duties of  PIC, or any combination thereof; and (See Note 10)
E. 75 hours of instrument time, that includes 50 hours in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters.