"Don W" wrote in message
t...
Steve R wrote:
"Don W" wrote in message
...

Stefan L. wrote:

put it properly in its spot At that point, my instructor told me that
he felt I was ready to solo, but the schools policy required 15 hours
of dual because of insurance. That was back in '04.


Were you training in the US?
I wonder how a flight school can do this! The SFAR 73 requires
non-rotorcraft rated pilots to get 20h of dual instruction prior to solo
a R22.

So the least amount of hours for a rotorcraft helicopter add on would be
30 hours!

I just checked into this and you are correct. My instructor must have
been confused about the reason he couldn't sign me off for solo, or
perhaps I misunderstood him.

That would change the calculations in my earlier post to make the
helicopter only rating less expensive.

Don W.



Doesn't SFAR 73 apply "only" to the R22?

In scanning it, it appeared to apply to the R22 and the R44.

Don W.


So does that mean if a student is training in something other than a
Robinson, then the numbers originally quoted are possible by regulation?

I've never heard that the R22 has any significant control issues when
compared to other makes and models that are likely to be used for primary
training other than they've got a relatively light rotor system which makes
collective management more critical than most if power is lost. I've not
heard much about the R44 in that regard. I've never flown either one
although I've ridden in a couple of R22's and they seemed to fly as well as
any helicopter I've been in.

It just seems strange, without knowing the specifics, that the FAA would
feel it necessary to issue a set of FAR's targeting one specific
manufacturer. That might explain why I've occasionally met individuals that
were outspokenly against flying in one.

Fly Safe,
Steve R.