Private Pilot License (currently available under Part 61)

The PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE begins the initial journey of your helicopter training and will be your formal introduction to the world of flying. This will also be the first step of your training to become a professional helicopter pilot. All our instructors have the same expectation of their students, and ALL students train to become professionals. At VERTEX, we believe that training for this license is best divided into the following 4 stages:

Stage 1 This important stage is designed to develop the solid foundation upon which you will build your flying skills. Our curriculum may include a formal private pilot ground school. The ground school is designed to provide you with all of the knowledge to pass the Private Pilot written exam. We will train you to operate the helicopter in the safest manner possible and transfer the skills necessary to safely and professionally operate the helicopter.
Stage 2 In this stage the student begins building on the foundation of basic skills. Stage 2 flight training focuses on emergency maneuvers with some review of primary maneuvers as necessary, to include Pre-Solo Maneuvers & Emergency Procedures. You will learn the airport environment, radio, and all the other operations to pilot the helicopter without the instructor. This stage ends with a Stage 2 Check Ride, followed by your first solo! Stage 2 also includes the ground instruction necessary to understand the regulations and calculations necessary before you pilot the helicopter without the instructor. After you safely solo the helicopter, you will move on to Stage 3.
Stage 3 As you build upon the skills acquired in Phase 2, you will now learn how to navigate away from the airport. How to get from point A to point B is an important step and will be the basis for most of your future as a pilot. Since our instructors are also experienced in commercial operations, you will pickup the real-world skills necessary to safely navigate the complex airspace around Houston, Texas. At this time, you will also receive the ground instruction which explains the finer points of day and night cross country navigation. For many, this is the most exciting part of the entire license. You are succesfully completing trips to other airports! Sometimes you are by yourself, but never alone. You are always under the close supervision of your instructor. You are also learning to understand weather and how it affects your flight planning. This stage ends with a Stage 3 Check Ride.
Stage 4 This is where it all comes together. You will take the skills from Stages 1 thru 3 and practice for your final checkride. You will review all the coursework and practice all the flight manuevers necessary to pass the checkride. After competing the Stage 4 Checkride, you are now a private pilot and you can legally take your friends or family up in a helicopter!

Requirements
For a helicopter rating: A person who applies for a private pilot certificate with rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(3) of the FARs, and the training must include at least:

• 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a helicopter
• 3 hours of night flight training in a helicopter that includes:
  • One cross-country flight of over 50 nautical miles total distance; and
  • 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.
• 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a helicopter, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test; and
• 10 hours of solo flight time in a helicopter, consisting of at least--
  • 3 hours cross-country time;
  • One solo cross-country flight of at least 100 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment of the flight being a straight-line distance of at least 25 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and
  • Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

The FAA mandates that all students have at least 40 hours of flight training to take their checkride. In addition, you must pass a written examination at some point before your checkride. In reality, it usually takes more than 40 hours to be fully prepared for your checkride, and we have adjusted some of programs to reflect this.

Ground School
The written examination can be daunting for some students, but our helicopter groundschool is specifically tailored to make this worry-free. VERTEX Flight Academy has a complete groundschool offered to all who are interested. You do not need to be enrolled as a flight student to attend our helicopter ground school. Most helicopter schools don’t even allocate for ground instruction time when preparing students for their checkrides, nor do they teach their private pilots to commercial standards. Don’t leave your training to chance. Train with VERTEX Flight Academy's professional training program.

Medical/Other Requirements
Before you will be allowed to solo, you must obtain a 3rd class medical certificate from a designated medical examiner. This consists of a simple physical checking eyesight, hearing and other physical characteristics. You must also be 16 years of age to solo, 17 to take your checkride, speak, read, and write English. Click here to find out more about medical requirements.

All Rates include Fuel and Flight Instructor Fees. Instruction and Training Costs are non-taxable. All books and equipment costs are subject to local and state sales tax. All FAA and Medical Exam fees are paid to the respective examiners. Pricing examples shown use Block Rates. Add $25 per flight hour and $5 per ground training hour for Pay-Go Rates. Hours listed reflect FAA minimum and/or Insurance required flight hours. Many students may require additional flight training to obtain proficiency required for checkride.

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