Section P
Instrument Rating (Helicopters)

1. Requirements for issue of Rating— An applicant for an Instrument Rating (Helicopters) shall satisfy the following requirements :—

                        (a) Knowledge— He shall pass a written and oral examination in Air Regulations, Air Navigation and Aviation Meteorology as per the syllabus prescribed for the issue of a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (Helicopters). He shall also pass signals (Practical) examination for interpretation of aural and visual signals for the issue of this rating as per the prescribed syllabus.

                        (b) Experience— He shall produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed as a pilot of a helicopter not less than one hundred fifty hours of flight time which shall include not less than —

                        (i) one hundred hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command or fifty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command and one hundred hours as Co-Pilot performing the duties and functions of a Pilot-in-Command under the supervision of a Pilot who satisfies the flying experience requirements of a Check Pilot.

                         

                        (ii) fifty hours of cross-county flight time as Pilot-in-Command of a helicopter or fifteen hours as Pilot-in-Command and seventy hours as Co-Pilot performing the duties and functions of a Pilot-in-Command under the supervision of a Pilot who satisfies the flying experience requirements of a Check Pilot.

 

(iii) forty hours of Instrument time in helicopters of which not more than twenty hours shall be instrument ground time. A minimum of five hours of instrument time shall have been completed on helicopters within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application:

Provided that in the case of a Pilot who holds a current Instrument Rating(Aeroplanes), he shall have not less than fifty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command of helicopter including not less than twenty hours of cross-country flight time and not less than twenty hours of instrument flight time of which not more than ten hours may be instrument ground time.

(c) Other Requirements— He shall be:

                         

                        (i) holder of a current Pilot’s Licence (Helicopters).

                         

                        (ii) holder of a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft issued by the Director-General.

 

(d) Flying Training— He shall have completed the flying training in accordance with the syllabus as prescribed by the Director-General.

 

(e) Skill— He shall have demonstrated his competency to fly a helicopter in respect of which Instrument Rating is desired, solely with the aid of instruments by undergoing an instrument flying test to the satisfaction of an Examiner within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for the rating. The flight test shall be carried out in accordance with the syllabus as prescribed by the Director-General. The Director-General may, however, allow such tests or part thereof to be carried out on an approved simulator for the type of aircraft.

 

 2. Validity ─ (a) The instrument rating shall be valid for a period of twelve months from the date of the instrument rating flying test.

 

(b) It shall be renewed for a further period of twelve months at a time from the date of expiry provided that the instrument rating flying test has been carried out within two months preceding the date of expiry and all other requirements for renewal are met.

 

(c) In other cases, the validity of renewal of the rating shall commence from the date of the test.

 

3. Renewal— The Instrument Rating may be renewed on receipt of satisfactory evidence of the applicant:

 

(a) having satisfactorily completed the Instrument Rating Flight Test as laid down in para 1(e).

 

(b) having a current Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence issued by the Director-General for operation of radio telephone apparatus on board an aircraft.

 

4. Extension of Instrument Rating— For extension of Instrument Rating to include an additional type of helicopter, an applicant shall be required to produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed the flight tests in accordance with para 1(e) in respect of the type of helicopter for which the extension of Instrument Rating is desired. The flight test shall have been completed within a period of six months immediately preceding the date of application for the extension of Instrument Rating.

 

5. Privileges— Subject to the validity of the Instrument Rating, the privileges of the holder shall be to fly under the Instrument Flight Rules, the types of helicopters on which he has demonstrated his competency in accordance with para 1(e).

 

[Amended by (i) G.S.R No. 307(E) dated 24th May, 2006;

(ii) G. S. R. 240 dated 13th December 2010;

(iii) G. S. R. No. 11(E) dated 10th January 2011;

(iv) GSR No. 32(E) dated 13-01-2015; and

(v) G.S.R. No. 399(E) dated 31st March 2016]