The PPL(H) Syllabus
The exercises listed below are based on those documented in the Pooleys Student
Pilot Work Book which form the basis of my helicopter training syllabus. I've also
made reference to the Air Exercises documented in Norman Bailey's Helicopter Pilot's Manual Volume 1
.
The exercises generally share the same number and description so when you are with your instructor you can both refer to an exercise number and understand what will be covered and what you should be reading up on before your lesson in order to make maximum use of the time you are in the air.
The exercises are planned in a logical order and develop and build on your skills as you progress. However don't be surprised to find that you don't do everything in the exact order as shown below as the weather may mean that certain exercises
can't be undertaken on that day.
Note that the very first exercise listed below is Emergency Drills. As you saw on the MyDATA home page, safety is the number one priority when flying and right from the start you need to know what to do when things go badly wrong - which fortunately is extremely rare. Aircraft familiarisation and emergency drill are part of any pre-flight check before you board any aircraft and so the exercises don't actually form a part of the ground school of your course.
- 1a. Familiarisation with the Helicopter
- 1b. Emergency Procedures
- 2. Preparation For and Action After Flight
- 3. Air Experience
- 4. Effects of Controls
- 5. Power and Attitude Changes
- 6a. Straight and Level
- 6b. Climbing
- 6c. Descending
- 6d. Turning
- 7. Basic Autorotation
- 8a. Hovering
- 8b. Hover Taxying, Spot Turns
- 8c. Hovering, Taxying Emergencies
- 9. Take-off and Landing
- 10. Transitions From Hover to Climb and Approach to Hover
- 11a. Circuit, Approach and Landing
- 11b. Steep and Limited Power Approaches and Landings
- 11c. Circuit Emergency Procedures
- 12. First Solo
- 13. Sideways and Backwards Hover Manoeuvring
- 14. Spot Turns
- 15. Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE), Vortex Ring Recovery
- 16. Simulated Engine Off Landings
- 17. Advanced Autorotation
- 18. Practice Forced Landings
- 19. Steep Turns
- 20. Transitions
- 21. Quick Stops
- 22a. Navigation
- 22b. Navigation at Low Heights and Reduced Visibility
- 22c. Radio Navigation
- 23. Advanced Take Offs, Landings and Transitions
- 24. Sloping Ground
- 25. Limited Power Operations
- 26. Confined Area Operations
- 27. Basic Instrument Training