PPL (H)
Virage Helicopters provides full flight training towards Private Pilot's Licence (PPL-H) We have a well maintained fleet of 3 helicopters which can all be used for training purposes. Our team of experienced instructors have hundreds of flying hours experience & are here to provide support in every aspect of your training.
Beccles Aerodrome has dramatically changed over the last few years, massive investments have been made including a refurbished runway and fantastic hangar storage for the multiple aircraft based there. The beautiful unrestricted skies above Beccles provide the perfect training space for Helicopters.
Take a look at the PPL (H) requirements below and get in contact to book in your first trial lesson!
PRIVATE PILOT HELICOPTER LICENSE
The Private Pilots Licence is a CAA qualification that allows you to fly a helicopter for your own personal use.
Here at Virage we offer full training to gain your PPL(H) Our experienced team of instructors are here to help with all aspects of training. We have 3 training helicopters available. The Cabri G2 , Robinson R22 & Robinson R44.
Requirements for gaining a PPL(H)
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A minimum of 45 hours flight time is needed to complete the course.
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Of the 45 hours at least 25 must be dual instruction. A further 10 hours must be flown solo, including 5 hours cross-country flight landing at 2 different airfields.
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At least 35 of the 45 hours’ flight instruction must be completed in the same type of helicopter as is used for the Skills Test.
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Students must be 17 years of age to qualify for their PPL(H).
There are 9 written exams needed for the course. These are mainly self study however our instructors are available to help with any extra ground school when needed. We stock all Pooleys study material which is available to purchase on site. The exams needed are:
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Air Law
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Operational Procedures
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Navigation
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Meteorology
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Human Performance
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Communications
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Flight Performance and Planning
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Aircraft General
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Principles of Flight
You will also need to take a practical radio exam prior to your skills test - This is also done in house.
TYPE RATINGS
If you have passed your PPL (H) and would like to increase your flying portfolio then our conversion courses are for you! We offer type rating courses on all 3 of our helicopters, the Cabri G2 , The Robinson R22 and the Robinsion R44.
The requirements for a conversion differ between each individual however a minimum of 5 hours flight instruction and a skills test with an examiner are essential. Please get in contact with us to discuss the options available.
Virage Helicopter Academy has a 100% pass rate on conversion courses.
Please take a look at our prices below for PPL(H) training & SFH.
Have your license? Come SFH with us!
**Terms & conditions apply.
Meet the Fleet
Take a look at our fleet below. Our Cabri G2 / Robinsion R22 & Robinson R44 are all extremely popular training and hour building machines. If you are interested in your PPL(H) we would strongly recommend coming and having a look & a seat in each helicopter to get a feel for which one you prefer.
Cabri G2
The Cabri G2 is the ultimate training machine. Our most popular option for PPL training & hour building. The Cabri G2 is a next generation 2 seater training helicopter that incorporates all the latest design & manufacturing materials to improve flight safety & deliver a very stable flight. The Cabri boasts a spacious and more luxurious cockpit, with perfect all-round visibility and outstanding ergonomics.
Robinson R22
The R22 is versatile and has delivered exceptional performance in a variety of applications for over 40 years.Its a light-weight yet robust machine which is great for training and first time flyers. The R22 is highly manoeuvrable and has a sensitive response which helps develop great handling skills. The R22 has the lowest hourly training cost proving popular with our trainee pilots.
Robinson R44
The R44 is our biggest training helicopter which holds the pilot plus 3 passengers. The R44 is high performing, reliable & easy to maintain with hydraulic assist controls to make flying that bit more relaxing. The R44 can reach speeds of up to 120 Knots and has greater versatility with fuel versus passenger weights. This machine is perfect for the larger pilot , with more room and a higher weight balance limits.
