Convert your licence
Convert from fixed wing or overseas licence
Private or Commercial Fixed Wing to Private Helicopter
Must complete a minimum of 38 hours (10 PIC, 20 Dual, 3 Cross Country Dual)
FIXED WING TO ROTARY
If you already hold a private or commercial fixed-wing licence, you may qualify for a reduction in the number of hours required to qualify for your helicopter licence. The following hours are the minimum required to qualify for a helicopter pilot licence on the basis that you already hold a fixed wing licence.
Convert your overseas licence
If you hold a licence which was gained in an ICAO member state then you may use that experience towards your Australian Helicopter licence. For PPL you do not need to complete any written exams but for CPL you do. Below is more information on converting your overseas licence to an Australian licence.
Private Pilots Licence (PPL)
The PPL holder must provide evidence that satisfies CASA, that the licence and any rating on it is at least equivalent to the Australian licence and rating being requested; and
- The applicant is at least the minimum age for the grant of the Australian licence; and
- The applicant holds an authorisation to operate an aircraft radio; and
- Either the applicant’s overseas licence states that the applicant has a current ICAO level 4 English language proficiency standard or higher or the applicant has a current aviation English language proficiency assessment.
Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL)
In addition to the requirements for the issue of a PPL, a CPL, MPL and ATPL can only be issued if;
- A person mentioned in sub regulation CASR 61.275 (5) certifies in writing that the applicant is competent in each unit of competency mentioned in the Part 61 Manual of Standards for the Australian licence; and
- The applicant passes the flight test mentioned in the Part 61 Manual of Standards for the Australian licence; and
- The applicant has passed the overseas conversion aeronautical knowledge examinations mentioned in the Part 61 Manual of Standards for the Australian licence and aircraft category rating.
UPGRADE YOUR PRIVATE HELICOPTER LICENCE TO COMMERCIAL
If you currently hold a private helicopter licecnce then you can upgrade to commercial by completing additional trainning. You must meet the minimum hour requirements set out below:
- Total Flight Time as pilot of a helicopter – 105 Hours
- General flight time Dual – 40 Hours
- General flight time pilot in command (PIC) – 25 Hours
- Cross-country flight time – 25 Hours
- Cross country flight time PIC – 10 Hours
You must also complete the following 7 commercial examinations for which you may self study or enrol on a full time commercial theory course.
- Meteorology
- Navigation
- Human Factors
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Air Law
- Operations, Performance and Planning
