COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE (CPL) - HELICOPTER

(1) Age

An applicant shall be a minimum of eighteen years of age.

(2) Medical Fitness

(amended 2007/12/30; previous version)

1. (a) An applicant shall hold a Category 1 Medical Certificate valid for a Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter.
2. (b) The licence holder may exercise Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter Category privileges until the end of the medical period specified for the Private Pilot Licence.
   (amended 2007/12/30; previous version)
3. (c) The licence is maintained by a valid Category 1 Medical Certificate.
   (amended 2007/12/30; previous version)

(3) Knowledge

1. (a) An applicant who holds a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter shall have:
   1. (i) completed a minimum of 40 hours commercial pilot helicopter ground school instruction, on the following subjects:
      1. (A) Canadian Aviation Regulations,
      2. (B) Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight,
      3. (C) Meteorology,
      4. (D) Airframes, Engines and Systems,
      5. (E) Flight Instruments,
      6. (F) Radio and Electronic Theory,
      7. (G) Navigation,
      8. (H) Flight Operations,
      9. (I) Licensing Requirements, and
      10. (J) Human factors including pilot decision-making; and
   2. (ii) obtained a minimum of 60% in each of the following four mandatory subject areas as well as in the overall written examination Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter (CPHEL):
      1. (A) Air Law – regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services, practices and procedures, and licensing requirements relevant to the licence;
      2. (B) Navigation – navigation, radio aids and electronic theory;
      3. (C) Meteorology; and
      4. (D) Aeronautics – General Knowledge – airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments and flight operations.
2. (b) An applicant who does not hold a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter shall complete an additional 40 hours commercial pilot helicopter ground school instruction for a total of 80 hours.

(4) Experience

1. (a) An applicant shall have completed a minimum of 100 hours pilot flight time in helicopters, of which a minimum of 35 hours shall be pilot-in-command flight time, including 10 hours cross-country pilot-in-command flight time; and
2. (b) an applicant who holds a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter or a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter issued by a Contracting State other than Canada shall have completed 60 hours of commercial pilot flight training in helicopters consisting of a minimum of:
   (amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

1. (i) 37 hours dual instruction flight time, under the direction and supervision of the holder of a flight Instructor Rating – Helicopter, including:
   (amended 2000/09/01; previous version)

1. (A) 15 hours of advanced dual instruction, emphasizing the improvement of general flying ability and skill, including a minimum of 5 hours of cross-country flight;
2. (B) 5 hours night flight time including a minimum of 2 hours cross-country flight time;
3. (C) in addition to (A) and (B), 10 hours of instrument flight time, using suitable radio navigational facilities to complete elementary navigation procedures and two-way radio to comply with Air Traffic Control procedures and clearances including a minimum of 5 hours in helicopters. A maximum 5 hours of the 10 hours may be conducted on an approved helicopter simulator or flight training device.
   (amended 1998/09/01; previous version)
4. (D) Credit for a maximum of 5 hours of dual instrument time acquired during training for issue of the Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter shall be given towards the 10 hours of dual instrument time.

• (ii) 23 hours solo flight time emphasizing the improvement of general flying ability and skill, including:
  1. (A) a cross-country flight of at least 2 hours duration and to a point a minimum of 45 minutes flight time at normal cruising speed from the point of departure including a minimum of 3 landings at points other than the point of departure, and
     (amended 2005/06/01; previous version)
  2. (B) 5 hours solo flight time by night, including a minimum of 10 takeoffs, circuits and landings.
     (amended 1998/09/01; previous version)
• (c) An applicant who does not hold a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter shall have completed a minimum of 100 hours commercial pilot flight training in helicopters, consisting of a minimum of:
  1. (i) 55 hours dual instruction flight time under the direction and supervision of the holder of a flight Instructor Rating – Helicopter, including:
     (amended 2000/09/01; previous version) 

      

     1. (A) 5 hours cross-country flight time, and
     2. (B) in addition to (A), 10 hours of dual instrument flight time, using suitable radio navigational facilities to complete elementary navigation procedures and two-way radio to comply with Air Traffic Control procedures and clearances, including a minimum of 5 hours in helicopters. A maximum of 5 hours of the 10 hours may be conducted on an approved helicopter simulator or flight training device.
        (amended 1998/09/01; previous version)
  2. (ii) 35 hours solo flight time emphasizing the improvement of general flying ability and skill, including a cross-country flight to a point a minimum of 2 hours flight time at normal cruising speed from the point of departure including a minimum of 3 landings at points other than the point of departure.
     (amended 1998/09/01; previous version)
  3. (iii) The licence shall be issued restricted to daylight flying.

(5) Skill

Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for the licence, an applicant shall successfully complete a flight test as pilot-in-command of a helicopter, in accordance with Schedule 6 “Flight Test for the Issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter” of Standard 428 — Conduct of Flight Tests.
(amended 2012/02/19; previous version)

(6) Restricted Licence – Daylight Flying

1. (a) Where an applicant has not completed the night flight time requirements the licence shall be issued restricted to daylight flying and the total dual instruction flight time and solo flight time required for the issue of the licence shall be met.
2. (b) Where an applicant completes the night flight time requirements, the restriction shall be removed.
3. (c) Where an applicant holds a pilot licence – aeroplane valid for night flying, the night flight time experience shall be reduced to 5 hours pilot flight time which shall include:
   1. (i) 2 hours dual night flight time,
   2. (ii) 1 hour solo night flight time, and
   3. (iii) 1 hour dual instrument flight time.

(7) Credits

1. (a) Knowledge
   1. (i) An applicant who holds a Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane shall, when applying for the issue of a Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter have the 40 hour ground school instruction requirement reduced to 20 hours.
   2. (ii) An applicant who holds a Private Pilot Licence in another category but does not hold a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter shall, when applying for a Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter have the 80 hours ground school requirement reduced to 60 hours.
   3. (iii) An applicant who holds a Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane shall, in lieu of completing the written examination CPHEL, obtain a minimum of 60% in the written examination Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) – Alternate Category (CHRAC).
2. (b) Experience Where an applicant holds a pilot permit or licence in another aircraft category, flight time credits shall be claimed as follows:
   1. (i) Commercial Pilot Licence or higher – Aeroplane Where an applicant holds a Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane or higher type licence in the aeroplane category, the 100 hours total flight time in helicopters required by paragraph (4)(a) above shall be deemed to have been met provided the applicant has completed a minimum of 60 hours flight time in helicopters, including all of the experience requirements demanded by paragraph (4)(b) above.
      (amended 2000/09/01; previous version)
   2. (ii) Instrument Flight Time An applicant who holds a pilot licence – aeroplane category shall be credited with instrument flight time acquired in aeroplanes towards meeting the instrument flight time experience requirements provided that the applicant has acquired a minimum of 5 hours of dual instrument flight time in helicopters, and the instrument flight time in aeroplanes is not credited towards the 37 hours of dual instruction flight time or the 23 hours solo flight time.
   3. (iii) Night Flight Time
      1. (A) Where an applicant holds a Private Pilot Licence – Helicopter with a night rating, the total dual and solo night flight time requirements shall be deemed to have been met provided that the 37 hours dual instruction flight time and the 23 hours solo flight time requirements are met.
      2. (B) Where an applicant holds a pilot licence – aeroplane category, valid for night privileges, night flight time acquired in aeroplanes shall be credited towards the total dual and solo night flight time requirements provided that the applicant has acquired at night, in helicopters a minimum of 1 hour dual instruction flight time and 1 hour solo flight time, and the 37 hours dual instruction flight time and the 23 hours solo flight time requirements are met.

(8) Credits for DND Applicants

1. (a) Active and former Canadian Forces personnel who have qualified to pilot helicopter wings standard are considered to have met the ground school instruction requirement, the written examination requirement and the skill requirement if the applicant:
   (amended 2005/12/01; previous version) 

    

   1. (i) has met the flight time requirements specified in subsection (4) of which a minimum of 10 hours flight time was acquired in helicopters in the 12 months preceding the date of application, and
      (amended 2005/12/01; previous version)
   2. (ii) obtains a minimum of 60% in the written examination Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter) Air Law, Air Traffic Rules and Procedures (HARPC).
      (amended 2005/12/01; previous version)
2. (b) Active and former Canadian Forces personnel who have not qualified to pilot helicopter wings standard but who have undergone helicopter pilot flight training in the Canadian Forces may be credited military dual and solo helicopter flight time and helicopter ground school time towards the knowledge and experience requirements for the issue of a Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter.
   (amended 2005/12/01; previous version)

(9) Credits for Foreign Applicants

Provided that the applicant has met the flight time requirements specified in subsection (4):
(amended 2005/06/01; previous version)

1. (a) the holder of a Commercial or higher type pilot licence in the helicopter category issued by a Contracting State is considered to have met the ground school instruction requirement specified in subparagraph (3)(a)(i) and the experience requirements specified in subsection (4); or
   (amended 2005/12/01; previous version)
2. (b) the holder of an Airline Transport Pilot Licence in the helicopter category issued by a Contracting State is considered to have met the skill requirement specified in subsection (5) by passing a Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC) for operations in accordance with Part VII, within the 12 months preceding the date of the application for the licence.
   (amended 2005/06/01; previous version)