Subject

CAR 421.40(3) INDIVIDUAL TYPE RATING REQUIREMENTS - HELICOPTER (F) TWO PILOTS VERSUS (G) ONE PILOT TYPE RATING

Reference

Personnel Licensing Handbook (PLH), Volume 1, Part II, Chapter 4, para. (4)(a)(ii)

Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part IV, Subpart 0, Personnel Licensing and Training, Division IX - Aircraft Type Ratings, 421.40 Blanket and Individual Type Ratings, (3)(f) Helicopter - two pilots

Background

Some helicopters types are certificated for one pilot in VFR and two pilots for IFR, such as the BH12 and the SK76. Under the requirements CAR 421.40(3)(f) the applicant must complete the written examination required for a two crew type rating, obtain 250 hours pilot flight time on helicopters and pass a PPC prior to obtaining a type rating endorsement for a helicopter certificated for two pilots. These written examinations are not required for helicopters type certificated for one pilot under paragraph (g).

A problem arises when a person who holds a Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter without an instrument rating obtains a type rating such as the Bell 212. At that point he or she does not have any "two crew" privileges and does not need to write the "two crew" type rating examination. If the applicant subsequently obtains an instrument rating, he or she could act as co-pilot in an IFR operation (i.e. a two crew operation). There is not a mechanism in place to ensure that these applicants have written the two crew type rating examination.

At the December 1997 Personnel Licensing Workshop it was agreed that applicants who have not written the two crew type rating examination and who are applying for a one pilot helicopter type rating on a helicopter which requires two crew in IFR operations, will have a restriction put on the licence. This restriction will be removed when the applicant completes all the requirements for helicopter two pilot operations.

Action

Effective immediately applicants for a helicopter type rating that is certificated as single pilot VFR and two pilot IFR that do not meet the two pilot requirements will be issued a restricted single pilot helicopter type rating.

Manzur Huq
Director
General Aviation