Training - Flight Training PPL (H)

When learning how to fly you want the experts!

Executive Helicopters have been training students for over 6 years having qualified over 80 students. It’s owner Capt. Chris Shiel takes a hands on approach with students and has over 5000 hours flying experience on many types of helicopters. Many of our students have gone on to make careers in some of the most elite companies in Aviation.

Kevan Folan “The experience I acquired at Executive Helicopters undoubtedly was a huge factor in furthering my career at the North Sea”

Pat Hanley “I started my training with Executive Helicopters progressing to become an instructor for them and am now working with one of the largest aviation companies in Northwest Europe “Bristow International” thanks to the encouragement and invaluable experience gained from Executive Helicopters.
To qualify for the issue of a PPL (H) “Private Pilot Licence, Helicopter” a person is required to do a minimum of 45 hour’s flying which combines 35 hours dual and 10 hours solo flying. 5 hour’s solo cross country is required with one flight at least 100 nautical miles with landings at two independent aerodromes. The training takes place initially in the vicinity of Galway airport and the surrounding area and further down the line a longer cross country flight is required to finish the training.

Student study packs can be purchased in house at a cost of 300 Euro and are required by all students who wish to undertake the mandatory ground school course to allow them to sit the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) examinations in Dublin. Ground school is also undertaken at Executive Helicopters at a cost of 750 Euro.

Students are required to pass four theoretical knowledge examinations which must be undertaken in Dublin, consisting of:

- Air Law
- Navigation & Meteorology
- Human Performance & Limitations
- Theory of Flight

The cost of the four exam’s to be undertaken are 35 Euro each which is payable to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

One additional theory exam must be taken which is called the Tech Type and is taken in house at Executive Helicopters.

Students are also required to hold a valid class 2 medical certificate for the PPL which can be obtained by attending an approved I.A.A. General Practitioner. Example: Dr Whyte in Galway or others located throughout the country.

Such examination can be undertaken in the Aero Medical Centre located at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin. Take note it is advisable to get the medical cert before starting the course, because a licence cannot be obtained without passing the medical first.

A typical layout for a Student:

A. Introductory flight (and if interested in proceeding enrol for PPL Course).

B. Medical Examination.

C. Student Licence which is obtained from the I.A.A. on completion of Medical examination. The student licence is required before solo flights. Students generally reach solo standard between 20 and 30 hour’s.

D. Theoretical Examination, students must successfully pass the four theoretical knowledge exams to be valid for a PPL, as discussed on previous page. It is advisable to obtain the required study material early and enrol into the ground school classes held at Executive Helicopters so as to be able to sit the exams prior to a Licence Skills Test (LST).

E. Licence Skills Test (LST) - For the issue of a Private Licence one will also need to pass a License Skills Test, of which consists of a flight preparation and general flight test with an I.A.A approved flight test examiner.

For those interested in progressing further into the aviation industry and obtaining a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), in short, for the CPL, you need a total of 150/ 185 hour’s flying depending on the route you take for training which combine both dual, solo, instrument and night flying. You must have a valid class 1 medical and also pass the 14 theoretical examinations plus a LST at the end of the training.