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  4. Part 61
  5. § 61.161
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14 CFR · Part 61

14 CFR § 61.161

Aeronautical experience: Rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating.

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Read in Subpart G
Part 61 Contents
  • Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 73: Robinson Helicopter Company, Robinson R-22/R-44 Special Training and Experience Requirements
  • Subpart A: General
  • Subpart B: Aircraft Ratings and Pilot Authorizations
  • Subpart C: Student Pilots
  • Subpart D: Recreational Pilots
  • Subpart E: Private Pilots
  • Subpart F: Commercial Pilots
  • Subpart G: Airline Transport Pilots
  • Subpart H: Flight Instructors Other than Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
  • Subpart I: Ground Instructors
  • Subpart J: Sport Pilots
  • Subpart K: Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating
  • Appendix A to Part 61: Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards
(a)

A person who is applying for an airline transport pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating, must have at least 1,200 hours of total time as a pilot that includes at least:

(1)

500 hours of cross-country time;

(2)

100 hours of night flight time, of which 15 hours are in helicopters;

(3)

200 hours of flight time in helicopters, which includes at least 75 hours as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof; and

(4)

75 hours of instrument flight time in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions, of which at least 50 hours are obtained in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof.

(b)

Training in a full flight simulator or flight training device may be credited toward the instrument flight time requirements of paragraph (a)(4) of this section, subject to the following:

(1)

Training in a full flight simulator or a flight training device must be accomplished in a full flight simulator or flight training device that represents a rotorcraft.

(2)

Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, an applicant may receive credit for not more than a total of 25 hours of simulated instrument time in a full flight simulator and flight training device.

(3)

A maximum of 50 hours of training in a full flight simulator or flight training device may be credited toward the instrument flight time requirements of paragraph (a)(4) of this section if the aeronautical experience is accomplished in an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.

(c)

Flight time logged under § 61.159(c) may be counted toward the 1,200 hours of total time as a pilot required by paragraph (a) of this section and the flight time requirements of paragraphs (a)(1), (2), and (4) of this section, except for the specific helicopter flight time requirements.

(d)

An applicant who credits time under paragraph (c) of this section and § 61.51(f)(4) is issued an airline transport pilot certificate with the limitation “Holder does not meet the pilot in command aeronautical experience requirements of ICAO,” as prescribed under Article 39 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

(e)

An applicant is entitled to an airline transport pilot certificate without the ICAO limitation specified under paragraph (d) of this section when the applicant presents satisfactory evidence of having met the ICAO requirements under paragraph (d) of this section and otherwise meets the aeronautical experience requirements of this section.

Referenced By

Interpretations of This Section (2)

  • Williams, 2018
  • Grannis, 2016

Documents that cite this section, found in their catalog metadata or text. Listed by date, not by significance.

Regulations Referenced

14 CFR Part 14214 CFR 61.15914 CFR 61.51

Reflects the eCFR edition current as of July 6, 2026. Retrieved from ecfr.gov on July 17, 2026.

Primary Source

  • Official Source (14 CFR · Part 61)