THE 'A' CERTIFICATE

(HELICOPTER)

The examination for a helicopter 'A' Certificate may be taken on application to any Registered Club Examiner or Chief Examiner. The candidate must successfully carry out the following flying test:

1. Carry out pre-flight checks as required by the BMFA Safety Codes.

2. Take off and hover tail in over the take off point, with the helicopter skids at eye level, for approximately fifteen seconds.

3. Hover the helicopter slowly sideways, either left or right, for approximately five metres, stop, and hover briefly.

4. Hover the helicopter slowly sideways in the opposite direction to bring it back to its original position in front of the pilot, stop, and hover briefly.

5. Fly slowly forwards for approximately five metres, stop, and hover briefly.

6. Fly slowly backwards, bringing the helicopter back to its original position over the take off point, stop, hover briefly and land.

7. Take off and hover briefly, turn sideways either left or right and fly forward to perform two “lazy eights”, each at least 30 metres on length. Each time the helicopter passes in front of the pilot it must be sideways on to the pilot.

8. At the conclusion of the “lazy eights”, bring the helicopter to a halt above the original take off point, hover briefly and land.

9. Complete post-flight checks as required by the BMFA Safety Codes.

The above schedule must be completed within one flight and two attempts per examination will be allowed in any one day.

In addition to the above flying schedule, the candidate must answer correctly at least five questions from the BMFA Safety Codes for General Flying and local flying rules.