Military to Civilian transition

[Cruzin Chris]

Hi, new member here. I have spent some time the last few weeks reading all through this great board. I have a few questions.

 

First my back ground:

Air Force pilot for 12 years ’91 to 2003 (Ft Rucker Grad)

2,340 hours – all rotor - Huey’s (single & twins) and MH-53s.

 

Now for the part that hurts: I didn’t get a MilComp test/certification while I was on active duty and I’m outside the 12 month range. So, I have found a helicopter to rent, an FAA check pilot and an instructor. We have come up with a 10 flight hour game plan that should set me up with a Commercial/Instrument Rotor in the next few months. Sound expensive? It is!

 

Now a few of my questions are relating to the FAA written test:

 

1. Is there a separate ROTOR commercial and ROTOR instrument test?

 

I have looked over the FAA online test bank and my jaw dropped when I saw the first question stating I “was at FL250”… next question was about some fixed-wing only control/performance bit. I got about 15 hours fixed-wing time when I was a cadet back in the late 80s and then I went all rotor-wing.

 

2. What is THE source for Instrument rules?

 

In the USAF, we had one regulation book that covered all things IFR. Can FAR do that or does it have to be FAR&AIM along with the Instrument Handbook and Instrument Flying (all of which I purchased)?

 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. My hopes are to get a job locally flying EMS after I get my ticket.

[Cruzin Chris]

To answer my own questions….

 

1. There is a ROTOR specific Commercial test and a ROTOR specific Instrument test. When taking the test you will be given only questions from the FAA’s test bank labeled “ALL” and “RTC”. I got the ASA test prep book and it explained it all in great detail. I counted 517 questions labeled ALL & RTC.

 

2. As for THE source for Instrument rules… The Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8261-1A) states the following – “It is essential for persons using this handbook to also become familiar with and apply the pertinent parts of 14 CFR and the AIM.” So the answer is NO…. There is the book, AIM and FAR. The book seems to be just a graphical representation of the FARs that is easier to read.

[Gomer Pylot]

Yes, the tests should be rotorcraft specific. As for the IFR rules, they're mostly the same for all aircraft, but with specific differences for helicopters. Those differences are spelled out in Part 91 and Part 135. The main differences are in alternate requirements, and in allowing helicopters to cut the published straight-in approach visibility in half in most cases.

[Goldy]

Air Force pilot for 12 years ’91 to 2003 (Ft Rucker Grad)

2,340 hours – all rotor - Huey’s (single & twins) and MH-53s.

 

 

Chris, dont sweat it. You have the knowledge, but what you don't know is the format that the FAA gives these tests. Remember its the single best answer...often times there is not one single answer that has everything....so what you really need is some practice tests. Go to www.mywrittenexam.com

 

Take the test there every day for a week, and then go take the real thing.

 

Best of luck out there, thanks for the service you gave to the rest of us.

 

Goldy