14 CFR 61.109(c) Private Pilot Helicopter Logbook Checklist
Helicopter applicants work from 14 CFR 61.109(c), not 61.109(a). Several distances and hours are different, which trips up people who learned from airplane checklists.
The checklist (61.109(c))
| # | Requirement | Reg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 hours total flight time | 61.109(c) |
| 2 | 20 hours flight training from an authorized instructor | 61.109(c) |
| 3 | 10 hours solo flight training | 61.109(c) |
| 4 | 3 hours cross-country flight training in a helicopter | 61.109(c)(1) |
| 5 | 3 hours night flight training in a helicopter, including: | 61.109(c)(2) |
| 5a | one night cross-country flight of over 50 NM total distance | 61.109(c)(2)(i) |
| 5b | 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop, each with a flight in the traffic pattern | 61.109(c)(2)(ii) |
| 6 | 3 hours practical-test-prep training with an instructor, within the preceding 2 calendar months of the test month | 61.109(c)(3) |
| 7 | 10 hours solo in a helicopter, including: | 61.109(c)(4) |
| 7a | 3 hours cross-country | 61.109(c)(4)(i) |
| 7b | one solo XC of 100 NM total, landings at three points, one leg more than 25 NM straight-line | 61.109(c)(4)(ii) |
| 7c | 3 takeoffs and 3 full-stop landings at an airport with an operating control tower | 61.109(c)(4)(iii) |
Airplane vs. helicopter: the differences that matter
| Item | Airplane 61.109(a) | Helicopter 61.109(c) |
|---|---|---|
| Night XC | over 100 NM | over 50 NM |
| Instrument training | 3 hours required, (a)(3) | no separate line item |
| Solo XC time | 5 hours | 3 hours |
| Long solo XC | 150 NM, 3 full-stop points, leg >50 NM | 100 NM, 3 landing points, leg >25 NM |
Cross-country definition: the ">50 NM straight-line landing point" rule in the cross-country definition explicitly excludes the rotorcraft category (14 CFR 61.1, "Cross-country time" (ii)). Helicopter XC falls under the general definition in paragraph (i): a landing at a point other than the departure point, using navigation. Ask your instructor how your school logs it.
Simulator credit: at most 2.5 hours of instructor-given FFS/FTD training (5 hours in a Part 142 course) can count (61.109(k)).
Flying an R22 or R44? Add SFAR 73
Robinson R22/R44 training carries extra ground-training, dual-hour, and endorsement requirements on top of Part 61 (SFAR No. 73). For example, a person without a helicopter rating needs 20 hours of flight training in the R22 (or R44) before solo and a solo endorsement that's valid for 90 days (SFAR 73 §2(b)(3)/(4)). See our SFAR 73 page.
Endorsements (AC 61-65K)
The same student-pilot and practical-test endorsements as airplane apply (A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, A.6/A.7, A.9/A.10, A.36, A.37), plus SFAR 73 endorsements A.60 (ground training) and A.61/A.65 (R22/R44 solo) if you fly Robinsons (AC 61-65K, Appendix A).
Worked example (made-up logbook, for illustration only)
Example student, R22: 40.6 total, 27.0 dual, 10.4 solo. Solo XC 2.4 hours. Long solo XC 104 NM with three landings, longest leg 31 NM.
- Totals: met.
- Solo XC time: 2.4 of 3.0, not met (61.109(c)(4)(i)).
- Long solo XC: met (100 NM, 3 points, leg >25 NM).
- Night XC of 58 NM: met under (c)(2)(i). That would not meet the airplane 100 NM rule, which is why airplane checklists mislead helicopter students.
Want a second set of eyes? Cleared 2 Checkride checks each 61.109(c) item and the AC 61-65K endorsement checklist from photos of your paper logbook (plus SFAR 73 checks for R22/R44 when you select helicopter), with your hour totals and a CSV export. See the sample report on cleared2checkride.com. $24.99 per check, re-check after fixes included. It's a prep aid, not a substitute for your instructor or examiner.