Our background is from military aviation.  The most challenging and demanding of environments.  All our instructors have in excess of 3500 hours in helicopters.  They have all flown at least 4 different helicopter types and have seen active service.

Vantage Aviation Limited (VAL) also trains the helicopter pilots for tomorrow, whether this is for pleasure, business or the start of a long career as a professional pilot.  The first stop is the PPL(H).  We are here to help you on your journey.

Private Pilots licence.

• Dual training can start from any age. However a student would need to be at least 14 years of age for the hours flown to count towards licence issue, 16 in order to fly solo, and 17 for licence issue.

Requirements for PPL(H) issue

• Hold at least a Class 2 medical.
• Pass 7 theoretical knowledge examinations:- Aviation Law and Operational Procedures, Human Performance and Limitations, Navigation and Radio Aids, Meteorology, Aircraft (General) and Principles of Flight, Flight Performance and Planning, Communications
• Completed on one type of helicopter a minimum of 45 hours flight time as a pilot of helicopters that must include:-
  • 25 hours dual instruction, including 5 hours instrument dual instruction
  • 10 hours of supervised solo flight time, to include 5 hours of solo cross-country flight time and one cross country flight of at least 100 nm involving full stop landings at two different airfields
• Pass a PPL(H) Skill Test with a CAA authorised examiner

A package deal for the whole course is available.

Commercial Pilots licence.

• CPL (H)  - VAL is also a CAA approved Flying training organisation (FTO).  Students are required to meet current CAA entry standards;

• Be at least 18 years of age, hold a valid Class 1 medical and hold a valid PPL (H).

Have passed all professional theoretical examinations:-

• 9 exams for CPL(H):- Air Law, Aircraft General Knowledge, Flight Performance and Planning, Human Performance and Limitations, Meteorology, Navigation, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight and VFR Communications
• 14 exams for ATPL(H):- As above but with the addition of an Aircraft General Knowledge paper, two Flight Performance and Planning papers, one Navigation paper and one Communications paper.

• Have 155 hours flight time as Pilot of helicopters including 50 as Pilot in Command (P1) of which 10 hours shall be cross country

The modular course consists of 30 hours of dual instruction to include 10 hours of instrument instruction.

Requirements for CPL(H) issue

An applicant for a JAR CPL(H) must have completed a minimum of 185 hours of flight time that must include:

• 50 hours as P1.
• 10 hours of cross country flight time as P1, including one cross country flight of at least 100 nm and involving 2 full stop landings at two different airfields.
• 10 hours of instrument rating comprising of at least 3 hours dual instruction, including 1 hour of dual cross country navigation and 5 solo take-offs and full stop landings, each to include one full circuit.
• Pass a CPL(H) Skill Test with a CAA authorised examiner

A package deal for the whole course is available.

Type Rating Training.

•  TRTO - VAL offers Type Rating on the following aircraft:
  • Twin Squirrel
  • Long Ranger
  • Jet Ranger
  • Hughes 300
  • Robinson 44