Instrument rating for helicopters

As part of the application for an instrument rating, exams will need to be taken and passed in the following subject areas:

• Air law
• Aircraft general knowledge - instrumentation
• Flight performance and monitoring
• Human performance
• Meteorology
• Radio navigation
• IFR communications

This should be completed as part of a course at an appropriately authorised ATO.

In some instances you can elect to take ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations instead of instrument rating exams.

If you already hold an instrument rating in another category of aircraft

If you hold an instrument rating held in one category of aircraft, it will fulfil the theoretical knowledge requirements for an instrument rating in any other category of aircraft. The instrument rating must be issued onto an UK Part-FCL licence for this to apply.

You will need to pass a skill test to demonstrate that you can perform the relevant procedures and manoeuvres to an appropriate standard.

You will need to hold a valid UK FRTOL or have qualified for the issue of a UK FRTOL prior to attempting the IR Skill Test.

There is information available for applicants on flight radio telephony operator licence's and language proficiency examinations. 

For a multi-engine aircraft IR you will need to take your skill test in a multi-engine aircraft, and for a single-engine aircraft IR you will need to take your skill test in a single-engine aircraft. Multi-engine centreline thrust aeroplanes cannot be used as a multi-engine aircraft for the skill test.

Refer to Standard Document 1A (for aeroplanes) and 1H (for helicopters), 7 A/H and Appendix 7 to Part FCL.

Licence

You must hold one of the following licences:

• an ATPL
• a CPL (H) or
• a PPL (H)

If you want to use the privileges of the IR (H) at night and you only hold a PPL (H), you will also need to hold a Night rating.

Flying experience

You must also have completed at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC in aeroplanes, TMGs, helicopters or airships, of which at least 10 hours must be in helicopters. However, if you have completed an ATP (H)/IR, ATP (H), CPL (H)/IR or CPL (H) integrated training course, you will not need to meet this requirement.

Ratings

If you want to complete the helicopter instruction phase of the IR (H) course, you must hold the helicopter type rating used for the IR (H) skill test, or have completed approved type rating training on that type.

If your skill test is going to be conducted in multi-pilot conditions, you must also hold a certificate of satisfactory completion of MCC, or be MCC exempt.

Completing your training

All instructional stages must be completed in one continuous approved course of training.

You must complete at least 150 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction.

You must pass the relevant theoretical knowledge exams within an 18 month period.

Theoretical knowledge crediting

If you hold an ATPL (H), the theoretical knowledge instruction time can be reduced by 50 hours.

If you have passed the theoretical knowledge exams for an ATPL (H) VFR, you will only need to pass the following exams:

• Air Law
• Flight Planning and Flight Monitoring
• Radio Navigation
• IFR Communications

If you have passed the theoretical knowledge examinations for a CPL (H), you will be credited the exams below:

• Human Performance
• Meteorology

Applicants holding an IR(A)

If you have already passed the aeroplane instrument rating theoretical knowledge exams, you are credited with Human Performance and Meteorology at CPL level.

Applicants who commenced training for an IR (H) for either single-engine or multi-engine helicopters immediately prior to 30 October 2026 may complete that training and must be issued with an IR(H). 

Flying training (single engine)

You must complete at least 50 hours of instrument time under instruction, of which:

• up to 20 hours may be instrument ground time in an FNPT I (H) or (A). (These 20 hours may be substituted by 20 hours instruction time for IR(H) in an aeroplane approved for this course); or
• up to 35 hours may be instrument ground time in a helicopter FTD 2/3, FNPT II/III or FFS.

The instrument flight instruction must include at least 10 hours in an IFR-certificated multi-engine helicopter.

You must take a skill test at the end of your training course in the single engine helicopter type that the training was taken in.

Crediting

If you hold an IR (A) the total single-engine flying training requirement can be reduced by 10 hours. This cannot be used in place of the 10 hours instrument instruction flown in an IFR certified single engine helicopter.

Flying credits for ICAO third country licence holders

Complete instrument training as determined by the Head of Training at the ATO including a recommendation for test. Before undertaking the skill test. 

In the addition to the above, holders of a current and valid IR(H) issued in accordance with ICAO Annex 1, but with privileges obtained on single-engine helicopters only, seeking a Part-FCL-FCL ME IR(H) will be required to attend an approved IR(H) training provider. An applicant must comply with the Part-FCL requirements for an ME Type Rating and the Part-FCL SE(IR) to ME(IR) training course requirements of FCL.630.H.

Flying training (multi-engine)

You must complete at least 55 hours instrument time under instruction, of which:

• up to 20 hours may be instrument ground time in an FNPT I (H) or (A). (These 20 hours may be substituted by 20 hours instruction time for IR(H) in an aeroplane approved for this course); or
• up to 40 hours may be instrument ground time in a helicopter FTD 2/3, FNPT II/III or FFS.

The instrument flight instruction must include at least 10 hours in an IFR-certificated multi-engine helicopter.

You must take a skill test at the end of your training course in the multi engine helicopter type that the training was taken in.

Crediting

If you hold an IR (A) the total multi-engine flying training can be reduced by 10 hours.

This credit cannot be used in place of the 10 hours instrument instruction flown in an IFR certified multi engine helicopter.

If you hold a PPL (H) with a night rating or a CPL (H) the total instrument time under instruction can be reduced by 5 hours.

Extending instrument rating from single to multi engine and to another helicopter type 

Extending privileges on the same type rating from SPH to MPH (except for initial MP issue) or from MPH to SPH

2 hours of training in a helicopter or using FFS C/D: at least 1 hour helicopter and at least 3 hours total.

You can submit your application using our online application form SRG3108. 

If you choose this method, you will need to upload the following supporting evidence:

• Examiner report form SRG2135
• CAA5011 or your ATO Course Completion Certificate 
• A copy of your UK Part-FCL licence 
• A certified copy of your logbook. Electronic logbooks are acceptable, provided they have been printed and each page has been hand signed and dated. 

If you are applying on the basis of training and testing conducted by a non-UK approved EASA Part- FCL Approved Training Organisation you must provide copies of the following: 

• the ATO's PART- ORA approval certificate
• a copy of the EASA simulator approval certificate  
• the non-UK examiner's licence, medical and authorisation certificate 
• return email confirmation from testnotification@caa.co.uk 

If you are applying on the basis of a Third country ICAO licence conversion you will need to provide: 

• Form SRG2142 
• A certified copy of your Third country ICAO licence , validating medical certificate and certificate of revalidation 
• If your ICAO licence does not show the validity dates of the ratings, submit certified copies of logbook pages showing the rating validity and test dates. 

If you are applying on the basis of a military service, you will also need to complete:

• Form SRG2133

If you have previously used e-Licensing, apply using this method.

Note that only commercial pilots are able to use e-Licensing.  

You will need to hold a valid English Language Proficiency and your valid Part-MED Medical certificate must be held on our UK database.

If you choose to apply using e-Licensing, you will need to upload supporting documents as part of the application. Applicants will be asked for different supporting documentation depending on the selections they have made during the application. The table below lists the evidence you may be asked for and what you should upload in that section

Note that if you are converting from a 3rd country licence, you will need to complete the verification process first via SRG2142.

Your original logbook may be requested as part of our quality process. 

To renew their privileges applicants need to:

• go through refresher training at an ATO to reach the level of proficiency needed to pass the instrument element of the skill test in accordance with Appendix 9 to Part-FCL;
  
  and
  
  
• complete a proficiency check in accordance with Appendix 9 to Part-FCL, in a helicopter.

If the IR(H) has not been revalidated or renewed within the preceding 7 years, the holder will be required to pass again the IR theoretical knowledge examination and skill test.

The UK CAA has adopted a derogation against FCL.625(d), see paragraph 5.3. The year period specified in FCL.625(d) commences from the date the IR(H) rating has expired.

FCL.625(d): IR Renewal requirement for pilots who hold or have held an IR on An ICAO 3rd country licence

The UK CAA has adopted a derogation such that where a pilot holds or has held an instrument Rating issued by a third country and that rating is compliant with Annex I to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the applicability of FCL.625 IR(c) and (d) may be based on the validity dates of the Instrument Rating of that other country.

The effect of this exemption is that to renew the IR on a UK issued licence:

• (i) a pilot with a current and valid 3rd country IR shall complete the revalidation requirements of FCL.625(b) and the aircraft category specific requirements for revalidation of the Part-FCL IR; meaning that he must pass the proficiency check, but is not required to undergo training or to re-take the theoretical knowledge
  examinations;
  or
• (ii) a pilot who held a 3rd country IR that is no longer valid but had been revalidated or renewed within the preceding 7 years shall comply with the renewal requirements of FCL.625 IR(c), but is not required to re-take the theoretical knowledge examinations.

Training completion certificates

After successful completion of the training, the ATO should provide a training completion certificate to the applicant, describing the training provided. The training completion certificate should be presented to the Examiner prior to the proficiency check.

Following the successful renewal of the rating, the completion certificate and examiner report form should be submitted to the competent authority, together with the relevant application form if the examiner cannot sign the certificate of revalidation in Section XII of the UK-issued licence.

Signing the certificate of validation

Licence holders, ATOs and examiners are reminded that examiners are only authorised to sign the certificate of validation in Section XII (page 5 onwards) of a UK-issued licence when the rating is still shown on page 4 (Section XII) of the licence. If the rating is no longer printed on page 4 (Section XII) of the licence, but appears in the section “ratings previously held by holder”, the rating is no longer included in the licence and cannot be reinstated by an
examiner. In those circumstances application for renewal of the rating must be made to the CAA so that the rating may be made valid by being included in the licence again.

An IR(H) can be revalidated within the 3 months immediately preceding the expiry date of the rating.

Applicants who fail to pass the relevant section of an IR(H) proficiency check before the expiry date of the IR(H) shall not exercise the IR (H) privileges until they have passed the proficiency check.

When revalidating an IR(H):

1. when combined with the revalidation of a type rating, applicants must complete a
   proficiency check in accordance with Appendix 9 to this Part, for the relevant
   type of helicopter.
2. when not combined with the revalidation of a type rating, applicants must complete
   only section 5 and the relevant parts of section 1 of the proficiency check established in Appendix 9 to Part-FCL for the relevant type of helicopter. In this case, an FTD 2/3 or an FFS representing the relevant type of helicopter may be used, but at least each alternate proficiency check for the revalidation if an IR(H) in these circumstances shall be performed in a helicopter.

• UK Regulations
• UK ANO

• Scheme of Charges (Personnel Licensing)

Ensure that your training provider is approved to conduct the training that you are undertaking.

We strongly recommend you check that your instructor and examiner hold the relevant privileges to conduct the training and any flight test, examination or assessment of competence that is being carried out.

How to find a UK examiner or UK approved school

• UK ATOs are listed in Standards Document 31
• List of Declared Training Organisations
• UK examiners

UK Part-FCL ratings list and flight simulators

• Lists for aeroplanes and helicopters - UK class and type rating lists
• Qualification data sheets - Flight Simulation Training Device (FSTD) lists