Free FAA CFII Helicopter Practice Test

To act as pilot in command of a helicopter under IFR, a pilot must have performed and logged, within the preceding 6 calendar months:

• A. an instrument proficiency check in a helicopter.
• B. six hours of instrument time and three approaches in any category of aircraft.
• C. six approaches in any category, since instrument currency is not category-specific.
• D. six instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking courses, performed in a helicopter or an approved simulation device. ✓

The "6-6-HIT" tasks must be performed in the SAME CATEGORY of aircraft: approaches flown in an airplane do not make the pilot current in helicopters. Full flight simulators, FTDs and ATDs may be used under the conditions in 61.57(c).

Reference: 14 CFR 61.57(c)

Compared with teaching the instrument scan in an airplane, a helicopter instrument instructor must emphasize:

• A. longer dwell time on each instrument, because helicopter instruments lag more.
• B. the same scan pace, since stability does not affect cross-checking.
• C. a navigation-first scan, since attitude is stabilized automatically.
• D. a faster, attitude-centric cross-check, because the helicopter is less statically stable and diverges quickly when the scan breaks down. ✓

A helicopter has little or no tendency to return to level flight on its own, so a lapse in the scan becomes a developing attitude excursion much faster than in most airplanes. The attitude indicator anchors the cross-check and the eyes return to it constantly.

Reference: FAA-H-8083-15B

For IFR operations using VOR, the VOR equipment must have been checked within the preceding:

• A. 12 months, with the logbook entry optional.
• B. 10 hours of flight time under IFR.
• C. 24 calendar months, by an avionics shop.
• D. 30 days, with the error within limits and the check logged with date, place, bearing error and signature. ✓

30 days, and the log entry is part of the rule: date, place, bearing error, signature. Teach it practically: fold the VOT or airborne check into a normal IFR training flight rather than treating it as paperwork.

Reference: 14 CFR 91.171

The purpose of having a new instrument student develop written personal minimums is:

• A. to replace the published approach minimums.
• B. to guarantee the FAA will not investigate an incident.
• C. to close the gap between what is legal and what the pilot is actually ready to fly, with the numbers set calmly in advance. ✓
• D. to satisfy a regulatory requirement for instrument students.

Legal minimums are available to a low-time pilot the day after the checkride; readiness is not. Written minimums, reviewed with the instructor and raised after layoffs, are the tool that survives get-there-itis.

Reference: AC 60-22

To give the flight training required for an instrument-helicopter rating, a flight instructor must hold:

• A. an instrument-helicopter rating on their pilot certificate only.
• B. any flight instructor certificate plus 100 hours of helicopter instrument time.
• C. an ATP certificate with a rotorcraft category rating.
• D. an instrument-helicopter rating on their flight instructor certificate. ✓

The instrument rating must be on the FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR certificate for the category and class involved: a helicopter CFI who is instrument rated as a pilot but holds no CFII may not give training toward the rating. This is the single most-tested distinction on the FIH.

Reference: 14 CFR 61.195(c)