Pilot

The pilot training schedule must be coordinated directly with the training center in order to ensure that your requirements are met. You will receive written confirmation of the finalized date. Pilot transition and recurrent courses are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. A confirmation letter from MDH Customer Training is also required to confirm your reservation.

Completion standards: MDH flight training does not give a customer a new airman's certificate or rating. Pilot competence is based on meeting the requirements outlined in the Practical Test Standards for the type of rating held. Pilots who successfully complete both ground and flight instruction will receive a certificate of completion for the course attended.

Pilot Training Requirements

Before transition or recurrent training begins, customers must provide proof of the following:

• A valid helicopter rating (minimum of a private rotorcraft rating) and current medical certificate.
• A signed hold harmless statement.

Available Pilot Training Courses

Transition Flight Course

Transition training familiarizes appropriately rated helicopter pilots with MD500, MD520N, MD530, MD600, and MD 902 Explorer helicopter systems and operation.
This five-day course includes ground school and flight training. The ground school segment covers publications, aircraft systems, operational procedures, and preflight inspection procedures. Four to five hours of flight time includes practice of normal flight and selected emergency procedures.

PLEASE NOTE: For those customers who require English interpreters, the length of the transition course will be increased to one and a half to two-weeks in length, with flight training extended to a minimum of seven (7) hours. This is due to the delays and other issues arising from the requirement to translate both the ground and flight instruction. The assigned flight instructor will determine the actual length of ground and flight training. Additional flight training hours (greater than five) will be priced at the hourly flight cost listed on the pricing page. The extra ground instruction will be included in the original course cost.

Recurrent Flight Course

Recurrent flight training provides a review for experienced and current MD500E, MD520N MD530F, MD600N, and MD 902 Explorer pilots. The recurrent course utilizes flight review, proficiency checks or other checks whose purpose is to review rules, maneuvers and procedures to demonstrate a pilot's existing skills.

This three-day course includes ground school and two to three hours of flight time. If a Biennial Flight Review (BFR) is requested, a FAR Part 91 open-book examination and review will be conducted at no additional cost. The BFR must be requested at the time of registration.

Ground school includes review of airworthiness directives and notices, helicopter systems, pilot flight manual review, preflight inspection, and an open-book exam.

To enroll in a Recurrent Flight Course the pilot must have completed the MDH factory transition course in the respective aircraft. Verification of such qualification will be requested prior to confirmation of enrollment.

PLEASE NOTE: For those customers who require English interpreters, the length of the recurrent course will be increased by two (2) days to one full week in length. The flight training will be extended to a minimum of five (5) hours. This is due to the delays and other issues arising from the requirement to translate both the ground and flight instruction. The assigned flight instructor will determine the actual length of ground and flight training. Additional flight training hours (greater than three) will be priced at the hourly flight cost listed on the pricing page. The extra ground instruction will be included in the original course cost.

MD 530F and MD 520N Differences Course

This two-day course is designed to qualify experienced MD500 series pilots in either the MD520N or MD530F.
A one-day ground school identifies differences in the helicopter. Two to three hours of flight time is provided.

Maintenance Test Flight Procedures Course

The maintenance test flight procedures course is designed for pilots who have attended a factory pilot transition course. Pilots will become familiar with the procedures and techniques necessary to perform maintenance test flights and evaluate completed maintenance actions. Training includes one day of ground school and academics and two to three hours of flight time.

Night Emergency Procedures Course

The night emergency procedures course develops pilot confidence in his or her ability to successfully resolve emergency procedures during night operations. Ground school subjects include an understanding of how the human eye works at night, challenges to unaided night vision, and procedure execution. One of the two hours of flight procedures are taught in a build-up manner, and include auto-rotations to touchdown and inadvertent flight into IMC. This course is taught in the MD500E.

Aircraft & Insurance 

All training is generally provided in MDH-owned aircraft. Whenever pilot training is provided using a customer's aircraft, the customer must provide the Training Center copies of Certificates of Insurance documenting that the following insurance is current:

• Comprehensive general liability insurance and contractual liability insurance with a combined single limit of liability not less than $1 million per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage.
• Third party aviation liability insurance with a combined single limit of liability not less than $5 million per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage.
• Workman's compensation insurance in accordance with the provisions of the workman's compensation law having jurisdiction over the customer's company operation.
• Aircraft hull insurance is required in an amount equal to the current value of the aircraft.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The Training Center also must be insured under the customer's comprehensive general liability and contractual liability, and third party aviation insurance.

A waiver of all rights of subrogation against the training center or your insurers for losses on claims arising from the Training Center's performance. Evidence of the waiver of subrogation is to be exhibited in a certificate of insurance provided to the training center before flight training begins.

The customer also must provide the Training Center a signed hold harmless statement. (This statement can be found on our pilot registration form).
Written notice must be given to the Training Center not less than 10 days prior to any cancellation or restrictive modification of the insurance policies.

MDH must evaluate the aircraft's condition and maintenance records and find the aircraft in an airworthy condition. If the aircraft is found to be not in airworthy condition MDH reserves the right to cancel the training. A fee to cover MDH's expenses equal to no less than 20% of the training price, will be deducted from the training price refund.

Requests for Pilot Training can be made through our contact form or by dialing 1-800-388-3378, option 7.

Pilot Training Downloads

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Pilot Registration Form