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Earn Your Gyroplane Rating

 

NOTICE:  Effective 01 November 2019, all Gyroplane training with GyroMojo, beyond the first discovery flight, will require students to enroll in our standardized training and logging software at Gyropedia.com

 

​​​We want to help you earn your gyroplane rating.  Below are the absolute minimum training requirements for a Sport Pilot Gyroplane rating, for initial pilot certificates only, referenced from Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 61 Subpart J. The items listed below are specific excerpts intended to provide an overview of the primary requirements:

 

• 20 hours of flight time, including 15 hours of dual flight training from an authorized instructor in a gyroplane and at least five hours of solo flight training under the supervision of an instructor

• Two (2) hours of cross-country flight training

• 10 takeoffs and landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport

• One solo cross-country flight of at least 50 nautical miles total distance, with a full-stop landing at a minimum of two points, and one segment of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 25 nautical miles between the takeoff and landing locations

• Two (2) hours of flight training on those areas of operation specified in §61.311 preparing for the practical test within 60 days before the month of the test

Gyroplane Add-On Rating Training Requirements

Due for an FAA flight review? Consider earning your gyroplane rating instead of taking another routine flight review in the same airplane you always fly! You will have a blast refining your pilot skills and learning a new airframe – all while completing the requirements and resetting the clock for your periodic flight review. For CFIs, getting a sport pilot gyroplane CFI rating renews your instructor certificate.

 

For existing pilots, there is no FAA minimum hours requirements for a gyroplane sport endorsement.  An existing sport or private pilot adding a sport pilot category and class rating (14 CFR 61.321) may operate a gyroplane after receiving training from a qualified gyroplane CFI on all the items listed in 14 CFR 61.309 and 14 CFR 61.311.

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However, GyroMojo is part of a consortium of Gyroplane instructors who are setting a minimum standard of 15 hours of dual instruction required for transition students prior to CFI recommendation.   While a Gyroplane has many similarities to a fixed wing aircraft while in the air, the near-ground handling effects are very different.  Recent minor incidents have proven that ROTOR MANAGEMENT, on the ground, and during Takeoff and Landing incidents, is the number one source of insurance claims.  Therefore, we have voluntarily set this 15 hour training minimum standard.  If this is not acceptable to you, there are still a few instructors who will train you in less time.

 

Simply put: your training CFI will go through all of the maneuvers with you, and repeat them several times.  Once your CFI is confident of your ability, that you can maintain the minimum standards on your worst day, you will receive a recommendation/endorsement stating that you meet the requirements of that part.  A second, different Gyroplane CFI will conduct a proficiency check on the same knowledge and proficiency requirements.

 

Upon a successful proficiency check, the second CFI will give you a endorsement that translate to a Sport Gyroplane rating.  No solo flight is required.  The endorsement allows the pilot to exercise the privileges of the additional category and class of sport pilot. The pilot receives a new certificate in the mail. No minimum hours, no solo requirements, no medical, no check ride, and no knowledge test. Most pilots can complete this add-on category/class training in 10- 15 flight hours.

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We'll travel to you!

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That's right, if you want to do your training on your Gyroplane, at your location, we're happy to come to you.  Is that more expensive?  Yes of course, but maybe not.  You would pay for all expenses related to the travel: food, transportation, lodging.  But the instruction rate is only $100 per hour in your machine, so maybe it would be cost effective for you.  There is a minimum daily 'duty rig' of $500 as well, for each complete day that we are away from home, whether we fly or not.  Each airline travel day is only billed at $200.  Either way, we're open to creative training ideas. 

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What are you waiting for??

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Resources

FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (Gyroplane Chapters only)
AutoGyro MTO Sport Pilot Operating Handbook (POH)
FAA CFR → Title 14 → Chapter I → Subchapter D → Part 61→Subpart J (Sport Pilots)

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