Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences › Physical Sciences
Advanced Helicopter Manoeuvres and Procedures Training
Description
This course equips helicopter pilots with the advanced skills and knowledge required to safely perform complex manoeuvres and emergency procedures. Learners will master techniques such as autorotations, slope landings, and confined area operations, ensuring compliance with civil aviation regulations and enhancing flight safety.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced autorotation procedures, including engine-off landings from various altitudes and configurations.
- Analyze and execute slope landings and takeoffs on gradients up to 15 degrees while maintaining safe rotor clearance.
- Evaluate environmental factors and perform confined area operations, including pinnacle and ridge landings.
- Apply emergency procedures for tail rotor failures, hydraulic failures, and engine malfunctions in single- and multi-engine helicopters.
- Design a personal risk assessment plan for advanced manoeuvres, incorporating weather, terrain, and aircraft performance limitations.
Target Audience
This course is designed for licensed helicopter pilots seeking to upgrade their skills for commercial or advanced operations. It is ideal for pilots preparing for instrument ratings, instructor ratings, or specialized roles in aerial work.
Prerequisites
Valid South African Private Pilot License (Helicopter) or equivalent, with a minimum of 100 total flight hours including 50 hours as pilot-in-command.
Course Outline
Objectives:
• Understand the aerodynamic principles governing advanced helicopter manoeuvres
• Demonstrate proficiency in autorotation and power-off landings
• Execute advanced turns, steep approaches, and rapid decelerations
• Manage in-flight emergencies including tail rotor failures and hydraulic failures
Topics:
• Review of rotor aerodynamics: translational lift, vortex ring state, retreating blade stall
• Advanced autorotation techniques: entry, glide, flare, and touchdown
• Steep approaches and go-arounds: power management and attitude control
• Tail rotor failures: anti-torque control with pedals and coordinated turns
• Hydraulic system failures: manual reversion and control forces
• Emergency procedures: engine failure after takeoff, low rotor RPM recovery
Objectives:
• Perform confined area operations and pinnacle landings
• Execute slope landings and takeoffs safely
• Manage multi-engine failures and system malfunctions
• Integrate advanced manoeuvres into a simulated operational scenario
Topics:
• Confined area operations: approach angles, obstacle clearance, and power checks
• Pinnacle and ridgeline landings: touchdown point selection and escape routes
• Slope landings: uphill/downhill techniques, cyclic and collective coordination
• Multi-engine failure management: single-engine performance and landing
• System malfunctions: electrical fire, smoke evacuation, and fuel management
• Scenario-based training: combining manoeuvres under simulated operational conditions
Practicals
Overview
The practicals provide hands-on flight simulator or helicopter training to reinforce advanced manoeuvres and emergency procedures. Learners will practice autorotations, confined area operations, and system failure scenarios under supervised conditions.
Practical Activities
- Autorotation and Power-Off Landing — Learner practices entry, glide, and flare of autorotation from various altitudes, culminating in a full touchdown. (2h)
- Confined Area and Pinnacle Operations — Learner selects approach path, performs power checks, and lands in a simulated confined area or on a pinnacle. (2h)
- Emergency Procedures and System Failures — Learner handles simulated tail rotor failure, hydraulic failure, and engine failure after takeoff, managing controls and executing forced landing. (2h)
Summatives
Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.
Practical Assignments — 30%
Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.
Daily Exercises — 20%
Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.
Final Test — 50%
On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.
Final Total
| Component | Out of | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) | 100% | 30% |
| Daily Average (multiple choice) | 100% | 20% |
| Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) | 100% | 50% |
| Final Total | — | 100% |
All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.
Certificate
How it works
- Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
- Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
- You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
- If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it
Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.
Training Discounts
Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.
| Delegates | Discount |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3% off |
| 10 | 6% off |
| 15 | 9% off |
| 20 | 12% off |
| 25 | 15% off |
| 30 | 18% off |
| 50 | 30% off |
| 75 | 40% off |
| 100 | 40% off |
3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
Let us know you're interested and we'll arrange a session that suits you.
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