How long does the Robinson R66 type rating take?

The program covers 17 hours of theory and 5 hours of flights. In good weather it can be completed in a few days of intensive work, or it can be spread over weekends or single days during the week. We set the schedule after checking your availability and the aircraft's calendar.

Do I need flight time on the R44 to start a type rating on the R66?

There is no such requirement, a valid licence of at least PPL(H) is enough. Experience on the R44 helps though, since the control layout and cabin ergonomics are similar, leaving more flight time for handling the turbine.

How much does the Robinson R66 rating cost?

The quote is based on the cost of an hour of flight on the R66, and with a turbine that cost includes not just fuel but also component life consumption. We add the skill test with an examiner and the entry of the rating into your licence. We give an exact figure once we know how many hours you realistically need.

Can I fly commercially after an R66 type rating?

The type rating alone lets you pilot this helicopter, but it does not grant the right to commercial flights. Flying for hire requires a CPL(H) licence and employment with an operator holding the appropriate certificate.

How long is a type rating valid, and how do I renew it?

A single engine helicopter rating requires periodic renewal. You must pass a skill test with an examiner before it expires and log the flight time on type set by regulation. If the deadline passes, you return to a refresher course at the ATO before you can sit the test again.

Where does the training take place?

At Radom-Piastów airport, where we have our base and hangar. We run the theory on site, and flights take place in the airport's local area.

Type Rating Robinson R66, training on a turbine helicopter

The Robinson R66 is often a pilot's first turbine. The machine looks like an enlarged R44, but it handles differently and demands a different way of thinking about the powerplant. You earn the type rating at Radom-Piastów airport, at our EASA ATO, on the same helicopter we fly every day. The program covers 17 hours of theoretical training and 5 hours of practical flight training.

From piston to turbine: what changes for the pilot

The biggest difference sits in the powerplant. Turbine start is a short, precisely planned sequence where the pilot watches temperature and rotation speed, because exceeding a limit means an engine inspection, not just a logbook note. Instead of mixture and carburetor heat, you now read a set of turbine engine parameters continuously.

Performance and flight planning change too. The R66 is heavier and more powerful than the R44, with five seats and a baggage compartment, so weight and balance look different from a four seat machine. In a hover out of ground effect, at high temperature and with a full cabin, this helicopter requires calculating performance before takeoff, not eyeballing it.

Autorotation dynamics are different as well, which is why we practice it most thoroughly in the program.

Who this training is for

The course is for pilots holding at least a PPL(H) who want to fly a turbine helicopter: after buying their own machine, before working for an operator, or while building hours toward a CPL(H). Prior turbine experience is not needed, the theory block starts from the basics of how a turboshaft engine works.

We run the practical training on the Robinson R66 from our fleet, and you can see what else we fly in Radom on the Fleet page. For type ratings we train on the piston Cabri G2 and R44, and the turbine R66 and AS350.

What the theoretical training looks like

17 hours of theory are delivered on site by an instructor, not an e-learning course without human contact. We cover airframe and rotor system design, onboard systems, operating limitations and the flight manual.

A separate block covers the turbine engine: design, operating parameters, limits, start procedure and handling a failed start. On top of that, normal and emergency procedures and working with the checklist. We arrange sessions in blocks that fit your schedule, including weekends. The theory phase ends with a knowledge check before you are cleared for flights.

Flights and the skill test

5 hours in the air is time to master this specific machine, not to learn to fly from scratch, which is why a valid helicopter pilot licence is required. We start with flight preparation and startup, then hover, taxiing, takeoffs and landings from various profiles, circuit flying and performance planning. Next come emergency procedures: autorotations, simulated powerplant failure, response to warning indications. The instructor works with you one on one, and every flight includes a pre-flight briefing and a debrief afterward.

The practical phase ends with a skill test conducted by an examiner. What matters is not isolated elements but whether you fly safely and predictably, with control over the powerplant's parameters.

Validity of the rating and staying current

A single engine helicopter type rating is valid for a period set by regulation and requires renewal: a skill test with an examiner before it expires, plus maintaining flight time on type. If the deadline passes, you return to a refresher course at the ATO before you can sit the test again.

The start sequence and reading turbine parameters are elements that need refreshing after a longer break. It is worth scheduling a flight with an instructor before the test date, not after it. You can renew your rating with us, on the same machine you did your type rating on.

What really drives the cost of the R66

The price is decided mainly by the number of hours flown on the turbine, which costs more to operate than a piston machine, because beyond fuel you also pay for component life consumption and turbine engine maintenance. The program covers 5 hours of flights, but a pilot returning after a longer break, or without recent time on Robinsons, usually needs extra flights before being cleared for the skill test. We prepare a quote after discussing your flight experience and timeline.

Course programme

17 hours of theoretical training with an instructor
5 hours of practical flight training on the Robinson R66
helicopter design, rotor system, onboard systems and operating limitations
turbine engine: design, parameters, limits, start procedure and handling a failed start
weight and balance, and performance planning with a full cabin
normal and emergency procedures, working with the checklist
hovering, takeoffs and landings from various profiles, circuit flying
autorotations and simulated powerplant failure
preparation for the skill test with an examiner

After passing the skill test, the pilot receives a Robinson R66 type rating entered into their licence and can pilot this helicopter independently.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Robinson R66 type rating take?: The program covers 17 hours of theory and 5 hours of flights. In good weather it can be completed in a few days of intensive work, or it can be spread over weekends or single days during the week. We set the schedule after checking your availability and the aircraft's calendar.
Do I need flight time on the R44 to start a type rating on the R66?: There is no such requirement, a valid licence of at least PPL(H) is enough. Experience on the R44 helps though, since the control layout and cabin ergonomics are similar, leaving more flight time for handling the turbine.
How much does the Robinson R66 rating cost?: The quote is based on the cost of an hour of flight on the R66, and with a turbine that cost includes not just fuel but also component life consumption. We add the skill test with an examiner and the entry of the rating into your licence. We give an exact figure once we know how many hours you realistically need.
Can I fly commercially after an R66 type rating?: The type rating alone lets you pilot this helicopter, but it does not grant the right to commercial flights. Flying for hire requires a CPL(H) licence and employment with an operator holding the appropriate certificate.
How long is a type rating valid, and how do I renew it?: A single engine helicopter rating requires periodic renewal. You must pass a skill test with an examiner before it expires and log the flight time on type set by regulation. If the deadline passes, you return to a refresher course at the ATO before you can sit the test again.
Where does the training take place?: At Radom-Piastów airport, where we have our base and hangar. We run the theory on site, and flights take place in the airport's local area.