REACH – The way into the rescue helicopter cockpit

successful completion of the qualification selection. The ADAC qualification selection, also called DLR-Test or ADAC-Test, is conducted by the Institute for aviation and space medicine of the DLR in Hamburg

To be invited to the conventional ADAC qualification selection, the applicants shall fulfill at least the following requirements:

·         relevant pilot demand of the ADAC

·         Commercial- or Airline transport pilot license according to FCL

·         at least 500 hours total flight experience on helicopters
(The minimum flight experience for an appointment at the ADAC-Luftrettung GmbH amounts to 500 hours total flight experience for PICUS (Pilot in Command under Supervision), for Commanders 1000 hours flight experience as PIC and 20 hours night flight, of them at least 500 hours in air rescue operations or comparable application profile.)

Here you can find further information regarding the conventional ADAC qualification selection.

REACH and the ADAC qualification selection

the first part of the ADAC qualification selection have to be passed. The screening consists of

·         an interview

·         an evaluation of your motoric abilities during two helicopter flights, each one of 20 minutes duration

·         Knowledge test (Before an applicant is approved for the training, the flight school has to ensure that the candidate has sufficient knowledge of mathematics and physics, which make it easier for him to follow the theoretical courses. This test is performed by us)

After the successful screening, the first part of the ADAC qualification selection has to be completed at the institute of aviation and space medicine of the DLR in Hamburg.

If you pass the first part, you also require

¨ Aeromedical Certificate of Class 1

¨ First Aid Training

¨ Receipt of application criminal record type O

¨ Application of reliability check

¨ Excerpt of Central Office of Traffic Offenders (Kraftfahrtbundesamt)

After passing the theoretical examination (CPL(H) or ATPL(H)) and reaching at least 65 practical flight hours, the second and last part of the ADAC qualification selection takes place. It comprises the so called equipment tests and a psychological interview.

After successfully passing the ADAC qualification selection part I and II (positive evaluation by the DLR), the last training phase of the REACH program starts:

Ø  Gathering flight experience

Ø  Acquisition of type rating EC135

Ø  Training of night flight qualification

Ø  Practical CPL(H) training

The performance of the applicant will be steadily evaluated (by a responsible instructor of LifeFlight) and has to reach an average of 2,3 at the end of the training for the recommendation for an employment at ADAC. Those responsible from the ADAC-Luftrettung GmbH are involved in the learning progress and have insight into the training documents throughout the whole training. 

REACH terminates with the practical examination for the acquisition of the commercial pilot license. The recommendation, which will be imposed at the conventional way only after reaching the flight experience and successfully passing the ADAC qualification selection (Part I & II), is achieved at the REACH-program already after passing the practical test for commercial pilots - except for the necessary total flight experience. 

significantly earlier an evaluation, if they can achieve employment at the largest German company for air rescue, of their abilities and their personality profile by fulfilling all other requirements. Even before the commencement of training, an informal statement about their perspective is possible.

A helicopter pilot training according to FCL 2 costs ab initio approx. 75.000 to 110.000 Euro, depending on the choice of training and helicopter type. The financial risk of the applicant is reduced due to the early evaluation, as the training is goal oriented for the future disposition. Even if the applicant does not fit into the profile of the ADAC, the commercial helicopter pilot training can be completed.

there is demand and the above mentioned requirements are fulfilled. At no time can an employment can be guaranteed.

Health: A prerequisite for the occupation as a commercial helicopter pilot is to have a class 1 medical. Illness or an accident can result in unfitness and lead to a sudden end of the exercise of the occupation as a pilot.

Flight experience: A rescue helicopter pilot needs, additional to a solid training, a high level of experience. Without it a deployment is not possible. However, experience alone is not even the best substitute for training. Therefore the entry level pilots have to gain experience in other fields of helicopter flying, before being employed as rescue helicopter pilot.

on helicopters of at least:

∙        PICUS (Pilot in Command under Supervision): 500 flight hours total flight experience

respectively...

∙       for commanders: 1000 flight hours as Pilot in Command (PIC), and 20 hours night flight. Of this at least 500 hours flown in air rescue or comparable application profile.

is required.

In order to achieve this goal quickly we cooperate with various aviation companies, which preferably engage graduates of the REACH-program.

Helog Luftftransport KG

After completing the training, an appointment as co-pilot on the helicopter type Bell 212/412 at Helog Lufttransport KG is possible. Helog is a renowned German aviation company with operations in Africa in the fields of onshore, offshore and in the humanitarian aid. But also our students, which do not participate in the REACH-program, can find an occupation at Helog (assuming vacancies), after an internship and our recommendation.

S.P. Helicopter Service GmbH

Another partner is S.P. Helicopter Service in Dattenberg (near Linz am Rhein). S.P. Helicopter Service employs career starters as helicopter pilots on the helicopter type Schweizer 300 for photo flights. Furthermore, S.P. Helicopter Service does e.g. pipeline surveillance flights. However, a higher minimum flight experience is required for these types of flights.

offered as a so called modular training, as the integrated commercial helicopter training has to be completed within 18 months:

∙       License for private helicopter pilots PPL(H)

∙      Modular theoretical training for airline transport helicopter pilots ATPL(H)/VFR

∙       Gathering flight experience in terms of solo flights

∙       Helicopter Type Rating MET(H) EC135

∙       Helicopter Night Flight Qualification

∙       Modular practical training for commercial helicopter pilots CPL(H)

An integrated training for airline transport helicopter pilots ATPL(H)/VFR in the form of an integrated ( fulltime ) course is planned for the future.