Pilot Training

Learn how to unlock the full performance potential of your MD Helicopter.

Before You Fly, You Train

MD Helicopters delivers industry-leading commercial and military pilot training taught by experienced OEM-trained instructors. We offer a comprehensive course selection for all MD helicopters that focuses on mission execution, effectiveness, and safety.

What Pilots Are Saying

“100% impressed with the pilots, maintainers, and staff here at MD Helicopters. I would highly recommend your pilot training course and MD products to other pilots or agencies. Keep up the good work!”

Available Pilot Training Courses

You must coordinate the pilot training schedule for the course you choose directly with the training center in order to ensure that your requirements are met. Pilot transition and recurrent courses are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and a confirmation letter from MDH Customer Training with the finalized date is required to confirm your reservation.

Completion standards:

MDH flight training does not give you 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 you hold. Pilots who successfully complete both ground and flight instruction will receive a certificate of completion for the course you 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.

Aircraft & Insurance

All training is generally provided in MDH-owned aircraft. If you wish to use your own aircraft, you 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 of 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.

Transition Flight Course

Transition training familiarizes appropriately-rated helicopter pilots with the systems and operations of MD500, MD520N, MD530, MD600, and MD 902 Explorer helicopters.

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 the 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 reviews, 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 Part 61.56 Flight Review is requested, a FAR Part 91 open-book examination and review will be conducted at no additional cost. The Part 61.56 Flight Review must be requested at the time of registration.

Ground school includes a 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 you must have completed the MDH factory transition course in the respective aircraft. Verification of your 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 three-day course is designed to qualify experienced MD500 series pilots in either the MD520N or MD530F. A one-day ground school trains you to identify differences in the helicopters. Two to three hours of flight time is also included.

Maintenance Test Flight Procedures Course

The three-day maintenance test flight procedures course is designed for pilots who have attended a factory pilot transition course. You 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 helps you develop confidence in your 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 is taught in a build-up manner, and includes auto-rotations to touchdown and inadvertent flight into IMC.