TRAINING
Earn your rating in your own Safari.
You do not need to rent someone else's helicopter to become a helicopter pilot. As the builder-owner of an experimental amateur-built aircraft, you can train in the Safari you built — and Safari will help you find the instructor and the examiner to do it.
Our answer to "can I train in my own helicopter?"
YES! We will work with you to qualify a Certified Flight Instructor near you. When you are ready, we have several Designated Pilot Examiners who are authorized to conduct your "check ride" in your Safari.
The path
Four steps to a rating in your own Safari
From the first crate to the check ride. Where you are in your build sets the starting point; we help with the rest.
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Build or buy your Safari
Complete your Safari 400 or 500 kit, or order a flight-ready Safari 500. Experimental amateur-built aircraft can be used for training with the builder-owner, so your own aircraft is your trainer.
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We help you qualify a CFI near you
Safari will work with you to find and qualify a Certified Flight Instructor in your area. Ask us about the LODA process — a Letter of Deviation Authority is what allows a CFI to be paid to instruct in an experimental aircraft the student does not own.
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Log your hours
A private pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating requires a minimum of 40 flight hours under 14 CFR Part 61. Typical students need more; your instructor will set the pace.
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Take your check ride in a Safari
When you are ready, Safari works with several Designated Pilot Examiners who are authorized to conduct your check ride in your Safari. We will help you make the connection.
How Safari helps
The instructor, the examiner and the aircraft
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Your aircraft is your trainer
You can earn your helicopter rating in your own Safari. Experimental amateur-built aircraft can be used for training with the builder-owner.
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An instructor near you
Safari will help you find and qualify a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) near you.
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A check ride in a Safari
Safari works with several Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) authorized to conduct the check ride in a Safari.
Questions
Training in a Safari, answered
Can I really learn to fly in a helicopter I built myself?
Yes. Experimental amateur-built aircraft can be used for training with the builder-owner. Your Safari becomes your trainer, and the hours you fly in it count toward your rating.
How many hours does a helicopter rating take?
A private pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating requires a minimum of 40 flight hours under 14 CFR Part 61. Most students need more than the minimum; your instructor sets the pace based on how you progress.
How do I find an instructor who will teach in a Safari?
Ask us. Safari will work with you to find and qualify a Certified Flight Instructor near you. Instructors who know the Safari are the best people to teach in it.
What is a LODA and do I need one?
A Letter of Deviation Authority is what allows a CFI to be paid to instruct in an experimental aircraft that the student does not own. If you are the owner training in your own Safari, the situation is different. Ask us about the LODA process and we will walk you through what applies to you.
Who does the check ride, and can it be done in my Safari?
Safari works with several Designated Pilot Examiners who are authorized to conduct the check ride in a Safari. When you are ready, we will help you make the connection.
Do I need a fixed-wing license first?
No. A helicopter rating can be your first pilot certificate. If you already hold a fixed-wing certificate, you add a rotorcraft-helicopter rating to it; your instructor will tell you what carries over.
Can I train while my Safari is still being built?
Ask us. Ground school and initial dual instruction with a local instructor can typically begin before your aircraft is finished, and we will help you find that instructor and plan the transition into your own Safari.
Is the Safari a safe aircraft to learn in?
The Safari is a safe and dependable kit helicopter when operated with good judgment and piloting skill. It is powered by a real aircraft engine, with a governor and electric cyclic trim that ease the workload for a new pilot. Good instruction is the rest of the equation.
Get started
Ready to start?
Tell us where you are and where you are in your build. Call 1-850-482-4141 or send us a message and we will start the search for an instructor near you.