ANAC Commercial Pilot Helicopter (PCH) exam-day guide
ANAC Commercial Pilot Helicopter (PCH) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring a current government-issued photo ID (passport or national identity card). Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Licence and medical certificate
Carry your pilot licence and current medical certificate in original form. Confirm with the provider whether certified copies are acceptable and whether the medical class must meet the commercial standard on the test date.
Logbook and training records
Bring your personal logbook and any training records the provider requests. Ensure entries are complete, signed where required, and totals are legible. Confirm with the provider the exact record set expected.
Knowledge-test result or prerequisite evidence
If a written knowledge test is a prerequisite, bring the result notice or reference number. Confirm with the provider how the result is verified and whether it must be valid on the test date.
Appointment confirmation and fee receipt
Bring the booking confirmation and proof of payment if fees were paid in advance. Confirm with the provider the payment method accepted on the day.
Published test standards and aircraft documents
Review the applicable practical test standards and confirm the aircraft documents (certificate of registration, certificate of airworthiness, mass and balance, maintenance release) are on board. The examiner normally checks these; confirm with the provider what the candidate must present versus what the aircraft operator supplies.
Flight planning materials
Bring current charts, a navigation plotter, a flight computer, a current weather briefing, and a completed flight plan for the planned route. Confirm with the provider whether electronic flight bags are permitted and under what conditions.
Aircraft and equipment readiness
Confirm the helicopter is serviceable, fuelled, and equipped as required for the test profile, including headsets and intercom. Confirm with the provider who is responsible for aircraft booking and any dual-control requirements.
Personal equipment
Bring suitable clothing for the weather, a high-visibility vest if required at the aerodrome, sunglasses, water, and any personal medication. Confirm with the provider any dress or safety-equipment expectations.
Rest and fitness declaration
Plan adequate rest before the test and be prepared to declare any medication, illness, or fatigue. Confirm with the provider the fitness-to-fly declaration process and whether a written statement is required. needs_review
Contact numbers and contingency plan
Record the examiner's and flight school's contact numbers and know the procedure if weather or aircraft serviceability causes a cancellation. Confirm with the provider the rescheduling and fee policy. needs_review
Review of weak areas
Bring concise personal notes on manoeuvres and procedures you find difficult, such as autorotation entry, confined-area operations, or emergency procedures. Confirm with the provider whether notes may be consulted during the oral portion; do not assume they are permitted in the aircraft.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment time, location, aircraft registration, and examiner name with the provider. Re-read the practical test standards and the aircraft flight manual limitations and emergency procedures. Fly at least one consolidation sortie focused on weak manoeuvres if the provider permits it, and review mass and balance and performance calculations for forecast conditions. Gather and organise all documents, and check that the medical certificate and licence are valid on the test date.
Obtain a full weather briefing for the planned area and note the trend. Complete a written flight plan and weight-and-balance calculation for the expected loading. Prepare the aircraft documents folder and confirm the maintenance release is current. Avoid new or intense study; instead review summaries and sleep early. Confirm transport to the aerodrome and allow generous margin for traffic and briefing time.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Recheck weather and NOTAMs, then update the flight plan if conditions have changed. Arrive early enough to complete the pre-flight briefing without rushing. Present documents to the examiner, complete the oral knowledge portion, then conduct the pre-flight inspection and aircraft preparation methodically, verbalising checks where required.
Listen to each instruction fully before acting, and ask for clarification if a task is ambiguous. Fly within the tolerances published in the test standards and prioritise safety and airmanship over precision. Verbalise decisions, especially for emergencies and go/no-go calls. Manage time and fuel deliberately. If a manoeuvre is not going well, continue safely and discuss it in the debrief rather than attempting an unsafe correction.
Rules to check
Carry valid photo identification and present it when requested; confirm with the provider which documents must be originals.
Follow the examiner's instructions and the provider's conduct rules at all times; safety of flight takes precedence over completing any test item.
Do not consult notes, electronic devices, or other references during the flight portion unless the provider has explicitly authorised them for a specific task.
Declare any illness, medication, fatigue, or other factor affecting fitness to fly before the test begins; withholding such information is a serious breach.
Breaks during the oral portion or between the oral and flight portions may be available; confirm with the provider how breaks are requested and whether they affect the schedule.
Scoring follows the published practical test standards; a failure in a required task or a safety-related deviation may end the test. Confirm with the provider the retest and appeal procedures before the test day.
Arrive on time; late arrival may result in cancellation or rescheduling. Confirm with the provider the cancellation, no-show, and weather-delay policies.
Treat the examiner, aerodrome staff, and other airspace users with professional courtesy; airmanship and decision-making are assessed throughout the test.