Commercial pilot licence (helicopter) exams - CADH, CLWH, CFPH and CSYH

A commercial pilot licence (CPL) lets you fly an aircraft for work.

To test your theory on helicopters (CPLH), you will do 7 exams on different subjects:

  • 3 subjects are common across aircraft categories (CHUF, CNAV and CMET)
  • 4 subjects are particular to helicopters.

Booking the CPL exams

You can do the exams in any order.

Plan when you do the exams carefully and book them only when you understand each exam subject.

You must pass all the exams within one window for example, you have 2 years to pass all 7 subjects, starting on the date of your first CPL subject pass.

When changing category, you have 2 years to pass the 4 category-specific subjects. This may apply when you already hold a CPL (A or H) licence or a CPL (A or H) theory credit.

Commercial pilot licence aerodynamics (helicopter) exam – CADH

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 1.5 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $169.34 each ($104.34 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CADH exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
20207.273.946.3611.2114.5513.3343.3371.21%
20218.867.918.8610.1312.6612.6638.9264.24%
20225.804.499.5011.6115.0417.4136.1568.60%
20238.684.515.9013.8912.5016.6737.8567.01%
20246.604.829.1410.6612.1814.9741.6268.78%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

  • ground effect
  • tail rotor effectiveness and associated factors
  • tail rotor - knowledge of airflows and forces and behaviour of a tail rotor
  • dynamic rollover
  • mast bumping.

Commercial pilot licence flight rules and air law (helicopter) exam – CLWH

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 2 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 80% of the marks.

These exams cost $182.38 each ($117.38 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices List and the Jeppesen List.

Airservices list

CAR 1988

Part 61 of CASR

Part 91 of CASR and Part 91 MOS

Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS

CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019

AIP Book

ERSA complete

AUS PCA

ERC LOW 1/2 and 3/4 only (2 ERC LOWs)

Hobart/Launceston VTC

Brisbane-Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast VTC

Jeppesen list

CAR 1988

Part 61 of CASR

Part 91 of ;CASR and Part 91 MOS

Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS

CAO 48.1 Instrument 2019

Jeppesen Airway Manual

AUS PCA

Hobart/Launceston VTC

Brisbane-Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast VTC

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CLWH exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
20201.112.793.624.7410.8615.8861.0061.00%
20212.842.843.986.5311.0815.3457.3957.39%
20222.523.663.438.4714.6520.3746.9146.91%
20233.412.564.2610.5112.5015.0651.7051.70%
20242.563.585.637.4211.0014.5855.2455.24%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

  • airspace requirements
  • pilot maintenance requirements
  • rules of the air
  • tracking requirements
  • hot refuelling requirements.

Commercial pilot licence operation, performance and flight planning (helicopter) exam – CFPH

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 2.5 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $195.45 each ($130.45 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.

You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.

Airservices list

Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger II Performance and Operations Handbook

Part 91 MOS

Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS

AC 91-29

AIP Book

ERSA complete

Navigation equipment

A basic calculator

Jeppesen list

Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger II Performance and Operations Handbook

Part 91 MOS

Part 133 of CASR and Part 133 MOS

AC 91-29

Jeppesen Airway Manual

Navigation equipment

A basic calculator

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CFPH exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
202016.0411.236.6816.3112.5712.0325.1349.73%
202119.718.897.4518.0313.469.8622.6045.91%
202216.519.408.9416.5112.1611.0125.4648.62%
202316.578.589.4715.0910.9513.3126.0450.30%
202418.717.917.6713.1911.519.5931.4152.52%

 

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Fuel policy in CFPH exams

Our Flight Crew Licence exams reference policies related to fuel usage and reserves.

The fuel reserves will be carried in accordance with either:

  • CASR Part 91 MOS, Chapter 19, table 19.02 (2), Item 6 for rotorcraft under VFR by day, or
  • CASR Part 133 MOS, Chapter 6.

Each question will clearly state whether the flight is conducted as a Part 91 or Part 133 operation.

We recommend you avoid rounding off at intermediate stages of your workings when calculating fuel requirements in your exam.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

  • basic ground speed
  • fuel policy requirements
  • helicopter limitations, including rotor RPM, VNE and flight load factors
  • take-off and landing weight
  • hover performance
  • calculations for CG position and loading.

Commercial pilot licence aircraft general knowledge (helicopter) exam – CSYH

The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.

You have 1.5 hours to complete the exam.

To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.

These exams cost $169.34 each ($104.34 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).

Preparing for your exam

The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.

Permitted material

Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:

  • pen
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • eraser
  • scribble pad.

Pass rates

You can see how candidates performed in their CSYH exam.

Year0 - 54%55 - 59%60 - 64%65 - 69%70 - 74%75 - 79%80+%Pass rate
20204.665.969.5913.4714.778.0343.5266.32%
20217.545.259.5115.0823.619.8432.4665.90%
20223.645.199.3515.3219.7412.2134.5566.49%
20235.612.976.2713.8619.149.9042.2471.29%
20243.845.379.2114.0714.3210.7442.4667.52%

Check the results of candidates from previous years.

Common errors

The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:

  • ammeter indications
  • recognition of different fuels
  • correct use of carburettor heat
  • turbo-chargers and associated engine handling
  • understanding of magneto operations and their failures
  • correct understanding of vibration either in the main rotor or tail rotor.
Last updated:
6 Feb 2024
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-and-flight-crew-exams/pilot-exams/commercial-pilot-licence-helicopter-exams-cadh-clwh-cfph-and-csyh
Back to top of page