Question

Do regulations permit you to act as pilot in command of an airplane in IMC if you hold a private pilot certificate with ASEL, rotorcraft category, with helicopter class rating and instrument helicopter rating?

Answer 1

Holding a private pilot certificate with Airplane Single Engine Land (ASEL), rotorcraft category, helicopter class, and instrument helicopter rating does not permit one to act as pilot in command of an airplane in IMC; an instrument-airplane rating is required.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of this question pertains to aviation regulations, specifically regarding pilot in command qualifications in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). If you hold a private pilot certificate with an Airplane Single Engine Land (ASEL) rating, a rotorcraft category, with a helicopter class rating and an instrument helicopter rating, it does not automatically grant you the privilege to act as pilot in command (PIC) for an airplane in IMC. To legally act as PIC of an airplane in IMC, you must hold an instrument rating applicable to that category and class of aircraft—in this case, an instrument-airplane rating. This is because the specific skills and knowledge required for flying a helicopter under instrument flight rules (IFR) are different from those required for flying an airplane under the same conditions. To fly an airplane in IMC, further training and testing to obtain the appropriate instrument-airplane rating would be necessary.