Licensed Pilots
This is for currently qualified pilots who want to add a gyroplane rating to their existing license. This can be done in two ways:
Gyroplane Endorsements
Sport Pilot Rating
This is suitable for existing pilots who want to fly gyroplanes. For an existing pilot, you can add the gyroplane Sport Pilot rating to your license and fly one either solo or with a passenger. The only restriction that matters is that you may not fly at night with this rating.
As an existing fixed-wing pilot, here’s what you need to get a gyroplane additional endorsement:
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Aeronautical endorsement from CFI
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Training to proficiency
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Flight training endorsement from CFI
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Pass Proficiency check with second CFI
Private/Commercial Pilot Rating
This is for existing pilots who want to get the full Private or Commercial rating for their license.
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Additional Category
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Aeronautical knowledge training endorsement from CFI
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Aeronautical experience
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20 hours Dual
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3 hours Cross-country in gyro
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3 hours Night flying
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One XC Flight 50nm
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10 takeoffs and landings
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3 hours in preceding 2 calendar months prior to test
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10 hours solo
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3 hours XC
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One XC of 100nm total with 3 points, 25nm leg
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3 TO and Landings at Towered airport
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Flight training endorsement from CFI
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Pass Proficiency check with DPE
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Additional Class
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Aeronautical knowledge endorsement from CFI
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Training to proficiency
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Flight training endorsement from CFI
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Pass Proficiency check DPE
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New Pilots
If you have no pilot license, Bay Area Gyro can take you from zero to fully qualified. Note that this is primarily recommended for people who already know they just want to fly gyros and do not necessarily plan to fly other types of aircraft.
Sport Pilot License - Initial
The ideal initial training for someone with no flying experience who wants to specifically learn to fly a gyroplane. The items you need to go through are shown to the right. Some may require explanation and feel free to contact us to learn more.
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Obtain medical certificate
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Obtain/hold Student Certificate (16+ years old)
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17+ years old to get actual license
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Aeronautical knowledge training endorsement from CFI
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Pass FAA knowledge test
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Aeronautical experience
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Minimum of 20 hours overall flight time
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15 hours Dual
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2 hours Cross-country
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10 takeoffs and landings
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2 hours in preceding 2 calendar months prior to test
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5 hours solo
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Solo XC: 2 points, 25nm leg, 50nm total
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Flight training endorsement from CFI
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Pass Proficiency check with DPE
Private Pilot License - Initial
For aspiring pilots with little or no experience who want to do the full license and already know they want to fly gyroplanes.
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17+ years old
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Obtain medical certificate
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Hold Student Certificate (16+ years old)
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Aeronautical knowledge training endorsement from CFI
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Pass FAA knowledge test
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Aeronautical experience
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Minimum of 40 hours overall flight time
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20 hours Dual
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3 hours Cross-country
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3 hours Night flying
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One XC Flight 50nm
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10 takeoffs and landings
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3 hours in preceding 2 calendar months prior to test
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10 hours solo
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3 hours XC
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One XC of 100nm total with 3 points, 25nm leg
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3 TO and Landings at Towered airport
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Flight training endorsement from CFI
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Pass Proficiency check with DPE
Training Blocks
Bay Area Gyro offers training in 2-hour blocks, at $400 per block. Each 2 hour block covers the time used for pre-flight briefing, the flight time itself and the post-flight debriefing. The great majority of flight students find that an hour of actual flight time is more than enough, and students will become task-saturated if the instructor attempts to push much beyond this time, but students vary and so does the task load in different lessons. The split between pre-flight, flight time and post-flight will vary according to the stage in the syllabus and the needs of the student but the total time is targeted to be a 2 hours slot.
Flight Training FAQs
As a non-pilot, what do I need to get a gyroplane license?
See the section for New Pilots.
What’s a sport pilot rating? Is it a real pilot’s license?
Yes it is. A sport pilot license is something the FAA came up with in 2004 to make it easier to get a license. Compared with a full private pilot’s license, there are some restrictions to do with what you can do with it, the kinds of aircraft you can fly, where you can go and so on.
What’s the practical difference between a sport pilot and private pilot rating for gyros?
In the world of gyroplanes, the only practical difference is that a private pilot may fly at night. Night flight is considered as the time between one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. If you wish to fly at night, a private pilot rating is a must. Most gyro pilots, however, start with a sport rating and add the private rating later.
Can all Magni models be flown with either a sport or private pilot rating?
Yes, all models qualify for a pilot with either a sport pilot or private pilot rating.
What is the typical time to get my license?
This all depends on where you are starting from. Since safety and proficiency are non-negotiable, all we can commit to is that we will continue your training until you are safe and proficient. It is nearly impossible to put a number on this. Everyone wants to do it “as fast and cheaply as possible” and that’s the goal, but speed should never be prioritized over safety. To give some (very) rough guidelines, for initial pilot training, if you have 0 hours and are starting out as a brand new student pilot, as shown above you will need 20 flying hours minimum to become a sport pilot and 40 flying hours to become a private pilot. However, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to budget 50% more hours than the minimum to set your own expectations clearly. Most students end up closer to this than the bare minimum.
For pilots transitioning over from airplane, helicopter, glider, or weight-shift aircraft, you will usually need between 15-25 hours.
Can a gyroplane stall like an airplane?
No. The physics of the rotor’s airfoil design and teetering rotorhead is such that the rotor will auto-rotate and speed up or slow down to generate the lift required. You can be at zero forward airspeed, and the rotor will simply continue to rotate. You will descend vertically, but you won’t be stalling. This is one of the key factors that makes them inherently safer than an airplane.
Can I train in my own gyroplane?
Yes! If you own (or want to purchase) a Magni M24, M16 or M26 gyroplane, you can be trained in your own gyro, and we encourage it. There’s nothing like the motivation of having your own aircraft and wanting to take it places!
I am a rated airplane or helicopter pilot - how similar is a gyroplane to either of these?
Gyroplanes share enough similarities with both a helicopter and an airplane that much of the skillset you have mastered is transferrable. The gyro-specific aspects, we will train you to master. Magni gyros are designed to be inherently safe and easy to fly. While they are fun and versatile, thorough training is required to help you operate one as such.