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When looking at the FAA category, class, type list, you have airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, etc. but just rotorcraft helicopter, gyrocopter, etc.

How do I specify a multi vs single engine helicopter? Does the FAA differentiate, or are you able to fly a multi engine helicopter the day you get your helicopter certificate?

For context, I'm making a web form where an operator can add their aircraft, and I want to be able to sort by single or multi engine helicopters because sometimes people request a multi engine helicopter.

I ended up just doing this: enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ A lot of helicopters require a type rating to fly. I'm not sure what you mean by "specify in my own way", specify to who? $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Aug 29, 2016 at 18:43
  • $\begingroup$ Good point. I clarified the question $\endgroup$
    – Arel
    Aug 29, 2016 at 18:49
  • $\begingroup$ Do you really mean helicopters with multiple engines, or are you actually asking about helicopter with multiple rotors? $\endgroup$
    – 60levelchange
    Aug 29, 2016 at 18:52
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    $\begingroup$ It seems you question boils down to "what information is available from FAA site to determine if a given rotorcraft is a multi-turbine helicopter?" $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Aug 29, 2016 at 19:34
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    $\begingroup$ I know you've asked for US, but you could do it easy in Australia which uses two simple classes for non-type rated helicopters - Multi-engine helicopter (MEH) and Single-engine helicopter (SEH). $\endgroup$
    – Ben
    Aug 30, 2016 at 7:25

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For the FAA, rotorcraft powered by more than one powerplant are not separately classified.

A random N-number search for a random twin-engine helicopter—AgustaWestland AW109—using the FAA registry yielded the type as: Rotorcraft.

However for a Boeing 707, the type came back as: Fixed Wing Multi-Engine.

I couldn't find a place where the different classes are listed on the FAA website, whether for fixed-wing or rotorcraft.

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  • $\begingroup$ ymb1 is correct. There is no "multi-engine" rating for helicopters such as there is for fixed wing. With my rotorcraft category helicopter class certificate, I can fly any helicopter regardless of the number of engines so long as I do not exceed the requirement for a type-rating ( ie - if the helicopter is more than 12,500 lbs). $\endgroup$
    – Richard
    May 3, 2018 at 16:43

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