Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course Equips Mechanics with RHC Aircraft Maintenance Skills

In 2021, Robinson Helicopter Company marks almost five decades as a leader in the civilian helicopter industry. The company’s Torrance, California, factory has delivered more than 13,000 helicopters to private pilots and commercial operators around the world. Flight schools, flight based operators, aerial tour companies, and other business ventures rely on these reliable and economical aircraft.

To keep its fleet in the air, Robinson Helicopter maintains a worldwide network of service centers. At each service center, specially trained mechanics service and repair company-built aircraft. Service centers also ensure compliance with all relevant maintenance and safety regulations and standards.

Other aviation maintenance facilities may also perform work on Robinson Helicopter’s R22, R44, and R66 aircraft. Robinson Helicopter strives to provide these mechanics with the necessary skills to service and repair these well-engineered machines. To that end, the company offers technician-focused maintenance courses at its Torrance, California, factory.

Who Should Attend

The Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course is designed to provide licensed airframe and power plant (A&P) mechanics (or the foreign equivalent) with Robinson specific maintenance procedures . Only licensed mechanics are allowed to attend the course.

Note that the Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course does not have Transport Canada or EASA approval. Transport Canada and EASA training resources are listed at the end of this document.

English Fluency Requirement

This course is taught entirely in English. Therefore, course attendees are required to understand and speak fluent English. All written materials are also provided in English.

If an applicant is not fluent in English, they must bring an experienced interpreter with them. However, the interpreter must have technical helicopter knowledge, or they will not be admitted to the course.

Course Prerequisites

• Each attendee must possess a government-issued Airframe Mechanic (or Engineer) License. Active-duty personnel attending on orders must provide the military equivalent.
• Each attendee must have a working knowledge of piston engines and aircraft hardware. The student should also have a working familiarity with magneto ignition systems (found on the R22 and R44) and turbine engines (found on the R66).
• Each attendee must be able to perform TIG welding of aircraft steel tubing. They must also demonstrate knowledge of sheet-metal construction and finishing techniques, along with metal fatigue principles.
• Each attendee’s knowledge base should include weight and balance theory, basic physics principles, and basic electronics concepts.

Most importantly, students should review their weaker subject areas prior to attending the Maintenance Course. The fast-paced curriculum does not allow time for students to gain familiarity with subjects with which they should already have a basic functional knowledge.

Pre-Course Recommended Reading

Before attending the Maintenance Course, students should familiarize themselves with several important resources. Comprehension of this material will enhance the students’ course experience.

Maintenance Manuals, Parts Catalogs, and Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the R22, R44 and R66 Models

These publications are available in the “Publications” section of the Robinson Helicopter website.

Sky Ranch Engineering Manual

This manual is available for purchase on the Robinson website. First, select “Shop.” Next, select “POHs and Manuals.” Alternatively, call Customer Service and reference RHC Part No. R5630.

Before the course begins, students should read the Introduction and Chapter 1.

Maintenance Course Curriculum

The Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course provides basic hands-on instruction for maintaining the R22, R44, and R66 helicopter airframes. The instructor will thoroughly explain and review the Maintenance Manual’s content.

The Maintenance Course’s intensive instruction will enable fixed-wing airframe mechanics to become familiar with the different equipment and service protocols involved in helicopter maintenance. The course also includes an attendees-only tour of the Robinson Helicopter factory.

Passing Requirements

Attendees who want to pass the course must be prepared to expend the effort required to do so. Simply attending the course does not guarantee that a student will pass.

Students are required to complete approximately 1.5 hours of reading homework per night. In addition, the instructor will give daily written exams, and students must achieve a passing grade on each test. Finally, the instructor will evaluate each student’s practical skills during hands-on shop work sessions.

To pass the course, a student must pass every exam. In addition, the student must show the instructor that they can safely maintain and inspect a Robinson helicopter. If the student does not meet both of these criteria, they will not receive a completion certificate.

Course Logistics

The Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course will run for eight full days. Sessions are not held on Saturday or Sunday. Each day’s class starts promptly at 8:00 a.m., and attendees must arrive by 7:45 a.m.

The course will conclude at approximately 4:00 p.m. daily, although the instructor will decide when the session is over. To receive a Certificate of Completion, a student must be present for the entire course.

Course Tuition

The Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course tuition is $1,300 per attendee. Note that Robinson Helicopter provides coffee, tea, and hot chocolate on each class day.

What to Bring

Please note: Students should not bring any tools. Robinson Helicopter will provide all tools necessary for the course’s shop component. Students should bring the following items to class:

• Paper and writing instrument.
• Calculator (most cell phones contain an adequate calculator).
• Colored markers or highlighters (four or more different colors) for tracing electrical schematics.
• Proper clothing for “shop” work. Sleeveless shirts, shorts, sandals, etc. are not acceptable.

In compliance with current CDC COVID-19 guidelines, attendees are asked to bring the following items:

• Face covering/mask (Robinson Helicopter will provide masks if necessary).
• Gloves (Robinson Helicopter will provide latex gloves if necessary).

Registration Process

To reserve a space in the Maintenance Course, each applicant must submit the following items:

• Application.
• Full tuition payment.
• Copy of the applicant’s government-issued Airframe Mechanic License (or foreign equivalent). The license must show the applicant’s rating.
• Copy of the applicant’s government-issued photo identification.

Registration Guidelines

To provide each student with an optimal learning experience, each Maintenance Course is limited to 12 students per session. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note that courses may fill several months ahead of the course date. If the applicant’s preferred date does not have space available, they will be scheduled for their selected alternate date. Robinson Helicopter will provide a formal email confirmation.

On occasion, there may be insufficient enrollment for the course to take place. In this case, the course is likely to be cancelled. Robinson Helicopter will provide a formal email cancellation.

Applicants who do not receive confirmation within one week of submitting their registration should contact the Course Administrator. Applicants should not complete travel arrangements until they have received a formal email confirmation.

Registration Policies

If an applicant registers for the Maintenance Course and later determines that they cannot attend, they must notify Robinson Helicopter in writing two or more weeks prior to the scheduled course date. If the applicant does not provide at least two weeks’ written notice, they must pay 50 percent of the tuition cost to reschedule for another date. If the applicant meets the cancellation requirement, they will receive a 90 percent refund. If they don’t meet the requirement, they will not receive a refund.

If an applicant registers for the Maintenance Course and does not show up, they forfeit their entire tuition fee. There will be no exceptions. Finally, registration and tuition are not transferable to another attendee.

For additional information, applicants can contact the Maintenance Course Administrator: [email protected].

Physical Address and Contact Information

Robinson Helicopter Company

Safety Course Classroom

2901 Airport Drive

Torrance, CA 90505

(310) 539-0508

Additional Training Resources

The following sources provide Robinson Helicopter with aircraft and engine maintenance training materials:

Aircraft Maintenance Training

• EASA-approved R22, R44, and R66 Maintenance Training
• EASA-approved R66 and RR300 Maintenance Training
• Transport Canada-approved R66 Maintenance Training

Engine Maintenance Training

• R22 and R44 Engine Maintenance Training
• R66 Engine Maintenance Training

About Robinson Helicopter Company

Robinson Helicopter Company is a California-based helicopter manufacturing company with almost 50 years in the civilian helicopter industry. Established in 1973 by helicopter engineer and pilot Frank Robinson, the company has grown into an industry leader.

Frank Robinson built the company’s R22 prototype in a rented airport hangar. Today, the company manufactures its R22s, R44s, and R66s at its 617,000 square foot Torrance, California, factory.

As of April 2021, Robinson Helicopter had delivered more than 13,000 helicopters to pilots, flight schools, and commercial operators around the world. During the company’s almost 50 years in business, Robinson-built aircraft have racked up more than 45 million flight hours according to flight records as of the end of 2020.

Robinson Helicopter’s R22, R44, and R66 aircraft are known for their ease of maintenance, reliability and relatively low operating costs.

The Robinson Helicopter Maintenance Course equips licensed A&P mechanics (or equivalent) with Robinson specific maintenance skills. With these capabilities, technicians are well positioned to enable these remarkably efficient machines to keep logging hours in the air.