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100+ Free CPL Helicopter Practice Questions

Pass your Transport Canada Commercial Pilot Licence — Helicopter (CPHEL) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CPL Helicopter Exam

100

Official Questions

Transport Canada TP 2476

60%

Sectional Pass Mark

Transport Canada Licensing Standards

3.5 hrs

Exam Time Limit

Transport Canada Scheduling Portal

$105

Exam Fee (CAD)

Transport Canada Fee Schedule

24 mo

Result Validity

CAR 400.03

The Transport Canada CPHEL exam is a 100-question theory test assessing helicopter aerodynamics, CARs, navigation, and weather. It requires 60% overall and 60% in each section to pass. This prep includes 100 practice questions.

Sample CPL Helicopter Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CPL Helicopter exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 602.03, what is the minimum time that must elapse between consuming an alcoholic beverage and acting as a crew member of a helicopter?
A.8 hours
B.12 hours
C.24 hours
D.36 hours
Explanation: CAR 602.03(a) states that no person shall act as a crew member of an aircraft within 12 hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage. This was updated from the previous 8-hour limit to enhance flight safety.
2What is the validity period of a Category 1 Medical Certificate for a 35-year-old pilot acting as a commercial helicopter pilot for hire?
A.6 months
B.12 months
C.24 months
D.60 months
Explanation: Under Transport Canada regulations, a Category 1 Medical Certificate is valid for 12 months for commercial pilots under the age of 40. Once the pilot reaches 40, the validity drops to 6 months for single-pilot operations carrying passengers.
3A commercial helicopter pilot is 45 years old and flies single-pilot operations carrying passengers for hire. What is the validity period of their Category 1 Medical Certificate?
A.6 months
B.12 months
C.24 months
D.60 months
Explanation: For flight crew members who are 40 years of age or older and engaged in commercial passenger-carrying operations, the validity period of a Category 1 Medical Certificate is 6 months.
4What are the day VFR weather minima for a helicopter operating in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace below 1,000 feet AGL?
A.Flight visibility not less than 1 mile, and clear of cloud
B.Flight visibility not less than 2 miles, and 500 feet vertically from cloud
C.Flight visibility not less than 3 miles, and clear of cloud
D.Flight visibility not less than 1/2 mile, and 1,000 feet horizontally from cloud
Explanation: According to CAR 602.115, a helicopter operating in uncontrolled airspace below 1,000 feet AGL during the day requires flight visibility of not less than 1 SM and must remain clear of cloud. However, air operators may be authorized to fly in down to 1/2 SM under specific training and equipment provisions.
5What are the night VFR weather minima for a helicopter operating in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace below 1,000 feet AGL?
A.Flight visibility not less than 1 mile, and clear of cloud
B.Flight visibility not less than 3 miles, and clear of cloud
C.Flight visibility not less than 1 mile, and 500 feet vertically from cloud
D.Flight visibility not less than 3 miles, and 500 feet vertically from cloud
Explanation: At night, in uncontrolled airspace below 1,000 feet AGL, the visibility requirement increases to 3 miles, while the cloud clearance requirement remains 'clear of cloud'.
6What is the day VFR weather minima for a helicopter operating in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace above 1,000 feet AGL?
A.Flight visibility not less than 1 mile, and clear of cloud
B.Flight visibility not less than 1 mile, and 500 feet vertically and 2,000 feet horizontally from cloud
C.Flight visibility not less than 3 miles, and 500 feet vertically and 1 mile horizontally from cloud
D.Flight visibility not less than 2 miles, and clear of cloud
Explanation: In uncontrolled airspace above 1,000 feet AGL during the day, a helicopter must maintain a flight visibility of at least 1 SM, and stay 500 feet vertically and 2,000 feet horizontally away from clouds.
7What is the absolute minimum flight visibility required for a helicopter to obtain Special VFR (SVFR) clearance within a Control Zone?
A.1/2 mile
B.1 mile
C.2 miles
D.3 miles
Explanation: CAR 602.117 allows a helicopter to operate under Special VFR inside a Control Zone provided the flight visibility is not less than 1/2 mile and the helicopter is operated clear of cloud.
8When two power-driven aircraft are converging at approximately the same altitude, which aircraft has the right of way?
A.The larger or heavier aircraft has the right of way.
B.The helicopter always has the right of way over the fixed-wing aircraft.
C.The aircraft that has the other on its right shall give way.
D.The aircraft that has the other on its left shall give way.
Explanation: CAR 602.19 states that when two aircraft are converging at approximately the same altitude, the pilot of the aircraft that has the other on its right shall give way. A helicopter and an aeroplane are both power-driven aircraft, so standard crossing rules apply.
9Two aircraft are approaching head-on, or nearly head-on, at the same altitude. What action must both pilots take?
A.Both pilots must alter their headings to the left.
B.Both pilots must alter their headings to the right.
C.The helicopter pilot must climb, and the aeroplane pilot must descend.
D.The pilot of the faster aircraft must give way by turning left.
Explanation: Under CAR 602.19, when two aircraft are approaching head-on, each pilot must alter their heading to the right to ensure a safe distance of passage.
10Which of the following describes the correct right-of-way relationship between a helicopter and a glider?
A.The helicopter has the right of way because it is more maneuverable.
B.The glider has the right of way because it is not power-driven.
C.The aircraft on the right has the right of way, regardless of type.
D.The pilot of the glider must give way to all rotary-wing aircraft.
Explanation: According to CAR 602.19, power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft (which includes helicopters) must give way to gliders, airships, and balloons. Thus, the glider has the right of way.

About the CPL Helicopter Exam

The Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter (CPHEL) exam is the mandatory Transport Canada written test for commercial helicopter pilot licensing. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions testing your knowledge in four mandatory sections: Air Law, Navigation, Meteorology, and Aeronautics General Knowledge. Candidates must achieve a score of at least 60% in the overall exam and in each of the four individual sections to pass.

Assessment

Closed-book computer-based exam administered at Transport Canada Centres or via approved online/in-person invigilators. Permitted items: flight computer (CX-3 or manual E6B), plotter, protractor, non-programmable calculator.

Time Limit

3.5 hours

Passing Score

60%

Exam Fee

$105 CAD (Transport Canada)

CPL Helicopter Exam Content Outline

20%

Air Law

Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), airspace, flight rules, air traffic services, and pilot licensing.

25%

Navigation

General navigation, flight planning, wind drift, charts, radio aids, and transponder codes.

25%

Meteorology

Aviation weather theory, moisture, wind, fronts, icing, turbulence, and meteorological reports/forecasts.

30%

Aeronautics - General Knowledge

Helicopter theory of flight (aerodynamics), turbine/piston engines, airframes, systems, instruments, and human factors.

How to Pass the CPL Helicopter Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 60%
  • Assessment: Closed-book computer-based exam administered at Transport Canada Centres or via approved online/in-person invigilators. Permitted items: flight computer (CX-3 or manual E6B), plotter, protractor, non-programmable calculator.
  • Time limit: 3.5 hours
  • Exam fee: $105 CAD

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CPL Helicopter Study Tips from Top Performers

1Ensure you memorize the commercial flight rules and helicopter-specific weather minima: Day VFR in uncontrolled airspace below 1,000 ft AGL is 1 SM visibility (or 1/2 SM if authorized in an AOC), while Special VFR for helicopters is 1/2 SM visibility.
2Understand the aerodynamical hazards specific to helicopters, such as the entry and recovery from Vortex Ring State (settling with power), dynamic rollover pivot points, and tail rotor control loss (LTE).
3Practice wind drift, track correction, and fuel requirements on your flight computer. Commercial helicopter operations have tight fuel reserve requirements (20 minutes for day VFR, 45 minutes for night VFR).
4Study aviation weather reports in detail. Be prepared to decode METARs, TAFs, and Graphic Area Forecasts (GFA) including cloud height, visibility, turbulence, and icing symbols.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I pass the overall CPHEL exam but fail one section?

Transport Canada issues a 'partial pass' if you score at least 60% overall but fail one or more of the four mandatory sections. In this case, you only need to rewrite the individual sections you failed. These are written as separate exams: CHLAW (Air Law, 20 questions), CHNAV (Navigation, 25 questions), CHMET (Meteorology, 25 questions), or CHGEN (General Knowledge, 35 questions).

How long are my CPHEL examination results valid?

Your exam results are valid for 24 months. You must complete all licensing requirements (including the flight test and flight experience) and have the Commercial Pilot Licence issued within 24 months of writing the exam, or your results will expire and you will have to rewrite.

What is the waiting period if I fail the exam?

If you fail the exam (or a section of it), the waiting period to rewrite is 14 days for the first failure, 30 days for the second failure, and 30 days plus an additional 30 days for subsequent failures, up to a maximum of 180 days.

Are there any specific flight experience prerequisites to write the CPHEL exam?

Yes. According to Canadian Aviation Regulations, you must have completed at least 50% of the flight experience required for the commercial licence (which corresponds to 50 hours of flight time for helicopters) before you are permitted to sit the CPHEL examination.

What tools and materials are permitted in the exam room?

Candidates are permitted to bring a manual or electronic flight computer (such as the E6B or Pathfinder CX-3), a navigation plotter, a protractor, a non-programmable calculator, and pencils/erasers. No study guides, notes, or smart devices are allowed.