Foggy Flight
Gordy's "Minimums" depend upon whether he is departing SLC or inbound....I bet!
Well, there are days/nights, where you have to wait, until the weather picks up,again...
That picture was taken in the morning after an night outside landing.
Luckily this time I only had to wait till the next morning.
Twice a bird couldn't retrieved for a about a week ��
(I guess I have to find a better place for online picture storage...)
That picture was taken in the morning after an night outside landing.
Luckily this time I only had to wait till the next morning.
Twice a bird couldn't retrieved for a about a week ��
(I guess I have to find a better place for online picture storage...)
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Shy; you and I are of an age where our type of weather is no clouds south of Icaland or North of the Azores, 20c and a gentle breeze. Wafted to our seats by virgins strewing rose petals and afterwards carried to the best seat in a pub with excellent ales.
All this flying in grot is for younger, keener men who haven't scared themselves enough yet.
SND
All this flying in grot is for younger, keener men who haven't scared themselves enough yet.
SND
Back in the 60s, just before I started at the Thorney Island S&R flight, they were called out to 2 Hospital transfers, (both life threatening) and 1 sea-related. The visbility was given as never above 100m, rubbish cloud base, and the whole thing was navigated on Decca (remember it?). Decision making, in those circumstances, is almost at coin-tossing level.They were, in the event, successful but balance 'what could have been' against 'what was'.? How's your luck today?
In the Oz air force training schools, when the weather turned out like that, we would hold a Flight Safety Meeting at a beachside pub which had a lunchtime strip show. Sadly, the local authorities were concerned that little kiddies could wander into such a meeting and see ladies with their naughty bits showing. An edict was edicted: No more daytime strip shows!
The pubs were pretty smart, so they changed things a little, and the ladies would walk out naked and proceed to put their clothes ON.
The pubs were pretty smart, so they changed things a little, and the ladies would walk out naked and proceed to put their clothes ON.
Upon realizing my bag of luck was getting awfully light , and a growing awareness that folks higher up the Totem Pole did not have the same desire for me to make it to retirement, as I did.....and had insurance to replace the aircraft.....I found my ability to be quite happy to sit in the Crew room with a cup of Tea and a newspaper to be a more frequently enjoyed pleasure no matter the nagging of those who valued revenue over my safety.
If they had fancy tabs on their white shirts I would lower the paper enough to make eye-eye contact and remind them the keys were in the ignition if they cared to take my aircraft and go flying. None took me up on the offer.
If they had fancy tabs on their white shirts I would lower the paper enough to make eye-eye contact and remind them the keys were in the ignition if they cared to take my aircraft and go flying. None took me up on the offer.
Weather to bug out or whether not
If anyone thinks this sort of weather is OK to fly in, even if it's to save a Life, seriously needs their head read 
It's just plain Fvking stoopid 
After 1,347 success rescues in the Mountains I can tell You it ain't worth risking dying for! You won't get a heroes funeral...I've left 19 people to die on the ground because of the ****e weather. I make no apology for that, cause the machine was left safe to fly another day & so was I
Be Safe...they'll always be another day to fly
It's just plain Fvking stoopid After 1,347 success rescues in the Mountains I can tell You it ain't worth risking dying for! You won't get a heroes funeral...I've left 19 people to die on the ground because of the ****e weather. I make no apology for that, cause the machine was left safe to fly another day & so was I
Be Safe...they'll always be another day to fly
My point was to have a plan and a set of conditions worked out in advance. That way it keeps out the emotion of the event.
To answer Sasless's question:
Nah, it just means I stay another night in a hotel either way.
To answer Sasless's question:
Gordy's "Minimums" depend upon whether he is departing SLC or inbound....I bet!
I've left 19 people to die on the ground because of the ****e weather. I make no apology for that
Always have a plan...to bug out earlier than later
Hey megan....'twas tough in the beginning, but after getting emotionally entangled a few times with the relatives & friends of the deceased on-board, once almost fvking up a landing on short final because I was feeling for the survivors. I realized I had to remain completely detached, emotionally cold & uncaring so that I may be at my 100% in keeping the Living & machine Safe 
After all that was my job, to keep Safe, saving a Life is secondary 
After all that was my job, to keep Safe, saving a Life is secondary
Folks died before helicopters were invented....and will keep right on dying too.
You don't count the ones you cannot help....you remember the ones you could and did!
You can't get to every one!
You don't count the ones you cannot help....you remember the ones you could and did!
You can't get to every one!
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I also remember a few who were rescued and didn't really warrant a helicopter.
E.G. The Army Lieutenant who had a "broken back" after falling down a bank whilst on a jungle patrol. We launched in appalling weather at midnight, dodging thunderstorms and landing at an unrecce'd, unlit site; a jungle clearing. We nearly bust our backsides getting in there. The soldier with the "broken back" walked to the aircraft; we were obviously expecting a stretcher case...
Another: Launched in the small hours to another unlit site for a "Category A" casevac. Allegedly a very severe hand injury with severe loss of blood. It turned out to be a cut thumb; certainly not life threatening as we were led to believe. If the casualty had been a bit more careful (i.e. had a few less beers) when picking up his broken beer glass we wouldn't have had to put the aircraft and three crew at risk.
E.G. The Army Lieutenant who had a "broken back" after falling down a bank whilst on a jungle patrol. We launched in appalling weather at midnight, dodging thunderstorms and landing at an unrecce'd, unlit site; a jungle clearing. We nearly bust our backsides getting in there. The soldier with the "broken back" walked to the aircraft; we were obviously expecting a stretcher case...
Another: Launched in the small hours to another unlit site for a "Category A" casevac. Allegedly a very severe hand injury with severe loss of blood. It turned out to be a cut thumb; certainly not life threatening as we were led to believe. If the casualty had been a bit more careful (i.e. had a few less beers) when picking up his broken beer glass we wouldn't have had to put the aircraft and three crew at risk.
Correct me if I'am wrong...
Many years ago the LA Fire Dept helicopter landed in the mountains around LA to pick up an injured hiker who could not walk. The helicopter crew were all Vietnam veterans. The injured hiker was Jane Fonda!
Many years ago the LA Fire Dept helicopter landed in the mountains around LA to pick up an injured hiker who could not walk. The helicopter crew were all Vietnam veterans. The injured hiker was Jane Fonda!
Yosemite it was I think.....single pilot....gave her a ride back to the heli-port.
We revoked his Air Medals!
We should have!
We revoked his Air Medals!
We should have!
I used to say I would not piddle in her mouth if her teeth were fire.....then I had a change of heart......I would to wet down the ashes!
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Polemic Helicopter IFR Video
Hi
THis is my first post to the Rotorheads section. I simply do not know enough about helicopter ops to make any judgement on this and would like some feedback.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXEejNarYsk
This video has been doing the rounds on social media these last few days, and, as you can imagine, there has been quite a lot of chaff in various comments sections from non-pilots and worse, non-pilots claiming too be pilots... you know the sort, the type that have a dusty copy of MS Flight SImulator in a drawer somewhere, yet still begin posts with "I have 46,000 hours, thought in Vietnam, Korea and lived for 20 years on an aircraft carrier, I was also a NASA test pilot, boy scout and girl guide since the age of six..... etc"
I understand that this is a Bell 407 in the Philipines and I think that the avionics suite is a G300.
Simply put, was this a legal operation in your humblest of opinons.
Thanks
THis is my first post to the Rotorheads section. I simply do not know enough about helicopter ops to make any judgement on this and would like some feedback.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXEejNarYsk
This video has been doing the rounds on social media these last few days, and, as you can imagine, there has been quite a lot of chaff in various comments sections from non-pilots and worse, non-pilots claiming too be pilots... you know the sort, the type that have a dusty copy of MS Flight SImulator in a drawer somewhere, yet still begin posts with "I have 46,000 hours, thought in Vietnam, Korea and lived for 20 years on an aircraft carrier, I was also a NASA test pilot, boy scout and girl guide since the age of six..... etc"
I understand that this is a Bell 407 in the Philipines and I think that the avionics suite is a G300.
Simply put, was this a legal operation in your humblest of opinons.
Thanks