Originally Posted by
Luther Sebastian
Really impressed you’ve met every R44 pilot and found them wanting at W&B, though strangely I can’t remember meeting you, or you might have realised there was at least one exception. Other exceptions might also be available.
Luther,
the “do any“ referred to the planning, not R44 pilots. And I was addressing the importance of performance planning in the R44, not weight and balance. Doing that bit won‘t tell you anything about whether the aircraft is within its performance envelope for the intended conditions.
A lot of R44 accidents are the result of running out of power having run out of airmanship. But this fairly common accident cause is not part of the SFARs applying to Robbies, nor was it part of my UK type rating/s. Sure you should have learnt this knowledge skill as part of a PPL(H), but it strikes me as a Cinderella subject that gets lip service as best. Ovc000’s point about training in the R44 with plenty of power in hand, then filling the seats and getting a “surprise“ is important.