Originally Posted by
Turkeyslapper
Not an offshore type so please excuse my ignorance. What’s Vmini for this type? Surely on a pitch black night rolling off the side of a deck over water it’s effectively IMC whilst below Vmini? Are AFCS functions used to mitigate such departures?
Vmini is 50 KIAS. Your point is valid and has been the topic of conversations before. However, bear in mind that from a certification standpoint Vmini is considered for steady state flight. During an offshore take off, using a positive accelerative attitude (we always used -10 absolute, not delta) you will reach and pass 50 kts rapidly. Even more so with 33 kts of wind!
The correct sequence should be - establish the stable hover with FTR depressed, then release when established. Pull pitch to climb vertically, depress FTR passing TDP to set the accelerative attitude, then release and monitor the acceleration and no sink. Company SOPs might then include using GA mode passing 55 KIAS, to establish a Vy climb at 750 ft/min. In turbulent conditions it may be necessary to make minor cyclic inputs in the initial climb, but at night I’d suggest doing that against the force, and not use the FTR.