Originally Posted by
clearedtocross
Sorry fdr, I humbly disagree. While it is near impossible to stop a light heli manually like a Robinson R22 without proper ground reference, those big junks used for all-weather rescue operations all have hover-capable autopilots. Press the button and the thing holds position even in strong winds. I am sure a Blackhawk has this feature too.
I have about 5500 hours, much of it at night low level over water, on a type with zero-visibility-rated auto let-down to the autohover. Yes, you "press the button" and it comes to a stop all on its own - eventually. But it's a complex checklist to set up for pressing the button, the programme to get you to the hover takes time to run (in the Sea King 78+/- 4 seconds) and the process requires the full attention of both pilots and either a crewman on radar or, if practicing in visual conditions in daylight, a crewman augmenting the very limited lookout capability of the pilots.