I'm more than a little disturbed this morning.
I have had 2 private mails over the last couple of days from private pilots in the UK that fly teetering/underslung a/c and they both say that that they have not been made aware of this peril and want to know more.
No, I'm not berating UK training or any individual organisation or instructor. I make no judgement at all. I was taught in UK and made WELL aware of this. I later taught students in UK and did all I could to emphasise the problem. It may well be that it HAS been explained to them but they 'forgot', and that may happen anywhere.
A previous Chief Pilot (no, I was an AFI) of the organisation I did my training with had been killed a couple of years earlier (RIP Harry Knapp) whilst demonstrating Low G (it was allowed then, or not specifically forbidden) and that left its mark on me. But does someone have to die before all sit up and take notice? I think not, and that is part of the reasoning behind this thread.
Whatever the reasons for these two pilots not having sufficient knowledge, (BTW it does indicate that pilots read prune but choose not to post replies) the effect is the same. It is plain that MORE awareness of mast bumping and its cause(s)is required and I'm sure the need is NOT isolated to one country only. Do not forget that it is also NOT isolated to only one Helicopter type either.
I'm taking things a little further by adding the mast bumping item to my website, make it more available to all who need it.
One of these chaps could not print the item from prune, maybe he will be able to do so from my site. If that fails and anyone wants the info. but doesn't want to buy the book then that's also fine, I'll send a copy out at my own cost, even if it must be snail mail.
At risk of sounding insincere on this, I will mention that there are another 120 pages of similar information in my book and that also should be out there doing what it was intended to do. It most certainly was not about collecting money. But I cannot provide all for nothing (although I wish I could) as economics rear their head(s).
A copy of the book may be ordered through the website.
To all of you out there, let's begin a campaign aimed at making sure EVERY Pilot can give you back chapter and verse on mast bumping, and not focus on why they can't now.
SPS
If a little knowledge is dangerous, greater
knowledge promotes safety.