FH, George, BJ - good points all. I'll buy into the instructional approach that the avoid curve applies more to the take off phase than landing. However, I still contest that it shouldn't be disregarded for other phases of flight with a broad sweeping "it applies to take off only" brush. Teaching a healthy respect for the HV requirements IMHO is the way to go for 10 hr ab-initio students.
Qwikstop - the reality is that operationally, we regularly fly through the shaded areas of the avoid curve, accepting the risk and mitigating it (statistically if u like) due to the unlikelyhood of the engine actually failing at that point, as somebody said earlier: "what happens if the engine keeps running". Thats where the helo shines in it's versatility - confined LZs, slinging, SAR etc.
The most asked question at the heli-port by the saturday morning spectators is "why don't you helicopter pilots take off & land vertically". Maybe i have to rethink my stock answer of hauling out the HV diagram
