The USN taught pretty much as you describe SAS, though can't recall whether it was initiated from the hover or the ground. As we were being trained in the H-34 the take off was made with feet off the pedals until reaching 60 knots and in the climb, letting heading hold do its thing. In practice always did them from the hover, as always had a hover reference ie not in snow etc. Not legal in the civil world of course, but .........