Just read Phil Croucher's latest book - Phil is better known to Rotorheads regulars as
paco.
Phil holds UK and Canadian professional licences and has been Chief Pilot, Ops Manager and Training Captain for various companies in both countries.
Using that experience, he has gathered together information which will invaluable for all helicopter pilots - from those trying to get into the industry - through those embarking on their first job - right through to experienced pilots undertaking a task which is outside their normal experience.
After a short (inevitable) introduction about
'How Helicopters Work', Phil gets into what this book is really about - the sort of helpful advice and tips usually picked up in conversation with experienced pilots who've been out there doing the job rather than from training courses:
'Specialised Tasks' and
'Operational Stuff.'
The book has two chapters on two of the most commonly used light turbines, the B206 and AS350, which will be especially useful for private pilots.
The Handbook clearly aims at a different market from fellow-Rotorhead Shawn Coyle's book, recently reviewed here, but is no less valuable in a different sphere. I think it will be most popular amongst 'newish' professional pilots - but I suspect many old-timers who read it will wish there'd been a book like this when they started out!
The only small criticism I'd
make is that, for some reason,
the publisher has adopted a
two column format which makes
it rather more tiring to read
because we're used to our
eyes scanning the whole
width of a page instead of
having to go forwards and
backwards to the next line
every five words or so. But
don't let that put you off.
ISBN 0-9681928-3-1
Paperback £14.99 (UK)
Recommended.
