Sock Lining by Helicopter

[SASless]

We have had a request from a client to provide a Hiller 12E or Hughes 500 for a Sock Line job. In the vague recesses of my alcohol ravaged brain...it seems I had a unique experience using an Alouette III to do this in Iran a very long time ago...part of why I drink as I do as I recall. It got very sporty...but then we merely grabbed the rope line with our standard cargo hook and got after it.

Progress being what it is...I understand there are some very nifty side mounted pulling rigs for 500's that make it much easier (and safer ) to do.

Anyone out there know anything about this kind of work? Any words of wisdom or information on sources of the side pulling kit would be appreciated.

:confused:

[Squirrel]

In an Astar/206 used a long line - 100-150' with a headache ball -weight - on the end of the long line to keep the line down and away from the t/r - also depending on the terrain, to give you some more altitude to play with. Would stay away from the cargo hook. Make sure the guy on the reel doesn't fall asleep and put/keep the brake on.

Not sure on any new nifty side-mounted devices and no experience with a 500. Probably not much help & likely nothing new for you...

[Autorotate]

SASLess - The guys down here used to use a Lama for it and seemed to work fine. Will try and find some contacts who used to do it.

Ned

[SASless]

I was told by one source...to rig a hook from the upper engine mount bolt on the 12E...but that would involve an FAA 337 (painful to get) or an STC (expensive to get). The desired method seems to be a sideways pull...as I gather it...makes laying the line along the pulley's much easier. That was the method I used with the Alouette...after discovering the "towing" scheme was frought with peril. We did not have problems with the brakeman...but when the rope bound up and stopped unreeling rather smartish like...then my alcohol intake soared when I quit dribbling the stuff on my shoes. When I breached the news to my stalwart crew of rascals...to the man they all made like miscreant Black Lab retrievers (refusing to make eye contact) except for the youngest one. Who bless his heart ,opined "that would be interesting work!"

[407 Driver]

I've done a bunch of this type of work. As Squirrel says, it's best to use a long line and a headache ball. It keeps the line away from the aircraft, and you can pull in any direction, (sideways, rearward, or forward...as you see fit).

Recently, I pulled sock for several ski-lift/gondolas. Some pulls were up to 4,000 feet vertical and 11,000 feet lineal. I used the 407, with a 500 Lb headache ball and a 60 foot line. Each of the 4 pulls (mainline up, mainline down, 2 comm cables) took about 1.0 hrs. I opted to back down the hill due to the steepness, and because I was required to put the sock line (9/16 cable) into a guide on each of 25 towers. The other reason to pull downhill was the weight of the line, with 2 miles of 9/16 cable strung out, I doubt anything smaller that a 214 could lift that weight.

I'd say it's about the most fun (and most challenging job) that you can have with a helicopter.

The Brake man on the cable spool controls your life, if he gets a bit too aggressive with the brake, he can cause you serious problems in flight...remember, you ARE now tied to something LATERALLY, not vertically, as we are all used to during sling Ops.

On the last few jobs, I worked with a very experienced brakeman, the radio communications were clear and accurate, he did a great job.

Be careful of your fuel load, as the aircraft can enter some unusual attitudes on a long horizontal pull. Shame to ruin a perfectly good day when a pump sucks air when you're nearing min fuel at a 20 degree nose down (or up) attitude!

Good luck

[John Bicker]

The long line with a weight is the "preferred" method by far. Do the mathematics. It keeps you away from everything and does act as a "spring". You will be amazed at the tension you can place on the line with very little lateral displacement of the weight. In days gone by, and don't ask where, slalom waterskiing with a 60' longline below a H500 to a couple of 20 litre barrels full of water, then attach the ski rope. The longline hardly strays off the vertical.

Sock line work with the same setup with a 206 or a Soloy 47 - you are well away from things and as 407 Driver says you can fly or point in any direction you like.

[sycamore]

A picture would be worth a thousand words to the rest of us, who`ve only lined a sock with our feet........or....?

[John Bicker]

Preform Grip - stringing sock , sugar grip, flexible mesh pulling grip, horse cock, sock line, kellum grip, chinese string, dog cock

Go here Linemans lingo (http://www.utilityinnovations.com/lingo.htm)

And see a pic here Mesh pulling grip (http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/ksrk.html)

[imabell]

250 kilometres power station to power station, eight strands of pilot wire 4k at a time. the great divide n.s.w.

http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/soloy.jpg

[B Sousa]

IMabell. Is that you?? Are you wearing a Tie?? How formal..........

[imabell]

yes mr sousa, that's me, tie and all, played the part in those days.

moved to paradise and changed my ways, for the better i hope.

i see you live in st thomas, i had the pleasure of living there from 69 to 76, we lived at megans bay.

i worked for antilles air boats as did my mother (operations manager) and father (vp).

we floated around the caribbean in grummans, cats and the old faithful sandringham. now that was la doce vita.

the sandringham now has pride of place in a museum in southhampton donated by my mother and father.

beachcomber on the step, st croix lagoon.

http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/s25.jpg

http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/bc.jpg

:ok:

[SASless]

If we do this job....will try to get some photos made. Thanks for the input .....I used a fifty foot line without a ballast weight as I recall....and can see the wisdom of the suggested method. Cheers, Mates!

[Canadian Rotorhead]

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Rotorhead/Sockpull_Twr347.jpg

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Rotorhead/Pulling_Sockline_in_Kitimat2.jpg