Gunship
7th Aug 2005, 20:58
Don't shoot the messenger ... remember it comes from Kenya :E
The Nation (Nairobi)
David Okwemba
Nairobi
Helicopters are more prone to accidents than aeroplanes.
They crash 10 times more than planes, according to the American Space Agency, NASA.
While the aeroplane can glide, reducing fatalities, a helicopter falls like a stone from the sky. :hmm:
A pilot with the Kenya Police air wing said helicopters could be dangerous at night, during thunderstorm and where there are no landing instruments.
Taking risks
He said the pilot flying Dr John Garang may have taken a risk by travelling at night and in bad weather.
Saying he was not familiar with Southern Sudan, the pilot added that if Dr Garang's helicopter had been under the guide of radar personnel in Southern Sudan, it would have landed safely.
Helicopters were more vulnerable to harsh weather and a pilot would need to know the terrain well, he said.
Major Solomon Nyanjui of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) blamed most of the crashes involving helicopters on pilot error, adding that besides knowing the terrain well, one had to fly at least 3,000 feet above the highest obstacle.
Maj Nyanjui, who safely brought down a helicopter carrying top executives on a tour of the Aberdares forest last year, said in circumstances where a pilot lost the engine, they were supposed to employ automatic rotation to bring the aircraft down safely.
Fixed wings
Among the executives were Nation Media Group chief executive Wilfred Kiboro and Safaricom chief Michael Joseph.
The helicopter had developed a tail rotor problem when it was 30 feet above the ground.
"Fixed wing planes crash more often than helicopters," he said, adding that if the helicopter was fitted with an instrument to measure the altitude (altimeter) it would comfortably show the distance from the ground so the pilot could steer it to safe landing. :p:p:p
http://allafrica.com/stories/200508040046.html
The Nation (Nairobi)
David Okwemba
Nairobi
Helicopters are more prone to accidents than aeroplanes.
They crash 10 times more than planes, according to the American Space Agency, NASA.
While the aeroplane can glide, reducing fatalities, a helicopter falls like a stone from the sky. :hmm:
A pilot with the Kenya Police air wing said helicopters could be dangerous at night, during thunderstorm and where there are no landing instruments.
Taking risks
He said the pilot flying Dr John Garang may have taken a risk by travelling at night and in bad weather.
Saying he was not familiar with Southern Sudan, the pilot added that if Dr Garang's helicopter had been under the guide of radar personnel in Southern Sudan, it would have landed safely.
Helicopters were more vulnerable to harsh weather and a pilot would need to know the terrain well, he said.
Major Solomon Nyanjui of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) blamed most of the crashes involving helicopters on pilot error, adding that besides knowing the terrain well, one had to fly at least 3,000 feet above the highest obstacle.
Maj Nyanjui, who safely brought down a helicopter carrying top executives on a tour of the Aberdares forest last year, said in circumstances where a pilot lost the engine, they were supposed to employ automatic rotation to bring the aircraft down safely.
Fixed wings
Among the executives were Nation Media Group chief executive Wilfred Kiboro and Safaricom chief Michael Joseph.
The helicopter had developed a tail rotor problem when it was 30 feet above the ground.
"Fixed wing planes crash more often than helicopters," he said, adding that if the helicopter was fitted with an instrument to measure the altitude (altimeter) it would comfortably show the distance from the ground so the pilot could steer it to safe landing. :p:p:p
http://allafrica.com/stories/200508040046.html