Genuine Advice Please

[Have a Chat]

If you could give an aspiring new pilot a brief message on having a safe flying career what would it be? . .. .I.e.: Having good situation awareness etc?

[HeloTeacher]

Don't be in a rush:. .. .to get trained. .to go fly . .to take a job. .. .there is always time to think things through.. .. .Don't ever compromise your personal integrity to get, keep, or do a job.. .. .Help every other person you meet or deal with in the aviation business to the best of your ability, it is a VERY small world.. .. .Remember, your family (wife / girlfriend / kids) will be there when your aviation career is finished, if you treat them right.. .. .Learn, every day, every flight, every job, every boss, every co-pilot, every everything, learn and make yourself better!

[WLM]

Welcome to the industry Have a chat.. .The best piece of advice I can give you is never ever challenge your superior's :rolleyes: decision, even if he/she is totally wrong. (on the ground that is)You may win the battle, but you will sorely lose the war, ie your employment....That is a proven fact in the Oz aviation industry..

[paco]

Welcome! The one I learnt most quickly:. .. .Don't accept any customer's word (or Ops' for that matter) for anything.. .. .Phil. . . .

[B Sousa]

Im sure you will get many opinions on your posting. One that comes to mind that I know has taken many lives is the pressure from an Employer or VIP customer to get somewhere. The ability of a Pilot, young or old, to say NO at times will probably save some lives. Its hard to do when jobs are at stake; but as I said, I have seen a few take off, never to return.. .OR, you can just say, Sit Down, Strap In, Shut Up, and Hang On........

[Heli-Ice]

I totally agree with Helo Teacher. .. .To that you might wanna add:. .When in doubt, there is no doubt.. .. .This is something I keep in mind on my job.. .. .Safe flying and velcome to the industry.. .. .Heli-Ice

[SFIM]

hey Have 'a' Chat. .. .1. plan properly, do as much as you can on the ground, leave yourself with only the easy bit in the air. .. .2.if you are being pushed to fly and you have genuine concerns i.e it doesnt feel right, the chances are it isnt so dont do it. you need the strength of character to say no.. .. .3.practice all the hard things when you dont have to i.e do instrument approaches when it is VFR (subject to commercial considerations) then when you really neeed to do them, you wont max out.. .. .4.never think you have got the hang of what you are doing, there is always so much more to learn than you will ever have time to i.e dont get complacent.. .. .hope this helps. . . . <small>[ 08 March 2002, 18:50: Message edited by: SFIM ]</small>

[VLift]

Add to the above:. .. .When the weather is down and you are exercising the unique capabilities of the helicopter to safely fly low level, remember; never fly faster than you can see.

[RW-1]

Follow HeloTeachers words.. .. .Add the following:. .. ."In god we trust, everything else we check."

[NearlyStol]

The late Frank Morgan's best advice to me;-'Always leave yourself a way out'. This has worked for the past 30 years .. .My rotary Instructor :- 'Always know when to throw it away'. .Frank Morgan again :- 'Get the brain into gear before opening your mouth' Great Bloke!

[CyclicRick]

Two things have always been with me;. .1: Learn how to say NO to anybody if you don't feel safe. As an aircraft commander,You are the only one with that descision. Pressure from any third party has killed a lot of pilots, their crew and passengers.. .2: It's always more desireable to wish you were up there when you are down here than the other way around.. .I love being up there, it's fun so enjoy it. Flying is not just a job, it's a childhood dream for most of us that has thankfully come true.

[lills]

Words of wisdom from an old Captain I flew with.. .. ." There are plenty of old pilots and plenty of bold pilots, but you will never find a old bold pilot ". .. .and listen to HeloTeacher, don't become a another A.I.D.S. (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome)suffer, look after those closest to you.

[Have a Chat]

I’m absolutely stunned with the fantastic advice I have received with regards to my question. It has given me the greatest of confidence to employ the advice from all who made the effort to reply. . .. .Thanking you all!

[Scattercat]

Hav-a-chat,. .One more ... Whatever you're doing (or about to do), imagine yourself explaining your actions to a judge. Might sound a bit negative, but it's made me think once or twice when the pressure's on to "get the job done".. .Fly safe.

[Nick Lappos]

Have A Chat,. .The best single piece of advice I ever got was:. .. .If you think maybe you might want to turn back, start now. The safest maneuver, in the aircraft or in the planning phase, is a 180 degree turn.. .Pride and stubborness have killed more of us than all the engine failures and IFR events combined.. .. .On the other hand, no ground-pounder will ever know what we see and do, and they are the lesser for it! Good luck!

[heedm]

I like the age old aviation priorities (most important comes first):. .. .1. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.. .. .2. Skin, Tin, Ticket.. .. .There are a bunch of others, anyone care to add to the list?

[Arm out the window]

This one has kept me on the straight and narrow most of the time (only partly tongue-in-cheek)-. .. .'Before you do something you're not sure about, think about how it's going to read in the crash investigation report!'

[extreme 500]

Hi All,

Since joining a new training school for type rating, I have gained so many hints and tips from my new instructor that I didnt get from my training school whilst taking my PPL.

One example being on a clear sunny day over Dartmoor seeing the effects of the collective if you do not change any other controls demonstrating if inadvertantly flying into cloud.

lowering was a gentle 180 turn but raising the lever was quite a violent near backflip, this was only 5 percent torque less/more difference... it was in a 500 though!!!:ok:

So in aid to helping the young and experienced to be wiser and safer pilots, what would your biggest hint or tip be on any subject of helicopter flying to help us fill our huge bag of luck into a tiny bag of experience?


Many Thanks.

[ascj]

Arm out the window:ok: like that

[ChristopherRobin]

read this book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatal-Traps-Helicopter-Pilots-Whyte/dp/0071488308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276939939&sr=8-1)

[ShyTorque]

Never fly anything that might involve using your ar£e for an undercarriage. :(

[toptobottom]

Your actual ability will always be three steps behind your perceived ability, so if you're presented with a marginal situation - don't be brave or feel pressured into pressing on; just avoid it. I'd recommend this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatal-Traps-Helicopter-Pilots-Whyte/dp/0071488308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276960863&sr=8-1)as essential reading and a great way to learn from others' mistakes...
TTB

[extreme 500]

Hi there, firstly thanks to the moderators for the move and to the advice so far. I have that book at home so will be reading up.

Was after some pearls of wisdom or rules of thumb from the old and wise that wouldnt be taught in basic flight school, Something you wished your instructor had passed on to you so to speak.

Having recently passed the license its time to learn to fly.

Maybe slightly off topic but i'm at the stage of deciding ATPL/CPL which course? It would have to be distance learning as I work overseas.

Looked at Bristol ground school and Captonline. I have heard about time constraints and hours required for ATPL or has that been changed again?

Ultimately want to go HEMS (in an ideal world) but instructing, offshore, SAR, lighthouse resup or anything in between.

Cheers.

[eagle 86]

"It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground!"
GAGS
E86

[chopjock]

When low flying, watch out for cables and pylons hidden behind trees! :eek:

[ChristopherRobin]

Bristol = excellent. you won't regret it

[Mel Effluent]

"A superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which might require the use of his superior skill."

[Biggles78]

An amateur practices until they get it right. A Professional practices until they don't get it wrong.

[alouette3]

Here is something a little more mundane but equally useful:
Never pass up an opportunity to(1) Eat (2) Sleep (3) Visit the bathroom. You never know when the next time to do any or all of these will show up.
And, one more thing,the day you think you know all there is to know about this business is the day you need to turn in your wings.
Cheers!
Alt3