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Old 8th Jun 2006, 23:21
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RT test

despite me thinking this test is a complete waste of time and only there for revenue, i have to do it.

so guys, what and how would i be tested? could i ever revise for this??
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 00:33
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It's only a waste of time because it's nowhere near comprehensive enough, but that's another story.

what and how would i be tested? could i ever revise for this??
CAP 413 is probably a good starting point on both questions...
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 06:20
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Look at the Safety Information Leaflet in the back of LASORS!

Judging by the very poor quality of many pilots' RT work a few years ago, re-introducing the practical RTF test was definitely a good idea!
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 06:22
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Link to the CAP 413 http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP413.PDF
It is 1.3Mb
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 07:35
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It is definitely a good idea. You will be able to learn the correct patter and be able to practice and practice until it becomes second nature.
I recommend that you grasp the opportunity and make the most of it. It will ease your workload later and give you more confidence.
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 07:44
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Wink

OK So how many of the respondants actually conduct the RT exam ?

Out of those how many have a seperate off-shore account for that retirement villa ?
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 19:29
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despite me thinking this test is a complete waste of time and only there for revenue, i have to do it.
Then if you are so good at it that you regard it as a waste of time, why do you need to ask others what its all about?

If you are that competent it will only take 15 minutes and you will pass with flying colours however, the lack of knowledge you display in your post regarding the content and format leads me to think that you actually have quite a lot of work to do.

Just think, that work may just make you a little bit safer.

With regard to revenue, who makes any revenue out of it and how? Compare any costs incurred with those your AME makes for seeing if you are still warm!
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 20:23
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despite me thinking this test is a complete waste of time and only there for revenue, i have to do it.
Just WHY do you think it's a waste of time?
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 20:26
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i do know how to conduct RT and know all of the aspects of it, its just the fact that i didnt know what they would ask me.

just like in A level exams, u could know all about the subject but have no idea what they would ask!

regards to why i think its a waste of time, is that i been using RT all the way through my training and indeed within the skills test. therefore i think that would have shown i am proficient with RT. Paying extra money on top of the skills test is where the waste of money comes from
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 21:42
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If you know all about it, why does it matter what they are likely to ask you?
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 21:44
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Trust me on this. When there was no RT test because it was assumed - as you seem to think - that you learned how to handle RT during your training standards fell. And in case you are not aware, it often takes a lot to make the CAA act and in this instance they brought back the RT test.

As rodan says, the current test doesn't really test the skills that you need so maybe you should treat it like your driving test - passing that one gives you a licence to go out on your own and learn to drive in the real world.

You may think that it's all a waste of time and unnecessary expense but you have to do it - so get on and do it rather than complaining! Do I sound grouchy? Perhaps it's because I've spent too many years having to listen to poor RT (and I don't mean non-standard RT, I mean really poor RT from people who don't seem to have the first idea what communication is about!).
 
Old 9th Jun 2006, 22:29
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For once I agree with BEAgle!!!

I doubt the trend will last.....
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 22:40
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to be honest, i think the RT element should be incorporated into the skills test. afterall its on the ground school element.

then the RT test can be elimnated and therefore cut the cost of already expensive UK GA
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 23:03
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Not really. The RT skills test will involve a variety of procedures including possibly a PAN PAN, an emergency, a MATZ crossing for example.

There are elements of the RT test that for me, as a helicopter, are a bit unreal but it was no big deal. If you think you're good enough, what's the worry?

As niknak can vouch, there's non-standard RT and poor RT!

Cheers

Whirls
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 23:27
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i been meaning to ask this, since a helicopter pilot has no free hands, how would he write down certain things?

in an unplanned diversion, how would you write down headings etc
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 23:30
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We don't! We have to memorise it! Most air traffickers, if they know I am a helicopter will give us one piece of information at a time but, in an emergency, it's our memory!!

At the start of a flight (on the ground) I will write down the ATIS, after that, the next thing I write down is landing time when I have landed!

Cheers

Whirls
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 23:39
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i've thought that flying choppers would be difficult but would still like to try...

so say you got lost, would you just hover? then dont u need to have a lookout behind? tho some choppers dont have rear windows nor rear view mirrors surprisingly....

also, what if engine fails, these things dont glide what happens??

sorry for taking this thread off course, but i cant be bothered making another thread! =P
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Old 9th Jun 2006, 23:47
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http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=227983

This thread discusses that issue quite well! However, there is no harm in starting another thread.

If I get lost, I can slow down and look out the window and map the land features to the chart! IFR - I Fly Roads, rivers and railways! A typical altitude for a light helicopter would be 2,000 feet and an airspeed of 70 knots!

Most small helicopters do have a reasonable amount of rear visibilty and a lot of peripheral visibilty. However, I cannot compare as I have never flown fixed wing.

Cheers

Whirls
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Old 10th Jun 2006, 06:21
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The standard of RT on the VFR scene is indeed appalling but I don't think RT training is much to do with it.

The problem is that most people fly so rarely. If one flies 10 hours a year one will forget the RT but one will also forget what half the knobs and levers in the plane do...

Poor RT also comes from high workload - this much is often obvious when listening to the stuff on the air. Again, low currency. Perhaps also poor training but not poor RT training.

We could have the same debate on any other aspect of PPL flight, including instrument training. It hardly matters what you were taught 5 years ago. It is your currency on the type that determines just about everything.
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Old 10th Jun 2006, 07:03
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Helicopters and RT

I started off, like my esteemed friend Whirlygig, by not writing anything down. You gradually develop a better memory. If there's too much information, you repeat back what you remember, and ask them to say again the bit you forgot. But I rarely write anything down these days, even when I'm flying f/w aircraft.

However, a very high hours pilot pointed out to me that someday I might get a long clearance and I'd have to write it down! How? Become ambidextrous on the cyclic, he said. As a helicopter pilot, this is what you need to do; don't mess about. Well, as an instructor I had to do that anyway, so now if necessary I switch the cyclic to my left hand and write things down.

This is not really a digression. As a pilot, you're ALWAYS learning. Just because you got a PPL and can fly from A to B and manage on the radio, don't think that's enough...it's nothing; it merely means you know enough to do some of the learning on your own. And the little bit of RT you had to do for the Skills Test? Think of all the things you didn't have to do, like a Mayday call, and - depending where you fly from - possibly not flying through a MATZ or controlled airspace or any of the myriad of things you are now officially QUALIFIED to do. I did my PPL before they had an RT test. There was loads of stuff I thought I knew, but had never practised. Sure, I sounded OK on the radio. But there's more to it than that, and way, way, way more to flying than what you know now....or what I know for that matter.

Oh, and if you ever want a demo of what helicopters do in the event of engine failure, come and fly with me and I'll show you!

Whirlygig, learn to use that stick with your left hand!
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