Helicopter security rules
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Helicopter security rules
In a poorly-thought-out reaction to the concept of stealing a helicopter and doing some damage with it, the Powers That Be in Australia have enacted new rules to take effect in a few weeks.
In essence, they declare that door locks are not sufficient to deter a thief. New measures will have to involve locks and chains and flags and be visible from outside the aircraft. For a VIP machine with heavily tinted windows, this becomes tricky.
One idea was to put the blade tiedowns on with padlocks, but the Sikorsky design of the tiedown won't work like that. Wheel clamps won't stop it from flying, and we don't want something that will result in serious damage if some kid swings on it for fun.
So far, the best idea we can come up with is to apply the manual rotor brake, and with that lever fully down, loop a chain through the hole in the end of it, and attach the other end to the collective, which is way too hard to lift without hydraulics. A thief might get an engine started, but with the rotor brake on, no hydraulics, so no lift the collective to release it.
Attach big red flags (visible through the pilot window), cover the chain in red heat-seal to avoid scratching things, and I think we have covered the intention of the law.
What have other helo operators thought up to keep DOTARS and CASA off their backs? Are we going to see the security staff, normally employed to watch for baddies, spending all their time inspecting parked aircraft and trying to test their security?
In essence, they declare that door locks are not sufficient to deter a thief. New measures will have to involve locks and chains and flags and be visible from outside the aircraft. For a VIP machine with heavily tinted windows, this becomes tricky.
One idea was to put the blade tiedowns on with padlocks, but the Sikorsky design of the tiedown won't work like that. Wheel clamps won't stop it from flying, and we don't want something that will result in serious damage if some kid swings on it for fun.
So far, the best idea we can come up with is to apply the manual rotor brake, and with that lever fully down, loop a chain through the hole in the end of it, and attach the other end to the collective, which is way too hard to lift without hydraulics. A thief might get an engine started, but with the rotor brake on, no hydraulics, so no lift the collective to release it.
Attach big red flags (visible through the pilot window), cover the chain in red heat-seal to avoid scratching things, and I think we have covered the intention of the law.
What have other helo operators thought up to keep DOTARS and CASA off their backs? Are we going to see the security staff, normally employed to watch for baddies, spending all their time inspecting parked aircraft and trying to test their security?
G'day AC,
Reminds me of the draconian knee-jerk reaction from the US Army when one of their OH-58 was stolen by a scrubbed stud and landed at the governors house, to prove that he could fly (as relayed to me).
Keys were fitted to the A/C to isolate the ignition circuit. End result is a massive dick around with lost keys, etc.
How many aircraft are stolen anyway? Surely if the thief can control a helicopter well enough to 'do damage with it', then suicidal or not then they can get around the security. Who doesn't know where to find the door keys for a parked JetRanger?
The only answer is that pilots should hide their aircaft after each flight, as keys are too fiddly and easy to lose.
Gibbo
Reminds me of the draconian knee-jerk reaction from the US Army when one of their OH-58 was stolen by a scrubbed stud and landed at the governors house, to prove that he could fly (as relayed to me).
Keys were fitted to the A/C to isolate the ignition circuit. End result is a massive dick around with lost keys, etc.
How many aircraft are stolen anyway? Surely if the thief can control a helicopter well enough to 'do damage with it', then suicidal or not then they can get around the security. Who doesn't know where to find the door keys for a parked JetRanger?
The only answer is that pilots should hide their aircaft after each flight, as keys are too fiddly and easy to lose.
Gibbo
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What if you had a strap/chain at the front of the seat that secures the cyclic back against the seat, and a "remove before flight" flag connected to the locking device that is long enough to hang in the window? The locking device could then be a combination lock device to avoid the lost keys thing.
Please forgive me if this idea has obvious flaws, I'm good with full size simulators but don't have much time in actual aircraft.
I just love the whole "security" thing.
The wide-eyed panic about this stuff coming from government is almost comical when you consider the relative threat posed by a small aircraft as opposed to, say, a HUGE TRUCK that could get driven right to the base of a building.
But we'll not win that particular argument. It's like where I work full time - they have a physically isolated computer network inside the building for a select group of staff who work on secret squirrel stuff. These people have two computers at their desk, one for the "secure" system, one for the "insecure" system - a waste of resources and a pain to support.
It was suggested that they use a system that the Defence Force uses to protect their systems, removing the need to have a physically separate network. The Person In Charge asked "Is there ANY chance that this system could be compromised by a cracker?" Of course the answer is "well, yes, there is a miniscule, infintessimal chance that this system could be cracked".
The response? "Well, we can't take that chance". No matter that it's good enough to protect our top secret government data, it's not good enough for us.
Please forgive me if this idea has obvious flaws, I'm good with full size simulators but don't have much time in actual aircraft.
I just love the whole "security" thing.
The wide-eyed panic about this stuff coming from government is almost comical when you consider the relative threat posed by a small aircraft as opposed to, say, a HUGE TRUCK that could get driven right to the base of a building. But we'll not win that particular argument. It's like where I work full time - they have a physically isolated computer network inside the building for a select group of staff who work on secret squirrel stuff. These people have two computers at their desk, one for the "secure" system, one for the "insecure" system - a waste of resources and a pain to support.
It was suggested that they use a system that the Defence Force uses to protect their systems, removing the need to have a physically separate network. The Person In Charge asked "Is there ANY chance that this system could be compromised by a cracker?" Of course the answer is "well, yes, there is a miniscule, infintessimal chance that this system could be cracked".
The response? "Well, we can't take that chance". No matter that it's good enough to protect our top secret government data, it's not good enough for us.
Whoa guys....hang on....put your British engineering thoughts on hold.
Firstly, leaving a parking brake on all the time might not be the best idea for lots of mechanical reasons....just as pulling the cyclic all the way back....and using chains.
I realize there is a huge surplus pile of the things laying around down there after the end of the assisted passage program.
At the HAI I saw the cutest and most effective set of tail rotor pedal locks.....very compact and very nice looking.,....add a long red remove flag with some means to hang it in plain view for all the chopper snatchers to see and you got it whipped.
I am sure someone else saw the thing too....for the life of me I can not recall where I did.....
Keys will remain a problem.
Firstly, leaving a parking brake on all the time might not be the best idea for lots of mechanical reasons....just as pulling the cyclic all the way back....and using chains.
I realize there is a huge surplus pile of the things laying around down there after the end of the assisted passage program.
At the HAI I saw the cutest and most effective set of tail rotor pedal locks.....very compact and very nice looking.,....add a long red remove flag with some means to hang it in plain view for all the chopper snatchers to see and you got it whipped.
I am sure someone else saw the thing too....for the life of me I can not recall where I did.....
Keys will remain a problem.
Avoid imitations
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S'obvious!
Take the rotor arm out.
Take the rotor arm out.
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I think the pedals lock idea is the greatest. I would even suggest using a cyclic/pedals lock combination like we have in the automobile industry. They work well. Then again we could be nasty and use the engine immobiliser when the aircraft is stolen (GPS and computer activated)....would be interesting to see the face of the pilot then.....
That's right....what was I thinking.....there are some among us who would never tweak to the pedal lock being l in-place until the post flight checklist was done.
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Could the rule be met with a plastic-covered chain that is looped over a rotor hub arm, then threaded through the swashplate, and secured with a lock?
It could be quite bright, and obvious from the ground, of course.
Heaven help the person who rotated the head with this in place, the bill for parts would choke a potentate, of course!
It could be quite bright, and obvious from the ground, of course.
Heaven help the person who rotated the head with this in place, the bill for parts would choke a potentate, of course!
Leave it to the OEM guys to come up with a way of selling parts....knowing how many times that would happen! Shame on you Nick Lappos....Shame.
It would surprise me that Igor's Foundry and Bridge Building company would donate the chains free to anyone wanting them. Talk about profit margin!
But.....Nick you may be onto something....if we was to take all those piled up shackles from down in Oz....bead blast them, powder coat them, cover them in heat shrink plastic.....youse guys at Igor's could sell them for about $142,000 dollars each claiming they were Brit Mil Spec.
That would work a charm....latch one leg iron clamp around the damper brace on two adjacent blades....and there you are.
You could probably get a government grant for the recycling aspect of it all.
It would surprise me that Igor's Foundry and Bridge Building company would donate the chains free to anyone wanting them. Talk about profit margin!
But.....Nick you may be onto something....if we was to take all those piled up shackles from down in Oz....bead blast them, powder coat them, cover them in heat shrink plastic.....youse guys at Igor's could sell them for about $142,000 dollars each claiming they were Brit Mil Spec.
That would work a charm....latch one leg iron clamp around the damper brace on two adjacent blades....and there you are.
You could probably get a government grant for the recycling aspect of it all.
Nick,
This is another total cluster, where some make-work has decreed that GA aircraft, parked outside, must have a visible theft deterrent All our hidden isolator switches don't meet the requirements, and if you have a sun screen in the window (not unexpected during 38C summer days), then any in cockpit lock is hidden, too! Not too keen on anything which may hinder the controls, you're quite right about the associated hazards 
We have Federal Police patrolling airports these days, and can see an interesting test case or two in the wind
This is another total cluster, where some make-work has decreed that GA aircraft, parked outside, must have a visible theft deterrent
All our hidden isolator switches don't meet the requirements, and if you have a sun screen in the window (not unexpected during 38C summer days), then any in cockpit lock is hidden, too! Not too keen on anything which may hinder the controls, you're quite right about the associated hazards We have Federal Police patrolling airports these days, and can see an interesting test case or two in the wind
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A Batery isolator switch in the form of a independantly shaped key or spanner like the alloy wheels key.
Keys will have to be the sole interface 'cause he that holds the key can!
There should be no interference with any of the flight controls/ rotor system or engine controls.
Take the battery with you and that's almost foolproof!
Keys will have to be the sole interface 'cause he that holds the key can!
There should be no interference with any of the flight controls/ rotor system or engine controls.
Take the battery with you and that's almost foolproof!
Gatvol
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How about removing all the Blades everytime you fly. Maybe pouring fresh concrete in the tailboom at night.............
All this B
t is just the Government protecting us from ourselves.
If the enforcement of laws were a priority and the proper punishment delivered I believe crime would not be as great.
Im curious what a helicopter thief who gets caught in say Singapore would be looking at...Maybe a tiedown around his neck??
My favorite saying has always been "We have crime because we allow it"
All this B
t is just the Government protecting us from ourselves. If the enforcement of laws were a priority and the proper punishment delivered I believe crime would not be as great.
Im curious what a helicopter thief who gets caught in say Singapore would be looking at...Maybe a tiedown around his neck??
My favorite saying has always been "We have crime because we allow it"
Last edited by B Sousa; 21st Feb 2005 at 15:44.
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Not leaving the keys in would be a start.
About four years ago a local "srote" sneaked over the fence at Sheffield City Airport after hours. Started a R22 and spent a while spinning it round on the spot (not enough lessons on the collective, clearly).
Noticed the next day by the owners/ operators when it was facing a different way to the way they left it and some big circular skid marks on the ramp.
About four years ago a local "srote" sneaked over the fence at Sheffield City Airport after hours. Started a R22 and spent a while spinning it round on the spot (not enough lessons on the collective, clearly).
Noticed the next day by the owners/ operators when it was facing a different way to the way they left it and some big circular skid marks on the ramp.
Avoid imitations
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On new aircraft designs, easy - just equip the engines with DECUs and incorporate an immobiliser into the design. Actually, sometimes just having the DECUs is enough to immobilise the engines.... Temperamental little devils, they are!
Failing that, a shackle over the skids or u/c, fitted into a ground anchor much like a motorcycle immobiliser would make it impossible to lift the aircraft. Would that be acceptable, at least at home base? Or a metal cover that locks over the engine lever/s for off base ops?
Also, Mr Sikorsky incorporates strong locking doors on the S-76. BTW, Nick, I found out exactly what the source of those locks actually is, when I went to a locksmiths to get some spare keys cut!
Failing that, a shackle over the skids or u/c, fitted into a ground anchor much like a motorcycle immobiliser would make it impossible to lift the aircraft. Would that be acceptable, at least at home base? Or a metal cover that locks over the engine lever/s for off base ops?
Also, Mr Sikorsky incorporates strong locking doors on the S-76. BTW, Nick, I found out exactly what the source of those locks actually is, when I went to a locksmiths to get some spare keys cut!
Nick,
Please promise not to use Freightliner built doors!!!
You do know the difference between a Freightliner and a Jehovah's Witness?
You can shut a door on a Jehovah's Witness!
Please promise not to use Freightliner built doors!!!
You do know the difference between a Freightliner and a Jehovah's Witness?
You can shut a door on a Jehovah's Witness!
Avoid imitations
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"Shy,
We use good Ford hardware, on the door latches as well!"
Nick, exactly what the locksmith in WPB told me! I could only get the blanks imported to special order in UK and they were going to be about $10 each plus cutting. I got them in West Palm for a dollar each!
We use good Ford hardware, on the door latches as well!"
Nick, exactly what the locksmith in WPB told me! I could only get the blanks imported to special order in UK and they were going to be about $10 each plus cutting. I got them in West Palm for a dollar each!
