Tell us something you do from which others might learn - Priceless Tips (Merged)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Australia
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After the sortie brief, keep all the time available for you and your flight. No phone calls, emails, meetings..nothing. If you are ready early go early or brew up.
Always conduct/supervise the refuel of your aircraft or have a member of your flight crew do it.
Always conduct the pre flight yourself or have a member of your flight crew do it. (Yes I have seen senior folk fly aircraft they bullied junior folk into pre flighting for them. Fools!).
When you are within sight of your aircraft on the way to fly it, conciously put all non aviation thoughts (wives, girlfriends, finances) out of mind. If you can't don't go.
Place anything you are supposed to wear, life preserver etc on your seat.
If you are an instructor, always do the first auto yourself to assess the conditions.
Identify large features on the map when following the GPS, it will be easier to figure out where you are when it fails.
Plan an extra 10 minutes fuel reserve for Mum and the kids.
Always conduct/supervise the refuel of your aircraft or have a member of your flight crew do it.
Always conduct the pre flight yourself or have a member of your flight crew do it. (Yes I have seen senior folk fly aircraft they bullied junior folk into pre flighting for them. Fools!).
When you are within sight of your aircraft on the way to fly it, conciously put all non aviation thoughts (wives, girlfriends, finances) out of mind. If you can't don't go.
Place anything you are supposed to wear, life preserver etc on your seat.
If you are an instructor, always do the first auto yourself to assess the conditions.
Identify large features on the map when following the GPS, it will be easier to figure out where you are when it fails.
Plan an extra 10 minutes fuel reserve for Mum and the kids.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: australia
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This is a pretty simple one but works for me. After each first preflight of the day after you have drained your fuel and untied all the bits and pieces, I always walk about ten metres away from the aircraft and just run my eyes fully over it again from bit of a distance. Sometimes the big picture view from a bit farther back highlights something small that you overlooked when it was right under your nose.
Give it a try.
Give it a try.
Victor Two
I always without fail....never do I get into an aircraft with the intent of starting engine(s) do I not walk slowly and carefully around the thing....all the way around....looking at access panels...latches...vents....pitots...air inlets...exhausts....even to the point of pointing a finger at the possible offending item. On Bell aircraft I do that with the tie down in my grubby mitt.
Two bladed heads.....3 and 9 o'clock for start every single time....and physical confirmation that the tie down is beside the seat. Don't do this....and one day...you will attempt to start that rascal with the blade tied down......trust me!
I always without fail....never do I get into an aircraft with the intent of starting engine(s) do I not walk slowly and carefully around the thing....all the way around....looking at access panels...latches...vents....pitots...air inlets...exhausts....even to the point of pointing a finger at the possible offending item. On Bell aircraft I do that with the tie down in my grubby mitt.
Two bladed heads.....3 and 9 o'clock for start every single time....and physical confirmation that the tie down is beside the seat. Don't do this....and one day...you will attempt to start that rascal with the blade tied down......trust me!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: the great white north
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when doing a walk around (before every flight) include the hook to see whether the longline was left on after the last flight, and when taking off go vertical for a few feet (10-12) and check the hook in the mirror again.
fly safe everyone.
fly safe everyone.
1. ALWAYS do an airspeed/groundspeed comparison during an approach. Will save your arse oneday when you get the wind wrong.
2. ALWAYS check ROD as the IAS goes through 30kts.
3. If 1. or 2. applies, NEVER be too proud to overshoot.
4. When it all turns to worms, DON'T press on - LAND on!
All the above have saved my bacon during the last 35 years!
2. ALWAYS check ROD as the IAS goes through 30kts.
3. If 1. or 2. applies, NEVER be too proud to overshoot.
4. When it all turns to worms, DON'T press on - LAND on!
All the above have saved my bacon during the last 35 years!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Cracking thread guys,
I have learnt alot reading through the past six pages... a few things that I do myself:
Before hitting the go-go button I think of TITS
Tie-downs - OFF/BLADES 3/9 O'CLOCK
Instruments - IN GREEN/READINGS CORRECT
Temps/Throttle - ENGINE/OAT (then check your proformance limits) THROTTLE CLOSED
Safety - HARNESESS/DOORS/BLADES CLEAR
(also stick my head out the door and have a glance at the T/R...)
When flying over water, I put a hi-vis vest on then my lifejacket on top, makes getting found a bit easier when bobbing up and down in the water! Always take an ELT if the a/c doesnt have one!
As mentioned before, stand back and have a general look at the machine and that cowl door you left open!
Safe flying guys, HH
I have learnt alot reading through the past six pages... a few things that I do myself:
Before hitting the go-go button I think of TITS
Tie-downs - OFF/BLADES 3/9 O'CLOCK
Instruments - IN GREEN/READINGS CORRECT
Temps/Throttle - ENGINE/OAT (then check your proformance limits) THROTTLE CLOSED
Safety - HARNESESS/DOORS/BLADES CLEAR
(also stick my head out the door and have a glance at the T/R...)
When flying over water, I put a hi-vis vest on then my lifejacket on top, makes getting found a bit easier when bobbing up and down in the water! Always take an ELT if the a/c doesnt have one!
As mentioned before, stand back and have a general look at the machine and that cowl door you left open!
Safe flying guys, HH
Last edited by Haggis Hunter; 27th Jan 2005 at 12:37.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Sasless,
The guy that tipped me off about walking away a bit for another look was a fixed wing pilot who once completed a full detailed walk around on a cabin size piston twin, all was good, walked to the nose, away ten steps and again looked her over from wingtip to wingtip and noticed that there was a non symmetrical flap condition between the wings. The flaps on one side had locked in place in about the take off postion and the other side were somehow retracted normally. Would have pretty been nasty after take off when he went to reel in the extended flap I would think.
The problem was not obvious from up close but was pretty evident from the front on view. It only takes a few extra seconds.
cheers
Vic
The guy that tipped me off about walking away a bit for another look was a fixed wing pilot who once completed a full detailed walk around on a cabin size piston twin, all was good, walked to the nose, away ten steps and again looked her over from wingtip to wingtip and noticed that there was a non symmetrical flap condition between the wings. The flaps on one side had locked in place in about the take off postion and the other side were somehow retracted normally. Would have pretty been nasty after take off when he went to reel in the extended flap I would think.
The problem was not obvious from up close but was pretty evident from the front on view. It only takes a few extra seconds.
cheers
Vic
Join Date: Jan 2005
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If you can't see the forest for the trees, you're too low - with nowhere to go.
Always LOOK in the direction of the turn you are making - I get nervous flying with pilots who never move their head...
Agree with 'Victor Two' - stand back from your heli and have a good look - not just at the heli but also at the bigger picture and assess things like - wind, general weather, rubbish, obstacles, people, wires etc etc prior to getting in the machine
If you have to run, it should only be to get away from your ex...never run near a heli.
When landing and your skids are on the ground but RRPM is still high - you're still flying
Always LOOK in the direction of the turn you are making - I get nervous flying with pilots who never move their head...
Agree with 'Victor Two' - stand back from your heli and have a good look - not just at the heli but also at the bigger picture and assess things like - wind, general weather, rubbish, obstacles, people, wires etc etc prior to getting in the machine
If you have to run, it should only be to get away from your ex...never run near a heli.
When landing and your skids are on the ground but RRPM is still high - you're still flying
Most importantly....
Absolutely never, never, never, go to Bahrain with an Aussie Short Drink of Water from Saudi!
You will be the worse for it!
Absolutely never, never, never, go to Bahrain with an Aussie Short Drink of Water from Saudi!
You will be the worse for it!
Join Date: Jan 2005
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never bring anything into the cockpit mentally that doesnt belong there. i.e. a girl or wife issue, anything that will distract you. ive learned this the hard way. 
Iconoclast
Join Date: Sep 2000
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I'm ashamed to say.....
Always check fuel on board no matter what the check sign off sheet says and no matter what the mechanic says. I was the mechanic and had serviced the helicopter the night before. The helicopter was left on the pad in front of the hangar for an early morning SAR. During the night base personnel drained the tanks and the fuel was put into their cars. The FBI arrested them. The helicopter flew for about ten miles and autorotated into an open field.
Join Date: May 2005
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Priceless Tips!
Whenever I meet another helicopter pilot, I quite often ask if they have any 'golden tips' for safe flying/good flying. This usually leads to a long discussion involving stories of close shaves and lucky escapes, and I always come away having learned something valuable - lets face it, no-one will ever live long enough to make, and learn from, all the mistakes it is possible to make in a helicopter!
So I thought it would be a good idea if people out there in 'prune land' could share some of the experiences they have learned from....
So I thought it would be a good idea if people out there in 'prune land' could share some of the experiences they have learned from....
Never squat with yer spurs on!