What would you do..
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Australia
branches?? i would have shut down and checked
leaves - no worries
twiggs - mmm...
sticks - little dents
branches - big dents
trees - break things
ive had a bit of leaf action getting in or out of tight spots but shut down and had a look each time (unmistakable flying in rain noise, chick, chick, chick), so far just two little MR dents and a dead kookaburra. (the kookaburra went through the tail rotor while hot refueling so i shut down to inspect and there was no damage to the machine, however the kookaburra was unservisable).
twiggs - mmm...
sticks - little dents
branches - big dents
trees - break things
ive had a bit of leaf action getting in or out of tight spots but shut down and had a look each time (unmistakable flying in rain noise, chick, chick, chick), so far just two little MR dents and a dead kookaburra. (the kookaburra went through the tail rotor while hot refueling so i shut down to inspect and there was no damage to the machine, however the kookaburra was unservisable).
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 1
From: UK
hemac
Since you ask ...
"It amazes me there are so many lunatics out there who are prepared to go air-borne with an even greater possibility of the piece of tin they are travelling in falling apart."
Are there "so many lunatics out there"?
What's your basis for that proposition?
What you've read on this forum?
Or what you've learned in your 15 hours as a student pilot?
"There must be some sane Helo drivers out there. Or am I just a coward?"
Some?
I've no idea if you're a coward. I doubt if many helicopter pilots are. The overwhelming majority are extremely safety conscious, have a healthy respect for the potential risks and do everything possible to minimise them. I don't regard that as cowardice, just plain common sense.
Heliport
A sweeping response, how so?
"It amazes me there are so many lunatics out there who are prepared to go air-borne with an even greater possibility of the piece of tin they are travelling in falling apart."
Are there "so many lunatics out there"?
What's your basis for that proposition?
What you've read on this forum?
Or what you've learned in your 15 hours as a student pilot?
"There must be some sane Helo drivers out there. Or am I just a coward?"
Some?
I've no idea if you're a coward. I doubt if many helicopter pilots are. The overwhelming majority are extremely safety conscious, have a healthy respect for the potential risks and do everything possible to minimise them. I don't regard that as cowardice, just plain common sense.
Heliport
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: London
Heliport
I seem to have upset you from what was supposed to be a light hearted posting.
I have started using smilies so that the slightly more uptight users of this forum are not offended by posting from mere amateurs like myself
By the way it's 16 hours now.
H.
I seem to have upset you from what was supposed to be a light hearted posting.
I have started using smilies so that the slightly more uptight users of this forum are not offended by posting from mere amateurs like myself
By the way it's 16 hours now.
H.
Gatvol
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1
From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
"If you were informed you aircraft had hit a tree by ATC would you:"
If I had to depend on ATC to tell me I hit a tree.............
1. I shouldnt be flying
2. How the hell did they know I was that low
3. Test the skids to see if they are still there
4. Park at the far end of the ramp before I tell the boss........
5. Attempt to explain what tree parts were doing at 1000' AGL
If I had to depend on ATC to tell me I hit a tree.............
1. I shouldnt be flying
2. How the hell did they know I was that low
3. Test the skids to see if they are still there
4. Park at the far end of the ramp before I tell the boss........
5. Attempt to explain what tree parts were doing at 1000' AGL
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Over here
Some of us are saner than others. I know of one pilot who had a MR strike on a tanker, offshore, and continued to fly the a/c for at least 2 weeks before having the damage inspected. The ship was immediately grounded, and the entire drivetrain replaced. The strike was reported to me by one of the passengers, who subsequently flew with me while the blade strike ship was grounded. That company was a subsidiary of a company in Connecticut, and is no longer doing business down here, fortunately.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: topspot
Hemac, with due respect 'Get Some Time Up!!!!". Seems strange that you were quick to be critical about other folks command decisions when you have no real command yourself.
You will find that most will agree with the fact that if you bump into things you would get the ACFT inspected prior to launch, however there is a time and a place for cyber biff. The peope you throw stones at today may be your boss tomorrow, so take a humble pill. Better to be quiet and thought an idiot than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
IMHO
GIVE IT SOME
You will find that most will agree with the fact that if you bump into things you would get the ACFT inspected prior to launch, however there is a time and a place for cyber biff. The peope you throw stones at today may be your boss tomorrow, so take a humble pill. Better to be quiet and thought an idiot than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
IMHO
GIVE IT SOME
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 0
From: London
hemac
One of the many good things about this forum is that, although most contributors are professional pilots, PPLs and student pilots are made welcome and there's no division between pros and amateurs. We all get along very well together.
Experienced pros willingly give their time helping the less experienced of us and, on the very rare occasions a pro makes a critical comment to or about an inexperienced beginner, it's almost always deserved. IMHO, for someone who's only had a few flying lessons, you've made some rather curious comments on various threads.
You couldn't find anywhere else, on or off the web, where there is so much helicopter expertise and experience in one place - and it's free. You might want to consider taking advantage of it. Winding people up might give you some short-term pleasure but, IMHO, you'll gain more in the long term if you take advantage of the enormous breadth and depth of talent available to you here.
Your choice of course.
FL
One of the many good things about this forum is that, although most contributors are professional pilots, PPLs and student pilots are made welcome and there's no division between pros and amateurs. We all get along very well together.
Experienced pros willingly give their time helping the less experienced of us and, on the very rare occasions a pro makes a critical comment to or about an inexperienced beginner, it's almost always deserved. IMHO, for someone who's only had a few flying lessons, you've made some rather curious comments on various threads.
You couldn't find anywhere else, on or off the web, where there is so much helicopter expertise and experience in one place - and it's free. You might want to consider taking advantage of it. Winding people up might give you some short-term pleasure but, IMHO, you'll gain more in the long term if you take advantage of the enormous breadth and depth of talent available to you here.
Your choice of course.
FL
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: London
Flying lawyer
I fully accept and understand your post.
As I previously stated my original post was intended to be a light hearted enquiry/comment, it was never intended to offend anybody.
I unfortunately went on the offensive when it was suggested that because I am not an experienced pilot (something which I am very open about) my opinion was somehow not valid.
I agree with you whole heartedly that this forum is an excellent medium to gain knowledge and experience first hand from people working in the aviation industry, and I have a great deal of respect for all the members.
Perhaps my humour is ahead of it's time
I fully accept and understand your post.
As I previously stated my original post was intended to be a light hearted enquiry/comment, it was never intended to offend anybody.
I unfortunately went on the offensive when it was suggested that because I am not an experienced pilot (something which I am very open about) my opinion was somehow not valid.
I agree with you whole heartedly that this forum is an excellent medium to gain knowledge and experience first hand from people working in the aviation industry, and I have a great deal of respect for all the members.
Perhaps my humour is ahead of it's time
