"Helicopters crash 10 times more than planes"
GunsssR4ever
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"Helicopters crash 10 times more than planes"
Don't shoot the messenger ... remember it comes from Kenya 
http://allafrica.com/stories/200508040046.html
The Nation (Nairobi)
David Okwemba
Nairobi
Helicopters are more prone to accidents than aeroplanes.
They crash 10 times more than planes, according to the American Space Agency, NASA.
While the aeroplane can glide, reducing fatalities, a helicopter falls like a stone from the sky.
A pilot with the Kenya Police air wing said helicopters could be dangerous at night, during thunderstorm and where there are no landing instruments.
Taking risks
He said the pilot flying Dr John Garang may have taken a risk by travelling at night and in bad weather.
Saying he was not familiar with Southern Sudan, the pilot added that if Dr Garang's helicopter had been under the guide of radar personnel in Southern Sudan, it would have landed safely.
Helicopters were more vulnerable to harsh weather and a pilot would need to know the terrain well, he said.
Major Solomon Nyanjui of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) blamed most of the crashes involving helicopters on pilot error, adding that besides knowing the terrain well, one had to fly at least 3,000 feet above the highest obstacle.
Maj Nyanjui, who safely brought down a helicopter carrying top executives on a tour of the Aberdares forest last year, said in circumstances where a pilot lost the engine, they were supposed to employ automatic rotation to bring the aircraft down safely.
Fixed wings
Among the executives were Nation Media Group chief executive Wilfred Kiboro and Safaricom chief Michael Joseph.
The helicopter had developed a tail rotor problem when it was 30 feet above the ground.
"Fixed wing planes crash more often than helicopters," he said, adding that if the helicopter was fitted with an instrument to measure the altitude (altimeter) it would comfortably show the distance from the ground so the pilot could steer it to safe landing.
David Okwemba
Nairobi
Helicopters are more prone to accidents than aeroplanes.
They crash 10 times more than planes, according to the American Space Agency, NASA.
While the aeroplane can glide, reducing fatalities, a helicopter falls like a stone from the sky.
A pilot with the Kenya Police air wing said helicopters could be dangerous at night, during thunderstorm and where there are no landing instruments.
Taking risks
He said the pilot flying Dr John Garang may have taken a risk by travelling at night and in bad weather.
Saying he was not familiar with Southern Sudan, the pilot added that if Dr Garang's helicopter had been under the guide of radar personnel in Southern Sudan, it would have landed safely.
Helicopters were more vulnerable to harsh weather and a pilot would need to know the terrain well, he said.
Major Solomon Nyanjui of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) blamed most of the crashes involving helicopters on pilot error, adding that besides knowing the terrain well, one had to fly at least 3,000 feet above the highest obstacle.
Maj Nyanjui, who safely brought down a helicopter carrying top executives on a tour of the Aberdares forest last year, said in circumstances where a pilot lost the engine, they were supposed to employ automatic rotation to bring the aircraft down safely.
Fixed wings
Among the executives were Nation Media Group chief executive Wilfred Kiboro and Safaricom chief Michael Joseph.
The helicopter had developed a tail rotor problem when it was 30 feet above the ground.
"Fixed wing planes crash more often than helicopters," he said, adding that if the helicopter was fitted with an instrument to measure the altitude (altimeter) it would comfortably show the distance from the ground so the pilot could steer it to safe landing.
The final paragraph appears to contradict the findings of the NASA quote, with the following statement;
Now I'm really confused.
"Fixed wing planes crash more often than helicopters,"
GunsssR4ever
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Cyclic Hotline ... this (chopper pilot) made the statement re fixed wings crashing more ...
Maj Nyanjui, who safely brought down a helicopter carrying top executives on a tour of the Aberdares forest last year.....
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Doesn't the phrase 'brought down' usually mean 'shot down' ? In which case are we to assume that Maj Nyanjui 'safely' shot himself down ? Judging from the rest of his comments, even if viciously mangled by Mr (Idiot ?) Okwemba, I can well believe it.
Also can't help wondering what kind of game management flying the Major does at 3000' agl ? 'Errr, thee number of lion, zebra and antelope is errr not too many; in fact, we did not see any animals in thee park.'
Also can't help wondering what kind of game management flying the Major does at 3000' agl ? 'Errr, thee number of lion, zebra and antelope is errr not too many; in fact, we did not see any animals in thee park.'
It's not just an adventure....
it's just a job!
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Gunship
I am working on a solution to this very worrysome problem of automatic rotation. I feel very strongly that this should be a manual function, activated only by the Pilot. That way if the Pilot does it, then there is NO ERROR, it's on purpose.
I am simply standing beside myself with all this pilot error!
Besides everyone knows that if de elicopter were to lose de enjun day simply click dair eels an say "I wish I were in Kansas, I wish I were in Kansas, I wish I were in Kansas"
That simple Mon!
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
I am working on a solution to this very worrysome problem of automatic rotation. I feel very strongly that this should be a manual function, activated only by the Pilot. That way if the Pilot does it, then there is NO ERROR, it's on purpose.
I am simply standing beside myself with all this pilot error!
Besides everyone knows that if de elicopter were to lose de enjun day simply click dair eels an say "I wish I were in Kansas, I wish I were in Kansas, I wish I were in Kansas"
That simple Mon!
Cheers,
OffshoreIgor
