The best type for heli-ski
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Chilliwack, BC Canada
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Rotorfloat, still operating under 703, day VFR only, but up to 14 passengners with the 212.
RomeoAlpha, there is a bit of IFR work, there are a few ambulance ships out west, 76's and a 222 ( ? I think), plus the HeliJet 76 airway flights from Vancouver to Victoria BC, a couple of medical BK117's in Alberta, and the huge Ontario air ambulance gig back east. They must have around 10 ships give or take?
Then there's the heavy shows offshore on the east coast, with CHC and Cougars Pumas, S-61's and S-92's.
RomeoAlpha, there is a bit of IFR work, there are a few ambulance ships out west, 76's and a 222 ( ? I think), plus the HeliJet 76 airway flights from Vancouver to Victoria BC, a couple of medical BK117's in Alberta, and the huge Ontario air ambulance gig back east. They must have around 10 ships give or take?
Then there's the heavy shows offshore on the east coast, with CHC and Cougars Pumas, S-61's and S-92's.
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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Originally Posted by 407 Driver
The Bell 205/212, by far the most popular, the most utilized, the most efficient ski aircraft in the world.
Sure a B3 has power, but how much money can you make with a guide plus 4 skiers? It works excellent on a very limited basis, given some extreme high altitudes, etc. Even the Bell 407 is used more in the ski industry than B3's...simply economics...that 5th paying seat creates more revenue. The largest Heli-Ski operator in the world chose 407's for that one simple reason.
Sure a B3 has power, but how much money can you make with a guide plus 4 skiers? It works excellent on a very limited basis, given some extreme high altitudes, etc. Even the Bell 407 is used more in the ski industry than B3's...simply economics...that 5th paying seat creates more revenue. The largest Heli-Ski operator in the world chose 407's for that one simple reason.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Canadian Mountain Holidays, their website is here... CMH
They tried B2's but that type didn't fit the program, so they moved up to the 407 for all of their smaller private groups. The 212 is still the main workhorse of the fleet though.
They tried B2's but that type didn't fit the program, so they moved up to the 407 for all of their smaller private groups. The 212 is still the main workhorse of the fleet though.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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B4 for Heli ski
Interested to hear from those out there who have flown the B4 on heli skiing.
I hear from one Canadian pilot "it is like the B2 on steroids"
The Eurocopter figures have it with a bigger payload than the B3 even with the heavier (54kg) basket.
Any B4 pilots with comments?
I hear from one Canadian pilot "it is like the B2 on steroids"
The Eurocopter figures have it with a bigger payload than the B3 even with the heavier (54kg) basket.
Any B4 pilots with comments?
Join Date: Dec 2007
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B4...jury is still out. Guides and skiiers love it.
Windows (lots of them) fog up when it gets really cold. Hot sweaty skiiers get in and open up there jackets! It uses an standard squirrel mixing box and unproven hosing to get the hot (by then not so hot) to defog. Eurocopter is still working on it.
The C of G vs. Fuel ratio doesn't allow you to run the 3 pax up front with any kind of altiude (safety margins) as you have to carry more fuel and not allowed to burn it off to empty, so you are back to 2 pax in the front jsut like a B2 (but on steroids), The $$ ## dont work with a 3 million dollar 6 pax machine.
Better bet is the B3 with a love seat. The new dual hydraulic B3 has an increased internal gross. Which legally beats the 407 (they are good). Remember that Canada has a standard wieght for pax in Canada (206 lbs.) in winter. Do the math. I dont know too many Bavarians that are less than 200 lbs!!
Basically every machine has its problems (I think) B3/407 good...but really expensive. B2 ok $$ but a little underpowered (with 6 pax). Mediums? again expensive and the customer needs big volume of clients.
Take the insurance off for the season and go surfing!
Windows (lots of them) fog up when it gets really cold. Hot sweaty skiiers get in and open up there jackets! It uses an standard squirrel mixing box and unproven hosing to get the hot (by then not so hot) to defog. Eurocopter is still working on it.
The C of G vs. Fuel ratio doesn't allow you to run the 3 pax up front with any kind of altiude (safety margins) as you have to carry more fuel and not allowed to burn it off to empty, so you are back to 2 pax in the front jsut like a B2 (but on steroids), The $$ ## dont work with a 3 million dollar 6 pax machine.
Better bet is the B3 with a love seat. The new dual hydraulic B3 has an increased internal gross. Which legally beats the 407 (they are good). Remember that Canada has a standard wieght for pax in Canada (206 lbs.) in winter. Do the math. I dont know too many Bavarians that are less than 200 lbs!!
Basically every machine has its problems (I think) B3/407 good...but really expensive. B2 ok $$ but a little underpowered (with 6 pax). Mediums? again expensive and the customer needs big volume of clients.
Take the insurance off for the season and go surfing!
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Thanks for you comments - good stuff -
Not sure how your "love seat" works in the northern hemisphere but down under we are maxed at 154kg (2 @ 77kg) which makes it a problem even for the lighter ones in full ski gear.
Puts the limits on the B3 / B2 front seat
Whats the figure on increased internal in the B3 with the dual hydraulics (taking into account the installation weight?)
Where are the good surfing spots ?
Not sure how your "love seat" works in the northern hemisphere but down under we are maxed at 154kg (2 @ 77kg) which makes it a problem even for the lighter ones in full ski gear.
Puts the limits on the B3 / B2 front seat
Whats the figure on increased internal in the B3 with the dual hydraulics (taking into account the installation weight?)
Where are the good surfing spots ?
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at risk of thread creep.. but... my friends are constantly asking me how feasable it would be to attach mountain bikes to a basket and off you go...
has it been done and are there any certified bike baskets out there???
has it been done and are there any certified bike baskets out there???
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Bike Rack
Stringfellow
There were pictures of a bike rack on this thread;
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/401...ike-tours.html
There were pictures of a bike rack on this thread;
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/401...ike-tours.html
PPL heli-skiing friends hmmmmm sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
What You need: At least 500 turbine hours (MINIMUM), a few hundred mountain hours above 10,000', at least 1,500 to 2,000 hours rotory to be in the running to be at least half safe to bring your friends & you back home in 1 piece.
Our company minimums for the same are 2,000hours rotory PIC, 400 hours mountain above 10,000', 1,000hours turbine & 200 hours on type. And thats just the bare minimums!!!!
Happy landings 
What You need: At least 500 turbine hours (MINIMUM), a few hundred mountain hours above 10,000', at least 1,500 to 2,000 hours rotory to be in the running to be at least half safe to bring your friends & you back home in 1 piece.
Our company minimums for the same are 2,000hours rotory PIC, 400 hours mountain above 10,000', 1,000hours turbine & 200 hours on type. And thats just the bare minimums!!!!
Happy landings
Most of our guys have nothing less than 800 hours above 10,000' with some with 2,000hours at those heights. Its also an insurance requirement for the 400 hours mountain minimum. How do You get the experience hmmmmm work for a company that will give you the odd ferry etc slowly build the time & experience to be ready & safe
