Danger to Helicopters?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Sceptred Isle off Europe
Danger to Helicopters?
But, because temperatures in London had slipped to below zero and it was minus 3C (27F) in Bath yesterday morning, plans to take the helicopter were abandoned because of fears that ice would cause the rotors to seize up.
Ohcirrej
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 0
From: This is the internet FFS.........
Geeze, we were at -15C here in Winnipeg yesterday. I hope somebody told the guy in the chopper who was doing a deer survey just north of the field about that.
(And there's a couple of sentences I never would have dreamed I'd be typing, if you had asked me 3 years ago.)
(And there's a couple of sentences I never would have dreamed I'd be typing, if you had asked me 3 years ago.)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: canada
Icing!! Again!!!!!
Assuming Royal Flight was their 76...
All present S76's are NOT certified for icing. Therefore, there is no preferred temperature for icing.
As for the London weather at the time...........was precip present at the given OAT????
"ICE IS NOT NICE"!!!!
Freakin cold temperatures are a different story. The 76 is certified to -34 celsius as per the flight manual. Nick correct me if I'm off on that number.
DK
Assuming Royal Flight was their 76...
All present S76's are NOT certified for icing. Therefore, there is no preferred temperature for icing.
As for the London weather at the time...........was precip present at the given OAT????
"ICE IS NOT NICE"!!!!
Freakin cold temperatures are a different story. The 76 is certified to -34 celsius as per the flight manual. Nick correct me if I'm off on that number.
DK
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Icing conditions exist from 0C to about minus 10 C, where supercooled water droplets may exist, just waiting for a nice helicopter to freeze onto. Not nice.
Outside that temperature band, there is little problem on most turbine helicopters, subject to the RFM advice.
Outside that temperature band, there is little problem on most turbine helicopters, subject to the RFM advice.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
In these times of downsizing, I doubt that will happen, SASless. The RTO would need a new hangar first....which would possibly mean a base change and a change of engineering authority too.
Some folks these days would rather see our Royal Family travel by bus.......
Some folks these days would rather see our Royal Family travel by bus.......
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: Europe
Last few days have actually been tricky in the UK. Lowish cloud base, usually under 800ft, then a layer at around -2C to about 2500ft then +5C at 5000ft. Lovely on top, poor underneath, but the bit in the middle was quite capable of building up some ice if in it for long. Hence cancelled flights for Royal Flight - and others including some of mine!
Combine Operations
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: U.K.
I think Brizzo's post was a comment on how even the Times is heading towards other, lesser publications.
The flight was abandoned "because of fears that ice would cause the rotors to seize up". Such a statement shows a remarkable ignorance of the subject, especially from such a distinguished newspaper.
The flight was abandoned "because of fears that ice would cause the rotors to seize up". Such a statement shows a remarkable ignorance of the subject, especially from such a distinguished newspaper.
Senis Semper Fidelis
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
From: Lancashire U K
Jesus, or Alaha, pick which one fits, But that Prince of Wales sure must live in one hell of a big place, He takes the Helicopter, I normally walk along the corridor to the bath!
Vfr
Vfr
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: canada
Originally Posted by ShyTorque
Icing conditions exist from 0C to about minus 10 C
Last monday, Northern BC, -30 C, dodging fog. Managed to pick up a bit of white frost on the landing gear, vertical and horizontal stabs. Of course I didn't notice until I had landed to refuel. Afterwards, I gave the fogbanks a wider berth. I wish I had a camera with me.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
From: England
The newspaper I saw had some nice logic. It said something like.. "if he had left 30 mins earlier and had gone by train he would only have arrived 30 mins late". They didn't say what time he would have arrived had he left an hour earlier.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: London
plans to take the helicopter were abandoned because of fears that ice would cause the rotors to seize up.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 21
From: Used to be God's own County
Never like saying 'non' to a trip but the strange conditions caused some head-scratching......Inversion, lovely on top, forecast bkn cloud at destination etc pressure pressure but then that's what you get paid for I guess, the knowledge to say know.
As the boss kindly put it:
The reason for having to fly is not life or death but, it could be the result!!
As the boss kindly put it:
The reason for having to fly is not life or death but, it could be the result!!
