Video: Austrian EC-135 slope start in snow

[Lima Oscar]

Welcome Gilbert !

Thanks for the explications and well done

Regards

LO

[FlyingHead]

Hi Gilbert, sorry I didn't want to offence you. But you are right I saw similar thing happen in Canada. An Astar land by a lake, where the snow seem to be ok but when the rotor stop and the pilot disembark, the A/C sunk in the snow. I was flying by and the pilot call me to look during he attemp a take off, same as yours. Basically good job.
Cheers
Dick

[Phoinix]

Hello Gilbert

Thanks for those explanations. One thing still bothers me. Why didn't you dig away the snow from the top of the skids? Wasn't that the main obstacle sticking you to the ground?

[Seniorpilot]

EC135 take-off

Hi Phoinix

yeah, was thinking about this (even the snow on top of the skid was not the real reason for "sinking")
Finally, I decided, not to remove snow or dig somehow for not to destabilise the tricky ground!
Seen retrospectively, I would move more slowly (but I had to consider the mast-moment limit, of course) !

Lesson learned: TAKE ADDITIONAL CARE - NEVER TRUST THE SNOW TOO MUCH!

Kindest regards,

old Gil.

[Phoinix]

We all make mistakes and we all learn; from our own experiences and from others. Thank you for sharing that one with us

In the end, everything turned out OK, that's important

Regards

[Gerhardt]

Old Gil

Like the others said, thanks for the narrative, and we're all glad everything worked out well!

[Phoinix]

Hey Gilbert!

Someone over here wishes to know, if you are still wearing those big moustache

[Seniorpilot]

Hi Phoinix

yes,yes - part of me! (Helps to balance....!)

Kind regards,

Gilbert, the senior

[warrigal]

Good onya Gil! Tricky terrain, tricky surface and tricky recovery.Well done!

[Seniorpilot]

Hi Warrigal

Yeah - my wording! Thank you!
Another lesson learned, yes!
This time, tricky terrain and conditions every day!
Foggy weather, fresh snow, poor visibility - many missions!
Last weekend, we had stormy northwind - up to 80 kts max. in 12000ft!
Hard winter this year!
You`re better off in Australia, rather than in Austria, at the time beeing?
I dream so....

Kind regards,

old Gil