your favourite old timers rules of thumb?
Always walk around the aircraft before strapping in.
Always do a hover check....if it isn't right to hover....it isn't right to fly.
Inflight change in vibration levels....land and find out why then continue the flight if it is safe.
If the Maintenance Release is not signed....the aircraft is U/S. (If the engineer/mechanic has not signed his name......he isn't responsible for what happens if you do....but you are.)
"I think I can."....and "Watch this!" kills pilots.
Never...Never...Never...do spontaneous low level flying. Always....always...always do a Recce/Recon first. Then have your fun.
Always do a hover check....if it isn't right to hover....it isn't right to fly.
Inflight change in vibration levels....land and find out why then continue the flight if it is safe.
If the Maintenance Release is not signed....the aircraft is U/S. (If the engineer/mechanic has not signed his name......he isn't responsible for what happens if you do....but you are.)
"I think I can."....and "Watch this!" kills pilots.
Never...Never...Never...do spontaneous low level flying. Always....always...always do a Recce/Recon first. Then have your fun.
Outs,
I learnt that one on Unga Island, out towards Cold Bay, Alaska!
As the weather in that part of the world has to be seen to be believed....(even worse than the Shetlands if you will believe it)....I got used to hover moseying about looking between my toes or at the skid for reference until one fine day....as I flew by the Elephant ( a peculiar rock formation)....the Sea Gull mob hopped about from one foot to the other and refused to fly off.
I went back to camp for tea and stickies.
I learnt that one on Unga Island, out towards Cold Bay, Alaska!
As the weather in that part of the world has to be seen to be believed....(even worse than the Shetlands if you will believe it)....I got used to hover moseying about looking between my toes or at the skid for reference until one fine day....as I flew by the Elephant ( a peculiar rock formation)....the Sea Gull mob hopped about from one foot to the other and refused to fly off.
I went back to camp for tea and stickies.
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Its easier to apologise than to to ask permission... Uhm... 
If you're strapped in, but unsure if all the hatches are closed, unstrap, get out, and check.
Good manners will get you far in aviation
If you're strapped in, but unsure if all the hatches are closed, unstrap, get out, and check.
Good manners will get you far in aviation
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5 Cīs
Circle Climb Communicate Confess Comply
The way I know the 5 Cīs: Confess, Climb, Conserve (Fuel), Communicate, Comply.
My favourite:
Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations where they might have to use their superior skills.
fly safe
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Wouldnīt it be a lot smarter to confess (that you are actually lost) in the first place?
...there are places in the world where ATC have there hands full with other duty's than to help a pilot who gets lost every five minutes (if I recall my first x-country right
). Certainly utilize the resources when necessary, but not as the first option when operating VFR.
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again 5 Cīs
@ Phil77: You are not supposed to confess to anybody but yourself (and you crew) that you are actually lost in the first place. Maybe your crewmember knows where you are, but does not know that you have no f***ing clue.
The part were you tell the hole world that you really f***ed up comes later, when you communicate. If you fixed you position after you climbed, you wonīt have to talk to anybody.
... and in a helicopter you can always land. Much better than busting any airspace. In my part of the world with mode "s" transponder they will get you anyway, even if you sqawk in stby.
Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.
fly safe
The part were you tell the hole world that you really f***ed up comes later, when you communicate. If you fixed you position after you climbed, you wonīt have to talk to anybody.
... and in a helicopter you can always land. Much better than busting any airspace. In my part of the world with mode "s" transponder they will get you anyway, even if you sqawk in stby.
Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.
fly safe
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Here's 2 no BS ones
Always Bomb DOWN HILL
- meaning, if you are water bombing and vis/wind direction provide no probs, then always do it down hill.
Having seen a 205 rip the bambi bucket off because it could not out climb terrain very good advise.
Shiny Switch Syndrome
- Like Canuck says, if its shiny you can touch it, generators, boost pumps etc, if its not shiny dont touch it! Fire handles, Emerg Hyd switch etc
Lastly
IF it is shiny, and its not meant to be.... dont fly it
- meaning, if you are water bombing and vis/wind direction provide no probs, then always do it down hill.
Having seen a 205 rip the bambi bucket off because it could not out climb terrain very good advise.
Shiny Switch Syndrome
- Like Canuck says, if its shiny you can touch it, generators, boost pumps etc, if its not shiny dont touch it! Fire handles, Emerg Hyd switch etc
Lastly
IF it is shiny, and its not meant to be.... dont fly it
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Flying from high to low (pressure) or Hot to Cold - Look out below. (Mostly for IFR, but still good to remember)
Here is an old one from my recip days..Fuel consumption of an aircraft engine is equal to 1/2 the Hp divided by 10. (160 hp engine. 1/2 the hp = 80 diveded by 10 = 8 gph)
If another aircraft appears stationary in your windscreen and is growing in size....alter your course.
I got my PNR's as well..but to lazy to type them up
Here is an old one from my recip days..Fuel consumption of an aircraft engine is equal to 1/2 the Hp divided by 10. (160 hp engine. 1/2 the hp = 80 diveded by 10 = 8 gph)
If another aircraft appears stationary in your windscreen and is growing in size....alter your course.
I got my PNR's as well..but to lazy to type them up
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Check out a confined area like you would check out a woman.
Size
Shape
Slope
Surface
Surrounds
Size
Shape
Slope
Surface
Surrounds
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Never fly when birds are walkin'
__________________________________
outs,
true! in india i once met BIRDS (must be eagles) walking down the rwy as i hit v1-- and i was doing a rolling t/o on a hot summer day.
__________________________________
outs,
true! in india i once met BIRDS (must be eagles) walking down the rwy as i hit v1-- and i was doing a rolling t/o on a hot summer day.
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If you are on the ground doing nothing - take a piss. If you are airborne doing nothing - take on fuel. 
Sadly as I get older, I find myself doing the first bit of advice quite a lot
Sadly as I get older, I find myself doing the first bit of advice quite a lot