TTB

This is a good thread.......... on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

Forget cost. I think the bottom line is SAFETY. If you can't afford it, don't play the game.

JJ

At the other end of the scale, I did my initial helicopter training on a "floppy stick", relatively large, (8,000lb MAUW, 53 foot rotor diameter), single engined helicopter with manual throttle reversion on its 1050 shp turbine.

It taught us how to operate a throttle on that particular type if the governor failed and how to carry out low level nav, IF, USLs and live winching. We were required to carry out EOLs solo with about 45 hours total rotary.

As far as basic aircraft handling goes, not much else that couldn't be done on any another type though.

Ok - this is my last post on this thread as I can see it's rapidly deteriorating into a pi$$ing contest that's been heard too many times before. Are you suggesting the R22 is unsafe and that if you can't afford to train in a 44, then don't train at all?! Safety, of course, is a common denominator that applies to all aircraft. It's a fact that there is nothing inherently unsafe about the R22. Sadly however, there are lots of inherently unsafe things about some of the very many young, irresponsible and inexperienced pilots that fly them - and that is what is reflected in the accident stats.

If I was an ab initio stude today, armed with a limited budget and a desire to learn everything there is to know about learning to fly helicopters, I'd go for the 'seat of your pants' R22 every time. It's safe, much cheaper and I believe learning in the R22 would make me a better pilot.

If I was an ab initio stude today and I could afford to buy a shiny new EC135, I'd still take lessons in an R22 before doing my type conversion and getting some hours under my belt - because I believe it would make me a better pilot.

Next thread!

TTB

Quote:

I'm interested in undertaking my PPL(H) on the R44. Does anyone know of anyone offering this service in/around the central belt?

See #3

(Pissing contests/hi-jacked threads do not help)

For the original poster and question(s)

1a. There is a CAA publication (Lasors) free PDF download on their website which lists all training schools in the UK, so this could be a useful source of info to you.

1b. Depending on where you live, you might be better going a bit further than local to Central Ecosse becaue it will be quicker to drive somewhere on a motorway than fighting along A roads behind McTavish's tractor.

1c. Therefore you might also consider taking a more intense 3 week course further away (in the UK still).

2. If you are planning to buy a 44, I'd say train on one and get used to the systems and drills for one type from scratch.

h-r

Thanks to everyone who responded to this - the thread made for pretty interesting reading and I have now made contact with a couple of local schools - Scotia in Cumbernauld and Kingsfield in Perth.

Thanks cjbiz for the info re HJS in Aberdeen, but that's a little bit too far for me to get to from Edinburgh.