Touch Down Auto Training.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,852
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From: Canada
When I did my training at Trentair (now out of business), every auto with an instructor was a "full on". I trained in 300Cs and a 206. I must have done at least 30 including hovering autos. That being said they lost one 300C in a "full on" auto
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: USA
Feathering,
Looks as if it is straight down the middle! The bet was with an English gentleman who claimed that "every" company in Europe,operating single engines, does full touch down autos "regularly".My contention was , as in the US, most companies would shy away from that due to repair costs, out of service times and insurance costs associated with training incidents or accidents.
Well, I have shown him this thread and we decided to downgrade to a 12 year old Scotch and share the cost!
Nonetheless, please keep this discussion going as I am getting valuable input here to build a case for at least a once a year event in a fleet aircraft.
Alt3
Looks as if it is straight down the middle! The bet was with an English gentleman who claimed that "every" company in Europe,operating single engines, does full touch down autos "regularly".My contention was , as in the US, most companies would shy away from that due to repair costs, out of service times and insurance costs associated with training incidents or accidents.
Well, I have shown him this thread and we decided to downgrade to a 12 year old Scotch and share the cost!
Nonetheless, please keep this discussion going as I am getting valuable input here to build a case for at least a once a year event in a fleet aircraft.
Alt3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Germany
I did my CPLH training on AB206 and all autos were with power recovery ... all but the one at the end of my CPLH checkride 
The autos done in R44 with the company on LPC/OPC are to the ground. With another company the ones in B206 and AS350 are with power recovery.
I agree with most of the people here: It is good for your confidence to do them to the ground but not worth the risk of damaging the helicopter.
If you auto an AS350 to 3-5 feet with flare, reduced forward speed and power recovery, you will survive the day the engine quits (all parameters being equal).
There is no simulation of the 'real thing' ... add some bad weather, rough terrain and adrenalin because you know this one is for real and it will definitely be a different experience compared to the ones you did in training.
The autos done in R44 with the company on LPC/OPC are to the ground. With another company the ones in B206 and AS350 are with power recovery.
I agree with most of the people here: It is good for your confidence to do them to the ground but not worth the risk of damaging the helicopter.
If you auto an AS350 to 3-5 feet with flare, reduced forward speed and power recovery, you will survive the day the engine quits (all parameters being equal).
There is no simulation of the 'real thing' ... add some bad weather, rough terrain and adrenalin because you know this one is for real and it will definitely be a different experience compared to the ones you did in training.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Stagnation Point
Ready to fly have to agree with you.
Having gone to the ground with no engine in a 206 I can tell you it is very different to training when there is no chance to go around or flare recover. If you get the battery off as well then it is very quiet, you can not talk to the person next to you and all you seem to hear is your own breathing. That said it is over fairly quickly and if you have done enough practice then it seems to happen before you even know you are doing it.
SB.
Having gone to the ground with no engine in a 206 I can tell you it is very different to training when there is no chance to go around or flare recover. If you get the battery off as well then it is very quiet, you can not talk to the person next to you and all you seem to hear is your own breathing. That said it is over fairly quickly and if you have done enough practice then it seems to happen before you even know you are doing it.
SB.
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
During my time as an RAF student (1978/9) and latterly as a QHI, our training was for every one to be to the ground. In fact, once the speed select (Whirlwind 10) or throttle (Gazelle) was retarded, it was prohibited to advance it again until on the ground. So, in effect they were for real.
As students on the Whirlwind we were required to do a whole sortie of solo engine off landings (IIRC, this was with a total of about 40 hours of the 110 hour course completed).
As students on the Whirlwind we were required to do a whole sortie of solo engine off landings (IIRC, this was with a total of about 40 hours of the 110 hour course completed).
