Rotorheads calendar October 2012
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Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,411
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Rotorheads calendar October 2012
Another stunning image courtesy of Kia Kia Media’s Ned Dawson: an MD500E operated by Jack Harter Helicopters on the island of Kauai. Neville was on a photo shoot and took this one along the Pali coastline.
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Standard screen size:
As always, for Windows users click on the thumbnail to open a higher resolution full picture, and then right click to select “Set as Background”. Mac users should select the background via System Preferences.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 943
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From: Gold Coast, Queensland
Terrific photo but I'm intrigued to see them flying with passengers, tourists?, over the sea along a very rugged coastline with no floatation or life jackets on. The pilot may be wearing a pouch type but in Oz we must wear it, can't see one on the passenger though. Wonder if they had a life raft!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
From: Gold Coast, Queensland
I didn't make my point clear in that in Oz we have to undo the pouch & put the life jacket over our head. The idea is that once in the water it would be very hard to do that, especially for the pilot who would be pi**ing himself & would have both hands full! If the passengers are wearing a pouch jacket, the chances are they have never taken one out & certainly not in a HUET. I've seen aircrew try that in a HUET & most found it difficult under water, hence CASA requires the jacket on. Even a lot of offshore companies won't accept pouch jackets.
My other point is no floats which means a successful ditching would be that much harder, particularly for first time tourists. There's no beach to swim to either.
Just a safety concern for discussion.
My other point is no floats which means a successful ditching would be that much harder, particularly for first time tourists. There's no beach to swim to either.
Just a safety concern for discussion.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Firstly, one would pull the jack out of the pouch once out of the helicopter----and yes it is easier----that way it does not get punctured on the way out.
Secondly, the picture is deceiving, there is a beach right in front of them just off camera... They are about a half mile offshore from Kee beach on the North side of Kauai. (Flew the exact same tours for 7 years). One of the requirements is to be within "gliding distance of a suitable forced landing area". The FAA patrols heavily there, and have not as yet proven anyone to break that rule---even though they tried.
Secondly, the picture is deceiving, there is a beach right in front of them just off camera... They are about a half mile offshore from Kee beach on the North side of Kauai. (Flew the exact same tours for 7 years). One of the requirements is to be within "gliding distance of a suitable forced landing area". The FAA patrols heavily there, and have not as yet proven anyone to break that rule---even though they tried.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
The beaches in the top right are Kalalau and Honopu beaches, (featured in many movies--you may recognize the whole shoreline from "Six day Seven nights"). Kalalau is the long one, about a mile long, and Honopu is seperated by the arch:
The helicopter is off shore between Kee beach and Hanakapia.
You can see people on the left side of Kee to give your perspective:
The helicopter is off shore between Kee beach and Hanakapia.
You can see people on the left side of Kee to give your perspective:
