Why Do You Fly From the Right Hand Seat?
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Preston, Lancs, UK
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which side?
My understanding is that the PIC always sits on the side of the advancing blade. Of course there may well be configurations which discount this explanation.
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unless you're French.
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Last edited by Whirlygig; 12th Jun 2009 at 13:57.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: The bit in the middle
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Simple question
Hope you fellas will bear with me as I'm not an aviator - purely an aviation enthusiast. I've often wondered why in a (commercial) fixed wing a/c the PIC always has the LH seat whereas in a helo the opposite is true. Is there any particular reason? Is it historical? Traditional? Any ideas?
MTIA
MTIA
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mmm ...
This has been covered in the past try using the search function ....
BTW the 'original' Hu 369 .... the Military OH6, the pilot in fact sat on the RHS of the cockpit .. when the Hu 369 series 'The 500' was put into commercial production Hughes put the pilot on the LHS so as to allow for a third seat in the front of the a/c.
This has been covered in the past try using the search function ....
BTW the 'original' Hu 369 .... the Military OH6, the pilot in fact sat on the RHS of the cockpit .. when the Hu 369 series 'The 500' was put into commercial production Hughes put the pilot on the LHS so as to allow for a third seat in the front of the a/c.
Last edited by spinwing; 21st Aug 2010 at 15:51.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: The bit in the middle
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last edited by egnxer; 21st Aug 2010 at 16:21.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Crickalde Wilts
Age: 80
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which seat?
You may have explained this before, if so I missed it, and apologise, but why do helicopter jockeys, and co- jockeys , sit in the opposite seats to fixed wings.I can understand it on a Belvedere cos that gives the boss the slidey door on the way out
if (when) things go wrong.
if (when) things go wrong.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: around and about
Age: 71
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Hi Olly
Eng here NOT pilot, so more than ready to accept correction. My understanding is that in (most) helicopters the accepted best position is P1 on the RHS, so that ccollective operation is never restricted by interference with the door. One's hand that is. The Hughes 500 is the exception to this convention, as indeed the Hiller 12 E was. (On the centreline of the aircraft - good for crop work so I was told)
However there may well be more informed comment from those who know MUCH more than I do!! - VFR
Eng here NOT pilot, so more than ready to accept correction. My understanding is that in (most) helicopters the accepted best position is P1 on the RHS, so that ccollective operation is never restricted by interference with the door. One's hand that is. The Hughes 500 is the exception to this convention, as indeed the Hiller 12 E was. (On the centreline of the aircraft - good for crop work so I was told)
However there may well be more informed comment from those who know MUCH more than I do!! - VFR
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
also, sitting on the right allows for better access to the panel with your left hand, while your right is controlling the cyclic.
for this reason, I truly dont understand why any helicopters would be left seat pic, as this would only make it more difficult to change freqs and altimeter settings with your left hand.
for this reason, I truly dont understand why any helicopters would be left seat pic, as this would only make it more difficult to change freqs and altimeter settings with your left hand.
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
as this would only make it more difficult to change freqs and altimeter settings with your left hand.
Cheers
Whirls
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
either hold the cyclic with your left hand
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ShyT, I can't hover and change frequencies with either hand from any seat - I need a co-pilot for that. 
Or I put it down, change, and lift again. Or tell ATC I cannot comply just yet. 
Cheers
Whirls
Or I put it down, change, and lift again. Or tell ATC I cannot comply just yet. Cheers
Whirls
Rotorwash:
I am guessing you do not work in the utility field. It is easier to hang out the left door and look straight down than the right. In our Huey and 212 we have the paperwork to fly from the left. There is even an STC for the 206 series to allow you to fly from the left seat.
As for the radios, mine are wired to the cooley hats on the cyclic to allow me to cycle through all the pre-programmed frequencies. What is an altimeter--most if not all utility operations are conducted low level and no need for one.
Aside form all the above, I am able to remove my hand form the cyclic and collective for at least 5 seconds before there is any creep, tis all about having it track & balanced correctly.
also, sitting on the right allows for better access to the panel with your left hand, while your right is controlling the cyclic.
for this reason, I truly dont understand why any helicopters would be left seat pic, as this would only make it more difficult to change freqs and altimeter settings with your left hand.
for this reason, I truly dont understand why any helicopters would be left seat pic, as this would only make it more difficult to change freqs and altimeter settings with your left hand.
As for the radios, mine are wired to the cooley hats on the cyclic to allow me to cycle through all the pre-programmed frequencies. What is an altimeter--most if not all utility operations are conducted low level and no need for one.
Aside form all the above, I am able to remove my hand form the cyclic and collective for at least 5 seconds before there is any creep, tis all about having it track & balanced correctly.
Last edited by Gordy; 9th Mar 2011 at 21:02. Reason: I am a pilot not a good speller....needed to correct.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,574
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Or I put it down, change, and lift again. Or tell ATC I cannot comply just yet.
(LHR at night can be fun when single pilot).
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am guessing you do not work in the utility field. It is easier to hang out the left door and look straight down than the right. In our Huey and 212 we have the paperwork to fly from the left. There is even an STC for the 206 series to allow you to fly from the left seat.
As for the radios, mine are wired to the cooley hats on the cyclic to allow me to cycle through all the pre-programmed frequencies. What is an altimeter--most if not all utility operations are conducted low level and no need for one.
Aside form all the above, I am able to remove my hand form the cyclic and collective for at least 5 seconds before there is any creep, tis all about having it track & balanced correctly.
As for the radios, mine are wired to the cooley hats on the cyclic to allow me to cycle through all the pre-programmed frequencies. What is an altimeter--most if not all utility operations are conducted low level and no need for one.
Aside form all the above, I am able to remove my hand form the cyclic and collective for at least 5 seconds before there is any creep, tis all about having it track & balanced correctly.
I hadn't though of sling loading, certainly makes sense to lean out the left side. If you werent slinging, would you prefer the right seat, or would it make any difference at all?
Rotorwashed:
It really does not make a difference to me, other than if I am trying to take pictures at the same time---then it is easier to fly the left seat, as I hold the camera upside down with my left hand.
If you werent slinging, would you prefer the right seat, or would it make any difference at all?