St Lucia Helicopters
Thread Starter
St Lucia Helicopters
Hi had the airport transfer today, quick, efficient and informative. Rotors running while pax boarded and departed, not an issue for me but just thought I'd make the comment following recent threads about rotors running with pax/pilots boarding/exiting.
Stay safe
Stay safe
just thought I'd make the comment
One is fire---I will conduct crew shuttles frequently. There are trained helitack to load, unload and manifest the crews. Typically they will not have helmets/headsets and I have no way to talk to them. We typically land them on knolls, ridges, sloped ground in a fire area----never had an issue. We run a 212, Long Rangers and a Huey--no pax.
The other company I now run, is a charter company flying people back and forth to Catalina Island. The passengers range from seasoned "commuters" to tourists who fly one time. They are given a video briefing, and we have "rampers" who control their every movement on the marked helipads. Never had a problem. We run Astars, a Jet Ranger and an S-76.
I used to fly for a tour company in Hawaii and we also hot loaded ALL day long....never had a problem there either.
I suspect that in the accident last weekend, somehow the rotor disc "detracted from its normal level plane of rotation" and so impacted the crew member.
The way to avoid these accidents is to require the pilot to have his hand on the cyclic whenever someone is under the disc. In Hawaii, we would also turn off the hydralics. (In Astars).
Why do people get so worried about rotors running pax movements or refuelling?
In the NS this happens every day of the year. If properly trained/escorted there is no problem! It just needs good SOPs to make it a safe evolution.
HF
In the NS this happens every day of the year. If properly trained/escorted there is no problem! It just needs good SOPs to make it a safe evolution.
HF
Thread Starter
Savoia
Great picture that was the machine we were on today and another was waiting for other pax.
Concerns over route? And cancelling a return trip? Would like some clarication on this?
Concerns over route? And cancelling a return trip? Would like some clarication on this?
We dropped into St Lucia for an overnight on a ferry trip with a 92 in March - large, noisy, red, white and blue thing. Saw your pad on short final and taxied by pre- takeoff the next morning - thanks for the waves. Wish we had had time to drop over for a visit.
Take good care. Beautiful island and great, helpful folks.
Take good care. Beautiful island and great, helpful folks.
Thread Starter
Ok IT sorted, on a lighter note!
When J6-AAQ arrived to collect us yesterday, my GF, in a skimpy summer dress was caught by surprise by tail rotor power, I missed it but the other pax got a full on Mariylon Monroe flash, an embasrssed GF and 2 smiling male PAX.
She should know better, plenty of helicopter travel under her belt...... Or maybe learn to wear a belt!
She should know better, plenty of helicopter travel under her belt...... Or maybe learn to wear a belt!
