HOVERING DURING HOIST OPERATION

[whoofi]

Do you use a winch operator?

If so.....always trust their indications........and if you have a rear view mirror....try to adjust it to look strait down at the winch point

Always (in my vast experience.....;-)....) use a reference in the front of the helicopter to keep the nose quiet and a lateral reference. If you have a radar altimeter...that will be a great aid.

And you´ll need 8 pairs of eyes , 6 pairs of hands, an helicopter with automatic hoover and all the help you can get from the Big boss upstairs.

And if the co-pilot is flying....you´re done.......

[maeroda]

Sorry mate,
I don't think looking in the mirror (if installed) is a good idea if in the meanwhile I'm using a winch operator as source of primary position informations.
There's a lapse in when the informations come to the pilot from down the bottom of the hook via the helicopter motion and winch operator patter.
The pilot knows that, the winch operator knows that, the winchman knows that either.
On the other side looking directly down through a mirror is a source of direct informations in which the only lapse is coming from the relationship between the load and the helicopter and the cable length, so no patter and speech lapse involved here. Which can be good when performing single pilot sling load operations.
Winching is more MCC related matter. I tried to have mirror habits and winch operator patter merged together, believing it was a safety improvement but I **** up things.
Much more better to leave the mirror or vertical reference habits out of there while winching people down and up a cliff.

Radalt: for winching that's ok on sea to keep heigh references in a basically no-references environment, useless in mountains where I have more references I need.
My opinion

[hueyracer]

Geez….you guys are making rocket science out of everything, aren´t you?

Hover the helicopter, pick your reference-and hold your spot.

As easy as this.

Thousands of pilots are doing this every day-in EMS, in SAR, in long line operations, in utility and construction work….its easy.

All it takes is a good instructor-and practice, practice, practice…

Start looking cross-side (e.g. when i instruct, i fly left seat and pick my reference on the right side-this way i can cross-reference the instrument panel AND keep my reference).

Triangulate if possible-if you only have one reference point, then use that.

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by Self loading bear

Grifo

Some study material.
Keep up the spirit.

link to Seattle heli rescue

http://vimeo.com/99771689

SLB

Neat bit of winching, I like the little extras such as the safety strop being clipped onto the harness as the winch comes up to the cabin.

It was featured on Channel 9 News this evening in Melbourne, Australia: the power of the modern news media


Back to the OP, I think we're over-egging the pudding. Hovering should be helicopter flying 101, and the reference for your hover varies with the circumstances. There is no 'one size fits all' and you can have everything from watching a rock 6' from the blade tips, to looking between the horizon and the downwash when positioning over spot in the ocean.

[maeroda]

Is not rocket science definitely buddy....is only toughest to explain than to do it.

[Faithless]

Simplez.....Hold steady as you can and listen to your Crewmen...They will tell where you're going wrong and tell you where to put it

[enzedong]

it's a feeling,80% look outside and move to your radio Alt every few seconds,fly more you will be feel better.in the night ops is another story,you need look your hover mode on HSI and RA at most of time.