What are your 'tips' to being a better helicopter pilot?
Make sure you eat and drink something before flying.
Make sure your batteries for headset/accessories are good.
Make sure you don't rush your daily inspection.
Make sure you check how much fuel is onboard before flight.
Make sure you do a fuel drain at first flight and after refuelling.
Make sure the helicopter is not overloaded and within CG limits.
Make sure you do a hover power check before flying off.
Make sure you keep a good lookout especially in the vicinity of the airfield.
Make sure your radio/s are on the right frequency.
Make sure your main rotor is untied before start.
Watch out for wind, wires and wildlife.
Be aware of density altitude and effect on performance.
Don't pull more collective than the engine can handle.
Brief your passengers. Remove passenger side flying controls if able.
Look around when flying for places to land in case of emergency.
Keep an eye on the weather. Stay away from clouds.
Help out other crew and mechanics.
Keep the rotor RPM in the green range.
Don't hit the edges of the sky. Have fun!
Make sure your batteries for headset/accessories are good.
Make sure you don't rush your daily inspection.
Make sure you check how much fuel is onboard before flight.
Make sure you do a fuel drain at first flight and after refuelling.
Make sure the helicopter is not overloaded and within CG limits.
Make sure you do a hover power check before flying off.
Make sure you keep a good lookout especially in the vicinity of the airfield.
Make sure your radio/s are on the right frequency.
Make sure your main rotor is untied before start.
Watch out for wind, wires and wildlife.
Be aware of density altitude and effect on performance.
Don't pull more collective than the engine can handle.
Brief your passengers. Remove passenger side flying controls if able.
Look around when flying for places to land in case of emergency.
Keep an eye on the weather. Stay away from clouds.
Help out other crew and mechanics.
Keep the rotor RPM in the green range.
Don't hit the edges of the sky. Have fun!
Know exactly where your next fuel is located.
Customers, through ignorance, will try to kill you in order to get their job done. Always remember that. They do not know helicopters, Wx Ect.
Be firm. Learn to use the word "NO!" You will live longer.
Be firm. Learn to use the word "NO!" You will live longer.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: The Americas
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Ask yourself what are the Risks vs. Rewards for completing whatever proposed mission. Is it worth it? Is there an acceptable plan B. Then ask yourself again the risk/rewards question for all the steps involved in completing that mission.
Let the unadulterated mental images of shop horror films , fly ; when picturing the risks. How long is that rescue gonna take? If at all with this weather?
Ask yourself , am I a professional pilot or professional "adrenalin junkie?"
Look yourself in the mirror. Be brave , be strong.
Let the unadulterated mental images of shop horror films , fly ; when picturing the risks. How long is that rescue gonna take? If at all with this weather?
Ask yourself , am I a professional pilot or professional "adrenalin junkie?"
Look yourself in the mirror. Be brave , be strong.
Learn to 'feel' your helicopter, the different sounds, vibrations and control positions for stages of flight - feel the onset and loss of translational lift so you can anticipate it, both on the main and TR.
Fly approaches to the same spot from different directions to understand how the wind affects the power, directional control and sight picture - learn how a crosswind feels and affects the pedal position in the latter stages so you know which is the 'best' side to have a crosswind from.
Be comfortable with the power and control position differences between an OGE and IGE hover.
Don't be scared of downwind approaches or transitions unless you are very short of power - start with a light wind and again, 'feel' the difference.
As you gain confidence, explore the limits of your helicopter - but do it gradually in small increments - eventually you will feel comfortable with your helicopter in a variety of conditions and know in advance what is going to happen next - that is the main difference between a newbie and an experienced pilot - the ability to plan ahead and anticipate.
Fly approaches to the same spot from different directions to understand how the wind affects the power, directional control and sight picture - learn how a crosswind feels and affects the pedal position in the latter stages so you know which is the 'best' side to have a crosswind from.
Be comfortable with the power and control position differences between an OGE and IGE hover.
Don't be scared of downwind approaches or transitions unless you are very short of power - start with a light wind and again, 'feel' the difference.
As you gain confidence, explore the limits of your helicopter - but do it gradually in small increments - eventually you will feel comfortable with your helicopter in a variety of conditions and know in advance what is going to happen next - that is the main difference between a newbie and an experienced pilot - the ability to plan ahead and anticipate.
Sudden vibration changes in flight....with no immediately explainable reason.....LAND ASAP....and do not fly the machine again until the cause for the change is determined.
Every so often review your book knowledge, and not just limitations and emergency procedures, but some of the old basics too. Don't be that guy who years from now shrugs his shoulders when asked what transverse flow is.
Don't make it a point to tell everyone you're a pilot. Most people couldn't care less, plus, it may backfire on you if they turn out to be someone who is sick of all the aircraft noise over their house.
Don't make it a point to tell everyone you're a pilot. Most people couldn't care less, plus, it may backfire on you if they turn out to be someone who is sick of all the aircraft noise over their house.
What about the little vibes, the ones where you think you might be imagining it but dammit it does seem to be shaking a little?
Join Date: May 2000
Location: uk
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Gravity is defeated in a helicopter through juggling kinetic energy (speed), potential energy (height) and chemical energy through fuel burn (power). You can safely run out of any two of those if you have a surplus of the third. If you run out of all three at the same time, gravity will win.
Gravity always wins.....as there are no helicopters in Orbit or exploring the Cosmos.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
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Whatever happens, always think: "Nr, Nr, Nr!"
