What are your 'tips' to being a better helicopter pilot?
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 58
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From: UK
What are your 'tips' to being a better helicopter pilot?
What are your 'tips' to being a better helicopter pilot? I'm currently hour building towards the CPL-H and interested to hear experienced pilots 'pearls of wisdom'.
What can only experience teach you? What do you wish you were taught/told but weren't? What's not in 'the books'?
What can only experience teach you? What do you wish you were taught/told but weren't? What's not in 'the books'?
Joined: Jul 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 57
From: UK
My first tip is 'learn how to use the search function on PPRuNe'.
But, to get you going, here is one of the various previous threads on a similar subject. (This one was started in 2002):
I Learned About Flying From That (ILAFFT)
But, to get you going, here is one of the various previous threads on a similar subject. (This one was started in 2002):
I Learned About Flying From That (ILAFFT)
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 637
From: Great South East, tired and retired
If you think that throwing the machine around is going to impress the pax, then you aren't thinking.
The smoother, the better. And you don't get to see their breakfast.
The smoother, the better. And you don't get to see their breakfast.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,191
Likes: 26
From: Top of the World
If in doubt? Bug out! 
Do everything into wind....except piss
(whenever possible) 
Know Your power margins before turning final & before departure...have You got the power to safely land & depart?
Do everything into wind....except piss
(whenever possible) Know Your power margins before turning final & before departure...have You got the power to safely land & depart?
Last edited by Vertical Freedom; 28th August 2018 at 12:54.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 803
Likes: 52
From: Pensacola, Florida
- Always, always, always have a Plan B, and a Plan C (and maybe even a Plan D) in your back pocket. And don't be so married to Plan A that you won't use them if need be.
- Always know where the wind is coming from and LAND INTO IT. That way you won't have to explain yourself when some smart-aleck comes up to you and says, "I thought aircraft were supposed to take-off and land *into* the wind..." And you won't get into VRS or SWP or LTE and then you won't have to blame the helicopter for your poor planning and execution.
Joined: Jul 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 508
Likes: 31
From: UK
Enjoy it! When to stop enjoying it, move over and let someone else have a chance. Organisations are riddled with bitter and twisted has-beens clogging up the places that young, keen and interested Wannabees will gladly fill.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 141
Likes: 11
From: Matanuska Valley, Alaska (The mind wanders back to the village of Plympton Devon sometimes)
Useless Things
The airport and emergency landing area behind you.
The altitude above you.
The fuel you have already used.
The lower you fly the less options available to you.
Fly like your passenger has a full G and T and doesn't want it in his/her lap.
The altitude above you.
The fuel you have already used.
The lower you fly the less options available to you.
Fly like your passenger has a full G and T and doesn't want it in his/her lap.