Helicopters flying for the disabled
 

Hi all

Does anyone anywhere have any information on flying controls etc that can be fitted to operate the pedals by hand ?

I am sure that I sw something on this once, but don't know where.

An help or pointers greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

What are you going to use for the rest of the controls??

I've done quite a lot of work on disabled mods for FW aeroplanes and might be able to offer a few pointers.

However, the first thing that needs to be defined is exactly what is the nature of the disability? Which limbs are missing / immobile / limited in their use? What restrictions are there on movement (entry, egress, full movement of limbs, movement of head?)

Next, what does the disabled pilot want to do with the aircraft? Pure private flying?, aerial work?, passenger carriage?


The reasons that these need answering is twofold. Firstly, there ain't no such thing as a standard disability. Secondly, the legal framework is tortuous, and you need to be able to see the best way through it and much of this is relevant to that.

G

Try getting in touch with the Bell Training place in Alliance, Texas.

When I was there last year there was a guy who had lost both his legs in a parachuting accident. He had just completed his PPL.

Hope that helps a bit.

Head Bolt,

Check your PMs.


B73

You should possibly contact the University of North Dakota.

I met Dana Bowman, I guess that's his name, in 2003 at the Bell Academy in good ol Ft. Worth. He lost both his legs when skydiving for the Golden Knights. He collided with a team member in midair. Then I saw his video about the recovery. If one doesn't know about his accident one would not figure that he walks with two prosthetic legs. He dives, rides bicycles, flys choppers, etc... Nevertheless, I think UND provided a program for people with disabilities.

Talking about a man on a mission. What an inspiring individual. The dissability would have to be such that it still allowed pedal input through prosthetic limbs would it not? Yaw control could be achieved through some other adaption to the cyclic or collective but that would be some mean engineering achievement. Is there such a thing or anything in the pipeline?

I read about a Bell 206 a few years ago that had modified pedals that were adusted by twisting a metal rod by hand it was in one on the flying mag's. I can't give you any more info but I did find this

http://www.ainonline.com/issues/10_0...llerpg116.html

I hope it helps.

Thank you all for the replies, I will follow everything up and see what I can find out.

Basically some fixed wing colleagues of mine are doing a lot of work with the British Disabled Flying Association, and have a set of removable controls that can be fiited to an Archer to allow them to control the rudder by hand.

There is no keeping these people down and many of them want to have a bash at the helicopter, and hence the enquiry.

It is an inspiration to work with these people and I want to do what I can to help.

Many thanks all

With Helitech 2005 on us in a couple of days, I am reminded of the chap in a wheelchair I met there in 2003 who test-flew a 330 in the afternoon. The equipment he used would apparently fit anything. ('Including an R22?' - 'Yes, but I can't use one, as my wheelchair wouldn't fit in the luggage compartment.') Perhaps if you contacted the organisers, they could put you in touch.

The guy you want to talk with is the indefatigable Stewart McQuillan. Google him or "Aeroleg," the device he invented that paraplegics can use in virtually any aircraft. It's ingenious.

aeroleg
 

hello if anyone wants info about the device for flying helicopters contact me at [email protected] yes i was the one flying the 330 turbine

I can be contacted at [email protected] thanks stewart mcQuillan

hello i designed the devise known as aeroleg i flew the 330 turbine at helitech, anyone wanting info on flying helicopters can contact me at [email protected]

hello i can be contacted at [email protected] and yes you can fly any helicopter with my device

aeroleg
 

hello contact me at [email protected] i have a system FAA approved for flying helicopters

G'day Stewart,

You probably won't remember me from my brief time at Tamiami but this is the rig here, isn't it?

http://www.helicenteracademy.com/ima...ightschool.jpg


Hope you're well. PM me if you can't work out who this is!

B73

Hand Controls for Tail Rotor
 

A friend has asked me to ask PPruners for any info on hand controls for helicopters. That is: hand controls for the TR to allow a person to fly without using their legs.

Perhaps called “Skylegs”? “Flight legs”?
Any info or links appreciated.

I wont be much help for the helicopter side of things but when i was towing gliders they had one set up with hand controls for use by a pilot with spinal injuries.

I realize a glider has simpler controls and one hand is typically free when flying them. I dont know anything more about it. I was told it was a certified system though.

Good luck

I cannot think of a reason why not. A sophisticated autopilot system can keep the aircraft straight in relation to power inputs. The same system would allow the aircraft's heading to be altered on the same way. For example on the Puma 330C the was a yaw trim wheel that would allow you to do spot turns with the autopilot.

The problem comes with the licensing authorities. There is no allowance for disabled commercial pilots so they cannot get a licence even if their aircraft was suitably modified. You cannot expect every pilot on the fleet to learn how to fly a disabilities aircaft.

A private aircraft would have to be certified. That is a long and expensive process. Cheaper to hire somebody with a pair of legs.

Experimental status would be a start - and that's not too difficult to get. Good design practice would be needed, but it has been done with 4 axis sidearm controllers.

There is a Bell47J in Arizona owned and flown by a disabled guy. The aircraft is STC certified with antitorque hand controls. I believe he has a lever on the cyclic to control the tailrotor.

In FAA land disabled people are people too. Forget it in JAA land.

Here you go, check out this previous thread:

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/190...-disabled.html


Particularly:

HTH

These 2 vids will also help:

First Paraplegic Flies Helicopter - Video

Paraplegic Pilot Flies!! - Video

Thanks for the info/ideas everyone, I'll pass it on.
TLN

Would have thought a cyclic twist grip would work and perhaps be more intuitive than foot pedals to a first timer. Talk about walking, chewing gum and juggling 5 balls at once though!

Hand controls
 

As your friendly expert in disability & helos, developing the technology is all very well but what is your market? Me plus what, ten max? It's a lot of engineering design for very little return. And one other thing -- I can still fly a Jet Ranger but it takes me 20mins to get in the f*cker.

Andy,

A system (which works!) has already been developed. Please see the links above to Stewart McQuillan.


HTH

"In FAA land disabled people are people too. Forget it in JAA land. "

i have to disagree with that statement, when i had a very serious motorbike accident that caused me to lose both my legs below the knee, although i was told by my FAA/JAA AME originally i would never fly again, a rather nice Doctor from the CAA, Dr. Paul Collins Howgill wrote me and told me if i wanted to get my class 1 medical back it was something i could achieve and i did.
With his help and guidance i accomplished a Medical Flight Test with an FI(E), in an R22, using my prosthetic limbs, and then i continued on to complete the conversion course from FAA CPL to JAA CPL also using false legs. Flight Test by Mr. Fred Cross.
In the past i may have been one of the first to maybe question or criticise the CAA but following my personal experience with the medical team at Gatwick i admit that i was very impressed and grateful.
Chester:ok:

Chester, great story. Good on you :ok:

Good job Chester, sincerely. I often wonder if I should have pushed to get my ATPL(H) back but, I was told, it would take me 20-30 hours as well as the Class 1. A friend (Ian Craigwood) was willing to sponsor me for the 3hrs to PPL but 10x that would have been a bit much to ask.

And who would have given me a job at the end of it? At least the PPL proved I could still do it in a 206.

Chester, are you flying now? How do you manage diff braking/nose-wheel steering?