I flew with an R44 pilot/owner three or four years ago that specialized in this sort of thing, and in fact had some STEP HERE platforms attached to the skids. I went with him on one of these missions one time, and it was an eye-opening experience (i.e. landing an R44 in the middle of a residential street, at a block party, albeit with an FAA-approved waiver and jumper launch window). We took two jumpers on board, and everything went smoothly. The jumpers were well-briefed and had done it before...

The guy I'm talking about managed to "get hisself kilt" as we Yanks are likely to say after a few pints, along with another guy, up in Alaska not too long thereafter. That was totally unrelated to doing parajumping ops and is attributed to flying too close over water at dusk, and dipping a rotor tip into the water - a quick end thusly ensued and it wasn't pretty according to a friend of mine that saw photos of the result.

ANYWAY - based on my very small exposure to this sort of thing, I think it can be done safely but everyone involved needs to undertstand what needs to happen and do everything "to the letter". However, I personally would not choose to be either the pilot or the jumper (I have not yet found the courage to jump out of a fully serviceable aircraft), but maybe with some more flight hours I'd be more comfortable in contemplating it.

The pilot part I mean :} .

Dave Blevins

I love you lot. Never miss an opportunity to knock Enstroms.
They are not a problem if you know how to do it. There is just a bit of a knack to it.

That was funny though.

ems 300 . When you said you were getting out at around 7- 8000 ft was that agl , because that would explain alot!


EMS R22, that was amsl!!!only actually had to fall about 8-10 feet on to the back of an animal!!!:}

R22
 

1) R22 is nice ship, touchy, good practice
2) Yes you can jump out of an R22, no biggie, saw it done.

SSG

If anyone wants to see it being done, I actually have a picture of an R22 lugging skydivers to height on the skids. Just PM me an email address and you can post it on the thread if you like. The AC rego's aren't visible but the act itself is captured in living colour..........

In the case of an R44 that ditched with two POB, pax got out and stood on the skid ready to jump while in autorotation. Unfortunately he dropped a raft, attached to his waist by a lanyard, and it fell inside the skid - he jumped outside the skid while still high and the force was sufficient to break the lanyard. So not only did the pilot have to cope with the rolling moment of his departure but he had the secondary lurch from the line breaking. Didn't cause any problems.

Theres a video out called "The Robinson R22" made by some guys in NZ. Shows the 22 being used for venison recovery and sling loading. In it the shooter is jumping in and out of the machine with no great impact on stability. Interesting to watch it sling 2 gutted deer with the pilot and shooter on board.

Jumpers Away
 

I have reaguarly dispatched parachutist from a B47. Not really problem even when they stand out on the skid, The smaller ones where fine, I did get concerned when the lager ones got in, :ooh: and standing out there on the skd on run in for along period enjoying the view, grinning like a Cheshire cat, when when it was time for them to go, a little flick on the cyclic, seem to do the trick.:} Great fun, and as explained earlier, if they step off, not push down, not too much of a drama. Only went up to 3,500ft though..
Darren

OVATEMP. The R22 dvd made in NZ is a great one!! I have it myself and it just shows you what you can do with a 22.
Even if it is lugging 6-7 thar of a ridge and putting them into a chiller trailer at the bottom of the hill.:eek:
The guy that jumps out, if you watch it carefully he dosn't really jump, he more rolls slowly out and in(having a smoke when he gets in is funny!!). there is some great flying in there, and i had the pleasure of meeting the guys doing the venison run, and they are very experianced people.:ok:

I have had 2 skydivers exit an R44 at approx 6000ft, they were all aware that they could not to push off on exit under any circumstances, the exit was practised several times by all parties prior to takeoff, as for a R22 it would be a foolish exercise to attempt.
The R44 remained quite stable whilst both skydivers exited at the same time from either side.

I jumped out of a jetranger while the pilot was trying to find a spot to land on a pinnacle in northern Alaska. We were only a foot off the ground so I didn't see any problem but he got very upset and said never do that again.

We were doing a gravity survey over a wide area and involved about 30 exits per day. Sometimes the pilot would hold in a hover on one skid for our exit.

He should have warned us about jumping. I could see the ship lurch as it cought him off guard and I new it was a mistake.

Well, they say in pilot decision making, that the most important decision is the one you make AFTER the bad one.

Well, after making the decision to get into one of those things in the first place, I guess jumping out is as good as anything... ;-)

RH

Jumping out of a heli is good sport...
 

Here's one for ya...it is very strange when passengers exit the helicopter while in the air :bored:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...eliJump2LR.jpg