Even with one POB (sitting in the right seat) the R22 hangs left-skid-low to counter tail rotor drift. Don't ever try soloing an R22 from the left seat. You'll quickly run out of lateral cyclic, roll over, crash, burn etc.

If you ever get the chance ask Tim Tucker, (one of the original test pilots and buyer of the first production R22, safety course instructor, FAA examiner, etc!!!) about solo from the left seat of the R22 - one of his many funny anedotes.

PW

Having done my PPL, CPL and CFI check rides with Tim Tucker I had heard the stories of his Left Seat solo of the R22. Was aware that he would conduct the CFI examination and when back on the ground he would always ask the CFI examinee to reposition the Heli and shut down. When the pilot didnt start a shut down so he could change seats that would be the moment when a borderline pass became a fail. Not sure if it would be so much of a problem with aux tank loaded and a light pilot but still a point to remember when instructing and changing students.

I was tod that the US the military came up with the idea of moving to the right hand seat so the flying pilot didn't have to crawl over the collective when getting in and out

The Manufacturer Decides
 

Guy's and Gal's,Guy's and Gal's,

Eh Eh Eh, Surely (and dont call me Shirley!!!) the reason is, because that it is the way the manufacturer intended them to fly the A/C when launched.

However.......Subsequent mod's and upgrades, whether changes to airframe or drive train, would not have changed this if it were not for legestalistic(legal)(Spelling(Help)) changes/reasons.

At the end of the day if the A/C is to be flown with both seats occupied then the Capt will, most likeley sit on the left, however if it is a single pilot A/C (ie Bell 212) then the Capt will Probably sit on the Right.

The simple reason is controllability(ergonomics...for those with degrees!!)

Cheers

L'

This thread has been done before. Some manufacturers simply position the switches and starter on one side in preference to the other. There is no aerodynamic reason for it, someone decided that was the way it would be. On the Bell 47 for example you can fly either side, there is no prefererence mentioned in the POH. The starter is on the left however.

Chopperpilot 47

About 15 years ago, when I was a fairly 'rough' mustering pilot, I was doing some time in the left seat of an R-22 with a newly endorsed mustering newbie. Things got a bit out of control on the ground and I could see we were going to lose the mob if we didn't get 'stuck- in'. Landing quickly I told the other guy to get out (to improve performance). Not having really studied the POH, (helicopters had little more status than trail-bikes for a lot of us back then) I launched without swapping seats and spent the next 45 minutes or so getting the mob back on track.
I didn't notice that the Robbie was particularly difficult to fly in that configuration. Yeah it probably flew a little more left skid low, but not enough to scare me.
Still, once it was pointed out to me that solo from the LH seat is against the rules, I didn't do it again.

chopperpilot47:Not always. I've flown 47's that had the starter button up on the panel next to the mags. Early ones without a starter relay had a cable-actuated solenoid attached to that little lever on the floor at the base of the left seat that you had to press with the heel of your boot. Great fun when the cable would stretch.

The issue with the 47 is that the fuel valve is just above the left-side collective stick, and it would be very hard to access if you had to in a hurry. That, plus the fact that the cyclic and throttle frictions are on the left sticks tells me which side Bell preferred us to sit on, whether they thought we'd be dumb enough to disagree with them or not.

Always wondered....
 

Why do helicopter pilots sit on the right? (and its not the first line of a joke!)
Ta
Dogs

Not all do the Bell 47 for example was designed to be flown from the left, and especially in long line lifting, sitting in the left is preferable as you can lean out more easily to see the underslung load........but, in general:

The collective is in the left hand the cyclic in the right. The collective requires less attention during most phases of flight, whereas the cyclic requires almost constant attention.
The collective because of the balance of forces on the rotor disc should remain where you left it, if you let it go, whereas the cyclic in older helos especially will often just full over!

So, now you want to switch radio frequency or adjust the QNH etc, which hand would you prefer to use? The left!

Bear in mind that many helos have simply one centre console for instruments & radios and that larger more modern/complex helos often have a centre pedestal between the pilots.

Thus the right hand seat is most prefered (but not always most useful!)

Why do fixed wing pilots sit on the left?

Which side
 

Collision avoidance rules say that in the event of a conflict, each aircraft shall alter heading to the right. Thus, a pilot sitting on the left side of the cockpit will have a better view of proceedings than one on the right.

would i be right in thinking most helis hover left skid low? would a pilot on the right help with balance? I know it sounds daft but..

I don't believe there is any real reason for placing the PIC on the right or left. The manufacturers decide on that.

The "American" (for want of a better description) helicopters hover left skid low whereas the "European" helicopters hover right skid low. It has to do with which direction the main rotors turn.

As we've discussed this at length many times before, try a search..... ;)

You never flew an Astar huh!!!!!

RH seat question
 

I am sure this has been asked in the past so apologies for the basic question.
Why does the P1 operate from the RH seat in a helicopter and the LH seat in fixed wing?

Why RH not LH?
 

Not true of all helicopters.
Can depend in which way round the Main Rotor blades are travelling. Tail rotor - Main Rotor Thrust coupling in a anti-clockwise direction of the main rotor, when viewed from above, will give a left skid low position, so putting the pilot (on their own) in the left seat would mean the Lateral Centre of gravity who exceed limits. By putting the solo pilot on the Right seat you even up the Lateral C of G.
H3:ok:

One pilot solo can correct for CG issues? Is that not a gross oversimplification?

Compare an R-22 to a Chinook...and yes...one can fly a Chinook Solo (physically not legally).

What effect does a single pilot have on lateral CG of a Chinook? Being tandem rotor...the rotors turn both directions as well.

Better yet....Bell 205's routinely are flown solo from either seat...how does that square with your theory?

SASless - I agree with your point. But with a question regarding seat position I assumed R22 / R44 or similar sized helicopter.

What is your view on the answer?

Single pilot I prefer right seat, it's easier to deal with the radios & such since you don't have to switch hands on the cyclic. You also don't have to climb over the collective when getting in :)


There are several types that normally have left seat PIC (and a bunch that can be flown from either) - Bell 47's, S300C's, MD369 series. Some cases so they can squeeze in another seat up front, others just because they felt like it. Then there's the Hiller 12 series, with the pilot's seat in the middle...