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'?

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):

https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/17...ng-ilafft.html

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.

Avoid doing stupid things when a YouTube vlogger is around

If in doubt? Bug out! :rolleyes:
Do everything into wind....except piss :8 (whenever possible) :ooh:
Know Your power margins before turning final & before departure...have You got the power to safely land & depart? :bored:

Before Landing....visualize exactly where the Skids/Wheels be at Touchdown then put them there exactly.

Take out the holds & fly hands on as much as possible ..... and remember the 5 P's

Fly accurately. ;)

Keep learning, every flight, every day.
If or when the day comes you think you know it all, get out of the heli and stop flying!

Think about where your `tips`(main and tail) are at all times,and where your downwash is going when manoeuvring on airfields...

• 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.

Don't wear brown shoes with a blue suit.

Never put any part of the aircraft into any place which your conscious mind has not properly explored already. Make sure that exploration discovered at least two ways out.

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.

Don't scare your passengers. Always land into the wind. Don't crash.

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.

Actually 7 p's prior planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance
Never ever go with someone who says they know everything about helicopter flying, no one knows everything

Know your own limits
Know the limits of the helicopter strapped to your back

Great eyesight.... the number of times I have been in a helicopter and told the pilot... have you seen the wires ahead or just below. They maybe the pilot but if my life is at stake I WILL tell them.

Be aware of where your feet are - how much pedal is being used already, how much more is available, and how fast you are using it up. Go around well before you hit the stops.

Always, always tip your engineer :)

"Walk around the helicopter before you climb in. Every time."

And after you land

In the cockpit, it's not a competition to show how much better you are than the other guy/gal.

Never fly in the same cockpit as someone braver than you!:=

Amen to ThomasTheTankEngine above........
Well done pilot_tolip for asking the question and wanting the "pearls of wisdom" from those more experienced....already at the start of your career you show professionalism that you want to learn to make you a better pilot!
You would not believe there are some guys and gals out there with about 2 years under their belt but know everything and do not need to listen to anyone more experienced trying to help...it make take years but eventually it catches up with them and ends in tears!
Tip for staying alive.......no matter how monotonous or bored you are doing a particular flight or flights.......... NEVER become complacent !

Welcome to the world of rotary...
B.

Always respect your own limits, and those of the aircraft.

If you're flying and the handling pilot says "Hey, watch this!"
Ask to land and get out so you can watch it from the ground.

Start a family!
Kids focus the mind..................

And lead to a more risk averse approach to decision making.

Digging up my mantra...."Ass, Tin, Ticket!".

Do what you have to in order to preserve your own body....and keep it un-hurt, un-broken, and in the same condition as when you sat down in the seat.

Then, take care of the aircraft....return it to its parking place intact, un-broken, with no dents, dings, or unseen damage.

Thirdly....worry about explaining your actions, decisions, and/or conduct to the Authorities.

But....remember....the Helicopter is a re-usable container that can be used to protect its contents if necessary.

If you. have to....use her up....total her....if that is the last resort available to safeguard yourself and those with you.

Helicopters can be replaced.....people cannot.

What brutal said - every entry into a confined area should be treated as a new one - never underestimate the ability of an amateur radio person to string up an antenna since the last time you went in

Where did you get yours from?

Once you get your ticket and think you are a hot shot, fly with an elderly pilot and you will quickly understand how they got to be elderly.
My most enlightening hour to this day was with an 82 y/o (ex airbus pilot) at the controls of a DH82.

Never ever push the weather.
Final approach should be slow (never fast) stable and under power, preferably into wind but as long as you are aware where the wimd is coming from it won't matter unless you are heavy/hot or high.
Always do a pre/postflight.
Treat the Heli with respect.
Keep in mind: Better sitting on the ground wishing you were flying than flying and wishing you were on the ground!!!!!
Cheers

The NEED to get home is more important than the SPEED to get home. Waiting 1 minute, 1 hour or 1 day can make the difference of a lifetime.