How dangerous are helicopters - and why are more of us trying to fly them?
 

From New Zealand media:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-fr...PAGELV7DS6G2I/

"The Front Page: How dangerous are helicopters - and why are more of us trying to fly them?
By

Damien Venuto

25 Jan, 2023 05:00 AM3 mins to read

A horror crash on Australia’s Gold Coast served as a reminder of the dangers involved in flying a helicopter in this part of the world.While this tragedy happened across the Tasman, it could just as easily have happened in New Zealand. This country also has a long catalogue of helicopter crashes and close calls in its history.

In December, emergency services were called to a helicopter crash near Kai Iwi, Whanganui. And in the past week, we’ve also seen reports of a near-miss in Queenstown. Data from the end of 2018 showed that New Zealand had about 20 accidents per 100,000 hours flown. At the time, the country had about 900 helicopters flying about 250,000 hours annually.

Aviation commentator Peter Clark tells The Front Page podcast that data shows that helicopters are inherently more unsafe than other aircraft.

“There are a lot of helicopters in New Zealand per capita and we operate choppers in conditions that may be less favourable and pilots sometimes take risks,” says Clark.

The number of helicopters and hours flown looks set to increase as recreational travel picks up rapidly. Newsroom recently reported Auckland’s Waiheke Island has gone from 20 helipads in 2019 to 61 now. And more helicopters are flying to other holiday hotspots across Northland.

Clark says it isn’t surprising to see wealthy New Zealanders look for ways to escape the gridlock traffic in and out of Auckland. If this is managed appropriately with sufficient safety protocols and well-trained pilots, then the risk of tragedy should be limited.

“The congestion and infrastructure in New Zealand are causing the top end of the market to use a helicopter,” says Clark.

“There’s no problem if everything is well planned, the approach is unrestricted and we should only be using modern twin-engine machines. I don’t see any [greater] risk in the helipads, but when you have more and more helicopters, there is an increase in the possibility that an accident may take place.”

Clark explains that avoiding tragedy will largely depend on skilled pilots making good decisions and not taking unnecessary risks.

The influx of helicopters has also had a social impact, with community members vocal in their opposition to new helipad applications – and this fight isn’t likely to subside any time soon, particularly when the mode of transportation is perceived as dangerous.

So what are the main causes of helicopter crashes in Aotearoa? Exactly how dangerous are helicopters compared to other modes of transport? Are regulators permitting too many new helipads around the country? Do we have enough pilots to meet the growing recreational demand? And should Kiwis think twice before boarding a chopper for a quick spin?

Listen to the full episode of The Front Page podcast to hear Clark address all these issues and also offer some tips on what to consider before getting on a helicopter."

Really ??? What A Farq Wit. He knows nothing about the helicopter industry - and he obviously hasnt been to south america to see the way they fly there.

Sometimes people really just need to STFU and say nothing.

Please Ned....don't sugarcoat it....tell us what you really think!:D

Why would I change now SASless :)

As an Irish mate told me once -

Possibly apples to most of the content from NZME.

When you consider that the safest single-engined aircraft in the world is a helicopter..... (the 206, based on hours flown)

And if the donk does stop, it's pretty good at engine-offs.

Isn’t the cause of most helicopter crashes poor quality control when it comes to the knob on the control column?

Yeah, the well oiled nut behind the wheel :)

​​​​​This generation's obsession with safety is taking all the fun out of living.

Could also be down to the calibre of S/E Pilots, Airplane vs Rotary, and 206 pilots likely far more experienced (in hours) than the average fixed wing piston pilot (most of the s/e).

I'm not going to take sides, but it was in this very forum I first learned that the definition of an optimist was "a helicopter pilot who stops smoking." :)

When you’re a landlubber you’re surrounded by idiots, when you get airborne, you’re surrounded by a superior form of idiot. When you fly helicopters, you get to avoid both. :E

I think it's because the only part of a helicopter that isn't flight critical is the paint scheme and I wouldn't discount that either! :O

In sone sectors of the helicopter flying part of aviation....buyng green bananas could be considered a gamble.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....21c6b0e14a.jpg

Well: Helicopters are the used for many tasks.
In many enviroments they are the last resort transport-wise.
You drive to a major airport to board a large airliner maintained in a huge hangar with a huge support structure. You take off into a well developed ATC system to fly to a smaller airport.
You board a large twin engined airliner, once again supported well, there to fly to an even smaller airport.
Then you board a float or skiplane to fly to a bush camp where the helicopter awaits beside a tent.
Operating at the pointy end with little or no support.
Hence you are at the end of the road operating the most complicated equipment in the harshest environment.

Have fun!

I have always said that helicopters start where the road ends.

That in a way is the special attraction helicopter flying holds upon those of us who have been to those really isolated places.

The joys of rolling your fuel drums around, standing them up, later hand pumping your fuel....not having any radio contact with the outside world for a week at a time.

Being not at the top of the Food Chain due to Bears....Brown and White holding the top spot.

Living in Tents and sleeping on the ground.....with a bucket for a bath tub.

Yes....glamorous work it was.

If you had a forced landing knowing it might be days before you were missed and no one really knew where to start looking for you.

But there are compensations


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3ab8ff9301.png
No, you can't go as a helicopter pilot on holidays

It's always nicer to stop then land rather than the other way round :) Or take off without an undignified dash down the runway.