the pilot weight issue....
 

Pilot weight: I often see FI jobs advertised in the US specifiying that the pilot should be no more than 180lbs - How important is weight an issue across the world job market for heli pilots? Has anyone ever been refused a position due to their weight? (whether a natural occourance or they are overweight ) - or worse - sacked for becoming overweight? This topic has been touched before but never debated. Thanks porkies !!:p

You reckon maybe....the aircraft being used for EMS in the States are underepowered if you have to limit the pilot weight (including all gear...helmet, flight suit, cold weather gear, flight bag, torch, etc...) to 180 or 195 pounds. Maybe,they are using the wrong aircraft for the work?

Lets have a debate over the suitabliity of the JetRanger L series....L through L3 for this kind of work in high, hot areas....into unlit confined areas at night.

That would be the better question.

Weighing in at a "well honed" 240 pounds (plus or minus) I have often found that I am not in a minority amongst the heli fraternity, particularly those on the North Sea who get treated to offshore packed lunches at every opportunity. Not sure what that would equate to when trussed up in a flight suit, helmet, goggles, boots, spurs, clean underwear and wallet.........

Isn't there some form of "ism" covering discrimination against size and/or weight in a similar way those which prevent various other forms of employment discrimination?

Anyway, what's wrong with operating a 206L into an unlit confined area up a mountain at night with no wind and 34 degrees C? .....................

43...American pilots do not have to consider the wallet as do the North Sea guys....unless moths weigh more than we think.:{


Besides....every time I think of having to fly a Robbie...I just order up a double cheese burger with large fries.

iwanttofly

That might depend on your gender.........

Could anyone imagine being refused a job, or sacked because they are "dimensionally challenged"":eek:

Even though we all know it goes on behind the scenes:suspect:

Iwanttofly, being 140lbs won't be much of a help on your first 206 job - G-BAKS (for example) was placarded 'minimum pilot weight 150lbs'.

Iwanttofly,

If you're instructing on the R22 or similar, it might. I was only doing trial lessons, but I'm supposed to be doing the whole course with one chap who doesn't want to learn on the R44, but if the CFI flies with him in the R22, they won't be able to take any fuel! :( Mind you, I heard this weeks ago, and he hasn't turned up yet. :{ But it's always a possibility.

The downside is that you'll need ballast if flying the R44 or B206 solo, and if below 135lbs, with full fuel, the R22 as well.

I can recall having to have a ballast bag when flying Alouette III's with no doors and those whopping big sand filters....although today....that would not be a problem. If we could fly it from the correct seat I could probably remove that lean it has built into it as well.:{

My balast problems during my student training days were the other way round. In the summer months I could only take one particular student flying when the tanks were half full or less. He started off with limited power manoeuvres! It wasn't entirely his problem, as I mentioned earlier.....

SASless, I don't think my wallet ever actually caused a problem with weight as "her indoors" usually makes sure it is kept as light as possible!!

I raised this previously, but from the point of view of economics. Every kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, you lose is that much more you can charge to carry.

I think there should be some sort of incentive scheme to pay pilots a percentage of that increased payload - make it fair and develop team atmosphere by giving the bonus to all pilots based on kilos lost.

240 pounds could in 12 months be 175 pounds - that's 65 pounds of extra cargo, pax or fuel, 65 pounds of money-making PAYload.

Seems like a good financial incentive for the operator, and a good health incentive for the pilots. The healthy part is good for the operator as well - a healthier pilot will be more alert, less illness-prone, etc.

'ere, are you saying I'm sick??? Now what were we talking about - Oh yes, I remember now......any chance of paying me in advance for possible weight loss?? I promise I'll try hard to diet etc...

Short arses would say anything to get a job!!
Until they start piling on the pounds due to abnormal eating patterns when on that job!
That extra 65 lb passanger you may squeeze in isn't going to make the difference between the company going bankrupt or making a fortune!

One thing I find about some larger people in some helis, is when their belly hangs out, there sometimes isn't enough aft cyclic to hover downwind or even flare, which can be a tad worrying!
It can be very embarrising for the person involved.

WTBF....

You trying to suggest you are management material to someone above you?

In case you have not noticed....the operators are already engaged in such an effort but like most things in the helicopter industry...it was only partially successful.

They are holding the wages down...thinking we will consume less thereby accomplishing the goal of the plan you suggest but without having to pay the pilots for accomplshing that task for them.

It has backfired as most innovative thoughts from on high do....we are eating and drinking less....but due to cost issues we are sticking to cheap beer and high carb diets of potatoes, rice, and hamburgers....instead of the healthier but leaner fine wines, old whiskey and salmon, steak, and fresh fruit and green salads...all of which are beyond our means. After working fourteen hour days....we cram that fattening food down our gullet...wash it down with 29 tins of beer....so we are drunk enough to sleep in the midst of five snoring monsters. Thus, I fear your grand plan comes apart because the big oogahs have beaten you to it.:E

More weight means moor fuel and less preformance ? so a lean mean pilot means healthy and agile , less illness and less costs ?
I think .

And on the subject weight , when i fly in a large jet if i am 10 stone with only hand luggage then why can't i have a reduction in price of the ticket and the fat ( person ) that i am plonked next to should have to pay more .

There is only one reason for being a blob , the eating hole in the head is larger then the other hole that thay sit on .

I got on a flight recently with a suitcase full of tools and was 7 kg over the 20kg limit. I said to the girl "you know it's funny, if I'd been standing here a year ago you would have been checking me in 30kg heavier, not considering the baggage weight". She just looked at me blankly, I coughed up the excess charge and moved on.

bauldrik

so you not being a blob means that the eating hole is smaller than the other hole?

I'd book a visit to the doc if i were you

what a disappointing post. Happy Easter yaw'll - just watch the egg consumption !!

FS,

This too like all things will pass. ;)

When i did my 212 conversion i seem to remember (2 years ago) there was a MINIMUM pilot wieght for flying solo( 80 KG?). The Instructor insisted we put extra balast behind the pilots seat to make up for the fact we were solo.

What happens if you are a fit bint?