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Author: Admin




Dec
23
2022

Editor's Letter - Keep on not breaking anything!

Posted by Admin

When you’re young, you rarely think about the day before, rather always looking ahead to the future. However, at 55 years old, I find myself reflecting on the past a little more these days. Looking back to my younger years as a pilot, I feel like I was really fortunate to have crossed paths with quality people throughout my career in the helicopter industry—colleagues and friends who tested me, shared insights with me, and opened doors of opportunity for me. All of them had my best interest at heart. I will never forget the time I asked for my first pay increase as a helicopter pilot. I was piloting a Bell 206 for Aircoastal Helicopters flying news, charter, and utility work. I had been working in that capacity for a little over a year and my plan was to go to the company owner and ask for a $5 per hour pay increase. [Read More...]






Dec
19
2022

Maintenance Minute - Keep It Clean

Posted by Admin

Have you ever heard your mother or grandmother quote John Wesley saying, “cleanliness is next to godliness”? Turns out that quote is effective in aircraft maintenance as well. I like to think that cleanliness is the twin brother to order, and all aircraft maintenance requires cleanliness and order to attain the highest level of professionalism. When I was a young helicopter mechanic at Carraway Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, the first job my mentor assigned me was to wash the helicopters each morning. The primary reason was to display a professional image for the hospital. Next, he explained to me that washing and cleaning the helicopter was another way to inspect the machine and look for obvious defects. I quickly learned this was sound advice and I practiced it consistently. While washing helicopters, I have discovered many defects, including busted chin bubbles and windshields, broken antennas, missing or hanging strobe lights, corrosion, various cracks, bird nests, and the occasional dead bird just to name a few. [Read More...]



Tags: Maintenance Minute Mark Tyler
Categories: categoryCareer Development



Dec
12
2022

eVTOL: How it Could Affect Pilots

Posted by Admin

The future looks bright for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, at least for the pioneering companies who invest in this emerging low-cost market now. With their reliance on simpler, smaller, and lower-cost rotorcraft architectures, eVTOLs are poised to open up profitable new markets not currently served by conventional helicopters. These include urban aerial airport shuttles, metro services, and taxis; medical logistics and organ transport; and just-in-time/last mile cargo deliveries. That’s the message from a White Paper titled, “Helicopter Industry Embraces Electric Flight: How Advanced Air Mobility Creates New Market Opportunity for Today’s Helicopter Operators” by Helicopter Association International (HAI) and NEXA Advisors. [Read More...]






Dec
05
2022

Military to Civilian - A Ground Lesson by Scott Tinnesand

Posted by Admin

A question that has been asked many times by transitioning military pilots is: What can I be reading, studying or learning right now to get me ahead of the game for my transition to civil or general aviation? Assuming you don’t have any prior experience as a civilian airman and you utilized the MilComp (military competency) method to get your certificates and ratings, the answer is easy – study those topics that fall in the cracks between military and general aviation training. What are some of those topics? They include airworthiness requirements, supplemental type certificates, airworthiness directives, minimum equipment lists, advisory circulars, endorsements, Part 119 and Part 135 operations, practical test standards, helipad markings and pilot logbooks—just to name a few! [Read More...]



Tags: Helicopter Military to Civilian Transition
Categories: categoryCareer Development



Nov
30
2022

FlightSafety Helicopter Training Kicks In, Saves Lives

Posted by Admin

FlightSafety International’s name and reputation in aviation training has been built over seven decades. But the truest test of that value comes when pilots are facing split-second decisions, and their training takes over. In one pilot’s case, FlightSafety training and how it prepared him for anything, are the reasons he believed he and his crew survived a dangerous situation. Sgt. David Sizemore had seen a lot in his more than 13,000 flight hours. But during a December 2020 flight in his Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter, he faced the biggest challenge as a pilot. [Read More...]



Tags: FlightSafety International Reality-Based Simulator Training
Categories: categoryTraining categoryCompany Profiles



Nov
28
2022

The Battle Between Helicopters and Bugs Inside Lee County Mosquito Control

Posted by Admin

As a resident of this state for 42 years, I find it interesting that Florida is the second-most popular tourist state in the country despite the fact that we’re home to hurricanes, sharks, alligators, rattlesnakes, scorpions, bats, fire ants—and mosquitoes. And we’re not talking about just any little mosquito. Florida mosquitoes are so huge they have N-numbers and get issued squawk codes by air traffic control! However, most of those who live here just shrug it off and say that it’s the price we pay to live in paradise – that is, until you cannot even walk your dog or sit on your deck without being carried away by the blood-sucking pests. Fear not: many organizations across the state are using both science and aircraft to reduce the impact of mosquito misery on the people. Once such organization is the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD), which is the largest mosquito control agency in the country. [Read More...]



Tags: Lee County Mosquito Control Aviation Unit



Nov
21
2022

Meet a Rotor Pro - Matt Johnson, Metro Aviation

Posted by Admin

RPMN: What is your current position? I am a single-pilot IFR HAA Line Pilot, Part 135 check airman, instructor, and FOQA gatekeeper for Metro Aviation, and a designated pilot examiner (DPE) for the FAA. I also remain active as a sworn law enforcement (LE) officer flying on a part-time basis for a sheriff's office. [Read More...]



Tags: Matt Johnson Metro Aviation Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories: categoryCareer Development categoryOpinion-Editorial categoryHuman Interest



Nov
14
2022

No Safe Harbor - Transnet Aviation’s Marine Pilot Transfer in South Africa

Posted by Admin

Large swells, high winds, tight vessel schedules that can change frequently during a single day and a narrow harbor entrance with various sand banks, makes Durban Harbour a challenging environment for any ship pilot to navigate. To assist the vessel pilots trying to enter or leave the harbor, Transnet Aviation transports skilled ship pilots with an intimate knowledge of the harbor to pilot the vessels. South Africa was one of the first countries in the world to utilize a helicopter for marine pilot transfer, launching the Helicopter Marine Pilot Transfer (HMPT) concept in 1995. HMPT operations are a high risk, hostile, and dynamic operating environment requiring exceptional flying skills and precision hoisting as well as efficient and flawless maintenance. It takes years of training to achieve the highest levels of proficiency in safety and efficiency. There are only a handful of qualified offshore helicopter pilots, experienced helicopter hoist operators and licensed aircraft maintenance engineers who have flown and worked on the marine pilot service, and who meet the stringent minimum requirements. [Read More...]



Tags: Helicopter Hoist Operations Helicopter Marine PIlot Transfer HMPT Transnet Aviation
Categories: categoryCompany Profiles



Nov
07
2022

Executive Watch - Mark Schlaefli, President and Owner of Dakota Rotors LLC

Posted by Admin

“It’s not fake it until you make it , but keep working until you obtain it,” says the entrepreneur pilot who accelerated through the pilot ranks into management faster than a V-22 Osprey and decided that wasn’t enough. So, he bought four helicopter tour operations that fly from Montana to Mount Rushmore. That wasn’t enough. So, he’s starting up a fifth utility operation to balance his tourist-heavy holdings. Yet, if you’re expecting to meet some hard-charging, win-at-all-costs egomaniac, you’re in for a pleasant surprise and time. Here, let’s introduce you to Mark Schlaefli president and owner of Dakota Rotors LLC, and (deep breath now): Black Hills Aerial Adventures, Rushmore Helicopters, Badger Helicopters (DBA Badlands Helicopters) and Yellowstone Helicopters. Coming this fall is the addition of a Part 133 and Part 137 certificate to Dakota Rotors to enhance their ability to deliver a full spectrum of services throughout the Midwest and Mountain West. [Read More...]



Tags: Black Hills Aerial Adventures Dakota Rotors Helicopter tour Operations
Categories: categoryHuman Interest categoryCareer Development categoryCompany Profiles



Oct
31
2022

The Eagles of Chamonix Mont-Blanc Hélicoptères

Posted by Admin

The Mont-Blanc massif is a majestic range of mountains shared between France, Italy and Switzerland. Culminating at 4,808 meters above sea level, the Mont-Blanc summit is the highest of Western Europe. It’s a true paradise for mountain lovers as it shows them different climates throughout the year, which makes it a place to visit for all seasons. Mountains create challenges, such as the altitude, the lack of oxygen, the changing weather, the different surfaces (snow, ice, rocks) and limited accessibility. At the top of some summits, you can find huts for hikers, ski lifts. All these facilities need regular maintenance. The only sustainable way to access them easily and quickly is to use helicopters. Fortunately, Chamonix Mont-Blanc Hélicoptères (CMBH) is strategically located at the bottom of Glacier of Argentière near Chamonix in Haute-Savoie, France. It was founded in 1992 by pilot and CEO Pascal Brun, who is known by the local community as the pilot with more than 30,000 flight hours. [Read More...]



Tags: Chamonix Mont Blanc Helicopters High Altitude Flying Utililty and Rescue Helicopters
Categories: categoryCompany Profiles


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