Articles for category Opinion-Editorial
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Jul
15
2024
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
I’m a helicopter air ambulance (HAA) pilot for Metro Aviation, assigned to the Tampa General Hospital Program in Punta Gorda, Florida. Our base operates an EC135P2+ as our primary aircraft and a Bell407GX as our backup.
RPMN: Tell me about your first experience with helicopters.
I was around 15 years old, sitting in the backseat of my parent's car, which was at a standstill in a line of traffic, due to a major car accident. I vividly recall observing a helicopter landing on the highway to airlift a patient. As the helicopter ascended and departed the scene, I was struck by a profound sense of purpose, realizing at that exact moment that my future ambition was to become a medical helicopter pilot.
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Tags:
Danielle Fuller
Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Jun
24
2024
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Posted by Admin
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“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi
As a result of a confluence of events, I recently found myself reflecting on the concept of serving others. Whether it be family, community, country, God, or even a mere stranger, in my own personal experience, there’s something very fulfilling about helping someone in need.
I never really thought about it, but my entire family has dedicated most of their working lives to service-related careers and efforts. I myself served as a U.S. Marine, then a decade with Fire Rescue, then worked as an EMS helicopter pilot. Heck, I am such a sucker for service, I even serve on the board of my homeowners association. My wife was a math teacher for much of her professional career. Our daughter is a deputy sheriff. As a family we have all served others through missionary work in Haiti and in Central America.
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Tags:
Air Rescue
EMS Helicopters
Law Enforcement Aviation
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Jun
10
2024
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Posted by Admin
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As the quality and cost of flight simulation decreases, the regulatory limitations on its use within the flight training industry remain stagnant. Looking much like it did decades ago, the credits offered on the use of simulation provide very little in the way of aeronautical decision-making (ADM) and focus on simulation versus flight-hour credits on limited aircraft-based maneuvers. Does this maneuver, credit-based simulation model truly capture the capabilities of the flight training simulation available today?
Many years ago, we acquired an FAA-approved flight training device (FTD) for use in our flight school. The acquisition model at the time was purely based upon the hours of flight training credit the FTD would provide back to the customer. Approved maneuvers were inclusive of both VFR and IFR training, however, the IFR training credits far outweighed those of VFR maneuvers. The ability to offset 20 hours of instrument flight training into the FTD was a tremendous savings to the customer, and the training quality was quite good.
My curiosity, though, caused me to seek out additional areas of training where the FTD would thrive, even if no FAA training credit was available. Our staff developed scenarios to include cross-country dual and solo flights, teaching our tour pilots routes and airspace checkpoints, as well as simple local area orientation flights to new pilots and instructor staff. Although we found success in these training events, the real benefit was found during flight instructor training.
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Tags:
Flight Training Devices FTD
Flight Training Simulation
Helicopter Flight Training
Categories:
Career Development
Opinion-Editorial
Training
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Apr
29
2024
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Posted by Admin
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Everywhere I turn, I see nothing but change. Rapid change. In fact, almost every feature in this issue has an underlying theme of change.
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Tags:
Changes in the helicopter industry
Rotor Pro Editor's Letter
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Opinion-Editorial
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Mar
25
2024
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Posted by Admin
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The introduction of radar (also known as radio) altimeters to the helicopter industry began as a highly accurate tool to validate actual height above ground during Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight operations. Like the fixed wing world, a helicopter being flown on an IFR approach needs accurate information on height above ground to continue to a safe landing.
As the helicopter industry introduced additional technologies, the requirement for a radar altimeter in a helicopter expanded. It was determined that a radar altimeter would be required equipment for NVG modified cockpits and stated accordingly in 14 CFR 91.205(h)(7). After April 24th, 2017, the FAA expanded the requirement for radar altimeter installation and use in Part 135 operations with the introduction of 14 CFR Part 135.160(a): Radio Altimeters for Rotorcraft Operations.
The clear intent of the regulation was to improve aviation safety. Providing the pilot with a highly accurate tool to know their actual height above ground would reduce controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.
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Tags:
NVG modified cockpits
Radar Altimeter
Radar Altimeters and 5G Exemptions
Categories:
Regulatory
Opinion-Editorial
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Mar
11
2024
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Posted by Admin
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What is your current position?
I currently work as the assistant chief helicopter pilot at Tampa Bay Aviation. Tampa Bay Aviation is the largest helicopter flight school in the area; we have four locations across the bay (KCLW, KPIE, KSPG, and KVDF). Tampa Bay Aviation offers Part 141 and Part 61 courses from private through CFI, and CFII and ATP Part 61. We also work with the VA, so we can accommodate veterans as well. We are one of the largest fixed-wing and helicopter flight schools on Florida’s west coast. I also work as a part-time ENG pilot for Sky Helicopters, and a part-time charter pilot and check airman for Skyway Aviation.
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Tags:
Joshua Montour Tampa Bay Aviation
Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Feb
16
2024
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Posted by Admin
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For my entire 30-year working life, I have referred to my work as a pilot, helicopter operator, and media company owner as being in the “helicopter industry.” It’s pretty much all I have known.
However back in 2020, we saw a significant shift in the industry’s perspective of what the future might look like. It involved terms like “eVTOL,” “unmanned,” and “AAM” (advanced air mobility.) This shift came not only in the form of conversations, but rapidly morphed into actions by investors, regulators, and OEMs.
I remember asking several industry colleagues of stature if they thought this movement towards new platforms was real, or was it pie-in-the-sky futurecasting. The responses I got were 50/50.
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Tags:
HeliExpo 2024
Rotor Pro Editor's Letter
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
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Jan
29
2024
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
I am currently a standardization pilot for the factory training department, as well as a production test pilot with MD Helicopters LLC in Mesa Arizona. We specialize in initial and recurrent advanced emergency procedure training in all MD airframes as well as maintenance test pilot courses. It’s the absolute dream job, as I get to work with pilots in such a multifaceted industry. There aren't a great number of MD Pilots in the world, but every single one of them brings something significant to the table and are absolute powerhouse in their career field and I'm lucky to get to fly and learn from a great number of them.
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CJ Schneider
MD Helicopters
Meet A Rotor Pro
Categories:
Career Development
Opinion-Editorial
Human Interest
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Jan
08
2024
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Posted by Admin
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Nine companies made our ‘Best of Rotor Tech’ list this year. The accomplishments they racked up during 2023 are truly impressive.
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Tags:
Airbus Helicopters FlightLab
Helicopter Technology
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Helicopter Sectors
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Jan
01
2024
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Posted by Admin
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For the second time in as many days, I was demoing a product that involved complex helicopter operations with a set of virtual reality goggles on my face. Boy how times have changed!
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Tags:
European Rotors
Vertical Lift
Virtual Reality Googles
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial