Articles for category Human Interest
|
Apr
24
2014
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro – Anthony Burson
RPMN: What is your current position?
I am the Chief Pilot of UTFlight, the flight department of United Technologies. I am responsible for helicopter and fixed winged operations, both domestic and international. We have 36 pilots that operate a fleet of ten aircraft with bases in Hartford, Conn. and Charlotte, N.C.
RPMN: Tell me about your first flight.
My first flight was in a Piper Super Cub that was owned by a family friend. I was ten years old and remember that I could not see out the front wind screen. The flight was only about 20 minutes long but I knew then that flying was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
My first helicopter flight was in a Hughes 500 at the age of 23. I was working as an A&P mechanic and had just been trained on how to do rotor track and balance. I was so excited in that first ride that I had a hard time concentrating on what I was doing.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Mar
14
2014
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro – Henrik Bjorklund
RPMN: What is your current position?
I’m a saw pilot at Rotor Blade.
RPMN: What does Rotor Blade do?
We perform aerial sidewall trimming of utility line rights-of-way. This is done with a ten-bladed saw that’s suspended below the aircraft.
RPMN: Tell me about your first flight.
It was my very first flight lesson at Bristow Academy in Florida. I absolutely loved how the helicopter maneuvered through the air and the sensation of hovering; hanging motionless in the air was absolutely fantastic. I had never been in a helicopter before I left Sweden and came to Bristow Academy, not even on the ground. So, when my instructor asked if I wanted to do an autorotation I simply said, “Yeah, sure,” and was wondering what he was talking about. I was in for a surprise.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Feb
07
2014
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro Questionnaire – Kevin W. Nelson
RPMN: What is your current position?
I’m the founder, owner, president and ‘chief bottle washer’ of Nelson AeroDynamiX, Corp. and its division, Aero Alliance. I am a contributing editor with Vertical magazine; so don’t tell them I’m on your pages! I also work in a close affiliation relationship with Chase Aviation for giving a fresh, honest, thorough and informed service to buyers and sellers of helicopters as a “tag team,” doubling the value. (www.chaseaviation.com)
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Dec
26
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro – Dean Springer
RPMN: What is your current position?
Presently, I guess you would say I am semi-retired, meaning, I have retired from my first career as a Senior Special Agent and former Customs Service Pilot after 20 years. I no longer fly full-time, but fly relief or on-call by the day. This is usually one-to-three days a week as needed in a Bell 206BIII, King Air B100, or Beechcraft Baron.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Dec
05
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
It appears the Australians put a higher value on patient safety than our FAA, NTSB and even Congress. That’s a pretty strong statement, isn’t it? Let me tell you how I arrived at that conclusion.
When my article “The Power of CRM” appeared in the August 2013 issue of Rotorcraft Pro my wife, Kaye, and I were in Australia, flown there by the Aeromedical Society of Australasia so that I could deliver two keynote speeches at their 25th scientific meeting of HEMS operators.
My first keynote address was entitled “US Aeromedical Accidents – What can Australasian HEMS learn from our Mistakes?” On the second day I delivered a keynote address entitled “CRM in Aeromedical Operations - Why CRM/AMRM (Air Medical Resource Management) is Absolutely Vital to HEMS Safety.”
[Read More...]
Categories:
Training
Safety
Regulatory
Human Interest
|
Nov
22
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro – Lyn Burks
What is your current position?
I am fortunate to wear several hats, which keeps things interesting. I am the Owner / Developer of Justhelicopters.com and VerticalReference.com. I am the Co-Owner / Editor In Chief of Rotorcraft Pro Magazine. I also produce the HeliSuccess Career Development and NightCon Night Vision Conferences. Additionally, although I no longer fly full time, I still fly as a contract pilot several days per month. I am current in the Agusta A109E and the Sikorsky S76 C+.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Oct
17
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Meet a Rotorcraft Pro – Adam Aldous
RPMN: What is your current position?
I am the President and CEO for Night Flight Concepts, Inc. where I oversee operations for our company. I continuously set our corporate vision and business strategies that align with current and future business opportunities in NVG (Night Vision Goggles) related activities.
RPMN: What does Night Flight Concepts do?
Our company is a comprehensive NVG solution provider. We specialize in premier NVG training and maintenance capabilities for all sizes and types of aviation organizations around the world.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Aug
29
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
CRM – The Last Line of Defense!
by Randy Mains
Imagine you’re an aviation doctor and you hold the cure to save lives in a deadly segment of helicopter aviation. One day you learn that the FAA has finally mandated that all Part 135 operators must be administered this cure, or they cannot fly. You gladly offer the cure, knowing it can save lives. However, you soon discover that the parent (the helicopter company) of the patient (the flight crew) doesn’t want to give the full dose because of the added time and expense it takes to administer it. So the helicopter company waters down the dose to near microscopic proportions, which satisfies the letter of the law, while successfully avoiding the spirit of the law. But in their effort to save time and money, they render the cure totally useless. It is my opinion that’s what’s happening in many HEMS programs.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Safety
Human Interest
|
Aug
15
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
RPMN: Tell me about your first flight.
My first flight was in an R-22 in beautiful Bend, Oregon. I remember walking out to the helipad and being in utter shock at the size of these tiny helicopters! After working as mechanic and flying as aircrew on MH60-Jayhawk helicopters in the Coast Guard for seven years, the downsize was truly astounding. However, I was completely charmed… that is, until I found out I had to carry a cushion just to reach the yaw pedals. Needless to say, my ‘glory’ moment was comically diminished.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest
|
Aug
02
2013
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
On October 5, 2005, I was paired up with Parry Jameson in one of our patrol helicopters. It was a Wednesday afternoon, around 3:00. It was time for us to wind down and hand the baton to the night shift.
On our way back, Parry and I noticed that we were a little low on fuel. We were almost over our base at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, getting ready to land, when we got a radio call.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Human Interest