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May
02
2022
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Posted by Admin
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Foreword: Pilot shortages are real for several reasons
Before we dig into the salary and benefits survey numbers, we wanted to paint a picture, even if only anecdotal, of what we believe are the forces currently impacting the supply of working helicopter pilots.
It was around 2005 that articles and online communities began raising alarms about our aging Vietnam-era pilot population and a looming shortage. That era of helicopter pilots were considered the “baby-boomers” of helicopter pilots in that they represented nearly 50% of the working pilot force and most were in their late 50s and early 60s at the time. It was well known that the lion's share of that population would retire somewhere between 2010 and 2020. Questions began to arise about whether or not the traditional training institutions (civil schools and military) could produce the pilots as fast as they would be retiring when the time came. Now that most of those pilots have left the cockpit, and hindsight being 20/20, we now know the answer to that question is no. But it wasn’t only retiring pilots that contributed to the problem.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Helicopter Pilot Salaries
Pilot salary reports
pilot salary survey
US Helicopter Pilot Salary Report
Categories:
Career Development
Opinion-Editorial
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Apr
25
2022
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Posted by Admin
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The title of this editor’s letter is actually a quote from John C. Maxwell, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, pastor, coach and speaker who has sold more than 24 million books in 50 languages. The quote reminds me that there is unprecedented change happening in every corner of our industry.
Carbon dioxide reduction, special aviation fuels, urban air mobility, e-vtol, personnel shortages, unmanned vertical flight, virtual-mixed reality in training, and the list goes on. The question for industry: Will this inevitable change be an opportunity for growth, or will many get left behind?
[Read More...]
Tags:
Rotorcraft Pro Editor Lyn Burks
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Opinion-Editorial
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Apr
18
2022
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Posted by Admin
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There will always be a place in maintenance repair & overhaul (MRO) services for wrench-turning mechanics using their grease-honed handiwork to keep helicopters flying. However, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopter, Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) and the Robinson Helicopter Company are harnessing the power of digital technology to bring their customers the very best in MRO services. Here are some of the advances that will improve MRO services that might be used by our readers in the year to come.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Helicopter Technology
Categories:
Company Profiles
Helicopter Sectors
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Apr
11
2022
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Posted by Admin
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Transitioning from the military can be daunting to say the least. If you’re still active duty and considering your transition, whether after 5 years or 25 years, you probably have a lot of questions swirling around in your head. I made the leap about 6 years ago, but my process started about 5 years prior to that. I hope that some of my experiences and observations can help you as you consider your future beyond the uniform.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Military to Civilian Aviation
Military to Civilian Transition Helicopters
Military to Civilian Transtion Pilots
Categories:
Career Development
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Mar
30
2022
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Posted by Admin
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Balance is critical. It doesn’t matter if it’s the helicopters we fly and maintain, a person on a tightrope or just managing our everyday life. Maintaining balance is required if we are to continue to progress and minimize our limiting factors. We can take anything to the excess and quickly get out of balance. That’s why it is a good idea to have an accountability partner to help you see things that you may miss seeing yourself. The saying “you can’t see the forest for the trees” is accurate and sometimes briefly stepping away will clear one’s focus.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Helicopter Maintenance
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Opinion-Editorial
Training
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Mar
28
2022
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Posted by Admin
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The first impression is that Larry Alexandre seems not properly placed to lead United Rotorcraft, a well-known maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) leader that specializes in customizing helicopter medevac interiors one aircraft at a time. Alexandre is passionate about Lean, the practice of creating a more effective business by eliminating wasteful practices and focusing on value creation for customers. “Very few MROs in our industry believe that Lean principles apply in our world, often because they believe it is only for high volume manufacturing. I’m a big believer in and practitioner of Lean principles to rally an entire team around making your business better (through efficiency) and creating value for your customers.” Earlier in his career when he worked in Operations at Turbomeca, Alexandre says, “I enjoyed taking inefficient practices, often rampant in fragmented industries like the helicopter industry, and making them more efficient and process-oriented. I started each day with the belief that anyone in the team, with the right focus, could find waste in their processes, eliminate it, and improve efficiency.”
[Read More...]
Tags:
Larry Alexandre
Larry Alexandre President
United Rotorcraft
Categories:
Company Profiles
Human Interest
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Mar
18
2022
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Posted by Admin
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Combine a highly skilled pilot, a capable helicopter for the environment, and a skilled team of volunteers and you get Helihack. It’s an ambitious and challenging project, placing skilled chainsaw operators high-up by helicopter in otherwise inaccessible mountainous locations.
In late 2017, Cape Town was the first major city in the world to announce it was approaching “Day Zero” – a reference for the day its water supply would largely run dry.
Authorities say they will shut down the municipal water system when the city’s water reservoirs drop to 13.5 percent capacity.
The Helihack project offers one more way to help avoid or at least delay Day Zero by eradicating prolific non-native vegetation in the watersheds surrounding the reservoirs.
The Western Cape mountain ranges cover one of the Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) for surface water in South Africa. SWSAs cover 8% of South Africa yet supply 50% of the mean annual runoff.
Among the biggest threats to SWSAs are invasive alien vegetation and drought exacerbated by climate change.
[Read More...]
Tags:
AS350
Helicopter Vegetation Eradication
Helihack South Africa
Rotorcraft Pro Airbus Helihack
Rotorcraft Pro Helicopter Vegetation Removal
Rotorcraft Pro Helihack
Utility Helicopter
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Mar
14
2022
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
My wife, Alison and I own Jerry Trimble Helicopter Inc. We started the company in 2007 with one helicopter and one airplane. We provide primary and advanced flight training in both helicopters and airplanes. Our school is located in McMinnville, Oregon.
RPMN: Tell me about your first flight or experience with helicopters?
I flew with my dad, Robert Trimble, in one of his Bell 47s back in the ‘50s. He worked for Etna Helicopters along with his two partners – Bill Mathews and Erling Hertager.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Jerry Trimble Helicopters
Meet A Rotorcraft Pro
Categories:
Human Interest
Opinion-Editorial
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Mar
07
2022
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Posted by Admin
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The air tour industry has been heavily scrutinized in recent years. Whether for safety concerns by the general public and legislators, noise complaints, or limiting access to National Parks, operators in this sector have been faced with challenging times. Intensify the situation with the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and these companies barely continued to keep the lights on this year. Fortunately, air tour operators are resilient and resourceful with helping to address these types of issues. They provide a valued service to passengers who eagerly seek out this mode of sightseeing and who might not otherwise have access to the unique and beautiful locations throughout the world.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Helicoper Tour Operators
TOPS
Tour Operators Program of Safety
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Safety
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Feb
28
2022
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Posted by Admin
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The employee commitment at Erickson Inc. is like that of a great sports team. The employees are the athletes, the coaches, and even the fans. The term “bad ass” is thrown around amongst employees. They proudly display the company colors and act upon the company culture with personal commitment. In 50 years of business, Erickson has become legendary as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operation, and as an aerial services company.
A common phrase heard among Erickson employees is “bleeding orange,” which demonstrates the team’s tenaciousness and drive for safety and service. With nearly 800 employees working worldwide, they strive to save both people and property through aerial firefighting and defense missions, while accomplishing civil aviation services with heavy-lift helicopters. They do this with capable hands and an eye on the mission.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Erickson Composite Rotor Blades
founder of Erickson Air-Crane
heli-logging
Jack Erickson
S-64 Air Crane
Sikorsky S-61
Skycrane