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Oct
03
2013
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Posted by Admin
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My 2 Cents Worth - Breaking the Error Chain
By Randy Mains
“This is stupid!”
What wonderful words to break the error chain. I’ve certainly said it when I’ve been flying. Like in bad weather when scud running, or doing anything in the air where I figured I probably shouldn’t be there. “This is stupid,” can potentially be one of those simple, but brilliant, ideas designed to let you, the pilot, know it’s time to call it quits, go home, and thus prevent really scaring yourself and possibly having an accident.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Safety
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Sep
19
2013
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Posted by Admin
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Bashing a Million Bucks with a Hammer
Story by Byron Edgington
Back in Ohio I landed my first stable, long-term—I thought—commercial flying job. The position was with a start-up company in Toledo, with a brand new helicopter, and the promise of an experience many pilots never have, the chance to start a flight operation from the ground up. It was also the first time I got canned.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Humor & Poetry
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Sep
19
2013
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Posted by Admin
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HELICOPTER LEASING – Challenges & Opportunities!
By Aubrey Point and Gary Fitzgerald
Pure operating leasing is a relatively new, but fast growing, financial product in the helicopter world. The numerous benefits of operating leasing are matched by some substantial challenges that are inherent in the structure of the helicopter operator industry. This article aims to explain these challenges and opportunities for operators and investors alike.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Sep
12
2013
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Posted by Admin
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Helicopter Pilot Insurance Coverage Trends
By Rick Lindsey
Helicopter accidents can result in property damage, death or catastrophic injuries. When things go wrong, there is usually plenty of blame to go around. Read the headlines today and you’ll see that millions of dollars have been awarded in liability lawsuits.
Helicopter pilots are trained, highly skilled, cautious and careful professionals who understand the importance of being proactive by double-checking all systems, safety checks, and other factors when piloting a helicopter. A pilot must be prepared to be thrust into a dangerous or unexpected situation at any moment and have the skills to react quickly.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Safety
Regulatory
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Sep
05
2013
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Posted by Admin
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Avionics Upgrades Breath New Life into Old Birds
by James Careless
The Bell 212 Twin Huey is a venerable rotorcraft, with 45 years of history
under its blades. Unfortunately, a decades-old helicopter cockpit experiences a lot of wear and tear. Add analog 'steam gauge' displays, and the result can be a visually shabby, technologically-obsolete cockpit that can compel all but the hardiest of helicopter enthusiasts to pay more for brand new aircraft - even if the older model still has lots of life in it!
[Read More...]
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
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Aug
29
2013
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Posted by Admin
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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
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Aug
23
2013
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Posted by Admin
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As a working helicopter pilot of 22 years, I have watched the bumpy business roads that MD Helicopters has travelled. Although the legacy of MD is much older than its owner, Lynn Tilton, it seems like it may have inherited its resilient scrappiness from the company’s matriarch.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Company Profiles
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Aug
15
2013
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Posted by Admin
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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
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Aug
02
2013
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Posted by Admin
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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
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Jul
26
2013
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Posted by Admin
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There is an old aviation axiom that goes like this: How do you make a million dollars in aviation? Answer: Start out with two million dollars!
It doesn’t matter if you have designs on becoming a pilot, mechanic, or business owner, the aviation industry can be very unforgiving. There is virtually nothing easy about being successful, especially in the rough and tumble world of flight training. Inject a helicopter into the equation and your “difficulty factor” goes up exponentially.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Company Profiles