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Sep
27
2021
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Posted by Admin
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RPMN: What is your current position?
I am currently a pilot in command flying one of two Firewatch Cobra helicopters belonging to the U.S. Forest Service. The Firewatch Cobras provide aerial supervision and intelligence gathering for large wildland fire incidents throughout the western United States.
RPMN: Tell me about your first flight or experience with helicopters.
My first flying experience with helicopters was at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1986 as a warrant officer candidate in Army Flight School, operating the venerable TH-55A. By the time I departed Fort Rucker for my first active-duty assignment, I was qualified in TH-55, UH-1H, OH-58 series, and AH-1 series helicopters.
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Tags:
Army Flight School
Scott Beck
USFS Pilot Scott Beck
Categories:
Human Interest
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Sep
20
2021
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Posted by Admin
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Since 1985, North Memorial Health has served the state of Minnesota and the surrounding states, connecting rural communities and the sprawling metropolis of Minneapolis by both air and ground. North Memorial Health Air Care and its fleet of nine helicopters provides more than 4,000 flights a year from seven bases throughout the region. Their focus is clear: Providing the highest level of care in the shortest time possible to save lives.
Upon meeting the team at North Memorial Health Air Care, one thing becomes immediately evident, a sense of pride and teamwork in what they do. From executives to pilots and paramedics, everyone is invested in the mission and doing their part to serve the community.
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Tags:
North Memorial Air Care
Tiger Masks Aviation
Categories:
Company Profiles
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Sep
10
2021
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Posted by Admin
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Flightcell’s founding CEO, John Wyllie, calls from the northern tip of his native town of Nelson, New Zealand, at the northern tip of South Island, perhaps the most majestically picturesque place on Earth. The island has been the location for epic fantasy/adventure movies like The Lord of the Rings and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. What Flightcell does seems magical too. They link and track aircraft around the globe, allowing pilots and their flying machines to communicate with a vast array of terrestrial and satellite systems. The Kiwi company of 21 employees punches far above its size and has built a global reputation as the go-to organization for avionic communication solutions. You may have heard of some of their approx. 4,000 customers: the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines, California Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, Cal Fire, Royal Flying Doctors, Colombian Air Force, and U.S. Department of State. Yes, they have street—and air—cred.
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Tags:
Flight Tracking
Flightcell
Flightcell DZM satcom
Categories:
Company Profiles
Opinion-Editorial
Human Interest
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Sep
06
2021
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Posted by Admin
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No matter what data set or latest editorial piece you refer to, the one common theme we see reminds us that the professional pilot is in high demand in today’s aviation market. The sculpting of a professional pilot has a myriad of challenges, both for the pilot in development and the educators that pave the way. Coupled with the fact that pilots “don't know what they don’t know” until they are introduced to a specific concept or technique (hopefully correctly), and the mere fact that helicopter operations are frequently operating in environments with numerous unknowns, having a properly equipped pilot with the necessary skill sets is apropos for success.
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Tags:
First Officers
Pilot Mentoring
Pilot Training
Categories:
Training
Opinion-Editorial
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Aug
30
2021
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Posted by Admin
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In February of this year, the United States Helicopter Safety Team, with support from Helicopter Association International, Airbus, and Frasca International produced a short video titled 56 Seconds to Live.
In this chilling video, the viewer is taken on a dramatized journey, which shows a pilot making all the wrong decisions during the process of accepting a flight, which then leads to an IIMC condition, culminating in his death. At the very end his spouse and child stand at his grave.
Given the challenging nature of helicopter air ambulance (HAA) work, IIMC accidents have always been a large part of HAA accident stats over the decades. I often wonder: are we getting better as an industry?
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Tags:
Editors Letter
Rotorcraft Pro Editor Lyn Burks
Categories:
Safety
Opinion-Editorial
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Aug
23
2021
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Posted by Admin
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Adversity—we can try to run from it, but it is in adversity that we find growth and ultimately, we find excellence. Leadership Coach Les Brown says that there is greatness inside us all. I believe that is true, but I also believe that greatness is revealed through the pain and suffering of adversity.
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Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Categories:
Career Development
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Aug
23
2021
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Posted by Admin
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10 Fatal accidents for 2021 YTD as compared to 9 for the previous year. READ FULL REPORT.
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Tags:
Helicopter Accident Reports
USHST Safety Report
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Aug
16
2021
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Posted by Admin
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Round up five pilots for some hangar flying and you will undoubtedly get a mixed-bag of opinions on what exactly constitutes an official weather briefing and how one goes about getting that illustrious “official weather briefing.” No need to argue hangar professors! On 15 March 2021, Advisory Circular (AC) 91-92 was released and it is likely one that you will want to read; not only does this AC address the role and legality of online and mobile software platforms in the weather briefing process for pilots, but it also lays out a framework (checklist) of items and resources to utilize for your briefing. For icing on the proverbial cake, there is also a new online course that reviews the concepts covered in the advisory circular!
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Tags:
Advisory Circular
Advisory Circular (AC) 91-92
Self-Briefing Advisory Circular
Categories:
Regulatory
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Aug
09
2021
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Posted by Admin
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Some of the biggest questions military pilots ask when transitioning to the civilian pilot sector are: “What kind of flying jobs are out there for me?” “Which helicopter jobs am I qualified for?” “How much money will I make?” Plus many more questions. To find answers, we looked at our own niche in the helicopter industry and asked our friends in other flying jobs for the information to assemble an overview.
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Tags:
Military to Civilian Aviation
Military to Civilian Helicopter Mechanics
Military to Civilian Pilots
Military to Civilian Transition Aviation
US Army Helicopter Pilots
US Army Helicopter Salary
Categories:
Helicopter Sectors
Career Development
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Aug
02
2021
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Posted by Admin
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COVID-19 has shaken global society to its core. Yet the virus hasn’t been able to slow the progress of law enforcement (LE) aviation technology, particularly in the rotorcraft space. Even as the pandemic continues, police aviation units have been pressing ahead with improvements in the equipment and aircraft they are flying – COVID be damned.
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Tags:
Law Enforcement Aviation
Law Enforcement Helicopter Pilots
Law Enforcement Helicopters