Articles for category Rotorcraft Checkride
Jan
22
2021
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
One maneuver that offers many variations in the methods by which flight instructors teach is Confined Area Operations. Over the years, helicopter pilot applicants have approached this topic with a wide variety of acronyms and procedures. Passed down from instructor to instructor, this is often more tribal knowledge than fact.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Dec
28
2020
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
A commercial pilot student transferring to our pilot school provided training records that included a cross-country flight that met the requirements of 14 CFR 61.129(c)(3)(iii). It was a 2-hour cross country flight in a helicopter in nighttime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure. However, it was conducted prior to his private pilot check ride. My initial response was that the flight time was unacceptable because it was pre-private and would not count toward commercial pilot requirements.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Nov
17
2020
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
After many years of administering FAA Instrument Rating examinations, a consistent trend remains the cause of Unsatisfactory check rides. Having seen this trend develop, we as Pilot Examiners will mentor and train flight instructors to ensure their students not only know the material, but more importantly know how to apply the material in given situations.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Oct
19
2020
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
A few weeks ago, I conducted a Private Pilot exam in a Robinson R22 helicopter. My helicopter systems questions often begin with correlative level questions requiring the student to understand many aspects of the system to provide a comprehensive answer. This level of questioning provides a path for the applicant to demonstrate higher order of thinking skills or HOTS as the FAA refers to this in the FAA instructors handbook.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Sep
18
2020
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
The FAA Practical Test Standards require each applicant completing a helicopter specific flight evaluation to conduct a Power Failure at a Hover (aka Hovering Autorotation) maneuver. The maneuver is a combination of throttle manipulation reducing engine speed with the required flight control inputs to safely land the helicopter. When conducted correctly, the maneuver is rather benign. During the learning process, the maneuver is anything but benign and is the cause to many hard landings during flight training.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Aug
24
2020
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
Each Friday, a group of the greatest helicopter pilots on the planet meet for lunch in Fort Worth, Texas. They discuss past, present, and future happenings within the helicopter industry, enjoy a great meal, and then it happens: oral history lessons for those who listen.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Randy Rowles
Rotorcraft Checkride
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Within the past few months, the number of pilot applicant’s ineligible for a pilot certificate practical test has increased because their instructor misunderstood the requirements for an additional certificate or rating. Additionally, the number of ineligible applicants when using a foreign pilot certificate as the basis for FAA certification has increased as well. Let us review each of the problem areas directly.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
By definition, a scare tactic is a strategy using fear to influence a reaction. Instructors may use the fear of failure, injury, or death as well as other scare tactics to motivate students to emphasize a point. The fear of a negative outcome is one of the leading problems in students today and the data has yet to show a valid reason for flight schools and other organizations to continue using fear. Instructors are supposed to encourage flight students to learn, not scare them to the point of anxiety or indecision.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a helicopter pilot requesting a Bell 407 transition course. He had been flying for the airlines and was recently furloughed. Once he arrived, we engaged in conversation about his transition to the airlines two years prior. He was hired by the airlines via the Rotory to Airline Group (RTAG) organization. Having been furloughed, his only option was to return to the helicopter industry. A job opportunity had opened in a Bell 407, and the transition course would provide the aircraft currency to be eligible.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Recently, I read an article regarding helicopter autorotations from the perspective of a new helicopter student pilot. Although the article was merely an overview of the author’s pre-solo training experience, it was titled “Advanced Autorotations.” Why such a title?
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride