Initial training at the start of my airline career, after active duty with the Marines, flying both rotor and fixed wing, was performed in-aircraft in a Saab SF-340A. The Saab had a full glass cockpit at a time when most airliners still had steam gauges. My training partner, who had a USCG background, both rotor and fixed wing as well, and corporate flying was having trouble with the transition to glass instruments. After several less-than-satisfactory flights, during a study session, he asked me how to determine which way the aircraft was turning. I was shocked that he still looked at the instruments like your dog watching TV. He didn’t make it through training.
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My Two Cents Worth
I attended the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) HAI Symposium held at Heli-Expo in Louisville entitled “Safety and the Bottom Line” and learned that in the team’s accident analysis it was revealed that 84% of accidents included a Standard Problem Statement of “Pilot Judgment & Actions.” Good crew resource management practices seemingly would ‘cure’ that malady. So why haven’t they? The answer lies in Plato’s Cave.
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My Two Cents Worth
It is common within flight instruction for the subject matter being presented to have a theme of “my instructor taught me this way.” Often, flight instructors only have the experience gained during their own training program to impart to their students. In many cases, this is acceptable; after all, it was [their] flight instructor that facilitated the learning process, thus an inference to an instructor’s methods when they received their training is normal. However, did their Instructor teach from an objective or subjective perspective?
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Rotorcraft Checkride
Unfortunately, the last month hasn’t been kind to the industry. Several tragic events: AW139 hit a zipline in flight, a pilot was struck by 230 M/R blades during ground ops, a midair between an Astar and fixed wing, and an EMS 407 hit trees during cruise. Luckily, in the fifth incident, where a Skycrane contacted water during fire ops, everyone made it out okay.
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ROTORwrench
While conducting an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) – Helicopter practical test, the applicant was given an emergency during the takeoff phase of flight. In lieu of conducting a Rejected Takeoff procedure, the applicant initiated a climb to 40’agl, maintained 40kts of airspeed, and announced the execution of a Quick Stop maneuver. When queried about the method by which the Rejected Takeoff was conducted, the applicant advised “that is how a Quick Stop is done”. Note: For the purpose of this article, Rapid Deceleration and Quick Stop will have the same meaning.
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Rotorcraft Checkride
Dan Foulds, owner and lead instructor at AMRM Training Solutions and a board member with the National EMS Pilot’s Association posted a valid question on Facebook. His observation came following the tragic air medical accident in Wisconsin on the 26th of April where 3 people lost their lives in a tour helicopter. Here’s what he said,
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My Two Cents Worth
Looks like the offshore rotorcraft industry hasn’t fared any better though. While the financials of most major players are continuing their slide, there’s new company acquisitions on one side and rumors of sell-offs on the other side.
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ROTORwrench
A lot of flying going on in California last month covering the fires. While I never directly worked in that type of ops, I have seen them in action during the day and the mechanics during the night. A sight to see.
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ROTORwrench
Within the dynamic realm of helicopter flight, exuberance and sometimes overconfidence fills the cockpit in the form of eager aviators. They are called helicopter pilots! Each day, helicopters perform missions that serve the public in a variety of ways: air medical, law enforcement, firefighting, and even tourism, just to name a few. Rotorcraft provide the ability to go places not usually accessible to the average person. Helicopter pilots often spend years learning their craft and gaining the experience required to conduct more complex, and often better paying, helicopter pilot jobs. However, the experience gained in hours may not accurately reflect the experience required in proficiency.
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Rotorcraft Checkride
When operating an aircraft with the latest glass cockpit technology a common observation is: “Now I know what my dog’s thinking when he watches TV.” There’s another common comment as well, “What’s it doing now?”
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Categories:
My Two Cents Worth