The Height/Velocity Diagram indicates the combination of height above ground and air speed that should be avoided due to safety concerns related to emergency landings. For new helicopter pilots, the height-velocity (H/V) diagram can be confusing. From one Instructor to another, the understanding of the H/V diagram may differ, which will affect how the subject is taught. Even when referring to the FAA’s Helicopter Flying Handbook, the entire subject is covered in only two pages (FAA H-8083-21A Chapter 11 Pg. 11-8 & 11-9).
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
I have a professional Facebook page that deals solely with crew resource management and helicopter safety issues. I hope I don’t disappoint visitors to my page if they don’t see pictures of my breakfast, lunch, or dinner, my cat, dog or car or learn that I am in a departure lounge somewhere awaiting my flight home. I ‘built’ my Facebook page for one purpose—as a tool to keep CRM and helicopter safety foremost in air crew member’s minds.
[Read More...]
Categories:
My Two Cents Worth
I’d been awake for 17 hours when the phone rang at 12:45 a.m. The communications specialist said, “There’s a scene call on Palomar Mountain. Will you be able to take the flight?”
[Read More...]
Categories:
My Two Cents Worth
A few months ago I was visiting a large helicopter flight school. While touring the school, I had the opportunity to sit in on a ground school class. The students were training toward their helicopter instrument rating, so the material being presented was on that topic. My initial impression was very positive. I thought: Wow, these young aviators are getting a great education in a highly standardized, quality-based training environment.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Back when the only inlet filter option for an Arriel engine was the bleed air type, it was a pain to comply with ground runs as the cowling had to remain installed with the filter bleed air line connected. There supposedly was a factory cap for the fitting on the engine that enabled removal of the cowling/filter assembly. But we, nor the tech reps, could ever procure one.
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
ATA 76 - Rolls-Royce 250-C20 Series - Found another booklet, but this one is a real collector item: Chandler Evans (CECO) MC-40 Fuel Control System Questions and Answers. I still shudder when I hear the word CECO. Bleed, bleed, bleed…starts running through my mind. And I don’t mean the red stuff. For those who hadn’t had the pleasure, a CECO system used fuel pressure to control function instead of air pressure like a Bendix system. Air in the control side would cause all kinds of problems. One tiny bubble of air and it seemed like you were bleeding the system for hours, days, weeks…. [Submitted by Rw]
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
The highest level of FAA airman certification is the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Upon reaching this level of certification, the airman is expected to have built a treasure trove of experiences only found through years of experience. The title alone infers that the individual holding such certification is capable of operating aircraft utilized in airline-type operations. Not as much make and model of aircraft as it is the capabilities of an airline to include operating within poor weather conditions, high density airspace, and the IFR system.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
I’ve been a flight instructor in the military, a senior instructor for Bell Helicopter in Iran teaching pilots how to be instructor pilots, head of training and a flight examiner for 13 years while working for the Royal Oman Police Air Wing in the Sultanate of Oman with British, American and Australian pilots and a type-rating instructor and type-rating examiner in the Bell 412EP and Bell 212 while working for Abu Dhabi Aviation. While in Abu Dhabi, I trained and examined airline transport pilots hailing from more than 20 countries around the world. In my 47-year and 13,000-hour flying career I have developed habits I use to keep us safe while training that I will pass along to you to, hopefully, keep you safe.
[Read More...]
Categories:
My Two Cents Worth
Been a busy month. One interesting note, the Germans have 3D printed a flying aircraft. No BS. It’s small and unmanned. But, think of the future possibilities. Find a P/C link corroded, no problem. Instead of going through the antiquated process of ordering a new one, just mosey up to your handy-dandy Snap-On 3D part printer. Puts a whole new meaning to signing it off… “Fabricated new P/C link from….”
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
Beginning last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released several training-related guidance updates. These releases included advisory circulars, a national policy notice, and most recently, the Flight Instructor Helicopter Practical Test Standards (PTS). In several of my previous training articles, I referred to subject matter affected by the release of this new guidance. I would now like to review a few of the specific documents released by the FAA and provide an overview of how changes may affect you.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride