The town folk, startled, exchange glances. They know what it means. The gun slingers are coming. There’s no denying the impact. Even the creaky honkytonk piano in the Old Saloon cannot compete against the rapidly approaching wind storm, and falls strangely and abruptly silent. Mothers scoop up their children, and run for cover. Old men nervously finish their drinks. The bar tender quickly places a full whiskey bottle on the bar, double checks the cleanliness of the half dozen shot glasses, and then quickly retires to the far end of the long wooden bar. He pretends to busy himself polishing glass ware, but he too is listening. And waiting.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Moggy's Musings
Couple quickies this month.
May’s tips:
ATA 62
Bell 206 series: String aligning M/R blades can be a bit tedious. One cheat to see the string better is to fabricate a couple stringing mirrors. You can use pieces from a broken mirror, or simply buy a couple small rectangular mirrors that will sit across the top of the M/R blade bolt.
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
Without reservation, I can say that I have found my passion in life. I love teaching the art of helicopter flight. I don’t know when, where, or why my passion for sharing my love for helicopters developed, I only know that I enjoy it. Equally enjoyable is serving the FAA as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). Do all instructors share this passion? If not, what motivates instructors in their vital role within our industry?
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
Maintenance engineers and mechanics have known about ‘The Dirty Dozen’ for years. They are the 12 most common human error preconditions or conditions that act as precursors to accidents or incidents for mechanics.
[Read More...]
Categories:
My Two Cents Worth
…First though, some other fun stuff. Just some random examples.
3) Classic statement
Nurse says:
(firmly, pointedly, lips pursed, no-nonsense tone of voice) (arms folded) (foot probably tapping, but I didn’t dare look)
“I want you to understand I know just as much about flying this helicopter as you do. I’ve been flying on these machines for five years, and I’ve seen it all. You understand me?”
[Read More...]
Categories:
Moggy's Musings
April’s tips:
ATA 53
Airbus EC135 series: Avionics Deck vent openings in fuselage side panels. Much to a mechanic’s displeasure, this simple venting system has been the root of many electrical issues. Main problem is when water applied with force (e.g. hose while washing aircraft, etc.) at either vent grill will allow plenty of water to cover components on the avionics deck and even the master electrical boxes. One fix adopted by numerous operators is to fabricate and install a simple “hat” or deflector to the interior top section of the fiberglass vent tubes.
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
In the 1989 movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner hears ghostly voices coming from his Iowa cornfield telling him, “If you build it they will come,” meaning he should build a baseball diamond and former members from the Chicago Black Sox would come. Each day for the two months that I worked building a crew resource management instructor’s course, a similar line kept replaying in my head: What if I build it and no one comes?
[Read More...]
Categories:
My Two Cents Worth
Within the flight training industry, a key component to mitigating risk is standardization. Providing the student and instructor with repeatable tools to aid in the decision-making process provides a predictable environment in which flight training can occur safely. However, this may be a double-edged sword. On one side you have a highly standardized method of operating that is repeatable, predictable, and offers very little in the form of operational risk. On the other side, the student pilot is offered very little opportunity to make operational decisions. The key to becoming a safe, competent helicopter pilot is the ability to make good decisions.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride
March’s tips:
ATA 52
Sikorsky S-76A: Ever had cabin/cockpit doors rattle a little or give a “door light” even though fully closed? Look at plastic part on fuselage door striker post. If worn, loosen up post and reposition plastic tube to non-worn area. If unable and no spares in stock, pick up some white plastic water line of the appropriate ID/OD at your local hardware store and replace as needed. [Submitted by Buckeye Ted]
[Read More...]
Categories:
ROTORwrench
The FAA requires all initial pilot certificate applicants (except ATP) to demonstrate cross-country proficiency during a practical test. The Practical Test Standard (PTS) Area of Operation identifying the proficiency to be demonstrated is titled “Navigation.” Tasks included within this section of the PTS are pilotage and dead reckoning, radio navigation and radar services, diversion, and lost procedures. This portion of the exam is intended to verify that the student has sufficient knowledge to fly a helicopter safely outside of his or her local flying area.
[Read More...]
Categories:
Rotorcraft Checkride