2012/04/12-Andy Roe
One of the managers of a large helicopter company employing over 500 pilots took me aside recently and told me with the dispassion of a process-server about several in-house mishaps that really irked him because of their absurdity.
2012/02/01-Andy Roe
I live and work in mountainous terrain, so it?s difficult for me not to relate to this topography when discussing training techniques. Mountain pilots are faced with different challenges compared to those who fly over flatter ground, which leads to the belief that mountain pilots revere themselves as having superior skills compared to the mere plebeian among you who fly over flatlands.
2011/11/30-Andy Roe
Strange noises and sudden reductions in power are nothing to look forward to in the air, since pulling over at 1,000 feet above ground level is not an option
Working With Uneven Surfaces2011/05/27-Andy Roe
Anyone working in remote areas will need to land on off-level, unprepared surfaces on a regular basis. Sloped ground landings are one of the more difficult flight exercises to master, but with proficiency they become a challenge most pilots look forward t
Mismanaging Collective Pitch2011/04/25-Vertical Magazine
As well as flying straight ahead, the helicopter has the unique capability of coming to a complete stop and even reversing. Yet, many helicopters have been found upside down with their engines in good working order, or with their skids bent after hav
Taking Charge When Things Go Wrong2011/04/25-Vertical Magazine
Your proficiency at flying a helicopter has an active side. Underlying all the proficiency of such things as off-level and confined-area landings is your skill at being able to manage an in-flight emergency. You may fly for years without a mechanical
When the Going Gets Slow2010/11/17-Andy Roe
Many pilots do not manage yaw accurately enough and are reluctant or perhaps dont know how to take advantage of the unique versatility and maneuverability of the helicopter, especially in slow flight. To prevent yaw about the vertical axis in ...
Steeply Banked Turns2010/11/17-Andy Roe
A series of steep observational turns overhead a work site or emergency scene is a routine flight maneuver for working helicopter pilots. It allows customers in the back to observe the area they are interested in while you assess the situation below in ..
Old School Navigation2010/11/17-Andy Roe
Basic navigating technique is still an important skill to learn and use despite any GPS supporters who may argue that it is obsolete. When Columbus set out across the Atlantic in 1492, he used a compass that pointed northward, a crude timep...
Buoyancy: The Supporting Effect of the Wind 2010/11/17-Andy Roe
Many pilots who think the wind only has a horizontal direction and speed have difficulty determining how to maximize performance by making the best use of the winds buoyant effect. Wind buoyancy is a supporting upward force on a helicopter; often, it...
