few questions for the helo gang

[I_WANNA_BE_ATP]

I got three questions for the gang here:

A) Are helo instrument approaches the same as fixed wing ??


B) Is it possible for a fixed wing commercial pilot to get his commercial rotor and be competive for a helo job ??

C) How difficult would the transition be ?


Thanx for the help

 

[scottyboy75]

A) Yes, and no. Generally we follow the same guidelines the only real difference is we can cut the visibility in half down to 1/4 sm. Except when we are put on a copter approach then our approach speed is 60 knots.

B)Not really most jobs want 1000 hrs pic in helo. HEMS requirements look like this. 2500 hrs pic helo, 250hrs night unaided.

C) Learn to fly helo is the greatest, worst, easiest, hardest thing you will ever do. But once you are rated you know you have the potential to fly anything.

Shane

 

[I_WANNA_BE_ATP]

Thanks alot, It's on my list after glider !!!

 

[Ian_J]

A) Yes, and no. Generally we follow the same guidelines the only real difference is we can cut the visibility in half down to 1/4 sm. Except when we are put on a copter approach then our approach speed is 60 knots.

B)Not really most jobs want 1000 hrs pic in helo. HEMS requirements look like this. 2500 hrs pic helo, 250hrs night unaided.

C) Learn to fly helo is the greatest, worst, easiest, hardest thing you will ever do. But once you are rated you know you have the potential to fly anything.

Shane

And the Copter approach "remain within" distance is 5 miles, not the usual 10.

Isn't the copter approach speed limited to 90 knots?

 

[fludy12]

And the Copter approach "remain within" distance is 5 miles, not the usual 10.

Isn't the copter approach speed limited to 90 knots?

Review the FARs!

 

[Ian_J]

...

 

[scottyboy75]

I am not sure actually about the kias thing. I know we are automatically cosidered to be Cat A. But I also read that if flying a copter SIAP You cannot go over 70 kias on final. Very confusing since I have never flown one.
Shane

 

[Ian_J]

I am not sure actually about the kias thing. I know we are automatically cosidered to be Cat A. But I also read that if flying a copter SIAP You cannot go over 70 kias on final. Very confusing since I have never flown one.
Shane

Like I was saying before, before the unfortunate Fludy incident, was that the approach speed on a Copter SIAP is 90 knots. The reference is the AIM, 10-1-2 a.(2)

2. Helicopters flying Copter SIAPs may use the published minima, with no reductions allowed. The maximum airspeed is 90 KIAS on any segment of the approach or missed approach.

Shane, the 70 knots on final you referred to is on a GPS Copter approach:

3. Helicopters flying GPS Copter SIAPs must limit airspeed to 90 KIAS or less when flying any segment of the procedure, except speeds must be limited to no more than 70 KIAS on the final and missed approach segments.

Hope this helps.

And to the best of my knowledge, this information is not found in the FARs.

 

[scottyboy75]

Nor is it found in the insturment flying handbook. Or the anywhere else I have seen. Just the Aim.
It makes sense that max speed is 90 knots. But why not just list it as a Cat A approach and leave it at that?
I may actually learn this stuff if I could ever get back in the seat. Seems one thing after another these days.

 

[Ian_J]

Nor is it found in the insturment flying handbook. Or the anywhere else I have seen. Just the Aim.
It makes sense that max speed is 90 knots. But why not just list it as a Cat A approach and leave it at that?
I may actually learn this stuff if I could ever get back in the seat. Seems one thing after another these days.

Well, first of all, the Instrument Flying Handbook sucks. I've compared the Army Inst flight manual with the IFH and trust me, the IFH ain't cuttin it. However, check out the Instrument Procedures Handbook, appendix C. It tells you all about it. In fact, most of the IPH is pretty good. (Found here at: http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/)

They don't leave it as a Cat A approach because only helos can execute them. It is really based off the protected area need for for a missed approach procedure. Also, the FAA assumes a helicopter's climb gradient at slow airspeeds to be twice that of an airplanes (200ft/NM airplanes vs 400ft/nm helos), and thus Copter only approaches limited to slower airspeeds.

And a small correction to something I said previously about the 5 NM remain within distance. Not ALL Copter approaches are this way; some are the standard 10.