Helo Guys Check In

Hi Ollie, good to hear that you're doing well and enjoying flying for EMS. I remember we spoke about Army aviation earlier this year. :) Recently changed my goals in life and am on track towards working in healthcare. Maybe I'll be in the back of your helicopter one day... Probably not though :D
 
I love schweizers!
Question for you chinook pilots. I have been curious about this. When transitioning back to a tail rotor airframe, do you find yourself remembering how to use your left pedal again? example: "Oh yeah, that's right, I have to add more left pedal as I increase the throttle.." Or is it like riding a bike... Hope you get the question I'm trying to ask. Thanks.

I transitioned from the -47 to the -60... turns out -60s put the left pedal in for you. So easy a cave man could do it!
 
I transitioned from the -47 to the -60... turns out -60s put the left pedal in for you. So easy a cave man could do it!

The -60 really does make one a lazy helo pilot. Fly the -60 a number of days, then get into the UH-1......or even worse, the A-Star.....and it definitely shows.
 
The -60 really does make one a lazy helo pilot. Fly the -60 a number of days, then get into the UH-1......or even worse, the A-Star.....and it definitely shows.

I get upset when the FPS is a bit out of whack and I actually have to keep it in trim myself. And my most hated feature on the Hawk are those damn pedal micro-switches.
 
The -60 really does make one a lazy helo pilot. Fly the -60 a number of days, then get into the UH-1......or even worse, the A-Star.....and it definitely shows.

I flew a -60, left helicopters for 2 years and went straight to the A-star! I have no doubt why it's nickname is "squirrel"!

I get upset when the FPS is a bit out of whack and I actually have to keep it in trim myself. And my most hated feature on the Hawk are those damn pedal micro-switches.

I always hated it when a pilot would push on the pedals THEN remember the microswitches. Always made the aircraft "jump".....annoying...
 
I get upset when the FPS is a bit out of whack and I actually have to keep it in trim myself. And my most hated feature on the Hawk are those damn pedal micro-switches.

+1 on the mircro-switches. It took me a few rides to get used to them and not use my "Huey" feet. I'm also not a fan of the 11 degree inward angled seats. My IP's were always telling me to straighten out the nose and I was always wondering how it wasn't straight. Now I just land crooked, favoring the pilot's side. Seems to work.
 
Flew a Bell 214 and R44 before switching to airplanes, I fly a PC-12 now a days. The 214 was one bad ass machine! Loved it, flew er on heli logging operations.
 
Flew a Bell 214 and R44 before switching to airplanes, I fly a PC-12 now a days. The 214 was one bad ass machine! Loved it, flew er on heli logging operations.

The Iranians love the 214......very good machine.

The current TH-1H for the USAF is fairly close to it.
 
Flew the MI-17 some. You don't even think about which pedal. Only time I had an issue with rudder/pedal was flying the SU-29 in aerobatics. Kept putting in wrong rudder out of habit.
 
I was assigned to the UN in the 1990's. My station chief was a Russian LTC. RW support was provided by the Russians. So he told them to check me out in the MI-17. Things are different in theRussian army.
Had a chance to fly them at Ft. Bliss a few years ago (along with the AN-2), when the training for non-US personnel was there but they actually wanted me to work 9-5 so I turned it down.
 
I'm flying Citations now Part 135... Haven't flown a helicopter in a little over 3 years, but have been thinking about getting a CFI-H rating.... Loved flying Chinooks, the walk from the ramp to the cockpit is a smile long :-)
 
I'm flying Cessna 172s as a CFI for about another month--I have not flown a helo since 2002. I'm planning to fly for the regionals soon, but I still get FAA Safety Team emails as a helo pilot. Keep the rotor RPM up, folks!

Any one else get the FAA's request for input on rewriting the helipad design AC? Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HeliportSurvey & FAA's message below:

The National EMS Pilots Association is conducting a survey to gather opinion on heliport design and safety from those who are most affected by the design and management of heliport facilities – the nation’s helicopter pilots. We are seeking input from all pilots involved in any form of helicopter operations. The information gathered will be presented to the Federal Aviation Administration and to all stake holders in the helicopter industry to assist in the current efforts to rewrite the new FAA heliport advisory circular.
 
Just registered, and new to the forum.
Former USBP OH-6A, AS350BA,B2, and UH-1H.
Now CBP AS350B2,2B1 and UH-1H.
Also Airplane SEL and MEL (Cessna and small twins).
 
They are switches that are small. :)

They're part of the yaw trim system and attached to the front of the pedals. One of their primary functions is to release the yaw trim below 60 knots. Hence why that helicopter can hover with feet off the pedals, weight dependant. When pressing the pedals, some guys press an input first then hit a microswitch due to foot positioning on the pedal, rather than together, which makes a "lurch" input.
 
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