search.noResults

search.searching

dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
OTORCRAFT CHECKRIDE Training Musings


Facebook Flyers


You thought texting was bad! By Randy Rowles


copy of the FAA practical test standards (PTS) next to his face and took a selfie with his phone. He then proceeded to request I “hold on a minute” so that he could post the picture on Facebook. At the time, I didn’t really mind as this moment was significant to him. Maybe it was his way of calming his nerves: no harm, no foul.


A


The ground portion of the exam was going well as we proceeded into the performance planning portion of the scenario. We were a little over an hour into the exam, so I offered the applicant an opportunity for a short break. He accepted and proceeded to step outside. After a few minutes, I decided to walk to the FBO for a cup of coffee. As I walked outside, the applicant was holding his phone up with a selfie stick to conduct a live video on social media about the exam. To my surprise, he decided it was a good idea to turn the camera in my direction and introduce me into his video efforts. I waved in the direction of the camera and kept walking. To be clear, I was now getting annoyed by this activity.


Back in the room, the applicant continued doing well and completed the ground portion of the exam without issue. The applicant and I proceeded to the aircraft to begin the preflight inspection of the helicopter. Without hesitation, while holding a checklist in one hand and a phone in the other, the applicant proceeded to live- video himself as he began the preflight inspection. After he ended his video session, he proceeded to complete a thorough preflight inspection of the helicopter. It was at this point that I’d had enough. We shared a few words on the issue and I felt confident that I had made my point.


Randy Rowles has been an FAA pilot examiner for 20 years for all helicopter certificates and ratings. He holds an FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificate, NAFI Master Flight Instructor designation, and was the 2013 recipient of the HAI Flight Instructor of the Year Award. Rowles is currently director of training at Epic Helicopters in Fort Worth, Texas.


82 Jan/Feb 2017


few months ago, I was conducting a commercial pilot practical test for an applicant in the South Florida area. At the beginning of the exam, the applicant held up his


With the pre-takeoff checklist complete, it was time to go. Everything was going well until the applicant requested I hold the controls. After a positive exchange of the flight controls, he pulled out his phone again. With a quick swipe, he texted “I will be unable to live-stream the flight as the DPE won’t let me use my phone anymore.” At this point, I asked the applicant if he often live-streamed his flights. He answered, “Yes, I do it all the time. Sometimes I mount my phone on the inside of the helicopter window so my friends can watch me fly.” Needless to say, we were done.


I’m not sure if narcissism is the new norm, but it has no place in the execution of airman activities. Without question, this type of activity is unsafe, however a quick search of the internet will reveal it’s not too uncommon. In some cases instructor pilots, while in the company of their students, facilitate such activity.


Attention to detail and focus on the task at hand is critical to sound aeronautical decision-making. Sharing your aviation interests with your friends and family is a good thing. However, engaging in social media while acting in the capacity of, or fulfilling the duties of, a certificated airman is just plain stupid!


Twirly Birds


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86