By Randy Rowles
improved within the helicopter training segment, but we need much more improvement. We focused our efforts on subjects such as autorotations and Vortex Ring State (VRS), to name a few. However, have we contributed to sterilizing pilots’ proficiency on these subjects by creating fear versus education?
With the written word comes the often difficult requirement to provide correct context on the subject matter. That is the most challenging aspect of managing and maintaining this column. Pilots are trained on a global scale with many nuanced differences in terminology or procedural process that makes differing opinions a reality. For this column, readers were always provided a direct path to engage me as a way to facilitate discussions and debates on controversial subject matters. That is the beauty of writing Rotorcraft Checkride!
As this is my final installment for Rotorcraft Checkride, I would like to thank all you readers who engaged me over the years regarding training subjects that mattered to you. Additionally, allowing me to aid in the mentorship of so many careers was the highlight of this opportunity.
Thank You!
When Lyn Burks approached me with the opportunity to develop this Rotorcraft Checkride column, I really wasn’t sure if I was the right person for the job. My initial thought was to take a pass and allow a much better writer to handle the task. Lyn assured me that he had confidence in my ability to engage you in a meaningful manner, so I accepted his offer. Here we are eight years later and it’s time to pass the torch.
In the early columns, we emphasized specific maneuvers or issues related to the conduct of an FAA pilot evaluation. As the column progressed, we took more of a root-cause perspective on weaknesses found within the helicopter training industry and wrote about how to improve them. In many cases, you readers provided feedback about which of those weaknesses needed more attention.
I was never asked to avoid a subject because of industry politics or fear of upsetting an advertiser. Lyn never limited my subject matter, which may have caused the magazine to receive pressure from regulators or others. For that freedom, I will always be appreciative.
Many of the same points discussed in Rotorcraft Checkride over the years still plague our industry. Our accident rate has
80 Nov/Dec 2022
My friend and colleague Matt Johnson will be taking over this column in January. You will not find a more dedicated, passionate educator in the industry. I truly look forward to watching Matt make Rotorcraft Checkride his own. He’ll provide subject matter that helps make you a safer pilot. However, you’ll still be able to read my thoughts and engage with me, since I’ll be taking over the My 2 Cents column as Randy Mains moves on to author helicopter- themed children books.
So, to all Rotorcraft Checkride readers past and present, I say Thank You!
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 the owner of the Helicopter Institute. He can be reached at
randyrowlesdpe@gmail.com
If you have any comments or questions, please let me know at
randyrowlesdpe@gmail.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Randy Rowles will be taking over the My 2 Cents column beginning in Jan-Feb 2023, so stay tuned to more insights from Randy on a broader range of subjects in future issues.
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
