VERTICAL VOICES: Lessons from Mentors


Who was your greatest rotorcraft mentor, and


what is the lasting lesson they taught you?


CW3 Jimmy Splichel always emphasized the importance of keeping your “energy up” during autorotations or engine failures to land safely. Years later, I had to do a “for real, not practice” auto to the ground, and his teaching saved my life. Thanks, Jimmy!


– Harold Coghlan


Carl Brady taught me persistence—keep going until you make it happen the right way!


– Chuck Johnson


Eber Wright taught me ”ol’ school” flight, based on safety, planning, and continuous training over and over again.


– G. Leigh Foti II


Randy Rowles taught me this: fly the helicopter, and don’t let the helicopter fly you.


– Frank Peck


Andy Aastad taught me that your central function was to remove any legitimate obstacles that prevented your staff from succeeding. Do that and they’ll grow.


– Lou Bartolotta 150ROTOR SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE


From Frank Jensen, I learned that HAI belongs to, speaks for, and takes no positions that are not grounded in the interests of HAI operator members.


– Joseph Corrao


Vincent V. Colicci told me, “Listen to the whispers to prevent the screams.”


– Gregory A. Gouvin


Robert C. (Bob) Burr Sr. taught me it is better to seek solutions than to just identify problems.


– Jim Malarsie


After I initially turned down an IFR course, Jerry Fouts from Condor Helicopters taught me to never pass up an opportunity to grow and learn. That resulted in me never passing up additional training and being able to be a Part 135 IFR check pilot for 38 consecutive years.


– Eugene Hill


When I was allowing my aircraft to drift, the exact words of William Lionberger were, “This thing will kill you!”


– Stephen S. Gormley


HAI/DESIREE TYLER HORTON


ISTOCK/PORTRA


SHUTTERSTOCK/OLGA UBIRAILO


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