GETTING GOING


THINGS TO THINK ABOUT


■ Consider how sharp your skills are and how safe you are to fly, especially if you haven’t flown regularly.


■ Check your licence, medical, ratings etc. are up to date.


■ Self-fly-hirers and private owners should ensure aircraft documentation, service schedule etc are accurate and current, to confirm an aircraft is safe and legal to fly.


■ Ensure charts and any software used are current.


Specific factors need to be taken into account with helicopters


If you haven’t flown for a while, when the workload gets high it’s relatively easy to become immersed in simply controlling the aircraft. This can result in a lack of spatial awareness, poor lookout and proximity to other aircraft, distraction via the radio and so on. Possible consequences include poor attitude and balance control, getting too close to the ground and other aircraft, runway incursions, causing others to go-around, and missing vital RT calls.


Many of the principles of confined area operations apply to the airfield as we tend to make our approach to a dedicated area, so good judgement of height/speed/power is a must. While there’s generally more room to manoeuvre (and an overshoot or undershoot may only result in some friendly advice from ATC!), poor judgement can result in a situation which might be beyond your control, for example, vortex ring.


Even a straightforward manoeuvre such as taxying can also be challenging in strong and/or gusty wind conditions. At times it will be necessary to taxy crosswind or downwind so you have to be responsive with the yaw pedals. If you’re downwind, the pedal authority will be degraded potentially leading to loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The cyclic also might get close to or even reach its rearward limit. So know


the wind speed and direction, work with it and keep an eye on the windsock when manoeuvring.


The last consideration is dynamic rollover. This can occur when the rotor disc is too far out of level ‘side-to-side’, and the aircraft pivots around a skid/wheel in the direction of the rotor disc as you raise the collective, ending up on its side. Aircraft are often unevenly balanced, and ice or a ‘sticky’ surface will increase the possibility. If a potential rollover is suspected, the take-off must be immediately aborted by lowering the collective. It cannot be overcome simply by applying opposite cyclic. This is particularly relevant to sloping ground operations where, to ‘level’ the rotor disc, it will start at an angle to the fuselage. Ensure the slope is within both your own and the helicopter’s limits, level the rotor disc, be gentle on the collective and ensure that the rotor remains level as the downslope skid is raised. These are points that we constantly consider and discuss in ‘normal’ times, so please see them as revision and a reminder of things to anticipate, especially when we’ve been denied the opportunity to fly for a while. However, be assured that, as the situation eases, your professional mentors will be on hand to ensure a safe and enjoyable return to rotary flight.


■ In planning your flight, check en-route radio frequencies are correct, minimum safe altitudes, availability of destinations/ diversions, airfield opening hours and availability of fuel, suitability of weather for duration of flight, notams/ airspace restrictions, Royal Flights, PPR. Many airfields have been operating restricted hours and facilities.


■ The aircraft: complete a full pre-flight inspection including weight & balance calculation.


■ If flying from a training school you might well need a currency/ check flight with an instructor and any necessary refresher training before you can self- fly. Private owners are strongly advised also to have a refresher flight with an instructor.


■ When you’re up to speed consider a solo flight without ‘passenger’ pressure.


■ Start with something straightforward and keep the odds in your favour. Pick a good day weatherwise with light wind, high cloud ceiling and good visibility if you can. You’ll build confidence far more quickly than flying in poor conditions, even if accompanied by an instructor.


■ Go at your own pace and don’t be pushed by friends and peers.


SUMMER 2019 CLUED UP 7 SPRING 2021


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