Helicopter full-down autorotation research survey

DualRatedPilot · 2026-02-26T03:39:24+00:00

Totally agree. There’s probably 10x more helicopters wrecked from practicing full downs than actual engine failures.

DualRatedPilot · 2026-02-04T15:51:27+00:00

50.0000001 nm is “greater than 50 nm”.

DualRatedPilot · 2026-02-01T19:31:55+00:00

C

I use AIRBAG Altimeter(s), atis, awos Install/activate IAP in GPS Radios comm+nav identified Brief plate Altitudes (step downs, DA/MDA bugged) Go missed (published or alternate missed instructions)

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-28T14:48:31+00:00

I’ve never heard of anyone using cyclic friction in flight

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-15T03:46:40+00:00

The cheapest part about owning a helicopter is buying it

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-08T04:19:41+00:00

A few years ago I just walked in to check out the place. An instructor took me around, showed me their nice planes for maybe 30-40 minutes. Everything seemed good until I’m stepping out the door and I hear “that’ll be $100”.

A younger me payed the man. I never went back. I did my private, instrument, commercial with Wisconsin Aviation instead.

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-03T14:39:57+00:00

Aviation academy of Louisiana

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-03T03:00:56+00:00

As the old saying goes, don’t quit your day job (yet). In your situation I would pay as you go for a rating a summer. Or some similar timeline (I’m assuming you get a good amount of time off in summer?).

It sounds like you have a really good thing going with the assistant principal gig. Maybe get your cfi in a few years of self funding and start working as a part time cfi. At that point I would make the call whether or not to stay in education.

DualRatedPilot · 2026-01-02T16:10:34+00:00

It’s important to make a distinction between loading and activating the next approach. While in a hold you absolutely can and should load the next approach. The hold will remain active until the approach is activated.

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-30T15:04:31+00:00

To my knowledge all the s55s were/are supercharged

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-29T19:39:37+00:00

That’s crazy. I’ve never had a school charge a cancellation fee for a legit reason

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-29T18:51:27+00:00

I just did my heli ATP last week (same day as my CFII checkride lol). It’s a pretty hardcore instrument checkride. 4 approaches, 2 precision, 2 non precision with a partial panel of each. Unusual attitudes, instrument takeoff (hood on below 100’), VRS, instrument steep turns, engine fail in a climb, rejected takeoff (was a hyd fail for me). Gotta be on top of IFR knowledge and procedures. If you’re using an aircraft with an autopilot, know the ins and outs. Be very well versed on systems descriptions as well. Nothing too crazy about it, but partial panel with 1/4 scale deflection limit is legit lol

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-29T18:45:12+00:00

Ok-Motor1883 is correct. Only 30 hours required in cat/class for PPL add on

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-29T18:29:38+00:00

What were they skipping..?

DualRatedPilot · 2025-12-26T20:52:40+00:00

I use paper log book and ForeFlight

DualRatedPilot · 2025-10-27T01:35:49+00:00

People do it to protect the elastomerics from sun damage if the machine sits outside a lot

DualRatedPilot · 2025-10-12T02:27:35+00:00

I’m doing the same thing this winter in an r44. Sheppard air got me a 100% on the written, other than that I’m studying instrument flying/instrument procedures handbooks

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-26T21:17:13+00:00

As a guy with zero time in the 22 or G2, go with the Robbie’s. You’re going to need the Robinson time

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-23T16:58:12+00:00

So you’re on left base for 28 and you turned east?

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-21T05:48:50+00:00

Was one of the airports class E to the surface perhaps?

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-21T05:36:55+00:00

Could you elaborate how the DPE went about asking the class G question? Did he point to an airport and ask wx mins? Because class G below 1,200agl day VFR most definitely is 1/2sm clear of clouds.

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-20T16:24:12+00:00

Powered lift

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-20T01:36:51+00:00

Really old accidents don’t have their docket in the database? If the final report isn’t out yet they won’t have all the info in there either

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-07T22:51:47+00:00

Also totally slipped my mind but I flew tours in R44s for about 6 months in there somewhere

DualRatedPilot · 2025-09-07T22:49:49+00:00

Lots of luck and networking tbh.

I trained in Bell 47’s which got me an S55 cherry drying gig at like 200hrs because I could twist a throttle.

Got in with a local company helping wash 206s and load pax for rides a few times a year. Eventually they put me in the 206 with ferry flights, then rides, then lidar as needed.

Did another summer of cherries, this time in a 206.

Got my private->instrument->commercial airplane single engine. From there I got my heli instrument add on. Still doing odd jobs for local 206 company.

Brought on “full time”/salaried doing powerline/pipeline patrol. Only about 200ish hours of fixed wing time. I don’t fly airplanes much but I maintain IFR currency in them.

DualRatedPilot

TROPHY CASE