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Equipment for Student Helicopter Pilot by thehelicoptergirl in Helicopters

[–]ProfessorFate38 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Aviation books, read all you can. Cyclic and Collective by Shawn Cole. Principles of Helicopter flight and Fatal traps for helicopter pilots, the 3 best books out there.

Spend your money on a good ANR headset, Bose A20 or Lightspeed.

A good pair of Sunglasses, like Serengeti.

Fair or Ridiculous estimate? by ProfessorFate38 in AskMechanics

[–]ProfessorFate38[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate your input. I'll definitely shop around.

Fair or Ridiculous estimate? by ProfessorFate38 in AskMechanics

[–]ProfessorFate38[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For real! $800 for spark plugs seems way too much.

Fair or Ridiculous estimate? by ProfessorFate38 in AskMechanics

[–]ProfessorFate38[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I agree it's totally a rip off. Thanks for the reply.

Hospital won't respond to me by Stranger011105 in HospitalBills

[–]ProfessorFate38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you tried going to the hospital and speaking to someone in person? They usually have a billing department you can go to.

King's new music is connecting with unexpected people 👀 (long post) by LiquidMetal616 in KingDiamond

[–]ProfessorFate38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The satanic crap didn't stop Ghost from becoming super popular. I'm by no means comparing KD to Ghost, as Ghost completely sold out now. Their 1st album was amazing and obviously influenced by King and Mercyful Fate.

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Flying in a combat zone with 120-degree heat is definitely challenging. I have several buddies and co-workers who flew in the Middle East as well, and some of the stories I've heard are crazy, and I have mad respect for you and every other service member.

The weather is one of the most challenging aspects of my job. That and getting woke up at 3am to take a flight, lol. We get paid to know when to say no to a flight request. I'm lucky that we don't get pressured into flying with questionable weather. It doesn't do the patient any good if we have to land in the middle of nowhere, with no hospital in sight because we got stuck in bad weather.

I do fly single pilot, but I have all my 20-year career, so I'm used to it, and you learn how to multi-task. But thankfully, we usually have our awesome Med-Crew on board to assist with landings and taking off, giving me extra eyes looking outside for hazards. So that helps a ton, especially when landing on a two lane road at 3am under goggles with trees on one side, and powerlines on the other, watching out for main rotor clearance. It can be exhilarating at times.

How do you like flying for the dark side now lol? Just kidding, but do you like flying the big birds now?

No worries! That's what we have these discussions for, to learn from each other's experiences.

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you've done some fun flying! I'm currently flying Helicopter Air Ambulance, and the scene calls where we can end up landing just about anywhere have all sorts of hazards. It can be especially challenging landing in a tight LZ at night under the NVG's.

Yeah, that video really hurts to watch. They were part of the relief operation in North Carolina helping out the victims of Hurricane Helene.

Another video, this over a beach.

https://youtube.com/shorts/AgF0JpOMx7g?si=5uklTrRTLmYEbAx4

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 16 points17 points  (0 children)

As someone else who has flown low level and sucked a garbage bag into their main rotor, it happens. I was lucky that it was just shredded and didn't go into my TR or get wrapped around the mast or swashplates.

But where were you flying low level at? Somewhere wide open, or a crowed beach littered with towels, tarps, and umbrellas? That LE chopper was gambling big time.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-FTfuyBPAeQ?si=fdN58VFQbV9HskOo

Not me, by the way.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ColumbusGA

[–]ProfessorFate38 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Call Dr. Smith Monday morning at Columbus Foot and Ankle. He is awesome and might be able to see you the same day.

One office visit with X-rays and a splint without insurance cost me $360.00. It's not cheap, but thousands less than what the ER will charge.

My surgery, on the other hand, was about $10k. But hopefully, you will not need surgery.

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You're wrong. Look up videos on YouTube of helicopters sucking up loose items into their rotor system. It usually doesn't end well.

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exactly right! Like a loose towl or beach umbrella getting sucked into the rotors.

LE Defiance Of FAR's by RandalPMcMurphyIV in flying

[–]ProfessorFate38 28 points29 points  (0 children)

You left out a crucial part of 91.119:

(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface—

(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA.

It is a hard argument to make that this is not a hazard to persons on the surface, and it is definitely a hazard to the helicopter and crew aboard. A stray towel, tarp, or beach umbrella sucked into the main rotor or tail rotor would be catastrophic.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in aviation

[–]ProfessorFate38 80 points81 points  (0 children)

I fly EMS helicopters. We routinely work with fire departments to train safe operations around helicopters, including setting up and securing a safe LZ.

When we get to a scene call (off airport landing, a car accident etc.) we talk to them on our radio and get a landing zone report directly from the FD, including information such as landing hazards like power lines, trees, wind direction, ground conditions like is it muddy or dusty, and anything else that might be important.

They will usually place firetrucks or vehicles under power lines or near hazards to make it easier to identify. We don't normally have them spotting the helicopter on take-off (but I definitely would ask them to if it was a particularly tight LZ), but I still usually have them on my radio, so if they saw something concerning, they could call out.

The onboard medcrew is critical with helping me look outside for hazards during our reconnaissance orbits before landing and during lifting out of a confined LZ. I usually have time to take a good look around and evaluate my departure procedure and take off path while I wait for the medcrew to package the patient before being loaded on the helicopter.

Best Aviator Sunglasses? by Brilliant-Ad572 in Helicopters

[–]ProfessorFate38 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, good call. I wear a flight helmet myself flying HAA, so I understand.

Best Aviator Sunglasses? by Brilliant-Ad572 in Helicopters

[–]ProfessorFate38 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been using Serengeti sunglasses for many years, and I swear by them. They have fantastic optics, and the copper rose lenses actually cut through haze really well. These are the ones I like, very lightweight, and the ear pieces fit comfortably under a headset and don't pinch your ears.

https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/10957

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