Pilot Techniques in Heavy Seas and Surf – 1 – Responsive, Smooth, Stable, and Appropriately Assertive 

In the Hoist Principles post, we emphasized that helicopter control should be responsive, smooth, and appropriately assertive. One word I left out, but will include in the next revision, is stable. These four qualities together form the foundation of effective hoist flying, especially in heavy seas and surf. 

Responsive – When the flight mechanic provides a conn, pilots should minimize delay in making the control input that creates the requested movement. Responsiveness does not mean abruptness; inputs must still be smooth and stable. 

Smooth – Rapid or jerky control inputs make the flight mechanic’s job harder. For example, if the FM conns “right 5” and the pilot snaps the cyclic in a manner that creates an accelerative attitude that the FM perceives will result in overshooting, the FM may call “hold” early, and the aircraft ends up short of the intended position. The same is true vertically: abrupt climbs and descents create cable management challenges, leaving the FM reacting instead of controlling. This “catch up” dynamic can lead to divergent motion and unnecessarily increases the difficulty of an already challenging hoist. 

Stable – Stability is essential for every hoist, but in a dynamic maritime environment it becomes even more critical. Undulating waves and moving visual references make a steady hover a constant challenge, but the pilot’s ability to hold a steady platform greatly reduces workload on the rest of the crew. 

Appropriately Assertive – Being appropriately assertive involves a pilot’s ability to discern that the level of control input matches the situation. For example, overly aggressive control inputs during a swimmer deployment increase cable swing with no benefit. However, during the recovery phase when white water is shifting the swimmer and survivor significantly, more assertive control may be necessary to maintain the appropriate position with the helicopter to ensure a prompt recovery. The degree of assertiveness depends on how quickly and how far the survivor and swimmer are moving, how much cable tension exists, and if the flight mechanic is trying to keep the cable taught for a recovery or increase slack to provide for freedom of movement of survivor and swimmer in the water. 

In the next several advanced hoisting posts, we will explore practical techniques for balancing assertiveness and stability—especially in the unique challenges of surf and heavy seas.