CLOSE THE GAP
Translating Tendency – On an instrument approach to a hover, as power increases and airspeed decreases, if the helicopter remains in a level attitude, translating tendency will create a “slide.” In helicopters with main...
In the MH-60T helicopter, the “collective cue” on an instrument approach to the water commands the pilot to fly to the computer-generated glide path, regardless of the rate of descent necessary. If the helicopter...
In the MH-60T helicopter, one of the methods used to fly an instrument approach to the water harnesses flight director cues. Because the flight controls cannot be coupled to the flight director, pilots hand...
Credit to Paul Ratte, a CG H60 pilot in the 90’s and early 2000’s, who first introduced me to what I consider the most important concept in flying stabilized instrument approaches to a hover...
In weather flying posts #1-#5, we talked about flying in rapidly deteriorating conditions that result in lost visual cues, forcing a transition to instruments. However, mission demands often require Coast Guard crews to launch...
The moments immediately following “lost visual cues” are critical. Here are some rules to live by to maintain helicopter control as you establish an instrument scan: 1. NEVER turn AND descend when you are...
Today, I will discuss jump starting the instrument scan when you lose visual cues. Other services use a more granular step by step process for establishing an instrument scan. The Unusual Attitude Recovery EP...
In the first post I presented the two most important sentences in our flight manual, “The most important single consideration is helicopter control. All procedures are subordinate to this requirement.” In the second post,...
What is the most critical emergency procedure? To answer this question, you need to evaluate the frequency with which the emergency procedure is executed along with the severity of the subsequent consequences of its...
What do you think the most important sentence is in the flight manual? A Bold face procedure? This is “considered critical.” It is not a bold face procedure. A warning? This is defined as...