Ask a helicopter pilot anything
Discussion
Chuck328 said:
I'm assuming the aircraft was on the ground when that happened?
Looking at the entry and exit points both seemingly the same longitudinally?
Yes that’s correct was on the ground. Nasty bit of kit the RPG, Black Hawk Down shows how effective it can be against airborne helicopters let alone tanks. It’s still effective against modern tanks, just need to be relatively close and have a steady aim (and balls of steel!).Looking at the entry and exit points both seemingly the same longitudinally?
Edited by Siko on Thursday 5th May 13:12
Mercdriver said:
Wow, would it have detonated if it hit a soft target, like a body?
I would have gone out and bought a lottery ticket if I had been on board.
A body is relatively dense and as such will trigger virtually any sort of fuze, there was some gore videos some Taliban or similar executing people with a recoiless gun the rounds definitely detonated.I would have gone out and bought a lottery ticket if I had been on board.
Siko said:
Blatantly stolen from the other "Ask a etc" type posts I'd be happy to answer any questions on military or civilian helicopters if anyone is interested, or not of course 
My background is 17 years as a military helicopter pilot/flying instructor, with last 9 years flying commercially offshore in the North Sea/Atlantic (oil rigs, boats etc).
I suspect you're one of the 'taxis' my mate who works offshore is always talking about My background is 17 years as a military helicopter pilot/flying instructor, with last 9 years flying commercially offshore in the North Sea/Atlantic (oil rigs, boats etc).You certainly fly in some adverse weather if you are, well played sir
Something I've always wondered about helicopters, if the tail blades stop spinning does the helicopter just go into some mental corkscrew type affair only stopping when it hits the floor?
DannyScene said:
I suspect you're one of the 'taxis' my mate who works offshore is always talking about
You certainly fly in some adverse weather if you are, well played sir
Something I've always wondered about helicopters, if the tail blades stop spinning does the helicopter just go into some mental corkscrew type affair only stopping when it hits the floor?
You certainly fly in some adverse weather if you are, well played sir
Something I've always wondered about helicopters, if the tail blades stop spinning does the helicopter just go into some mental corkscrew type affair only stopping when it hits the floor?
well it depends on what you were doing when the tail rotor stops, you can also get partial failures or malfunctions where it sticks at a certain power setting. Most of them are ok to deal with (in the simulator ) but the worst case is probably a high hover or at a low airspeed and high weight where you tail rotor is at max power. A total failure at that stage is normally terminal (see the Leicester City chairman’s accident sadly). A total failure in the high speed cruise isn’t too bad as the aircraft gets some help from the fin, so the tr isn’t actually producing as much power as you might think. Certainly in the sim there is enough time to recognise it, enter autorotation and cut the throttles….Good Morning all,
I thought a brief update might be worthwhile as I have a had a couple of PMs from people interested in a career as a helicopter pilot who have found this thread through the search function. I have been asked about the merits of throwing a bucket of cash at outfits offering a modular route to becoming a helicopter pilot, such as Helicentre etc. Whilst I can't promise anyone a job (!) from investing a small mortgage in obtaining a CPL H (IR), I can say it does seem a very good time to be going through training and you would stand a good chance of getting fulltime paid employment as a pilot, in the offshore world at least. Obviously there are many hoops to jump through to get there - but timing is everything and I think it's good right now.
There are several reasons for this - firstly Brexit and believe me, I am not going down that rabbithole
so I will just report what I have been told by friends of mine who are senior trainers at some of our rivals. They have noticed the supply of european pilots CVs steadily drying up, as there are costs/complications involved from converting EASA > CAA licences and of course going back again, as many of those pilots don't want to permanently fly in the UK. At the base I managed a few years back, from around 45 pilots I would estimate about 15 were Europeans (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Germans etc and lots of Dutch....all great guys and girls). Whilst you can still convert your licence the barriers in place (and vice versa of course) are putting Europeans off. That is bad for them but good for UK pilots and my opinion is that it is a great shame as they were some of our best pilots, but I appreciate if you are a new British trainee pilot then your job prospects got a lot better.
Secondly the supply of pilots from the military has 'dried' up according to the flying schools. Whilst I take this claim with a pinch of salt as I don't see any drastic reduction in the size of the UK military helicopter forces, my personal experience is that I can't remember the last new joiner at my company direct from the military and a few years back there was a steady drip of one or two very few months. This is also reported by my colleagues at other companies that they are getting very few CVs from current or retiring military pilots, so I do think there is some truth in it for whatever reason. Just to add to this - along with the squeeze on supply, outflow is still going - we have seen a steady drain of pilots going abroad, retiring, getting sick or moving elsewhere in the UK, all of whom need replacing.
Lastly the work is picking up and particularly so in the offshore world. Whilst I have my own opinions on the SNP/Greens in Scotland, they did their best to court the offshore industry when the oil price was sky high as it paid for independence, but since the oil price crashed around 2015 they have done their best to finish us off in whatever form they could - opposing new licences, new development etc which has affected the industry. Whilst energy is a UK reserved matter the SNP does carry a lot of weight on the matter in Scotland and companies have backed out of new developments after intervention from the SNP and their Green friends. However, what happened of course was the end of Covid restrictions increasing demand for oil, combined with Putin's war on Ukraine....I think more sensible heads than the SNP etc have realised the UK needs energy independence rather than relying on Russian Gas or even LNG from the ME/USA. Whilst I see in 2030 only net zero cars will be on sale it is quite clear that we as a country are not remotely ready for that move and I suspect the oil industry will be pumping North Sea oil for a long time to come. So - business is picking up in offshore and lots of other areas look like they are booming too - SAR have just signed a new 10 year contract with extra bases, so overall I do honestly think it is a good time to train as a helicopter pilot.
Finally - as a personal update I looked at the date of my last post in here and about 12 days afterwards I was diagnosed with cancer and grounded (count me as one of those sickies!). I have had extensive surgery, 6 weeks radio/chemotherapy in the autumn and am currently waiting for my big scan in Feb to (touch wood) confirm it has all gone. The prognosis was very positive (about 90% chance of success - again touch wood!) but all bets are off until they have completed a PET scan on the body. I'm still grounded and hopeful of a return to flying but other friends who have undergone cancer treatment have been grounded for upto 3 years, so this year might see some fairly large lifestyle changes, but we'll see. For anyone still awake, thanks for reading and have a great 2023
I thought a brief update might be worthwhile as I have a had a couple of PMs from people interested in a career as a helicopter pilot who have found this thread through the search function. I have been asked about the merits of throwing a bucket of cash at outfits offering a modular route to becoming a helicopter pilot, such as Helicentre etc. Whilst I can't promise anyone a job (!) from investing a small mortgage in obtaining a CPL H (IR), I can say it does seem a very good time to be going through training and you would stand a good chance of getting fulltime paid employment as a pilot, in the offshore world at least. Obviously there are many hoops to jump through to get there - but timing is everything and I think it's good right now.
There are several reasons for this - firstly Brexit and believe me, I am not going down that rabbithole
so I will just report what I have been told by friends of mine who are senior trainers at some of our rivals. They have noticed the supply of european pilots CVs steadily drying up, as there are costs/complications involved from converting EASA > CAA licences and of course going back again, as many of those pilots don't want to permanently fly in the UK. At the base I managed a few years back, from around 45 pilots I would estimate about 15 were Europeans (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Germans etc and lots of Dutch....all great guys and girls). Whilst you can still convert your licence the barriers in place (and vice versa of course) are putting Europeans off. That is bad for them but good for UK pilots and my opinion is that it is a great shame as they were some of our best pilots, but I appreciate if you are a new British trainee pilot then your job prospects got a lot better.Secondly the supply of pilots from the military has 'dried' up according to the flying schools. Whilst I take this claim with a pinch of salt as I don't see any drastic reduction in the size of the UK military helicopter forces, my personal experience is that I can't remember the last new joiner at my company direct from the military and a few years back there was a steady drip of one or two very few months. This is also reported by my colleagues at other companies that they are getting very few CVs from current or retiring military pilots, so I do think there is some truth in it for whatever reason. Just to add to this - along with the squeeze on supply, outflow is still going - we have seen a steady drain of pilots going abroad, retiring, getting sick or moving elsewhere in the UK, all of whom need replacing.
Lastly the work is picking up and particularly so in the offshore world. Whilst I have my own opinions on the SNP/Greens in Scotland, they did their best to court the offshore industry when the oil price was sky high as it paid for independence, but since the oil price crashed around 2015 they have done their best to finish us off in whatever form they could - opposing new licences, new development etc which has affected the industry. Whilst energy is a UK reserved matter the SNP does carry a lot of weight on the matter in Scotland and companies have backed out of new developments after intervention from the SNP and their Green friends. However, what happened of course was the end of Covid restrictions increasing demand for oil, combined with Putin's war on Ukraine....I think more sensible heads than the SNP etc have realised the UK needs energy independence rather than relying on Russian Gas or even LNG from the ME/USA. Whilst I see in 2030 only net zero cars will be on sale it is quite clear that we as a country are not remotely ready for that move and I suspect the oil industry will be pumping North Sea oil for a long time to come. So - business is picking up in offshore and lots of other areas look like they are booming too - SAR have just signed a new 10 year contract with extra bases, so overall I do honestly think it is a good time to train as a helicopter pilot.
Finally - as a personal update I looked at the date of my last post in here and about 12 days afterwards I was diagnosed with cancer and grounded (count me as one of those sickies!). I have had extensive surgery, 6 weeks radio/chemotherapy in the autumn and am currently waiting for my big scan in Feb to (touch wood) confirm it has all gone. The prognosis was very positive (about 90% chance of success - again touch wood!) but all bets are off until they have completed a PET scan on the body. I'm still grounded and hopeful of a return to flying but other friends who have undergone cancer treatment have been grounded for upto 3 years, so this year might see some fairly large lifestyle changes, but we'll see. For anyone still awake, thanks for reading and have a great 2023
Edited by Siko on Wednesday 11th January 09:28
Things are certainly picking up in the airline word to. Hopefully the grey skies are clearing.
It's interesting one re mil pilots. My airline used to take loads of ex ml from fast jet to heli. It's been YEARS since we last recruited from there. (Part of that I think comes down to taking on cadets, loads over the years.) Shame as the mil guys are top notch.
Lastly and most importantly, all the very best with your recovery. Sounds like things are going in the right direction, so we look forward to your posts in the future when you are back on the line.
It's interesting one re mil pilots. My airline used to take loads of ex ml from fast jet to heli. It's been YEARS since we last recruited from there. (Part of that I think comes down to taking on cadets, loads over the years.) Shame as the mil guys are top notch.
Lastly and most importantly, all the very best with your recovery. Sounds like things are going in the right direction, so we look forward to your posts in the future when you are back on the line.
Siko,
I have a PPL(H) but haven't flown for years due to kids, mortgage etc and am no longer current.
When I was training in my early 20's (1990's), the cost of flying a Robinson R22 was around £230 per hour wet with an instructor. When I went solo it was around £200 per hour wet. I think the equivalent small plane back then was around £80-£100 per hour. On a recent private flight before Christmas the cost of renting a Piper was £250 per hour wet which between the 4 of us was around £410 each for our flight with landing and ATC fees.
My question as I am out of sync is, what is the cost now in 2023 of renting a R22?
I have a PPL(H) but haven't flown for years due to kids, mortgage etc and am no longer current.
When I was training in my early 20's (1990's), the cost of flying a Robinson R22 was around £230 per hour wet with an instructor. When I went solo it was around £200 per hour wet. I think the equivalent small plane back then was around £80-£100 per hour. On a recent private flight before Christmas the cost of renting a Piper was £250 per hour wet which between the 4 of us was around £410 each for our flight with landing and ATC fees.
My question as I am out of sync is, what is the cost now in 2023 of renting a R22?
Siko said:
First time a man who got a Desmond Tutu from a crappy polytechnic has been described as "high-performing" in his life - but I'll take it
I know you’re only a helicopter pilot and not a proper pilot but still. . . they don’t let any old div fly a merlin. Hopefully you’ll be back in the sky or doing whatever else you love again soon.
I know a few guys who lost a class1 medical temporarily during treatment and they’re all back. No doubt looking back fondly at the time they had off!
Thanks buddy - yeah it's been a truly horrific experience having cancer, but like anything there is good and bad, even if the bad vastly outweighs the good (time off at home and critical illness cover)
Funny but shortly before the diagnosis my boss had told me that I needed to return to the office (I work in Aberdeen and live in Shropshire - long story!). He was happy for me to work a week in the office and a week at home, but I was spending every weekend driving 7hrs on a Sunday or Friday night and rapidly getting very fed up with it. During Covid I had just driven upto work to go flying once or twice a month or so, as my job is mainly office-based nowadays.
Since May I have been at home (or the hospitals) and returning to the office/flying is still a while off. We'll see what happens anyway but I haven't missed flying, anal probing in the sim, line checks, currencies, night offshore landings in cruddy weather and 0430 starts on dark Aberdeen mornings. I'm at the age that I've done all the fun flying I need to, but I still depend on the salary with youngish kids and a large mortgage, so who knows what will happen next. I must admit to pondering a lifestyle change, downsizing and doing some fun flying or even do up an old house. Cheers all.
Funny but shortly before the diagnosis my boss had told me that I needed to return to the office (I work in Aberdeen and live in Shropshire - long story!). He was happy for me to work a week in the office and a week at home, but I was spending every weekend driving 7hrs on a Sunday or Friday night and rapidly getting very fed up with it. During Covid I had just driven upto work to go flying once or twice a month or so, as my job is mainly office-based nowadays.
Since May I have been at home (or the hospitals
) and returning to the office/flying is still a while off. We'll see what happens anyway but I haven't missed flying, anal probing in the sim, line checks, currencies, night offshore landings in cruddy weather and 0430 starts on dark Aberdeen mornings. I'm at the age that I've done all the fun flying I need to, but I still depend on the salary with youngish kids and a large mortgage, so who knows what will happen next. I must admit to pondering a lifestyle change, downsizing and doing some fun flying or even do up an old house. Cheers all.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff