Fuel – for thought. (Not argument)..Pax rules.
Quite natural that the recent mid-air collision event between two helicopters should trigger some discussion between a few of us last evening. Problem #1 being that our 'collective' knowledge of 'chopper' operations could be written on the back of a cigarette packet; problem #2 was a lack of detail on 'operational procedures'. So, that put a definite limit on considered 'expert' advice. However, it got the thinking gears in motion and provided some notions which were worth exploring, even if only to be consigned to 'not relevant bin'. So, FWIW – I'll stick my neck out and construe.
To begin this article – HERE – is worth a few moments; for it is there that our 'discussions' developed.
Then I ask a question – when you were taught to cross a road you looked Left; then Right – then LEFT again and if it was 'safe; to cross, you were taught to WALK not run. Which is fine in a lot of countries; those that drive on the left; but in the USA = that life long will get you flattened in short order. It is however a deeply ingrained 'habit' and hard to kick.
Other 'habits' may be defined as 'airmanship'. Hands up those who check base leg and final (twice) when taxi-ing down wind before take off: and, hands up those who only check for a left hand circuit pattern – some places do have RH circuits. Hand up all who check for traffic (even in controlled airspace) before releasing the brakes and 'entering' the active? Bloody good habits and once established – hard to break. How many have waited for the aircraft on Base to land before entering and had the same professional courtesy returned – another 'professional' habit. There are lots of those, all mostly based of solid experience or of an event which created the 'habit'.
So, to the Sea World event and the questions raised in our discussion and a clear demonstration of NDI relating to Chopper ops. Item #1 – Left / Right seat operations. The arrival and departure 'patterns': were they changed to allow for the change of seating and the increase in cabin width. Hindsight clearly shows that there can be a 'blind spot' caused by the column. So, parked into the prevailing wind, on a routine operation, to make a 'clearing turn' which encompassed the intended departure track; would you turn 'Right' or Left? Providing (assuming) that the turn could be completed (buildings etc). 'In-bound' traffic track would be known (+/_) so a 'clearing' turn (to be sure) before taking up a heading against any 'in-bound' would be through the shortest arc, coincident with the departure vector. YES, speculative and ignorance based, but it takes us to 'habits'.
If flying from the RH seat the 'habit' was say a Left turn; a long busy day, multiple sectors; routine stuff; fodder and water tank almost empty; hot, a little bored: could the 'guard' be dropped and old habit sneak in. From the Left seat, across a wider cabin – would a Right hand clearing turn be a better option (if possible).
Simply don't know; and apologies for buying into an operational area without experience, expertise or even humble operational experience. But, in my defence, as they say in the classics.
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. (John Donne).
Quite natural that the recent mid-air collision event between two helicopters should trigger some discussion between a few of us last evening. Problem #1 being that our 'collective' knowledge of 'chopper' operations could be written on the back of a cigarette packet; problem #2 was a lack of detail on 'operational procedures'. So, that put a definite limit on considered 'expert' advice. However, it got the thinking gears in motion and provided some notions which were worth exploring, even if only to be consigned to 'not relevant bin'. So, FWIW – I'll stick my neck out and construe.
To begin this article – HERE – is worth a few moments; for it is there that our 'discussions' developed.
Then I ask a question – when you were taught to cross a road you looked Left; then Right – then LEFT again and if it was 'safe; to cross, you were taught to WALK not run. Which is fine in a lot of countries; those that drive on the left; but in the USA = that life long will get you flattened in short order. It is however a deeply ingrained 'habit' and hard to kick.
Other 'habits' may be defined as 'airmanship'. Hands up those who check base leg and final (twice) when taxi-ing down wind before take off: and, hands up those who only check for a left hand circuit pattern – some places do have RH circuits. Hand up all who check for traffic (even in controlled airspace) before releasing the brakes and 'entering' the active? Bloody good habits and once established – hard to break. How many have waited for the aircraft on Base to land before entering and had the same professional courtesy returned – another 'professional' habit. There are lots of those, all mostly based of solid experience or of an event which created the 'habit'.
So, to the Sea World event and the questions raised in our discussion and a clear demonstration of NDI relating to Chopper ops. Item #1 – Left / Right seat operations. The arrival and departure 'patterns': were they changed to allow for the change of seating and the increase in cabin width. Hindsight clearly shows that there can be a 'blind spot' caused by the column. So, parked into the prevailing wind, on a routine operation, to make a 'clearing turn' which encompassed the intended departure track; would you turn 'Right' or Left? Providing (assuming) that the turn could be completed (buildings etc). 'In-bound' traffic track would be known (+/_) so a 'clearing' turn (to be sure) before taking up a heading against any 'in-bound' would be through the shortest arc, coincident with the departure vector. YES, speculative and ignorance based, but it takes us to 'habits'.
If flying from the RH seat the 'habit' was say a Left turn; a long busy day, multiple sectors; routine stuff; fodder and water tank almost empty; hot, a little bored: could the 'guard' be dropped and old habit sneak in. From the Left seat, across a wider cabin – would a Right hand clearing turn be a better option (if possible).
Simply don't know; and apologies for buying into an operational area without experience, expertise or even humble operational experience. But, in my defence, as they say in the classics.
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. (John Donne).