Comments for

Comment on Feedback by Ryan Dale

Ryan Dale — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:37:25 +0000

Great site – keep up the great work. I like the interactivity of the site, I wish i could do the same for mine. http://www.ascension-helicopters.com

Keep it up!

Ryan

Comment on HOT Spots by Chris

Chris — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:01:23 +0000

Thanks for the link-back Jeff–I’m jealous of you flying up in Alaska.

I’m working on a post to show a little of what the BoatPix flying was like. Unfortunately my video system has some kinks I need to work out, and it’s hard to see exactly what’s going on. I split the stick time with the Boatpix CFI (Kole) pretty evenly. Some of that is inherent in the work (who flies each pass is dependent more on getting the best shot than anything else), some of it was just my preference–while I was flying, Kole was tuning radios and navigating, then we’d switch off. We also avoided most airspace. We were low level most of the time, and I’m not sure we’d have been able to work in the KOAK and KSFO surface areas anyway. We were on with NorCal Approach while we were in the bay, but we did little more than let them know about where we were working. Again, this was also preference: I wanted to get in there and learn the photo contract more than build time.

In one day I pretty much got a broad range of flying–XC, hit 2 Class D airports, flew over mountains and water, and of course the low-level work. Not a single trip through the pattern.

Comment on You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything by Chris

Chris — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:25:30 +0000

Thanks for your support! Hope the flying is going well. Are you flying with Jerry? I was out there a few weeks back to do my BFR. Great guy. I had him show me his method for teaching VRS and it was basically this. After that, I’m not only more confident in this lesson plan, but also that we’re teaching how to avoid all-out VRS rather than letting it fully develop.

Comment on Thoughts on Pinnacle Landings by Chris

Chris — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:20:34 +0000

Hi Sandy,
Altitudes…man, it was a long time ago. The initial parts of the approaches were much like I’d do any pinnacle. After a high recon for obstructions, I like to do a low recon just a bit higher than the LZ (on the “downwind leg”, maybe 100 ft above it). This provides the best indication of the wind and the surface conditions. On these approaches, we set them up as shallow approaches from about the same altitude as the recon. At the termination of the approach, my profile (which was less than ideal) was about what you’d do for a hover taxi. It’s not what I’d intended, and I’m chalking up flying over rough ground sideways at that altitude to being rusty and in an unfamiliar aircraft. The other pilot’s termination was much more comfortable. From the sight picture that I remember, maybe the steep part of the approach was from <50' AGL. The rationale is to minimize the time that you're in a steep descent profile while at the same time setting up an approach that avoids turbulent areas. Make sense?

Comment on Thoughts on Pinnacle Landings by Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:36:14 +0000

Very good article, however I would like to see your suggested altitudes during both approaches.

Comment on You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything by Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:20:58 +0000

I found this to be a particularly interesting comment….now the aforementioned “rude” comment posted by a reader was definitely a bit harsh and uncalled for. You have admitted more than once that you are a “new CFI”…and considering I train with and work for a 30K CFI, I’d say anyone under…say 5000 Dual Given…is a “new CFI”. If the reader was dishearted by your article, he should have either posted a CONSTRUCTIVE comment, or contact you privately to assist in editing the material. I think your articles are well-thought out, and do contact factual, FAA supported facts.
I enjoy your site tremendously, and I DO have more hours than you, and I DO find much to learn-relearn from your articles. Thank you for you VERY hard work.

Comment on HOT Spots by Jeff Abbott

Jeff Abbott — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:09:34 +0000

Hi Chris, I just saw your post on boatpix.com. Are they going to let you do all the flying? It looks interesting…I was just down in San Francisco a few months back. If I would have known about boatpix I would have attempted to do a little time building myself with them. Working in the cost of fuel I’m guessing the cost will be approximately 200 bucks an hour or so. Should be a good experience in Class Bravo airspace. In the case of hot spots, runway incursions are a big deal with the FAA for obvious reasons. The biggest airport I’ve flown in is the Anchorage International airport up here in Alaska, class Charlie.

BTW I like your site; you’ve done a lot of work here. I know it’s not easy keeping a blog like this. In fact all the info presented gives me cold feet in some respects when it comes to being a helicopter CFI. The more I know the more I know I don’t know…. :-). I’m hoping to have my CFI rating in a couple of months. When I get a little more time I’m hoping to come back and help contribute. I added a posting to my site about your site back in April; http://flyinghelicoptersinalaska.blogspot.com/2010/04/some-things-to-ponder-scud-running-and.html

Comment on Vortex Ring State (formerly Settling with Power) by Adam

Adam — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:04:30 +0000

I think the lesson is fine. 1500 AGL is a great altitude to practice settling with power. You could be higher, but you don’t want to be any lower, especially if you let VRS develop and explain whats happening for a bit before you recover. I see nothing that warrants the first post..

The 60 knot attitude comment could confuse some people. Your talking about achieving that nose low attitude, which is correct….some people may get hung up on the 60 knots part (your not recommending achieving 60 knots, just a 60 knot attitude)..

Great idea for a site.. Ill definitely contribute..

CFII

Comment on Vortex Ring State (formerly Settling with Power) by Chris

Chris — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:39:26 +0000

I've double-checked this lesson plan, and still think it's appropriate. You can read about the resources that went into it in this post.

Comment on Vortex Ring State (formerly Settling with Power) by You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything |

You Are Correct: I Don’t Know Everything | — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:46:58 +0000

[...] week I received a comment on the Settling with Power lesson plan, but didn’t see it until recently (spam filters [...]