The Helicopter Pilot's Manual, Vol. 3 Book

Part 1 Mountain Flying 9

Introduction 10

1 Medical Factors 11

Disappearance of Normal Horizon 11

Vertigo 11

Apprehension 12

Oxygen 12

2 Helicopter Considerations 13

Engine 13

Airframe 13

Rotors 13

Tail Rotor 13

Retreating Blade Stall 14

Flight Controls 14

Airspeed Indicator 14

3 Mountain Winds 15

Wind Behaviour 15

Venturi Effect 18

Regular Slopes 18

Uneven Slopes 19

Multiple Ridges 19

Sharp Contours 20

Area of Nil or Zero Wind 20

Turbulence and Downdraughts 21

Standing Waves 21

Rotor Streaming Turbulence 22

4 Flight Preparation 24

Study of Maps 24

Study of Meteorological Conditions 24

Study of Helicopter Performance Charts 24

5 En Route in the Mountains 25

Wind Assessment 25

Turbulence Penetration Airspeed 25

Blade Stall 25

Engine Failure 25

Downdraughts 25

6 Landing Sites 27

Power Margin 27

Wind Direction and Behaviour 28

The Reconnaissance 29

7 Approaches and Take-Offs 31

Approach Speed 32

The Landing 32

The Take-Off 32

8 Flying Along Slopes 34

Landing Sites on Slopes 35

Reconnaissance of Slope Sites 35

Approaches to the Slope 36

9 Crests and Pinnacles 37

Crossing a Crest Line 37

Flight Over Crests from the Windward Side 37

Flight Over Crests from the Lee Side 38

Approaches to Crests and Peaks 38

Take-Offs 40

10 Flight in and Along Valleys 41

Landing Sites 42

Reconnaissance 42

Approaches and Take-Offs 42

11 Flights Through a Col 43

12 Effects of Sun and Shadow 44

13 Common Faults 45

Part 2 Advanced Flying Techniques 47

14 Helicopter Weight and Balance 48

Weight and Balance Calculation 54

15 Underslung Loads 57

16 Night Operations 64

17 Forced Landings andDitching 71

18 Winter Operations 77

19 Visual Searches 80

20 Winching 82

21 Helicopter Float Operations 90

Types of Float Installation 90

General Operating Considerations 92

Pre-Flight Inspection 94

Start-Up Procedures 94

Hovering 94

Water Taxiing 95

Landings 95

Transitions 96

Shutdown Procedures 97

22 The Flight Level Graph 98

Safe Altitude 98

Calculation of Minimum Safe Flight Level 98

Terrain Clearance 99

23 Basic Radio Navigation 101

Introduction 101

The VOR (Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range) 101

The Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) 110

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) 117

The Radio Altimeter (RA) 121

Index 123