Mick, Author at The Rotary Wing Show Podcast

July 27, 2015April 21, 2020

RWS 33 – Helipaddy with Paddy Wills

Helipaddy app for helicopter landing sites — Helipaddy is a mobile app that gives you access to a database of helicopter landing sites around the globe.

As a private pilot Paddy Wills wanted to find new and interesting places to fly to and explore. This involved asking around, researching locations, trawling forums and poking around on Google Earth. He thought there must be a better way so he went and created one.

Helipaddy is a mobile app for helicopter pilots that crowdsources landing site location information from sites around the world. It makes it easy to find helicopter friendly places off the beaten track or to plan your next multi day tour.

Information you might find on a site includes: Lat Long, Owner, phone number, notes, fuel, landing fees, comments from other pilots and upcoming events. For registered sites you can request landing permission from the owner right from inside the app (that’s pretty cool).

[Tweet “We could probably create a list called ‘Places that charge Very High Landing Fees'”]

It’s designed to be easily used in the air and sports an arrange of different features. Paid up premium members can also draw on the Helipaddy staff skills to generate a trip itinerary with fuel and accommodation details.

In the interview Paddy talks about his own flying experience, the idea for the app and the journey of making Helipaddy a going concern with users from all corners of the helicopter world.

He is also in the process of planning a helicopter flight to the South Pole.

[Tweet “#Scotland is one of the best places to fly in the world – Paddy Wills @helipaddyapp”]

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:

01:23 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
01:50 Paddy Wills – getting a start in flying helicopters
03:25 Highlights of last 8 years of flying
05:40 Flying in Scotland
06:50 Coming up with the name of the app
08:05 Creating the app and development
09:30 Filling a need for where to fly to for fun
11:15 Where the helipad location data comes from
12:30 User interface and how to use it
14:45 Using the Helipaddy data in SkyDemon/Foreflight/OzRunways etc
16:25 Word of mouth marketing – narrow market segment
19:32 CoPosition, cross platform ‘find my friends’ feature built in
20:50 Ability to upload private landing spots for personal use or friends list
22:00 Database sites are moderated by team on entry and periodic checks
24:20 Interesting places to look for in the app
26:16 Ability to produce curated trip guides for locations
27:40 How to get out of landing fees – clever tip!
30:00 How to add a new landing site to the database
31:20 Community building, loyalty program, venue incentives and gamification
33:50 Battery use footprint minimised and made for shaky data connection
35:50 Future flight to the South Pole and planning
39:30 Are you a lurker – challenge to leave a comment on your favorite episode shownotes.
40:25 World Helicopter Day update

Links from this week’s episode:
Helipaddy Website
Add a site to the Helipaddy database
World Helicopter Day

Some of the team behind the scenes of Helipaddy

[Tweet “Around 90% of pilots that use @helipaddyapp are introducing new users to it.”]

Example of somewhere you might find in the database

[Tweet “Original model was that it was going to be a crowdsourced helipad list #interview”]

Got something to add to this interview or a favorite landing spot to share? Use the comments below.

June 29, 2015July 1, 2015

RWS 32 – Helicopter Flight Paramedics with Bernie Walker

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Bernie Walker has been a helicopter flight paramedic in Canada for over 16 years.

Bernie Walker is a Flight paramedic working with STARS – which is the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service – an EMS organisation that covers most of Western Canada.

Bernie has been with STARS as a flight paramedic for over 16 years now and these days plays a big part in their educational programs. So he is someone again with heaps of experience in a helicopter role but this time from the back of the cabin.

I am guilty of making the interviews for the podcast very pilot centric which is just a factor of my own background and experience but I would love to represent a range of helicopter aircrew roles.

It just seems to be that loadmasters and aircrewmen keep ducking for cover when I try to corner them. 🙂

A STARS AW139 helicopter on the ramp. Photo: Calgary Sun

So I really enjoyed chatting to Bernie about the flight paramedic role as it stretches my knowledge of the industry. I’m not expecting to be in an EMS position any time soon but for those of you that might be then Bernie gives a really good insight into many of the considerations that the team in the back have to deal with.

If you listen between the lines so to speak I think you’ll also get value from the current best practice approach to critical patient care when its applied to how we tackle emergency or non-standard airborne situations.

We head into the interview with Bernie explaining the EMS coverage in Western Canada and the typical career progression into the helicopter flight paramedic role.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

Links from this week’s episode:
The STARS organisation website
World Helicopter Day

Video produced by STARS showing the different careers in the organisation
[leadplayer_vid id=”5590B55F31C1A”]

A STARS BK117 decked out with medical equipment

Got a question for Bernie about the flight paramedic role or STARS? Be part of the conversation below. If you’ve listened to the episode then don’t forget to leave links to your favourite crew resource management / human factors resources below.

June 7, 2015June 8, 2015

RWS 31 – AOPA Hover Power Blog with Ian Twombly and Markus Lavenson

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The Hoverpower blog is updated by a team of helicopter pilots with a vast array of backgrounds.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is the largest general aviation body in the United States. Hover Power is the association’s helicopter themed blog covering a mix of news, stories and advice.

In today’s episode we cover a heap of ground as we talk about the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in the US, loss of licence insurance, helicopter blogs, recommended ipad apps, inflight emergency handling and tuna boat flying.

[Tweet “Helicopters are the ultimate offroad vehicle, can do things no other machine can do.”]

Ian Twombly is editor of the AOPA monthly magazines AOPA Pilot and Flight Training. Ian has been a fixed wing instructor for some time and has recently also joined the helicopter fraternity.

Ian Twombly converted across to helicopters in 2014 and this is a photo after completing his checkride.

One of his other duties with AOPA is to head up the Hover Power blog. Ian has been busy building up the site and has managed to herd a team of experienced helicopter pilots together to contribute articles about all aspects of helicopter operations.

One of the blog contributors is Markus Lavenson. Markus is a AW139 captain in the Gulf of Mexico and is about to head off soon to convert across to the AW189. He has been flying since way back in 1984 and had a go at instructing, tuna boats, tourism, powerlines, EMS, offshore, check and training roles and a stint in Alaska.

Markus in an AW139 preparing for offshore flight in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo Credit: Alex Geacintov

AOPA is a not for profit group founded in 1939 to ensure that the early US general aviation community was able to be represented in the formation of new laws and to provide subject matter experts. Its role today is similar with effort put towards advocacy, safety education, training,
representation at federal, state, local levels, social activities and legal advice.

Australia, England, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece and probably a bunch more countries also have their own AOPA groups. The Australian AOPA maintains a National Airfield Directory publication that we always bought for the Squadron Ops room as it listed many of the remote and out of the way country strips and contact details that would not be found in other normal AIP.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:

02:15 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
06:50 Number of pilots in the US
08:40 Working with governments at all levels to put forward aviation industry case
09:30 New York / New Hamptons helicopter noise restrictions
10:10 What does AOPA membership get you?
12:50 Loss of licence coverage and insurance coverage
16:35 Hoverpower blog articles and writing team
21:50 Markus’ flying background and experience
26:35 AOPA Live video blogging and news articles ‘Enstrom’ example
28:10 Reviewing aviation products that get sent in
29:10 Top flying iPad app recommendations
35:00 Visting helicopter industry events
36:20 New wave of helicopter designs hitting the market
39:30 Engine failure at night to hospital pad
45:10 Handling aircraft emergencies
46:50 Soloing in a Bell 47 with wooden blades
50:30 Tuna boat flying
53:10 Going out to dinner at restaurant in R22
57:30 EMS off airfield landings

Links from this week’s episode:
AOPA Hoverpower Blog
World Helicopter Day

This video gives you an idea of the video content that AOPA is producing. In it Ian Twombly talks about the training helicopter market during HeliExpo 2015.
[leadplayer_vid id=”5574178019E86″]

[Tweet “I was able to pick up the phone and call AOPA and talk to an aviation legal professional immediately.”]

[Tweet “As a pilot in an emergency, your first priority is preservation of life.”]

Photos of Markus during his time flying off tuna boats in the Pacific.

[Tweet “You have 2 hours searching for fish to think about how the heck am I going to get this thing back on the boat.”]

[Tweet “In the event of an emergency we sink to the level of our training. We are only as good as our training.”]

What topics would you love to see the Hoverpower writing team cover on their blog. Leave a comment below and have a chance to get an AOPA cap sent out by Ian.

May 25, 2015May 25, 2015

RWS 30 – Touchdown Autorotation Competition and more with Jerry Trimble

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Jerry Trimble has been there and done that - now he focuses on the personal touch with helicopter training — Jerry Trimble has been there and done that – now he focuses on the personal touch with helicopter training

With the ink still drying on his A&P licence Jerry landed a job at Robinson Helicopters and went flying on his first day on the job with Frank Robinson in R22 serial number 2. We cover several of the experiences from Jerry’s career in this episode.

Jerry Trimble is today’s guest and is the owner of Jerry Trimble Helicopters in McMinnville, Oregon.

Jerry’s experience includes fixed wing CFI, A&P mechanic (and still does his own maintenance), EMS, logging, fire contracts and instructing. He has several thousand hours on the R22 alone and a long association with the Robinson product having worked at Robinson Helicopters as a new A&P in the period leading up to FAA certification.

[Tweet “Once you get the bug, it never goes away. #helicopters”]

Along the way Jerry founded, built up and then sold Hillsboro Aviation which at the time had 40 staff and 25 aircraft.

Now along with his wife Alison, his focus is on training pilots in a smaller setting at Jerry Trimble Helicopters.

The school has a busy social calendar with different events. One of the events that has grown over time and built a following is the annual Touchdown Auto Competition. The 2015 event is on June 28th with $600 prize money (and bragging rights) going to the winner. The event is judged by a panel of well known industry names and looks to be a lot of fun. Full details on the competition here.

The Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying was given out by the Helicopter Foundation International for many years. There is an article about Jerry’s Dad further down the page that makes for some very interesting reading too. Robert was very much a pioneer of the helicopter industry.

In this week’s episode:

00:50 Cracking out the ugg boots for Queensland winter
01:30 ‘Train like you fly’ book – scenario based training
04:31 Robert Trimble, helicopter pioneer
07:15 Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying
08:55 Aeroplane rating out of high school
10:31 Bell 47 time in Jakarta, Indonesia
11:47 A&P mechanic licence
12:50 First day on the job at Robinson Helicopters – flying with Frank Robinson in R22 no.2
16:30 Struggle of certification and story about recovering R22 serial number 001
19:40 Pros and cons of the R22
22:59 Founding Hillsboro Aviation and growing it 40 employees and 25 aircraft
27:20 Jerry Trimble Helicopters
30:38 Alison – corporate Learjet pilot, fired Jerry as her instructor, runs the business
32:22 Children’s interest level in flying
33:55 Overseas students are a big market
35:50 Touchdown Autorotation Competition history
42:42 Tips on conducting autorotations
45:05 Tips on teaching autorotations
47:50 Poker run social event
50:15 EMS flight with boy’s mum in the front to hospital – made a difference
52:55 Low level engine failure over freeway
53:57 McMinnville, Oregon location – now Palm Springs, Texas and North Carolina
62:55 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:
Jerry Trimble Helicopters Website
Train How You Fly Book

Short video showing a landing at the McMinnville airfield, Oregon out the front of Jerry’s company.
[leadplayer_vid id=”5562F3C72E518″]

[Tweet “I had a stool, a desk and a #helicopter and ran an ad for helicopter training”]

[Tweet “If that engine quits, get that collective down and get in that aft cyclic – Jerry Trimble”]

[Tweet “Improve this product(R22) without adding weight to it, I don’t know how you could do it”]

[gview file=”http://rotarywingshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/robert-trimble-award-story.pdf”]

The Robert E. Trimble memorial award for mountain flying was given out by Helicopter Foundation International for many years. Jerry was only 6 when his father was killed in a helicopter crash.

Construction shot of the 'Big Foot' that Jerry Trimble Helicopters will use for longline training and as a local attraction. — Construction shot of the ‘Big Foot’ that Jerry Trimble Helicopters will use for longline training and as a local attraction.

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about flight training or the early days of the R22?

May 14, 2015May 17, 2015

RWS 29 – Ocean Rescues and a Tail Rotor Failure with Jerry Grayson

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Jerry Grayson was a RAN SAR pilot flying Wessex helicopters before starting his own company and later moving into film flying.

As a Royal Navy SAR pilot Jerry Grayson was involved in a number of high profile rescue missions along with the crews of the Wessex helicopters he piloted. He has written a book – Rescue Pilot – that captures many of the stories of this part of his career.

Jerry decided early on in life that he was going to fly. He ended up at a very young age in the Royal Navy flying Sea Kings, Whirlwinds and Wessex machines. In this interview we cover several of the tales from his Navy career including his time upon the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

[Tweet “I’d had enough of school, its time to go flying”]
[Tweet “The deck of a carrier is THE most exciting place on earth”]

This of course only gets as a few years into Jerry’s career. After leaving the Navy, Jerry started a commercial helicopter company which saw him involved in a wide range of operations and flying a variety of helicopters.

One incident that we spend a little time going into depth on is a tailrotor driveshaft failure that Jerry experienced in an Augusta 109. It’s our hope that listeners might be able to draw in some small way from this experience should they ever find themselves unlucky enough to be in a similar situation.

Jerry has since gone on to significant success and renown as a helicopter film pilot with contracts on several high profile films (including Blackhawk Down with past guest Dennis Kenyon), Formula 1, Soccer World Cup, Olympics, Commonwealth Games and even written, directed and flown for an IMAX film.

There is a lot more to Jerry’s career and achievements so you’ll just have to listen to find out.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:

00:52 Rescue Pilot – book by Jerry Grayson
02:40 Book background and media appearances
07:06 BBC Fast Net Yacht Race reunion radio show
09:38 Finding old Whirlwind/Wessex airframes – firefighting training props, paintball field targets
11:50 Air Force Cross – highest award for gallantry in the air (UK) – Greek Medal of Honour
15:47 Meeting the Queen
16:40 Selection board for Royal Navy at 16
18:30 Flying scholarship to civil PPL school and running errands for Micky Lauder, race driver
19:55 British aircraft carrier Ark Royal
20:50 PlaneGuard role to pick up fixed wing aircraft ditching off carriers
22:45 Seaking stranded on the surface with one engine at night
26:35 Navigating overwater before GPS
30:30 Losing map out the window
32:40 Flying the Whirlwind/Wessex
37:30 Film flying and division of cockpit duties
38:50 Tail rotor failure in an Augusta 109
48:15 Airborne external inspection of tail rotor by S76
50:55 The last mile to the runway down to 60kts run on
56:10 Some advice on flying
58:50 What is next for Jerry Grayson
1:01:36 Video of Jerry talking about the Wessex helicopter and the book
1:02:00 Feedback on the show, leave a comment

Links from this week’s episode:
Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
Rescue Pilot – book website
Helifilms Australia – Jerry’s Aerial Filming Company
World Helicopter Day

Jerry talks a little bit about the Wessex helicopter and rescues at sea in this promo video for his book.
[leadplayer_vid id=”555079860B909″]

Jerry is flying in this photo of a Wessex at a base display day. A marine pulled a smoke grenade in the cabin putting the cockpit into IMC on departure.

[Tweet “The airflow in a helicopter is specifically designed to take your map out the window”]
[Tweet “So macho to climb up the side and mount your trusty steed (Wessex Helicopter)”]

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about Jerry’s interview?

May 2, 2015July 27, 2015

RWS 28 – Vietnam, Culture and Helicopter Company Management with David Earley

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This photo of David Earley was taken during his Bell 47 time and features on the cover of his book 'Beneath Blades' — This photo of David Earley was taken during his Bell 47 time and features on the cover of his book ‘Beneath Blades’

From the outback of northern Australia, to the jungles of Vietnam and the mountains of Papua New Guinea and Nepal – plus much of the US, time in the Philippines, Columbia and Russia, David Earley is one well travelled helicopter pilot.

Along the way he has held almost every position from line pilot to a helicopter company CEO overseeing $47 million in annual revenue on some of the largest Australian government helicopter contracts. He is also a licensed A&P mechanic.

David started out flying the Bell 47 in the Australian Army during which time he spent 12 months at war in Vietnam as a scout pilot. Post-war David held a number of positions in the Army before moving to JAARS where he spent 15 years in PNG and the US.

His duties here not only included providing support to remote teams in the PNG highlands but the standing up of a helicopter training school and check and training.

From here David held a number of roles leading to the position of CEO of Reef Helicopters which became Australian Helicopters. All of which is covered in his book ‘Beneath Blades – Flying at the ends of the earth. A pilot’s journal‘.

Having read the book I can tell you that it’s a great collection of aviation tales and helicopter adventures. Aswell as being an entertaining read there is also a lot in it for the professional aviator in terms of safety culture, operational pressures and aviation management stressors.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:

01:40 Hosting Rotary Club for dinner in the Aeropower hanger
03:15 David Earley background
05:10 Nav training and mental arithmetic drilling
06:30 Book – ‘Beneath Blades’ http://dhearley.com/
08:40 Tim Fisher, Deputy Prime Minister wrote the Forward
10:00 Night touchdown autorotations at RAAF Amberley
12:55 Survey work in Northern Territory + wife Nancy
15:50 Employee crash due to overloaded helicopter and spouse breakup
18:10 Companies addressing touring/home issues / critical manager skillset
21:30 Nancy’s flying experience
23:56 Vietnam and scout role in the Bell 47 Sioux
25:05 First Australian pilot to fly the Kiowa
25:30 Kangaroo vinyls stuck on US helicopters and helmets
30:15 Night flying under Porter flares
28:20 Grenade + drop toilet
33:13 JAARS – in-house aviation department for Wycliffe Bible translation service
34:30 Check and training for remote single pilot ops
37:45 Tackling a village elder to stop approaching tail rotor
39:25 Cultural training and differences
47:38 Aviation culture, within companies, people, impacts
51:53 Coming in to be unpopular in some roles to effect change
52:30 Conforming to the norm – can be good or bad
54:33 Importance of initial training as a foundation
59:10 Personal integrity
1:02:30 Engine overhauls and seeing pilot behaviour impact
1:05:20 What pilots need to know about company manager/executive priorities/limitations
1:08:35 Private equity ownership of helicopter companies
1:10:28 Book ordering details
1:11:10 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:
Beneath Blades book website
Beneath Blades Facebook page
World Helicopter Day

An idea of the terrain in PNG
[leadplayer_vid id=”5548B9CB7AAFF”]

Note the red kangaroo sticker on the US cobra placed there during David’s rotation with them in Vietnam.

Some of the pilots

Posted by Beneath Blades: Flying at the Ends of the Earth on Thursday, October 31, 2013

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about David’s interview?

April 3, 2015April 11, 2015

RWS 26 – US Forest Service Helicopter Ops with John Harris

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John Harris is one of 12 helicopter inspector pilots employed by the US Forest Service

Helicopters are uniquely suited to the demands of the US Forest Service. John Harris is one of the Service’s inspector pilots and in this episode talks about his career and his current role.

Based in Missoula, Montana, John is responsible for checking and qualifying contractor pilots for the US Inter-agency Helicopter Pilot Qualification Card. This qualification allows them to work on US Forest Service contracts.

His area of responsibility covers Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and North and South Dakota. In between flight check duties you can find inspector pilots providing helicopter subject matter expert input into operational planning and Service policies.

John was instrumental in bringing into service a water based heli-torch training device that, as the name suggests, uses water rather than dripping burning napalm for check and training missions.

Before starting his current role, John has had a career flying ‘heavies’ in military, logging, longlining, construction and firefighting operations.

[Tweet “If you are sitting in a helicopter fat, dumb and happy… then you are missing something.”]

John also shares some wisdom about the characteristics and work ethic you need to show to have the best chance of moving up in the industry. He also talks to the idea of mentorship and the responsibility on aircraft captains to develop their co-pilots from the point of view that they become a reflection of you.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:

01:05 Helicopter landing officer course – Dave, Martin, Reggie
02:35 Question of the week – how long was your CPL ground and air test?
03:36 Top helicopter books list download
04:00 John Harris – US Forest Service Helicopter Inspector Pilot
04:57 Where is Montana?
08:10 Geology major at Uni to motor pool truck mechanic
09:40 Warrant Officer candidate school, flight school Fort Rucker
10:30 Hueys and then Chinooks(1990)
12:20 Columbia helicopters logging operations
16:20 Longlining experience
18:15 Overseas jungle compounds – PNG, Ecuador
20:20 Flew the National Christmas tree
22:05 Carson Helicopters (2006) – S61 helicopters, Chief Pilot
26:50 Erickson Helicopters – E and F model skycranes
29:10 Flying skycrane from San Diego to Peru – maps, agents, fuel, visas, bullet hole
33:50 Skycrane 105-115kts cruise
35:10 US Forest Service – Region 1, carding contractors, subject matter experts, national programs
37:50 Water torch as a training aid for heli-torch operations
40:10 Only 12 helicopter pilots employed direct by Forest Service – not an operational role
42:25 Using Bell Cobra’s for fire scouting
43:10 Minimum experience requirements to be Forest Service qualified
45:50 Helicopter percentage of Forest Service budget
48:30 Utility tasks – stream enhancement, animal surveys, radio tower repair/resupply
50:00 Typical contractor machines – 206s, Astars, Hueys, 205s/++, 212, KMAX, BK117, Chinook, skycranes, S61s
51:14 Advice for breaking into the Forest Service contactor flying as a junior pilot
54:10 Professional development
55:22 Things wish had learnt earlier – risk management, don’t be afraid to stop, don’t push your limits, be patient, enjoy it!
58:55 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
59:20 Leave an iTunes review or on Stitcher
59:35 World Helicopter Day

Links from this week’s episode:
US Forest Service Aviation Page
World Helicopter Day

Skycrane topping up with water from Blackfoot river to fight a forest fire at Bonner Montana – Aug 2011
[leadplayer_vid id=”55193BABEEEC6″]

[Tweet “Sometimes you lived in just camps with a generator. Was like a bunch of gypsies.”]

[Tweet “Of all the heavies to fly my favourite is the Chinook. Comfortable, fast, very smooth – John Harris”]

[Tweet “Have a good work ethic, clean the aircraft, clean the windows, help the mechanics out, always be willing to help out”]

[Tweet “If I had a bad co-pilot that is a direct reflection on me because I’m supposed to be his mentor.”]

[Tweet “Think the whole flight through before you even get in the cockpit.”]

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about the US Forest Service?

March 18, 2015April 11, 2015

RWS 25 – Aviation Vision Science with Warren de Haan

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warren-de-haan-vision-science-250x300 — Dr Warren De Haan – Vision is a critical input to operating a helicopter but there is a lot to it.

Dr Warren De Haan has been an Aviation vision specialist for 48 years and is considered the world’s leading expert in the field.

In this episode we will be talking about vision science, tips on looking after your eyesight, better habits to help you detect obstacles, the effects of aging on sight and considerations for extending your flying career.

Big thanks to Bob Feerst and Lynette Sims from Utilities Aviation Specialists for introducing me to Warren.

[Tweet “Memory and past perception play an important part in how we see things”]

On the flying side Warren holds ratings on ATPL-Multi-engine, CPL helicopter, glider, lighter-than-air, and seaplanes.

He is an instructor on multiengine aeroplanes and gliders. One of his hobbies is collecting ratings and he has managed to fly a range of aircraft from 737s to Piper Cubs and R-22s.

Warren is the author of two books:
Moving through the ratings: Passing from Private to Professional Pilot
The Optometrist’s and Ophthalmologist’s Guide to Pilot’s Vision

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:
01:30 Dr Warren De Haan Bio
02:15 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
03:10 What is vision science
04:25 Start of flying experience and collecting ratings
07:20 Medical training and eye care career
08:30 Vision research studies – contact lenses and pilots
11:30 Expert witness and consulting on legal cases – midair collisions, wire strike
13:50 Misconception that pilots will see the wire all the time
15:10 Importance of a recon to support vision processing
18:20 Vision processing/coding on the retina
21:40 Binocular vision
24:07 Visual angle and blossoming and visual discrimination
27:20 VFR look out and visual scanning techniques
31:30 Most important thing for helicopters pilots – won’t see things in time
32:45 Most common eye diseases
37:30 Lasik surgery
41:30 UV damage and sunglasses
46:23 Polarised glasses and canopies
47:10 Glass cockpits
49:36 Colour vision
51:00 Maintaining vision as we get older
53:00 Recommendations on prescription lenses – progressive lenses and bi-focals
56:50 Medical waivers
59:35 Contact details for Warren
1:02:50 Live call with Dennis Kenyon and his book ‘Dangerous Appointment’
1:04:26 Listener email – Josh
1:05:50 World Helicopter Day

Links from this week’s episode:
Warren on LinkedIn
Books authored by Warren
World Helicopter Day

[leadplayer_vid id=”55080E7106C5A”]

[Tweet “To be a safe pilot you always need to assume the worst”]

[Tweet “Must always get an ultraviolet treatment on your glasses”]

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about aircrew vision?

March 8, 2015April 11, 2015

RWS 24 – CoaX Helicopters with Richard Woodward

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Test pilot Richard Woodward mixes his time between A380s and single seat helicopters

Today’s episode is about a single seat helicopter design being developed in Australia that makes use of a coaxial rotor system.

And who better to talk us through the design than Airbus A380 captain Richard Woodward. That’s right, Richard is not only Manager of Flying Operations and Chief Test Pilot at CoaX Helicopters but also a line Captain with QANTAS flying the A380.

Some back of the napkin calculations show that you could put 13 of the 20′ diameter helicopters side by side under the A380 wings.

The coaxial rotor design uses two main rotors mounted above each other on the one mast. Each rotor spins in the opposite (contra rotating) direction thereby cancelling out the torque created as a result of powered flight.

This also means that no tail rotor is required – less power lost to the tail rotor system, reduced aircraft length, removal of a significant ground handling danger and a delicate, potential aircraft point of failure.

The dual rotors also allow for a reduction in rotor diameter and rotor tip speeds.

[Tweet “The coaxial design provides a x1.4 rotor diameter advantage – compact and more performance.”]

Post by CoaX Helicopters Limited.

Richard had his start in aviation through the Royal Australian Air Force where he flew Hueys and later moved into SAR and then test flying.

In the interview Richard talks about the process the CoaX Helicopter’s team has had to go through to purchase an aircraft design that was created in the 1950s, reverse engineer the original design drawings with the help of remaining airframes and then reconstruct and re-engineer to get a modern and improved commercially viable flying example. He describes the process as ‘eye watering’.

The results speak for themselves with a very fun and compact helicopter – check out the video further down the page.

Some additional interesting things about coaxial rotor systems for those of us not used to them:

* top speed is limited by flapping to equality of the rotors – where one side is high the other is low reducing the clearance between the two discs
* retreating blade stall is not such a factor because of the lower blade tip speeds (smaller diameter)
* reduced blade tip speeds provide a lower noise signature
* top speed is almost practically the same in any direction – tail fins do come into play
* 9 – 17% of engine power is lost to the tail rotor in a conventional helicopter
* yaw control in coaxial rotor designs can be problematic but is overcome in Coax Helicopter’s designs by drag flaps on the end of the rotor blades that provide a torque differential between the blades
* yaw pedal inputs required are small and relatively steady with no tail rotor effects to worry about
* center of gravity is something that needs consideration as much of the weight is close to the mast
* gust response in the hover is reduced as the contra rotating rotors experience opposite effects

Kamov and Sikorsky would seem to be the only other current manufacturers with flying coaxial rotor helicopters.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:
01:20 Thanks for sharing the show with your connections
02:00 HAI Heli Expo 2015
03:05 Clean Up Australia Day – with helicopters
04:20 Richard Woodward started flying in 1971 with the RAAF
06:00 Flying Hueys
07:11 Peacekeeping ops in the Sinai
08:40 SAR, instructing and Empire Test Pilot Course
10:40 Early NVG test and development and Papua New Guinea HDA ops
14:40 Blackhawk introduction into Australian service
16:50 Flying 747s, 767, A330 and A380 No.1 in France
18:50 Advantages that helicopter pilots take to jumbos
20:30 CoaX Helicopters and aircraft genesis
22:00 Torpedo carrier and air target towing
22:40 Co-axial rotor design and shafts
24:10 Limitations and advantages, aerodynamics
26:20 Generating yaw control
28:40 Tail rotor absorbs 9-17% of power in a normal helicopter
29:30 Reduction in ground handling danger due no tail rotor
31:00 Noise and engine operation
32:10 Center of gravity considerations
33:40 Scaling the design up and production
36:40 Flying characteristics and manoeuvring
38:00 Licensing and training
42:50 Autorotations
44:30 Helicopter monitoring system fitted as standard
47:40 Reaction of fellow A380 aircrew
49:11 Converting original paper designs into 3D models and engineering
51:30 Looking for investment and purchase orders
52:30 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com
52:55 American Helicopter Museum and Helicopter Museum, UK will be part of World Helicopter Day, 16 Aug 2015

Links from this week’s episode:
CoaX Helicopters
World Helicopter Day

[leadplayer_vid id=”54FC314A2502D”]

[Tweet “Original idea was for helicopter to be dropped to downed aircrew so they could fly home”]

[Tweet “Autorotates quite well, comes down at a typical helicopter rate, approx 1400fpm”]

Concept idea for a future 5 seat CoaX Helicopter design

Some of the CoaX Helicopter team at RotorTech 2014

In the show I talk about a Clean Up Australia Day event I was part of where we used a MD500 to external load out rubbish from mangroves near Redcliffe airfield. Pics below.

Post by Aeropower Flight School.

Be part of the conversation and get involved in the comments section below. What questions do you have about this one man helicopter or the coax design?

March 1, 2015April 11, 2015

RWS 23 – Helicopter Helmets with Mark Jones

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Mark Jones is Snr Product Specialist, Aircrew Systems at Gentex Corp and has 42 years of life support equipment experience.

To take us through everything you ever wanted to know about helicopter aircrew helmets we are joined today by Mark Jones of Gentex Aircrew Systems. The modern helmet does much more than just provide head protection as you are about to find out.

Should you get one?
What should you look for in a helmet?
Fitting advice
And how to take care of your helmet so it lasts

That’s some of the topics we cover in this episode.

Most of us would associate helmets with head protection in the event of a crash. Strangely enough that wasn’t the reason aircrew first started to wear them. Early aviation helmets first provided a way to keep aircrew heads warm.

Then came the need to provide radio communication ear cups and later a method of affixing oxygen masks.

[Tweet “When things go south in a helicopter everything wants to stab at you/puncture holes in your helmet”]

The modern helicopter helmet has a big focus on crash protection as seen in the bulk of styrofoam that they contain. We also now use them to mount visors, microphones, NVDs, HUDs, torches, gas masks, face shields and more advanced audio electronics.

Not to mention a place to mount cool helmet patches!

After listening to this interview you will have a much great appreciation for the design that goes into a helmet and the job that it does for you. You might even be able to get a discount on your flight insurance to help offset the initial investment.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this week’s episode:
01:08 Helicopter Aircrew Helmets – Mark Jones, Gentex
02:02 HAI Heli-Expo 2015 – past guests Shawn Coyle, Robert Feerst
02:45 World Helicopter Day events 16 Aug 2015
04:25 42 years working on aircrew helmets and Mark’s role at Gentex
06:23 F-117 Stealth Fighter
08:00 Working at Gentex day to day
09:15 The case for wearing a helicopter helmet
11:50 Gentex company background and shift into helmets
15:15 First pilot helmets and helicopter roles
17:05 Other functions of a helmet + G-force absorption
19:09 Noise attenuation
20:30 Anatomy and construction of a helicopter helmet
26:10 Thermal plastic liner (TPL)
27:53 Helicopter helmets vs jets vs motorbikes
28:55 What to look for in a helicopter helmet
31:30 Minimising helmet hot spots
34:00 Wearing glasses under helmet earcups – 2-fold problem
36:40 Looking after your helmet and servicing
38:50 External scratches and impact on helmet protection
41:50 Helmet warranties and costs(/investment)
44:10 Buying 2nd hand helmet – helmet inspection
46:00 Active noise reduction (ANR) and Communications Ear Plugs (CEP)
48:35 Final tips and future advances
51:10 Insurance company discounts on flight insurance
52:40 Episode Sponsors trainmorepilots.com

Links from this week’s episode:
Gentex Helicopter Helmets Webpage
US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory
World Helicopter Day

Documentary on the evolution of the US Army helicopter helmet
[leadplayer_vid id=”54E70B247B9F8″]

[Tweet “85% of impact protection is provided by the styrofoam layer in the helmet”]

[Tweet “DO NOT compress the styrofoam to try and get rid of helmet hot spots”]

Modern helicopter aircrew helmets mount a whole range of accessory items.

Questions / comments? Be part of the conversation in the comments section below.