Category Archives: Contract helicopter pilot
The Start and Finish
Our S-64 Air Crane had been checked and made ready for the first fire call of the day, if it was ever to come. Time now, to get into the books, flight manuals, study guides, or maybe less demanding pursuits. … Continue reading →
Following Along
The G.P.S. unit installed in our S-61 helicopter was state of the art. The company had spent a lot of money to make sure that we would always know where we were and for good reason. The mission was in … Continue reading →
Pretty Good
I was talking with one of our pilots the other day and he was lamenting what he perceived as his eroding flying skills. I thought for a moment before commenting because I considered him to be of one of the … Continue reading →
Say Again ?
I fly mostly in countries other than the U.S.A. English is the international language of aviation and anywhere in the world I fly I am able to communicate in some fashion in English. Being able to communicate in a common … Continue reading →
He could have been….
A Chief Pilot I worked for many years ago had developed an obvious problem with alcohol consumption. In those days the stereo typical bush pilot and helicopter pilot was a hard flying,drinking,living, rugged individual or so the myth was sold.I … Continue reading →
Heli-Tanker
I was talking to a new friend the other day about my job as a firefighting helicopter pilot. He asked me if the Erickson Air Crane that I flew was the largest fire fighting helicopter in the world. It is … Continue reading →
The Rules
Military trained helicopter pilots spend most of their careers flying with another military trained pilot sitting beside them. In the commercial civilian world where two pilots are not required by law, a second pilot is seldom used. Most commercial operators … Continue reading →
From Hot to Cold
Hot air blew on the backs of my legs as I flew my Bell 47 G3B-1 back to the airport that early morning. At 05:30 the hot air seeping into the cabin had been tolerable but now with the morning … Continue reading →
Can Do
One of my first bosses in the helicopter business was a can do kind of guy, but only in the sense that he never turned down a job. That left those of us that worked for him to figure out … Continue reading →
Posted in Contract helicopter pilot, Flying Stories, Helicopter Pilot
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Tagged helicopter, Helicopter flying, Helicopter Pilot, travel
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We just got hit
A friend asked me recently about bird strikes with helicopters. The recent landing of an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River after a bird strike no doubt prompted his question. When you fly at lower altitudes as most helicopters tend … Continue reading →
Helicopter Pilot, will travel 