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Stupid Pilot Tricks |
Consider, if you will, the California chopper jock who'd just ferried an organ harvesting team to a hospital helipad.
During preparations to depart, he noticed a door unsafe indication. After setting the brake and idle for the Sikorsky S-76A, the pilot left the cockpit and attempted to secure the door.
Returning to the cockpit to leave, the unsafe indication persisted. He went back and forth several times, becoming increasingly frustrated. The pilot didn't recall retarding the throttles to ground idle before he left the cockpit the last time.
The helicopter started moving on its wheels toward the edge of the pad. The pilot tried to get back in, but a witness reported that the chopper did a quarter turn and then rolled on its side.
From avweb.com |
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Career Focus
PHI Pilot Interview Items of Interest
Ask people in the helicopter industry and most, if not all of them, have heard of Petroleum Helicopters Inc. On their employment page, pilot jobs are divided into two categories: Air Medical Group Pilots and Gas and Oil Pilots. Each has similar standards, such as an interview flight in a Bell206 to Commercial PTS standards. Each category has different standards; such as the preferred two years of EMS experience for Air Medical and a mandatory interview cross country flight for Gas and Oil. Find out more about their requirements on their website...
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
Maverick Helicopters
If you’ve always dreamed of flying the Great Southwest, you may be interested in Maverick Helicopters. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Maverick provides VIP service to customers with their ECO-Star, leather interior helicopters. As the largest fleet of ECO-Star’s worldwide, they provide custom charters; and scenic flights not only in Las Vegas, but in Sedona and the Grand Canyon as well.
Maverick’s Director of Operations Dale Cowley says they are looking for professionals who “do the right thing” and seek out opportunities to do what needs to be done. Generally, Maverick likes to see 1000-1500 hours, with some turbine time, and if possible, a little Eurocopter time. According to Mr. Cowley, work ethic is more valuable than flight time.
Maverick rewards those who fly with a generous starting salary ($60,000-$80,000/year), benefits, 401k, safety bonuses and flexible work hours. Mr. Cowley praises Maverick, saying “it is the greatest place I have ever worked; I hope to spend the rest of my flying career at Maverick.”
Maverick Helicopters
General Aviation in China
The boom of fractional ownership here in the States has made its way to China. While general aviation in China is undergoing rapid regulation and procedural change with regards to pilots, Shanghai Heli General Aviation Company has introduced a shared ownership program, fondly dubbed SHOP.
Would-be pilots may now own a part in a Schweizer 300C or in a Schweizer 333. Their advertisement of “You Buy and Fly, We Do All The Rest,” has drawn in many interested private owners. With the offer of handling flight requests, maintenance, tax credits, insurance, hangar facilities, etc., Shanghai Heli has provided an opportunity to own a share of a brand new helicopter; installed with the latest avionics.
Overall, this is not only a very attractive prospect, but it is creating a precedent in Chinese General Aviation. |
