Should this occur, reduce collective and lower the nose to increase airspeed. This can be very dangerous near the ground as the recovery results in a substantial loss of altitude.

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tip 11.

If you are doing a vertical descent or steep approach, you really need to make sure that wind is off of your nose. You have to use good pilot technique! If you get the wind behind you on a vertical descent or steep approach you may get in to Settling With Power.

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

 May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

 May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours! 

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Never Make Takeoffs and landings downwind. It sounds pretty simple. I went to a specialized Helicopter School in New Hampshire to become a Factory Certified Enstrom Helicopter Turbine 480 Instructor. There was also Instruction given by one of the top trainers Employed by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.

The instructors are very well known in the Helicopter Industry. For a half of a day they were going on and on about Helicopter takeoffs and landings downwind. At first I thought why are they going on and on about Helicopter takeoffs and landings downwind? We all know not to do that.

Then I finally got it when he started talking about all the Helicopter Accidents and Helicopter Crashes from Helicopter Pilots taking off and landing downwind. This gentleman is also a Helicopter Accident Investigator. He listed all these situations where Helicopter Pilots wrecked helicopters from downwind landings.

Many Helicopters are getting wrecked from Pilots making this mistake. Maybe you knew where the wind was at when you started flying. Then in a hour of flying the pattern you didn’t catch that the wind changed on you. There are so many ways a Helicopter Pilot can get in a bad situation when he was trying to do the right thing! Always takeoff and land into the wind. Or with a crosswind. Never with the wind behind you.

Never Make Takeoffs and landings downwind. DO NOT DO IT!

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

 May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

 May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours! 

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Never allow rotor RPM to become dangerously low. Most hard landings will be survivable as long as the rotor keeps turning and is not allowed to stall. (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 10-2)

You have got to maintain Helicopter Rotor RPM at all cost. The Robinson R-22 Helicopter is a great little aircraft. You have to remember that it is a low inertia rotor system.

There isn’t really anything more important than the Helicopter Rotor RPM. You have to commit to memory. If the RPM starts to get low, you have to lower collective and increase throttle to recover. The proper recovery can bring the RPM right back to the operating range. If you make the wrong control inputs when the RPM is low the result could be deadly.

You will be told this while you are receiving your Helicopter Flight Training in the Robinson R-22 Helicopter. You will always be managing the Rotor RPM!

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tip No. 8

Be sure ground personnel or onlookers don’t walk into the Tail Rotor.

The Main Rotor Blades can also be dangerous, particularly on a sloped surface where the bystander may be on higher ground than the helicopter.             (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 10-2)

You land the Helicopter somewhere, all kinds of things can happen. I knew a Helicopter Mechanic that almost walked into a tail rotor. A very experienced mechanic that has been around helicopters for years. He told me how he was doing Helicopter Rotor Blade tracking. He leaned down to grab a tool, stood back up, turned and almost walked into the Helicopter Tail Rotor. He was trained and knew better and still almost walked into the tail rotor.

I know fellow Helicopter Pilots that have had people killed from walking into tail rotors. I have heard many other horror stories about people walking into tail rotors.

You just can’t be to careful. It’s totality of the circumstance. When you go to land the helicopter think ahead on how will you park. We prefer to set the helicopter down with the nose to the wind. This might be a case where you may want to instead park so you can see a group of people standing nearby. So you can see who may be approaching the helicopter.

Robinson Helicopters R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Helicopter Safety Tip No. 8

Robinson Helicopter Safety Tip No. 7

A change in the sound or vibration of the helicopter may indicate an impending failure of a critical component. Make a safe landing and thoroughly inspect aircraft before flight is resumed. A good practice is to hover the helicopter close to the ground for a prolonged period and reinspect before resuming free flight.      (From the Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook REVISED: 6 JULY 1995 Page 10-2)

Helicopter Vibrations. If you experience Helicopter Vibrations and not sure what it is, land the Helicopter and get it checked out. I have a picture here of the Helicopter Pilot seat I was in before a Helicopter Accident  I survived in August of 2005.

I was instructing in a Enstrom 480 Helicopter. We had a failure in the main rotor system. We got into Ground resonance and the Aircraft was destroyed. I was ejected from the helicopter during this Helicopter Crash. I had a back injury and could not fly for several months.

The worst part was having to give depositions and sit in front of attorneys. We had to keep explaining how we did not do anything wrong. We had vibrations in this aircraft. We chose to keep flying this Helicopter. We were reporting this to the Helicopter Mechanic and the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. They were looking at the vibration. They then stated that there was nothing wrong with the Helicopter it was our pilot technique.

We were scratching our heads thinking pilot technique, what are they talking about. We are not causing this vibration. We continued to fly the helicopter, that was our choice.

You can’t mess around with vibrations. If you get some kind of strange vibration that you start to notice. Land the helicopter. Talk to the owner, talk to the mechanic, investigate and find out what it is. I’m living proof of what can result from a undetermined Helicopter Vibration.

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

I have flown a number of different Aircraft. I don’t care if it’s single engine, twin engine, no matter what kind of Helicopter Flying you are doing. There is never any reason for Abrupt Helicopter Control Inputs. NEVER!

Hopefully where ever you are receiving your Helicopter Flight Training you are being taught smooth Helicopter Control Inputs. That is all you will ever need! Even in a Helicopter Emergency. Your Helicopter Control inputs are still going to be smooth. There is never a reason to jerk a Helicopter Control.

Avoid Abrupt Helicopter Control Inputs or accelerated maneuvers particularly at high speed. These produce high fatigue loads on the dynamic components and can cause premature and catastrophic failure of a critical component. (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 10-1)

Do not use Abrupt Helicopter Control Inputs. Don’t do it.

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Never Carry External Load Except When Using Approved Hook.

Sounds self explanatory. I would hope that none of you would go out and make your own hook for the Helicopter and attach it to the Aircraft. Then go out and start lifting stuff. Stranger things have happened.

Never Carry External Load Except When Using Approved Hook or attach anything to the outside of the Helicopter. Also be sure there are no loose articles in the cabin particularly when flying with any of the Helicopter doors removed. Even a small object or piece of cloth or paper can damage the tail rotor if it comes loose in flight. (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 10-1)

We are going to hit this Safety Tip another time or two before we are done! There are just so many things you need to be thinking about in and around the Helicopter!

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

–

Robinson Helicopter Safety Tip No. 4

Turn the strobe light on before engaging the drive system and leave it ON until the rotor stops turning. The Strobe light is located near the tail rotor and provides a warning to ground personnel. Leaving it on in flight is also advisable since the helicopter mat be difficult for other aircraft to see. (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook Page 10-1)

This is a good one. My instructors always made me do this. It’s a good habit to get into right from the start of your Helicopter Training. A lot of Helicopter Pilots don’t do it.

You want to have that strobe light on to give people around you the indication that you are going to start the Helicopter. Same thing after your Helicopter Flight when you are performing the Helicopter Shutdown. Leave that strobe light on until the Helicopter Rotor Blades are done moving.

If anything ever happened, you could say I was in the cockpit protecting the Helicopter Controls. I was staying inside the Aircraft as I was trained to do. I had my strobe lights on. I used all the caution I could. God forbid someone walked into the Helicopter Tail Rotor. You were inside the Helicopter as you should be. Strobe Lights on waiting for the Rotor Blades to stop.

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tip No. 3

Never Leave The Helicopter Unprotected where curious onlookers may inadvertently damage critical parts such as the Tail Rotor Blades. (Robinson R-22 Pilots Operating Handbook Page 10-1)

You are going to run into this when you are flying. When you land somewhere, everybody wants to come see the Helicopter. It brings people running to the aircraft. Then after the fact everybody wants to come up and touch and feel the aircraft. People will do nutty stuff. I had a kid who walked up and grabbed an antenna and almost ripped it off the Helicopter.

You have to be always thinking about the aircraft security. Do you have the equipment to tie down the Main Rotor Blades & Tail Rotor Blades? There are so many things to think about. Helicopters attract people! You can never be sure of what they may do.

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Robinson Helicopter Safety Tips No. 2

Never Intentionally allow the fuel quantity to become so low that the low warning light comes on. (Robinson R-22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook  REVISED: 6 JULY 1995 Page 10-1)

Fuel warning light. It is a fact, many Helicopter Accidents happen due to Fuel Exhaustion. No matter what Helicopter you are flying, you never want to get to the point when the low fuel light comes on. You need to use good basic, proper fuel planning, and stick with it.

I know it’s easy for me to stand there and say that. I have run the fuel level down a few times lower than I had planned. You can have good fuel planning, but the issues that come come during a flight are the problem. It could be weather related. It could be a maintenance issue. Maybe you get off course during your flight. The list goes on and on.

You have to be reasonable. You have to be thinking ahead. If you have to land the Helicopter in a field and get someone to bring you some aviation fuel. Then that’s what you have to do. Don’t get to the point that the Low Fuel Warning Light is coming on. Don’t do it!

Fuel Warning Light

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

–

These Safety Tips pretty much pertain to all Helicopters. There are a few that are Robinson Helicopter Specific, but most are not.  I preach about the Robinson Helicopter Factory Safety Course. It is some of the very best Helicopter Training you can get for the money! Its a incredible Helicopter Training Course.

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tips No. 1

Never push the cyclic forward to descend or to terminate a pull up (as you would in a airplane). This may produce a Low-G (near weightless) condition which can result in a main rotor striking the cabin. Always use the collective to initiate a descent.

Anytime you are going to descend, lower the collective.

There is never a reason to use a large forward abrupt input. You do not want to put the aircraft in a low-G situation. I have been flying Helicopters going on twenty years now. I have been flying a little bit of everything. Not in any of those Helicopters has there been a need for a large forward abrupt cyclic input. Never!

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tips

Robinson Helicopters Safety Tips

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

 May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

 May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours! 

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

–

Private Pilot Oral Exam

So let’s talk about your Helicopter Private Pilot Oral Exam and your Appointment with Helicopter Examiner. One very important piece of the puzzle is the Applicant’s Practical Checklist For Helicopters. The first tip I got from the Designated Pilot Examiner as a new Helicopter Certified Flight instructor was make sure your Helicopter Students show up with absolutely everything they are going to need. He said make sure you go through the Practical Test Standards and make sure you have everything on the list for the Private Pilot Oral Exam.

Private Pilot Oral Exam

I can tell you 12 years later, after sending a ton of Helicopter Students for their Helicopter Private Pilot Oral Exam, this is a very common problem. If you do not start rounding up everything you will need several weeks in advance, you will be running around last minute to get what you need. If it’s on that checklist make sure you have it prior to The Practical Test!

Do you need help preparing for your helicopter check ride? Are You overwhelmed by the amount of information there is to know? One major key in passing your Helicopter Check Ride is The Practical Test Standards. Also known as the PTS. I have been surprised over the years how many Helicopter Students never pull out the PTS and use it! I can harp and harp but a majority of the time I can’t get Helicopter Students to use it. This is the Helicopter Check-Ride laid right out in front of you! It is such a huge part of your Private Pilot Oral Exam.

Private Pilot Oral Exam

As an aspiring student helicopter pilot, or working on a advanced Helicopter Rating, Helicopter Ground School is so very very important! Many Helicopter Schools have great ground school training programs. Some of the others, not so much. The truth is, many times you may find yourself with a low time instructor. Some of these low time pilots may not be interested as much about you getting your rating as they are about building time in their logbook! That’s just reality!

That’s why we developed Helicopter Online Ground School, to assist you with your Helicopter Flight Training. We honestly believe that 75% of the work it takes to get your Helicopter License is the ground study! 25% is the the flying portion! There is huge need for the additional ground training you may need to get your Helicopter Pilots License!

This Helicopter Training is designed to help you with both the oral part and flying portions of your helicopter check ride! We encourage feedback from out customers! What you like, what you don’t like, we want to hear it all! We use your feedback as we continue to add and update our current training!

Private Pilot Oral Exam

With the one time purchase of our Helicopter Online Ground School your membership never expires. We are here to help you successfully pass your Private Pilot Oral Exam & Helicopter Practical Test! With paid membership you have access to our online training 24/7. You can log in to study from anywhere!

In addition to the 10 modules of online training, as a paid member you have two hours of live instruction available over the internet. This two hours can be used on for any Helicopter Training related topic you desire. If we do not already have a presentation that covers your request, we will build one for you!

We also offer an additional 2 hours of phone time for check ride preparation! We want to help you get through Private Pilot Oral Exam on your first try!

Private Pilot Oral Exam

Straight In Autorotation. Many people have this notion that when a helicopter engine fails, they just drop out of the sky! This is simply just not the case!

When a engine fails in a Helicopter the airflow that moves upward through the rotor system actually drives the rotor system! This in turn can make the rotor blades spin even faster. The pilot then controls the rotor speed with the collective!

What people find surprising is you can do everything with a helicopter without the engine that you do with the engine, except hold your altitude!

We can speed up, slow down, turn left, turn right, and even fly backwards! It’s is amazing what the helicopter can do. Straight In Autorotation are so much safer that what the general public understands.

It is much more dangerous driving to the airport for a Helicopter Lesson than than getting in and going for your Helicopter Flight! And that’s the truth!

Straight In Autorotation

Basically on an Straight In Autorotation, the key is a good set up. It is just like the key to a normal approach or a hover auto, anything you do, they key is just a good set up. So on a Straight In Autorotation, you want to have your five hundred (500) AGL, Vertical speed near zero (0), have whatever MSL that you want, and in the Enstrom we are using an Air Speed of seventy (70). That way when you enter you have a nice set up, entering the autorotation nice and smooth. You then do three things. Lower the collective with a tad of throttle roll off, add right pedal, and a little bit of aft cyclic to set your speed. If you have a nice entry that is all you have to do at the beginning. On your way down you start your cross checks. Looking inside and then outside, checking your spot, checking your RPM and airspeed. Can’t say it enough, if you set it up nice, it is going to be nice.

As you are flying it down, you are going to wait till about approximately treetop level when you will begin a gentle flair, gradually increasing as you bring it in. Then at about eight (8) to ten (10) foot height skid height clearance you level the aircraft and raise the collective while bringing back in the power.

Straight In Autorotation

Straight In Autorotation  Enstrom. In the following video is a Student Helicopter Pilot preparing for his Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter Rating! This is a excerpt from Fort Wayne Helicopters Online Ground School.

 Straight In Autorotation

As an aspiring student helicopter pilot, or working on a advanced Helicopter Rating, Helicopter Ground School is so very very important! Many Helicopter Schools have great ground school training programs. Some of the others, not so much. The truth is, many times you may find yourself with a low time instructor. Some of these low time pilots may not be interested as much about you getting your rating as they are about building time in their logbook! That’s just reality!

That’s why we developed Helicopter Online Ground School, to assist you with your Helicopter Flight Training. We honestly believe that 75% of the work it takes to get your Helicopter License is the ground study! 25% is the the flying portion! There is huge need for the additional ground training you may need to get your Helicopter Pilots License!

This Helicopter Training is designed to help you with both the oral part and flying portions of your helicopter check ride! We encourage feedback from out customers! What you like, what you don’t like, we want to hear it all! We use your feedback as we continue to add and update our current training!

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Straight In Autorotation

Ground School FREE Test Drive

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

Ground School FREE Test Drive

Recent Member Feedback:

I am glad Kenny and the gang have put together this fantastic resource for those of us who are learning to fly a helicopter. I must pull a finger out this year to complete my last 2 exams, aerodynamics and operations,performance, flight planning down here in Oz.
Your enthusiasm is contagious.
Keep up the great work

Ground School FREE Test Drive

From another member:

Hello Captain Keller!….I am watching all your modules and they have a lot of good stuff!!!..thanks,….I will appreciate as now you are doing for the r-22, but for the 300CBi!

Regards!

Ground School FREE Test Drive

As an aspiring student helicopter pilot, or working on a advanced Helicopter Rating, Helicopter Ground School is so very very important! Many Helicopter Schools have great ground school training programs. Some of the others, not so much. The truth is, many times you may find yourself with a low time instructor. Some of these low time pilots may not be interested as much about you getting your rating as they are about building time in their logbook! That’s just reality!

That’s why we developed Helicopter Online Ground School, to assist you with your Helicopter Flight Training. We honestly believe that 75% of the work it takes to get your Helicopter License is the ground study! 25% is the the flying portion! There is huge need for the additional ground training you may need to get your Helicopter Pilots License!

This Helicopter Training is designed to help you with both the oral part and flying portions of your helicopter check ride! We encourage feedback from out customers! What you like, what you don’t like, we want to hear it all! We use your feedback as we continue to add and update our current training!

Ground School FREE Test Drive

With the one time purchase of our Helicopter Online Ground School your membership never expires. We are here to help you successfully pass your Helicopter Practical Test! With paid membership you have access to our online training 24/7. You can log in to study from anywhere!

In addition to the 10 modules of online training, as a paid member you have two hours of live instruction available over the internet. This two hours can be used on for any Helicopter Training related topic you desire. If we do not already have a presentation that covers your request, we will build one for you!

We also offer an additional 2 hours of phone time for check ride preparation! We want to help you get through The Practical Test on your first try! Check out Ground School FREE Test Drive

EC 135 Start Up Real Time

Interested In Helicopter Online Ground School?

Feedback from our two latest customers after their Helicopter Check-Rides!

May 6 2013

“The training was incredible! I watched all the modules twice. I passed my knowledge exam with a 97 and breezed through my check ride. My DPE said I was extremely prepared. I would recommend Fort Wayne to anybody!”

May 3 2013

“Kenny Keller, however, is not only helicopter-specific, but has online videos and training and he’s got a lot of experience. He can relate! He’s gone through the struggles so he knows that you might be ready to puke at the thought of sitting on a hot seat getting a grilling from an examiner. I listened to Kenny’s audio cd’s over and over. But – now listen carefully, this was the topper– Kenny actually spent four hours on the phone with me the evening before my check-ride! Four hours!

Do you know anyone, anywhere, that is so passionate about something that they would do that? He grilled me using his famous “notebook” (his personal notes from his own helicopter training) and that was one of the main reasons I aced the oral part of my exam. Thanks Captain Kenny! You are awesome!” Dave W.

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Helicopter Training: Emergency Squawk Codes

Emergency Squawk Codes! Hello everybody, Kenny with Fort Wayne Helicopters and welcome to Day 15! I wanted to hit the Squawk Codes, the three Squawk Codes that you need to memorize. 1200, we are going to call the given. Everyone pretty much remembers 1200 or they at least don’t have too much trouble with it. The other three, 7500, 7600 and 7700, believe it or not, a lot of people have trouble with this. I am also amazed at the add on guys, that when you ask them, they mix them up all the time. Even though they are not real hard, they are also easy to get confused. Especially on a Checkride when you are nervous…same old story there.

You have 7500 Hijack, 7600 Radio Failure and 7700 Emergency. I was just talking to the other two guys and some of the memory aides that were popping up were; 75 you need a 45 (if you catch my drift getting hijacked). 76 got a fix, since it means radio failure; you have to fix the radio. 77 going to heaven, kind of self-explanatory there. Or could be going to heaven if you don’t get that emergency handled properly.

Helicopter Training: Emergency Squawk Codes

Helicopter Training: Emergency Squawk Codes

FAR/AIM Manual Tips

Hey everybody, this is Kenny with Fort Wayne Helicopters! We’re doing some more shooting at our top secret, new location here.

Something that I wanted to talk about, but just haven’t yet is the FAR/AIM Manual.  There is a lot of people that seem to have a FAR/AIM that tab the heck out of them and pretend that they kinda know how to use it and know what is really important. But, through the  stuff that I have been doing over the past ten years, I find that people really don’t know how to use the FAR/AIM or even just some of the tricks and things that are really important.

What I want to show you is, right here, just go to the FAR/AIM contents page.  And say for the Private Pilot level, there are only a few places that you are going to look up something in the FAR/AIM that you need to go to. The first one is going to be PART 43.  I just take my highlighter, grab the students FAR/AIM that is all tabbed up, and I will open it up to the contents page. YOu can tell that they have never even been there. So I say, ” What’s important on this page?” and they kind of look around and they don’t really know.  So I go, “Give me your highlighter and your FAR/AIM” and I highlight it for them. Right across Part 43 – Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding and Alteration.  The Examiner is going to ask you a question like “Can you replace the landing light?’ Well, you going to have to give him an answer  and if he asks you something that you’re not sure, it doesn’t mean that it is going to be an automatic failure.  It means that you need to be able to go the FAR/AIM fairly quickly and look up what you need to. So if he ask you about replacing something, like the landing light, and you’re just not sure about it at that moment, you can say “Well I am not sure about that, but I can look it up in Part 43 in the FAR/AIM.”  The Examiner will go “Great” and you probably won’t even have to open the FAR/AIM.  But that is the point, one of the first sections is Part 43, so we take that and highlight it.

FAR/AIM Manual Tips

The next one is Part 61-  Certification: Pilots, Flight instructors, and ground instructors. Probably a lot of you guys heard, ‘Part 61 is how you get your license, 91 is how you lose your license’. So anything in Part 61 is going to tell you things that you are going to need to know to get your Private Pilot rating. These are things that the Examiner is going to ask you about. So you need to be familiar with Part 61 so you can answer and know what is in it, what do I have to do, do I have all of these things in my logbook? You’ll go through this stuff with your Instructor, or at least he should be going through theses things with you, step by step to make sure that everything is covered before the day of your test.

So I just mentioned Part 61 and now we will go onto Part 91 of your FAR/AIM in a second, but I want to mark Part 67 as well. Take your handy dandy marker and go straight across.  Part 67 – Medical Standards and Certification.  If the Examiner ask you a question about your medical and you are kind of struggling with it. You’ve read it and kind of know it, but you just can’t remember, NEVER tell the Examiner “Well I don’t know”.  Just tell him that you have read that, because you have read it, but you are just having trouble.  So he might tell you to look it up and if you can tell him where you will go to look it up, that might be enough for him. And if not, then you just go to Part 67 and you will know where to go from there.

FAR/AIM Manual Tips

Part 91 -  General operating and flight rules.  Again, 61 is how you get you license and 91 is how you lose your license.  You go in and you break a Reg or anything in Part 91 and that is how you are gonna lose it. You really need to be familiar with Part  91.

Th next one is NTSB 830. It is only a few pages long, but you are going to see NTSB 830 come up time and time again.  It has to do with accident reporting and incidents. The Examiner is going to ask you about these things and you will see them on your Private Pilot Written Test. It is a short section that is only two or three pages and there is a lot of information in them.

So this is what you need to know. There might be something that you will look up in one of those other areas, but most likely, probably not.  Part 43, Part 61, Part 67, Part 91 and Part 49 are going to be the areas that you will go to and look something up.

There are a couple of other tricks to using the FAR/AIM that we can cover at a later time, but this is a big one that I have been wanting to hit since I have been talking about these different things.

FAR/AIM Manual Tips

As always, thanks for stopping by and we will see you all real soon! Thanks a lot! FAR/AIM Manual Tips

FAR/AIM Manual Tips 

Hovering Autorotation Video

Hovering Autoroation Helicopter Lessons
1 2 3 – Hello everybody! Kenny with Fort Wayne Helicopters. I’m going to go up and show a Hovering Autorotation and maybe give you a couple of tips that might help you out a little bit.  The key to Hovering Autorotation is timing – it’s all about timing!

We’ve got a beautiful sunset tonight, making use of the golden hour.

Been working day and night! Crazy crazy crazy hours for helicopterground.com our online ground school.  It’s a pretty night and I needed a little break and as I stood outside for a second and thought… You know what – let’s shoot a video outdoors real quick!

Hovering Autorotation Video

With the hovering Autorotation, it is all about timing, it’s not really complicated as far as the amount of things you have to do. but doing them at the right time is the key.

So you want to reposition your hand on the throttle, have a nice hover going, make sure you count the maneuver off – 1 2 3 enter or however you do it 3 2 1 enter.  I had a student do one yesterday and not tell me he was going to do it and that’s a good way to scare your instructor.

So reposition your hand on the throttle, count off 1 2 3 enter, have a decent hover going or a somewhat stabilized hover.  When we enter this we are going to roll off the throttle, add the right pedal, and you need to pause (the key is to pause).  That’s a common mistake because students want to roll the throttle off and yank the collective up, dump it or not pull it at all. You want to pause, I think One-One Thousand, and then pull. That is the whole key!  Let’s give it a try!

Get stabilized, reposition your hand on the throttle, count 1 2 3 enter, throw off right pedal, One-One Thousand and then pull.  That was a little stiff but I pulled to soon.  Let’s try another one!  Focus outside, stabilize hover, 1 2 3 enter, throw off right pedal, One-One Thousand, and then a nice pull, down to the ground, collective back down.

Look at that sunset! Beautiful!

Hovering Autorotation Video

Hovering Autorotation Video

As an aspiring student helicopter pilot, or working on a advanced Helicopter Rating, Helicopter Ground School is so very very important! Many Helicopter Schools have great ground school training programs. Some of the others, not so much. The truth is, many times you may find yourself with a low time instructor. Some of these low time pilots may not be interested as much about you getting your rating as they are about building time in their logbook! That’s just reality!

That’s why we developed Helicopter Online Ground School, to assist you with your Helicopter Flight Training. We honestly believe that 75% of the work it takes to get your Helicopter License is the ground study! 25% is the the flying portion! There is huge need for the additional ground training you may need to get your Helicopter Pilots License!

This Helicopter Training is designed to help you with both the oral part and flying portions of your helicopter check ride! We encourage feedback from out customers! What you like, what you don’t like, we want to hear it all! We use your feedback as we continue to add and update our current training!

There are lots of Helicopter Flight Schools out there that are teaching the Hover Pre Take Off Checks before every Helicopter Take Off. That’s a good thing. Some Helicopter Schools are not. Not the best option for your Helicopter Training. You want to do the Hover Pre Take Off Checks because you are giving that engine a chance to spit, sputter, miss or puke! You are checking the Helicopter Engine temperatures and pressures. Checking the manifold pressure or torque to see how much power you are pulling for the day! Also to see how much power you have available for a Helicopter Maximum Performance Take Off.

Hover Pre Take Off Checks

There are lots of reasons to be doing the Hover Pre Take Off Check! Its a general practice for Helicopter Safety. You are checking to make sure the aircraft is ready to go! One single thing you miss could be disastrous and lead to a Helicopter Accident! If you are not doing them, start doing them! You need to do a Helicopter Pre- Take Off Check before every single Helicopter Take Off!

Hover Pre Take Off Checks

Hover Pre Take Off Checks

Hover Pre Take Off Checks

One Hour Flight Lesson

When your Learning How To Fly Helicopters, or doing Helicopter Ground School, you need a break after one hour. I’m not talking about Helicopter Cross Country Training or Check Ride Preparation, I’m talking about in the beginning. Your Helicopter Flights should be one hour or less. If it’s any more than that it’s a waste of time and money.

Before I became a Helicopter Instructor I was a Police Officer and Firearms Instructor. I went through a Instructor Development course and a point they made very clear was on training for a hour. Either in the classroom or out in the field you need to give a person a short break. Even if it is only 5 or 10 minutes, that break is very important for your Helicopter Flight Lessons!

One Hour Flight Lesson

This is one near and dear to my heart and I am getting straight to the point! When you are a new student and your instructor takes you out for more than 1 hour, HE IS STEALING YOUR MONEY! I will fight this one tooth and nail. When you are new to this thing we call learning to fly helicopters, tell your instructor you want your helicopter lesson kept to a 1 hour maximum! Unless your rich and you don’t care, then go fly all day.

If you are the average person scraping every penny, borrowing from family, selling your new unopened still in the box Steve Austin Six Million Dollar Man action figure, running up your credit cards, on and on. Then keep your lesson to one hour. In ten years of teaching I can tell when we have been training at exactly 1 hour! That’s no kidding, without ever looking at my watch, I know its a hour.

After one hour a person needs to take a break when learning a new complicated skill. So, until you get some time under your belt and doing cross country or something like that. Keep it at 1 hour!

One Hour Flight Lesson