pilottuckerMay 29, 20222 minPart 91 See & Avoid RulesCurrently, within the helicopter community, there is much discussion of inadvertent or unintended flight into instrument meteorological...
pilottuckerMay 29, 20221 minI get asked this question all the time: If you could give one piece of advice to a new helicopter pilot, what would it be? I think it’s most important to maintain a very healthy...
pilottuckerMay 29, 20223 minMentoringWhen it comes to mentoring and the incredible impact it has on safety in our industry, I feel fortunate to have benefitted, early on in...
pilottuckerMay 29, 20227 minHow to avoid IIMC, not what to do if it happensI’ve been a helicopter pilot for over 50 years and I find it interesting that during this time the helicopter community has never settled...
pilottuckerMay 25, 20225 minHeliportsFor years I’ve noticed a real lack of understanding of heliport markings and operational procedures on private, commercial and even...
pilottuckerMay 24, 20225 minThe story behind the Vuichard RecoveryIn July 2011, I was teaching one of Robinson’s foreign Safety Courses in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, a charming little town on the banks of...
lawebdesignllcMay 12, 20202 minThe “T” Bar Cyclic DesignSince purchasing the very first R22 that was sold (serial number 003 in October 1979), the most often asked question of me has been about...
lawebdesignllcMay 11, 20207 minBelt FailuresWill an R22 or R44 fly with one drive belt missing? Through the years Robinson has had several issues relating to drive belts, especially...
lawebdesignllcMay 10, 202016 min“Goooooood Morning, Vietnam!”This is the opening line from the, at times, hilarious 1987 Robin Williams movie of the same name which goes on to say it’s “time to rock...
lawebdesignllcMay 9, 20209 minRobinson Tail Rotor Design and HistoryWhen Frank Robinson designed the tail rotor system for, initially, the R22 then subsequently the R44 and R66, he borrowed from some of...
lawebdesignllcMay 8, 20206 minUnlocking the Mysteries of Robinson’s Derated EnginesOne of the most misunderstood aspects of the R22 and R44 continues to be the “why” and “how” the engines are derated. Since the very...
lawebdesignllcMay 7, 20202 minHot Engine" Starting Technique for a Raven IIMany pilots have reported problems trying to start The R44 Raven II when the engine is hot. For example, attempting a start after a...
lawebdesignllcMay 6, 20206 minIGE/OGE Hover PerformanceMany pilots attending the Safety Course at Robinson have asked questions regarding correct use of the hover performance charts in the...
lawebdesignllcMay 5, 202014 minUNA FANTASTICA AVENTURAAfter clearing customs and immigration I exited the airport terminal into the tropical Panama City humidity. It hit me that my role as a...
lawebdesignllcMay 4, 20204 minWant to be a Production Test Pilot?Ever wonder what the job of a helicopter manufacturer’s production test pilot is like or what the helicopter goes through to get its...
lawebdesignllcMay 3, 20205 min“Tired Metal” and its Effect on Components“Tired metal” or using its more correct name “metal fatigue” is something I don’t think pilots have a good understanding of, in fact, I’m...
lawebdesignllcMay 2, 202011 minWhat is a type certificate?An FAA Type Certificate is issued to signify an aircraft is manufactured according to an approved design, and that the design ensures...
lawebdesignllcMay 1, 20201 minTurbine Engine Reliability: Fact or Fiction?I wrote the following article in 2003 for Rotor & Wing magazine. It created quite a bit of controversy, both pro and con, when published...
lawebdesignllcApr 30, 20206 minThe Story Behind Special FAR 73The story behind Special FAR 73 begins with a July, 21 1994 letter, in the form of a Safety Recommendation from Jim Hall, Chairman of the...