» WINTER newsletter - June 2010

From the CFI

  

Class D Requirements
It is important that all pilots have a sound understanding if the requirements of Class D operations especially at Bankstown and Camden aerodromes. The key to success is to read up on the procedures and ask questions on what you don’t understand.

Know the differences between manoeuvring areas requiring a taxi clearance and the apron areas that do not require a taxi clearance. To be sure, operate your flight when leaving entering or taxiing Class D like you need ATC clearance for all your operations. Make yourself familiar with the Ground Frequency operations and the Transponder Code 1200 & 3000 requirements.

There are also new procedures in non control aerodromes that you need to be current with as well.

Instructors
Congratulations to Sean Behringer our long term Charter Pilot and Jo Murphy who recently passed their Instructor Ratings and have commenced some part time work at Bankstown Helicopters. From us all congratulate you both. They’ve both been working hard and are well on the way to their Grade One.

 

Our Deepest Sympathy
Recently a tragic military helicopter accident occurred in Afghanistan causing injury to Matt and loss of life to Ben Chuck both friends of Bankstown Helicopters.

Ben was a current student who had planned to conclude his current tour of duty and complete his CPL. We hope his family can some day come to terms with their sad loss and we send our deepest sympathy from all of us at Bankstown Helicopters

Matt was seriously injured and remains in hospital in Germany but when he is able will return home to his family and friends. We wish Matt a speedy recovery and thank both he and Ben for defending our way of life.

Baby News
Jesse Apps, wife of our instructor Lee gave birth to a baby girl recently and Lee is now feeling the joys of parenthood along with Sharon Bentley, wife of one of our charter pilots Richard Johns.

Congratulations from us all to you both.

Best Regards

Bill Miller
CP/CFI, Managing Director
Bankstown Helicopters

Recent Developments

  

Farewell VH-RSU
Over the past few years anybody associated with Bankstown Helicopters and holding an R44 endorsement would have spent time flying VH-RSU.  This R44 has departed the fleet sold to an operator based in Melbourne. Her last day at Bankstown was Friday 25th August 2010. Many thanks to Marty Bohac and Mark Foster who flew her to Melbourne for the handover.
A replacement brand new R44, silver grey in colour, is being assembled in the Heliflite’s hanger and is registered VH-YVM. This R44 is a Raven 1 and came on line Monday 5th July 2010.

Helicopter Safety Videos
Have a look at the HAI site for some interesting videos on all type of Helicopter operations     http://www.rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=963

Orange Base News
Central West Helicopter School Instructor Alex Brett continues to set high standards for Helicopter Training in the Central West at Orange under the watchful eyes of instructors Joel Stewart, Lee Apps and Neil Hughes. Recent winter cold snaps have seen the thermometer drop down to -6 degrees. Temperatures at this level are rare for Sydney pilots and require you to revise the performance of the machines to account for the reduced temperature. As outside air temps decrease the allowable manifold air pressure limit also decreases as a result of the increased air density.

From the Instructors

Milestones Achieved

Emergencies
Recent tragic events in the Bankstown Control Zone have highlighted the need to reinforce the procedures for dealing with emergencies. Regardless of the nature of the emergency remember if the safety of the pilot, passengers or the aircraft is in any doubt land immediately in the nearest safe location you can find.

We can always repair or check an aircraft remotely from Bankstown and passengers can be easily transferred back to the base in another form of transport if required. Don’t convince yourself to return a suspect aircraft to Bankstown or any other location other than where you if that flight will compromise the safety of the flight.

Bankstown Taxiing
Currently operations at Bankstown Class D airspace require a clearance for all taxi movements on the area known as the manoeuvring areas. For Bankstown Helicopter operations this means a clearance is required to operate past the area adjacent to the western pad when departing. For arrivals a taxi clearance is required to operate from your landing area to the area adjacent to the western pad. No clearance is required to taxi from BK Heli’s to or from the Western Pad.

When setting up your aircraft for landing ensure the standby frequency is on the aerodromes ground frequency to make it an easy frequency change upon arrival.

Also ensure you have the aerodromes taxiway layout diagram with you so you can follow taxi instructions from the controller. If you are unsure ask your instructor for a briefing on the new procedures.

Congratulations to the following pilots who have passed flight tests recently:

SYDNEY BASE ORANGE BASE

FIRST SOLO
Peter McMinn
John Moore
Dane Higgins
Pat Houghton
Stephanie Hughes
Dan Jepsen
Steven Myers

PPL
Nil

NVFR
Daniel Constantin

CPL
Anthony Farrell
Archie Chronopoulos

Flight Instructor
Sean Behringer
Jo Murphy
Steve Pulbrook

FIRST SOLO
Morgan Hodson
Jerome Meehan

PPL
Barkley Day
Isaac Clark

NVFR
Nil

CPL
Ty Richards


The last word

Hydraulic System in Helicopters
Familiarise yourself with the operation of the hydraulic system components ie the hydraulics switch and circuit breaker and what functions they perform in an R44 of B206 helicopter. Should you experience heavy of stiff cyclic and collective forces you may be faced with a hydraulics failure. Although you may check the operation of both Circuit Breaker and Isolation Switch in pre flight an in-flight failure may not necessarily require you to operate both the switch and circuit breaker.
Pilot Operating Handbook extracts as follows

R44 Hydraulics Failure
1/ Adjust airspeed and flight condition as desired for comfortable control
2/ Hyd Switch – verify ON
3/ If hydraulics not restored, Hyd Switch – OFF
4/ Land as soon as possible.

B206 Hydraulics Failure
1/ Reduce airspeed to between 61-69 knots
2/ Hyd Boost Circuit Breaker OUT (If power not restored IN)
3/ Hyd System Switch confirm ON. (Move to OFF if power not restored)
4/ Land as soon as possible.

You can see that for both aircraft in the event of a hydraulics failure we are instructed to remove power to the hydraulics system by pulling the circuit breaker. The reason for this is that the solenoid that controls the hydraulics system defaults to “on” in the event of a power failure. Therefore by pulling the circuit breaker we are able to ascertain whether it is an electrical failure, in which case hydraulics would be restored, or mechanical failure. In the event of a mechanical failure we are instructed to land as soon as possible. The recommended procedure is a slow, run on landing along a smooth, hard and flat surface.

As always consult the instructors if you are unsure of the individual helicopters hydraulics failure procedures.