Rotary Wing Show - Interviews From The Helicopter Industry

As versatile as helicopters are there are still tight places where they just can’t land to get people in or out. For overwater flights, rescue teams and some utility operations that means using a hoist or under-slung line to reach someone. A hoist fitted helicopter is not always avaliable. Hence we have the considerations that … Continue reading "RWS 92 – Human External Cargo Helicopter Ops with Jeff Yarnold" The post RWS 92 – Human External Cargo Helicopter Ops with Jeff Yarnold appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

The general line thrown out there is that most helicopter pilots try to spend their careers staying away from wires – the guys and girls flying in the powerline industry get right up close as part of their job. David McColl is a powerline pilot in the US and has built up experience in a … Continue reading "RWS 91 – Helicopter Powerline Operations with David McColl" The post RWS 91 – Helicopter Powerline Operations with David McColl appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

The pace of consumer electronics development far outstrips that of aviation equipment and helicopter installed functionality. Electronic Flight Bags are becoming a fixture in cockpits throughout the industry. For about AUD$799 in 2020 you can bring a range of features with you into any legacy aircraft that would have previously either been impossible or would … Continue reading "RWS 90 – Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) with Andrew Boniface" The post RWS 90 – Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) with Andrew Boniface appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

We first looked at night aerial firefighting in episode 65 when the capability had just finished the first trials in Australia. Now with two more fire seasons of experience fighting fires at night, Richard Butterworth is back to give an update on the continuing road map and what as been achieved so far.  Richard Butterworth … Continue reading "RWS 89 – Night Aerial Firefighting 2020 Update with Richard Butterworth" The post RWS 89 – Night Aerial Firefighting 2020 Update with Richard Butterworth appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Today’s topic is First Solo flights. If you are a student getting ready for your first helicopter solo this is the episode that you want to hear.If you are an instructor sending students solo then you will also definitely want to listen to this one. For everyone else there are some good risk management considerations … Continue reading "RWS 88 – First Solo Flights with Peter Holstein" The post RWS 88 – First Solo Flights with Peter Holstein appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

We spend a lot of time training for emergencies in the air but how much do you know about what happens next or what kicks into gear if you go missing? Luke Brandley is an ex-Huey pilot now working as a Senior Search and Rescue Officer with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He and … Continue reading "RWS 87 – Search and Rescue at AMSA with Luke Brandley" The post RWS 87 – Search and Rescue at AMSA with Luke Brandley appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Even if you are not an avid movie goer it is still very likely that you have seen some of Fred North’s work. Fred has been involved in many of the largest Hollywood Blockbusters in recent times either flying helicopter stunts or providing the aerial filming platform. There is a lot that goes into setting … Continue reading "RWS 86 – Going for Height and Film Flying with Fred North" The post RWS 86 – Going for Height and Film Flying with Fred North appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

In the market for a helicopter or just want to know some of the ins and outs of the process? Stephen Boyce has been working in helicopter sales since 2011 and flying them since 1994. Helicopters are high cost purchases and almost always a case of buyer beware. Should you buy new or used? How … Continue reading "RWS 85 – Buying a Helicopter with Stephen Boyce" The post RWS 85 – Buying a Helicopter with Stephen Boyce appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Forward Looking Infra-red (FLIR) systems have been around for a while and used in a search or surveillance function normally by an operator with a control panel. A small number of aircraft are now incorporating FLIR as a pilot vision tool, tracked to the pilots head, as another way of seeing at night or through … Continue reading "RWS 84 – Pilotage FLIR with Tony ‘Squid’ Norton" The post RWS 84 – Pilotage FLIR with Tony ‘Squid’ Norton appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Ditching a rapidly yawing helicopter into the open ocean is one of those experiences most of us would happily pass on. Jim Palmquist and his crew onboard a SH2 Sea Sprite survived just such an event during his time as an aircraft carrier search and rescue pilot. The Kaman Sea Sprite is a unique helicopter … Continue reading "RWS 83 – SH2 Sea Sprite with Jim Palmquist" The post RWS 83 – SH2 Sea Sprite with Jim Palmquist appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

If your perfect day sounds like flying a glider in the morning, testing the HV curve in a Kiowa at lunch and then jumping in a Swedish jet interceptor in the afternoon then Tony ‘Squid’ Norton can tell you what it’s like!    Tony is currently the senior aviation instructor and and standards pilot for … Continue reading "RWS 82 – Test Flying and Lessons Learnt with Tony ‘Squid’ Norton" The post RWS 82 – Test Flying and Lessons Learnt with Tony ‘Squid’ Norton appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

A few years can make a big difference and that is the case now in Jan 2020 for the helicopter pilot hiring market in the USA. For the first time in a while the minimum hours/experience for job adverts are starting to decrease and operators are looking for new hires.   Jared Friend is the General … Continue reading "RWS 81 – Helicopter Job Market USA (2020), Visas and FAA Licence Conversion with Jared Friend" The post RWS 81 – Helicopter Job Market USA (2020), Visas and FAA Licence Conversion with Jared Friend appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

There are differing and some very academic definitions for what culture is. I like – “the way we do things around here”.  This is a chat about organisational culture and how it impacts on aviation and specifically helicopter operations.  Natalee Johnston spent most of her time in the Royal Australian Navy as a Sea King … Continue reading "RWS 80 – Influencing a Positive Aviation Culture with Natalee Johnston" The post RWS 80 – Influencing a Positive Aviation Culture with Natalee Johnston appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Have you ever taken your eyes inside the cockpit to check a notification or had your preflight inspection interrupted by a phone call? Distractions of all kinds are increasingly a problem for aircrew and they are starting to show up in safety stats.  Picture for a moment – you are aircrew on a helicopter pre-1995 … Continue reading "RWS 79 – Tackling Helicopter Aircrew Distractions with Kimberly Hutchings" The post RWS 79 – Tackling Helicopter Aircrew Distractions with Kimberly Hutchings appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

For many military aviators their careers at some point end up being a case of ‘up’ or ‘out’ – either promoted to more non-flying roles or transitioning out into the civil industry.  Landing that first non-military position can sometimes be hard as you establish yourself again and reorient to the new environment and civil market. … Continue reading "RWS 78 – Military to Civilian Transition for Helicopter Pilots with Tarryn Ryan" The post RWS 78 – Military to Civilian Transition for Helicopter Pilots with Tarryn Ryan appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Hoist operations open up a wide range of additional roles for helicopters. They allow us to get people and equipment into and out of locations which would otherwise be inaccessible or too dangerous to land. Rob Munday and David Callen from SR3 Rescue Concepts help talk us through some of the considerations. The helicopter industry is … Continue reading "RWS 77 – Helicopter Hoist Operations with Rob Munday and David Callen" The post RWS 77 – Helicopter Hoist Operations with Rob Munday and David Callen appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

A bit of change of format for this episode of the Podcast. I’m re-sharing a recording made for the flight school website where I instruct. This one is all about some of the financial assistance that the Australian Government provides that can also be used towards the gaining of a commercial helicopter licence. * This … Continue reading "RWS 76 – Funding Helicopter Training Using VET Student Loans (Australia Only)" The post RWS 76 – Funding Helicopter Training Using VET Student Loans (Australia Only) appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

As an ex-Kiowa helicopter pilot, survival instructor RAAF fixed wing instructor, jet and 737 pilot Mike Atkinson has had opportunities to experience a range of aviation operations.  So what does he do in his spare time? in 1932 two German seaplane pilots found themselves off course and out of supplies in the Kimberley region of northern … Continue reading "RWS 75 – Adventures and Survival with Mike Atkinson" The post RWS 75 – Adventures and Survival with Mike Atkinson appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.

Pete’s MD500 is in hilly terrain when a passenger’s hoodie departs the cabin and goes straight through the tail rotor. Listen to what happens next in this recording captured by Doug Williams at his house with Pete Gillies. Extra puppy noises included

In this interview Doug Williams captures a conversation at his house with Pete Gillies about teaching autorotations. Pete shares a story that highlights the differences, especially in turbine helicopters, between touchdown autorotations with the engine idling and with an engine completely off. Have you ever flown an auto with the engine completely off – be … Continue reading "RWS 73 – Pete Gillies Talks About Teaching Autorotations" The post RWS 73 – Pete Gillies Talks About Teaching Autorotations appeared first on The Rotary Wing Show Podcast.