Helicopter Online Ground School Podcast

The Basics Never Go Away

Every pilot, from student to seasoned CFI, can benefit from this reminder: the basics never stop mattering. The ACS checklist is the foundation for a smooth, stress-free check-ride. Forget it, and you’re setting yourself up for a preventable disaster.

So before your next check-ride, grab your ACS, flip to that back page, and go through it line by line. It’s not just about paperwork—it’s about professionalism.

✅ Join the Final Approach Course: FinalApproachCourse.com
✅ 24-Hour Free Test Flight: HelicopterGround.com 

Old-School Habits That Still Save Lives

Some habits aren’t outdated — they’re timeless.

That’s why at H.O.G.S., we teach students to go back to basics.
Start the timer. Track your burn. Check your math.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you — that’s what keeps you sharp, aware, and safe.

Because at the end of the day, technology can fail, gauges can glitch, and fuel doesn’t forgive mistakes.

Finish Strong with the Final Approach Course

If you’re working toward your next rating and want to make sure your training, procedures, and check-ride habits are solid, our Final Approach Course is built to get you there.

📍 Now booking for October.
👉 Visit FinalApproachCourse.com  or email [email protected]  to reserve your spot.

Join the Discussion

Have you ever been taught to add right pedal during your sprag clutch check?
 If not — why do you think that is?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on the H.O.G.S. YouTube Channel.
🎥 Watch the full video: Why You Should Be Adding Right Pedal During Sprag Clutch Check
👉 HelicopterGround.com

Triple-Check Everything

As Kenny puts it, “You can’t assume someone else handled it for you — because when you’re sitting with the examiner, you’re the one responsible.”

That means before your check-ride, you should:

These steps may sound simple, but they prevent one of the most frustrating outcomes: traveling for your check-ride only to find out you’re missing something small that stops the whole process.

Finish What You Started

The Final Approach Course was designed for exactly these situations — helping students tie up loose ends, fix missing requirements, and finish their training the right way.

📍 Now booking for October.
👉 Visit FinalApproachCourse.com  or email [email protected]  to secure your spot.

The Final Approach Course Advantage

When you book a Final Approach Course, you’re not just training for maneuvers. You’re:

If you’re ready to finally finish your rating, call Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com . We have October openings right now.

Free Resources

Takeaway

The 5-hour instrument requirement for Commercial helicopter isn’t optional, and it isn’t confusing once you know the rule.

A CFI or CFII can sign it. A safety pilot cannot. Get it right in your logbook and you won’t get tripped up on check-ride day.

Final Approach Course Advantage

At H.O.G.S., our Final Approach Course was built to help pilots avoid mistakes like this. We’ve seen 30 check-rides in 30 months, and every one revealed lessons worth sharing.

That’s why we keep spots limited — one or two students at a time, with instructors dedicated to getting you finished up the right way.

👉 If you’re stuck waiting on a check-ride, or you’re not sure if your logbook is ready, call Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com . October openings are available now.

Free Resources

Takeaway

5 hours of instrument training is required for your Commercial rating — but logging it wrong could fail you before the blades even turn.

Keep your logbook clean, consistent, and examiner-ready. That’s what separates the pilots who finish strong from the ones who walk away frustrated.

The Final Approach Course Advantage

At H.O.G.S., we’ve run 30 check-rides in 30 months. Every single one revealed a new lesson, a new mistake, or a new technique worth sharing. That’s why we created this series—to help you avoid these pitfalls before you sit down with the examiner.

When you book a Final Approach Course, you get:

And the best part? October openings are available right now.

👉 Call or text Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com to grab a spot.

Free Resources

Takeaway

Pulling the collective to your armpit may sound like “max performance,” but it’s a max error. It kills RPM, kills climb, and could cause a fatal accident.

The pilots who pass check-rides—and stay safe in the real world—are the ones who train smarter, not harder. Todd’s story proves it: mistakes can become lessons, and lessons can save lives.

Final Approach Course Advantage

This is exactly why we built the Final Approach Course. For 30 months now, we’ve welcomed pilots from across the country who just couldn’t get finished at home. Maybe their instructor left, their aircraft was down, or they were stuck behind a full schedule.

At H.O.G.S., we keep it simple:

And yes — October openings are available now. If you’re ready to stop waiting, call or text Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com .

Free Resources

What would you do at 70 knots in an R44 when the tail rotor suddenly fails?

That’s not a trick question—it’s one of the most critical emergency procedures you’ll ever face. And believe it or not, in the last 30 months of Final Approach Courses (FAC), we’ve had at least three applicants confidently give me the wrong answer over Zoom before they ever made it to Indiana.

Instead of following the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), they started explaining some creative “instructor-taught” maneuver—using the throttle to manipulate the nose and “limp back home.” Sounds clever? Wrong. That answer = instant check-ride failure.

The Final Approach Course Advantage

This is exactly why pilots from all over the country keep coming to H.O.G.S. for finish-ups. We don’t just prep your flying—we prep everything. From POH procedures to ACS requirements to making sure your paperwork is squared away.

No more waiting weeks for a flight slot. No more hoping your instructor sticks around. No more check-rides derailed by missing logbooks or expired references.

🚁 With the Final Approach Course, you get:

Free Resources

Takeaway

If your instructor is teaching you to “work the throttle” on a tail rotor failure, they’re teaching you the wrong lesson. The POH is clear. Examiners are clear. And your safety depends on making the right call.

So, keep your training sharp, your materials up to date, and your logbooks clean. That’s how you pass the ride—and how you walk away from emergencies.

When Rich came to H.O.G.S. for his CFI add-on, he immediately stood out. A retired airline captain with over 26,000 hours, he carried himself with calm confidence. During his very first Zoom session, he offered to teach the S-bar maneuver off the cuff — and delivered a polished 45-minute lesson like it was second nature.

That kind of preparation and professionalism left an impression. Rich showed what it looks like when a pilot arrives fully ready, not just in the helicopter but in every detail.

Unfortunately, many applicants don’t show up that way. And one of the biggest problem areas? Logbooks.

A Viewer Question Worth Sharing

Recently, a pilot asked:

The answer is simple: yes, it’s an issue.

If your logbook doesn’t clearly show instructor signatures for dual flights and endorsements, it will not be accepted for a check-ride.

The Messy Middle

Here’s where trouble usually begins:

Now the examiner is left flipping back and forth, piecing together training records. It looks sloppy, it feels unprofessional, and it can derail a check-ride before the flight even begins.

The Clean Solution

Pick one system and stick with it.

If switching is the goal, finish your current rating in the system you started with. Then move forward clean in the new one.

The Takeaway from Rich

Rich’s success was more than his flying ability. It was the way he presented himself as a complete professional — consistent, prepared, and organized. If you want your examiner to see the same in you, start with your logbooks.

How H.O.G.S. Can Help

At H.O.G.S., the Final Approach Course makes sure you’re not only trained in the helicopter, but also examiner-ready on paper:

Messy logbooks are one of the fastest ways to make a bad impression. Don’t let yours be the reason your check-ride falls apart.