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"

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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"

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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 License Conversion with Jared Friend"

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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"

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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"

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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"

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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"

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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)"

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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"

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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 a machine that by design generates significant torque – losing helicopter …

Continue reading "RWS 74 – Pete Gillies Talks About Tail Rotor Failures"

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