Fixed wing flight review for helicopter pilot

jrh · April 15th, 2006, 23:50

Tomorrow I am giving a flight review to a professional helicopter pilot. He has about 900 hours in fixed wing aircraft and holds a commercial certificate for airplanes, but hasn't flown them "in years." Specifically how long ago, I don't know. He's looks to be in his early 50s and said it came mostly from taildraggers, so I'm guessing at least 15 or 20 years.

However, he's proficient in helicopters and works as a cropduster. He wants to get his flight review in a C-152 because he thinks it would be cheaper to get a few hours of dual in an airplane with a local instructor than to fly his helicopter across the state in order to work with a qualified rotorcraft instructor.

So my question is, any tips or things to watch for with this guy? What would be important points to stress? Standards to hold? From talking to him, he seems like a sharp, careful guy, but he has no intention to go back to flying airplanes. He just wants to meet the legal standards of a flight review in the most efficient way possible.

aloft · April 16th, 2006, 06:25

Don't let him try to hover.

EatSleepFly · April 16th, 2006, 10:32

Why not? You can hover a 152. I've even flown one backwards!

moxiepilot · April 16th, 2006, 11:28

since he has no interest in going back to flying airplanes, why are your doing a flight review in one? As you know a flight review brings currency to all, including rotorcraft. My suggestion is to decline doing a flight review, having him bring his heli to do it in that with another instructor.

mtsu_av8er · April 16th, 2006, 14:44

I'd do it, without a doubt! I think that's actually a pretty healthy way to do it. He doesn't fly airplanes very much, so in a way, he's attempting to maintain some proficiency. For that, he should be applauded. He's actively flying Helo's, and he's probably pretty sharp in them. You're not increasing your liability one bit by doing the review in an airplane.

Think about it - a guy that flies twins everyday wants to get a flight review in a single, because he doesn't fly them very much. Makes sense to me!!

jrh · April 16th, 2006, 19:12

I did the review with him this afternoon. It went great. I always find it fun to work with old school, "low and slow" general aviation pilots. I noticed that he has his commercial license but never bothered to get an instrument rating, if that tells you anything about his background.

He was definitely rusty, but he pulled everything together quickly. All his airwork turned out to be well above private and slightly below commercial PTS standards, which isn't bad considering how long he'd been away from it. His traffic patterns were pretty rough at times, but he always touched down smooth and on centerline without floating, so I can't complain. It was one of those things where I could tell he always had good control of the plane, it just wasn't pretty at times.

The ground portion was really enjoyable. We went through ASA's Guide to the Biennial Flight Review and he nailed everything. In fact, it was a lot of fun for me to learn more about the aerodynamics and operating practices of helicopter flying versus fixed wing.

Overall, I was more than satisfied to sign him off at the end and we both had a good time in the process.

April 15th, 2006, 23:50	#1
jrh Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,720	Fixed wing flight review for helicopter pilot Tomorrow I am giving a flight review to a professional helicopter pilot. He has about 900 hours in fixed wing aircraft and holds a commercial certificate for airplanes, but hasn't flown them "in years." Specifically how long ago, I don't know. He's looks to be in his early 50s and said it came mostly from taildraggers, so I'm guessing at least 15 or 20 years. However, he's proficient in helicopters and works as a cropduster. He wants to get his flight review in a C-152 because he thinks it would be cheaper to get a few hours of dual in an airplane with a local instructor than to fly his helicopter across the state in order to work with a qualified rotorcraft instructor. So my question is, any tips or things to watch for with this guy? What would be important points to stress? Standards to hold? From talking to him, he seems like a sharp, careful guy, but he has no intention to go back to flying airplanes. He just wants to meet the legal standards of a flight review in the most efficient way possible.

April 16th, 2006, 06:25	#2
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 6,849	Don't let him try to hover. __________________ Commercial Pilot, ASEL/AMEL/IA 900+ TT/25 ME Mountain-qualified Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief Mission Pilot, Civil Air Patrol B.S., Psychology, Univ of Utah

April 16th, 2006, 14:44	#5
mtsu_av8er Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Utopia Posts: 12,503	I'd do it, without a doubt! I think that's actually a pretty healthy way to do it. He doesn't fly airplanes very much, so in a way, he's attempting to maintain some proficiency. For that, he should be applauded. He's actively flying Helo's, and he's probably pretty sharp in them. You're not increasing your liability one bit by doing the review in an airplane. Think about it - a guy that flies twins everyday wants to get a flight review in a single, because he doesn't fly them very much. Makes sense to me!! __________________ ------- One person says "stop gloating - life sucks!" while another says "be happy - at least you have a job!" . . . people are just stupid.

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April 16th, 2006, 10:32	#3
EatSleepFly Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ?? Posts: 4,600	Why not? You can hover a 152. I've even flown one backwards!

April 16th, 2006, 11:28	#4
moxiepilot Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CFI / CFII in PA Posts: 2,670	since he has no interest in going back to flying airplanes, why are your doing a flight review in one? As you know a flight review brings currency to all, including rotorcraft. My suggestion is to decline doing a flight review, having him bring his heli to do it in that with another instructor.

April 16th, 2006, 19:12	#6
jrh Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,720	I did the review with him this afternoon. It went great. I always find it fun to work with old school, "low and slow" general aviation pilots. I noticed that he has his commercial license but never bothered to get an instrument rating, if that tells you anything about his background. He was definitely rusty, but he pulled everything together quickly. All his airwork turned out to be well above private and slightly below commercial PTS standards, which isn't bad considering how long he'd been away from it. His traffic patterns were pretty rough at times, but he always touched down smooth and on centerline without floating, so I can't complain. It was one of those things where I could tell he always had good control of the plane, it just wasn't pretty at times. The ground portion was really enjoyable. We went through ASA's Guide to the Biennial Flight Review and he nailed everything. In fact, it was a lot of fun for me to learn more about the aerodynamics and operating practices of helicopter flying versus fixed wing. Overall, I was more than satisfied to sign him off at the end and we both had a good time in the process.