(AFAST) Helicopter Flying Instructions and Techniques Flashcards

The color combination of green, yellow, and white flashed by beacons indicates a lighted heliport.

Counteract the torque effect of the main rotor. The Auxiliary or tail rotor is the anti-torque rotor that produces thrust in the direction opposite to the torque reaction developed by the main rotor.

This movement is generally referred to as translating tendency or drift. The entire helicopter has a tendency to move in the direction of tail rotor thrust when hovering.

The upward bending of the rotor blades caused by the combined forces of lift and centrifugal force is called coning.

The exact location and length of the of the CG range is specific for each helicopter but it usually extends a short distance fore and aft of the main rotor mast.

Dissymmetry of lift is created by horizontal flight or by wind during hovering flight. It is the difference in lift(unequal lift) across the rotor disc resulting from the difference in the velocity of air over the advancing blade half of the disc area and retreating blade half of the disc area.

A series of shocks causes the rotor system to become unbalanced. Ground resonance may develop when a series of shocks causes the rotor head to become unbalanced. When one landing gear of the helicopter strikes the surface first, a shock is transmitted through the fuselage to the rotor. When one of the other landing gears strikes, the unbalance can be aggravated and become even greater. This establishes a resonance, which sets up a pendulum-like oscillation of the fuselage--a severe wobbling or shaking.

Lower the collective, apply aft cyclic. Rapid deceleration or quick stop is initiated by applying aft cyclic to reduce forward speed and lowering the collective pitch to counteract climbing.

Bringing the helicopter to a level attitude before completely leaving ground. For slope takeoff, first obtain takeoff RPM and move the cyclic stick so that the rotor rotation is parallel to the true horizon rather than slope apply up-collective pitch and apply pedal to maintain heading. As the downslope skid rises and the helicopter approaches a level altitude, move the cyclic stick back to the neutral position and take the helicopter straight up to a hover before moving away from the slope. The tail should not be turned upslope because of the danger of the tail rotor striking the surface.

When parallel to the slope, slowly lower the upslope skid to the ground prior to lowering the downslope skid.The helicopter should be landed on a cross-slope rather than on either an upslope or downslope. As the upslope skid touches the ground, the pilot should apply the cyclic stick in the direction of the slope. This will hold the skid against the slope while the downslope skid continues to be let down with the collective pitch.

Standard conditions at sea level are: Atmospheric pressure:29.92 in of Hg(inches of mercury); Temperature: 59F.(15C)

A running takeoff is used when conditions of load and/or density altitude prevent a sustained hover at normal hovering altitude. It is often referred to as a high-altitude takeoff. A running takeoff may be accomplished safely only if surface area of sufficient length and smoothness is available if no barriers exist in the flight-path to interfere with a shallow climb.

Foot pedals in the cockpit permit the pilot to increase or decrease tail-rotor thrust, as needed, to neutralize/control torque effect.

With a single main rotor rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the advancing blade will be in the right half of the rotor disc during forward flight.

The collective pitch control lever changes the pitch angle of the main rotor blades simultaneously and equally.