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Flight Dispatcher Training in Hawaii

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Flight Dispatcher Training in Hawaii

Flight Dispatcher Training in Hawaii

Flight dispatchers also called aircraft dispatchers and airline dispatchers, play a vital role in most large fleet operations, as well as at smaller cargo and flight training operations. In general, flight dispatchers work closely with pilots to plan all aspects of each flight.


Some of the factors a dispatcher must consider include weather (departure, en route, and destination), fuel requirements, aircraft weight & balance, airworthiness of the aircraft, compliance with regulations, alternate destinations, and route and altitude selection.

In general, the flight dispatcher's job is to ensure that a company's aircraft take off on time (weather permitting), are fully loaded to maximize revenues, have adequate fuel, airport, navigation, and weather information on board to complete the flight as planned, burn the least amount of fuel required for the flight, and land at the destination airport on or ahead of schedule. Get info about flight dispatcher training.

Flight Dispatcher Schools

When you attend a college or school offering flight dispatcher training, you'll learn aircraft performance specifications, how air traffic is routed in the National Airspace System by air traffic controllers, how aircraft use navigation and communications systems and facilities, aviation weather analysis, weight, and balance calculations, and of course, federal aviation regulations.

Some schools offer specialized training and accelerated courses that prepare you to take the FAA flight dispatcher certification exams. When you attend a college or school offering flight dispatcher training, you'll learn aircraft performance specifications, how air traffic is routed in the National Airspace System by air traffic controllers, how aircraft use navigation and communications systems and facilities, aviation weather analysis, weight, and balance calculations, and of course, federal aviation regulations.Keep in mind you must already meet the other requirements before enrolling in one of these courses. Learn more about flight dispatcher training.

As a flight dispatcher, you can expect to work for a large airline moving passengers or cargo, for smaller regional airlines as they continue to grow, or in large flight training operation.

Working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, you will probably have a computer workstation specialized for the task of planning flights and following changing weather all across the world. Expect to be indoors most of the time, although you will be interfacing with pilots in and around the airport environment, so you could be on the airport tarmac when required.

Flight Dispatcher Duties

Flight dispatchers share the responsibility for the safety of a given flight with the captain of the aircraft. Typically, the flight dispatcher is responsible for creating a flight plan and works with the captain directly on such issues as takeoff and landing performance, fuel load, route, altitudes, weight and balance, and weather conditions.

The flight dispatcher also "releases" a particular aircraft to make it's flight, and, once airborne, monitors the progress of all his/her current flights and shares that information with other key ground personnel. Aircraft dispatchers usually ride along in the cockpit of company-owned aircraft several times per year (the Federal Aviation Administration requires a minimum of five hours per year in the cockpit) to keep their skills sharp in relation to airline procedures, air traffic control routing, and airport environments.

Flight Dispatcher Training Courses

In order to be eligible to become a flight dispatcher, you'll need to be a high school graduate. Of course, the more education you have, the better, as airlines prefer to hire dispatchers with college degrees, and you'll be competing in a tight job market.

If you want to become a flight dispatcher, the time to start your training is now. However, keep in mind that you must be at least 21 to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge Test (written) and you must be at least 23 to hold an FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

Where to Find Flight Dispatcher Training

You can train to become a flight dispatcher in one of three ways:

1. Graduate from a college or vocational training school's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved flight dispatcher course.
2. Work for at least one year as an apprentice and under the direct supervision of an FAA certified flight dispatcher.
3. Work for two of the last three preceding years as an air traffic controller, either in the military or civilian sectors

Learn more about flight dispatcher certification.

FAA - A History of Airplane Structures Facts for Hawaii

It was Cayley who first stacked wings and created a tri-wing glider that flew a man in 1853. Earlier, Cayley studied the center of gravity of flying machines, as well as the effects of wing dihedral. Furthermore, he pioneered directional control of airplane by including the earliest form of a rudder on his gliders.

Helicopter Landing Gear or Skids

As mentioned, a helicopter’s landing gear can be simply a set of tubular metal skids. Many helicopters do have landing gear with wheels, some retractable.


Aircraft Flight Dispatcher Training in Hawaii

Some flight dispatcher training schools in Hawaii offer specialized training and accelerated courses that prepare flight dispatcher students from Hawaii to take the FAA flight dispatcher certification exams. Keep in mind you must already meet the other requirements before enrolling in one of the flight dispatcher training courses in Hawaii.


If you attend a college or vocational school in Hawaii offering flight dispatcher training, you'll learn all about aircraft performance specifications, how air traffic is routed in the National Airspace System by air traffic controllers, how aircraft use navigation and communications systems and facilities, aviation weather analysis, weight and balance calculations, and of course, federal aviation regulations.

Flight Dispatchers in Hawaii serve as one of the most crucial components of the entire airline operation. Flight dispatchers fromHawaii are licensed airmen, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flight dispatchers from Hawaii must undergo extensive testing and training to earn this highly sought after certificate, and must pass both an extensive oral examination and the comprehensive written Aircraft Dispatcher test.

The Aircraft or Flight Dispatcher tests are equivalent to the Air Transport Pilot (ATP) written and oral examinations that airline pilots take as part of their licensing procedure. They are, in essence, pilots on the ground, and are as legally liable for the aircraft as is the pilot in the cockpit.

In order to be eligible to become a flight dispatcher in Hawaii, you'll need to be a high school graduate. Of course, the more education you have, the better, as airlines prefer to hire dispatchers with college degrees, and you'll be competing in a tight job market.

If you want to become a Hawaii flight dispatcher, the time to start your training is now. However, keep in mind that you must be at least 21 to take the Aircraft Dispatcher Knowledge Test (written) and you must be at least 23 to hold an FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

The role of an aircraft dispatcher in Hawaii is important and complex. They are the ground-based eyes and ears for the pilot in the air. Regulations stemming from the FAA hold both the pilot and the dispatcher as being equally responsible for the safety of the flight. Working jointly with the pilot, the dispatcher draws up a flight plan that will allow the aircraft to arrive at its destination safely and as cost-efficiently as possible.

Flight dispatchers from Hawaii follow the developing weather along the route as well as at the final destination. They ensure the aircraft has all the provisions (fuel, food, etc.) needed to make the flight safely. They also track the flight to ensure it remains on course per the flight plan, keeping all ground support personnel aware of its progress.

Where to Find Flight Dispatcher Training in Hawaii

You can train to become a flight dispatcher in one of three ways:

1. Graduate from a college or vocational training school's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved flight dispatcher course in Hawaii.
2. Work for at least one year as an apprentice and under the direct supervision of an FAA certified flight dispatcher.
3. Work for two of the last three preceding years as an air traffic controller, either in the military or civilian sectors

Hawaii Flight Dispatchers Job Description

Hawaii Flight Dispatchers are licensed airmen certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration and have joint responsibility with the captain for the safety and operational control of flights under his/her guidance.

Flight Dispatchers from Hawaii authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government and company regulations to expedite and ensure the safety of flight by performing the following tasks:

  • responsible for economics, passenger service and operational control of day to day flight operations.
  • analyze and evaluate meteorological information to determine potential hazards to the safety of flight and to select the most desirable and economic route of flight.
  • compute the amount of fuel required for the safe completion of flight according to the type of aircraft, the distance of the flight, maintenance limitations, weather conditions and minimum fuel requirements prescribed by federal aviation regulations.
  • prepare flight plans containing information such as maximum allowable takeoff and landing weights, weather reports, field conditions, NOTAMS and many other informational components required for the safe completion of the flight.
  • prepare and signs the dispatch release which is the legal document providing authorization for a flight to depart.
  • delay or cancel flights if unsafe conditions threaten the safety of his/her aircraft or passengers.
  • monitor weather conditions, aircraft position reports, and aeronautical navigation charts to evaluate the progress of the flight.
  • update the pilot in command of significant changes to weather or flight plan and recommends flight plan alternates, such as changing course, altitude and, if required, enroute landings in the interest of safety and economy.
  • originate and disseminate flight information to others in his/her company including stations and reservations. This is the source of information provided to the traveling public.

Flight Dispatchers from Hawaii have undergone extensive training to have earned the coveted Flight Dispatcher's certificate having taken and passed both an extensive oral examination and the comprehensive Dispatch ADX test, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration. These tests are equivalent to the same Air Transport Pilot (ATP) written and oral examinations that an airline captain must successfully complete.

Flight Dispatchers from Hawaii participate in frequent and detailed recurrent training courses covering aircraft systems, company operations policy, meteorology and Federal Air Regulations as required by the FAA.

Flight Dispatcher Salaries in Hawaii

How much do flight dispatchers from Hawaii make? PayScale.com reports that flight dispatchers from Hawaii with 1-4 years experience make between $31,000 and $46,000, and those with more than five years experience earn between $40,000 and $92,000 per year.

AvJobs.com reports that the highest-paid dispatchers from Hawaii can earn $110,000 per year.

According to Careers.StateUniversity.com, flight dispatcher salaries in >Hawaii vary depending on the dispatcher's experience, size of the operation, location, and size of the airport. Starting salaries can be as low as $20,000 per year and top out at over $100,000 annually. Learn about flight dispatcher training.

Flight Dispatcher Benefits

Other flight dispatcher benefits in Hawaii may include health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, and travel benefits (if airline employed) for you and your immediate family, including free or reduced airfares and discounts at major hotels. Another possible benefit of working for an airline is being able to ride in the cockpit jumpseat. Dispatchers are required to fly in the jumpseat at least five hours per year as part of their recurrent training, but dispatchers are also allowed to fly in the jumpseat on their own airline, and most other airlines, anywhere, anytime the jumpseat is available. Get more information about flight dispatcher jobs.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Ahuimanu

Under SFAR 73, a Robinson pilot must be signed off by an instructor act as pilot in command of a particular model of Robinson helicopter. Pilots with less experience must have a flight review every year rather than the standard two years. Any flight review must be accomplished in the precise model of Robinson helicopter to be flown. So, for example, a pilot who flew a Robinson R22 for 500 hours then upgraded to a four-seat R44 and flew it for a few years would not be legal to get back in and fly the R22 unless he or she first did a flight review with an instructor. An instructor cannot teach in the Robinson R22 or R44 unless he or she has been specifically signed off for that privilege by an FAA-designated examiner.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Ahuimanu

A separate issue is that the helicopter is reasonably stable when hovering nose-into-the-wind. If, however, the pilot deems it necessary to rotate the helicopter, perhaps to fit into a conventional parking space, the helicopter can be difficult to control. The left crosswind is the worst for an American helicopter such as the Robinson or JetRanger; it blows disturbed air pushed sideways by the tail rotor back into the tail rotor. In a strong enough left crosswind, even the world's best helicopter pilot may not be able to maintain control while hovering.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Aiea

For pilots of Robinson helicopters, the FAA imposes an additional range of training and recurrent training requirements via \SFAR 73 to Part 61\ which was written into the law on February 23 1995 after a rash of accidents involving Robinson helicopters and three special certification reviews by the FAA (source: National Transportation Safety Board Special Investigation Report PB96-917003 NTSB/SIR-96/03Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Loss of Main Rotor Control Accidents).

Post World War Pilot Training: At Randolph the course was divided into three stages: H-13, H-19 and H-21 with 30 hours in each aircraft. In January 1958 ATC added a fourth phase, an operational or combat crew-training phase which was conducted at Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada. Stead would allow realistic desert, water, snow, mountainous, and high altitude training as well as collateral training with Air Training Command's survival school.

Helicopter Factoid for Aiea

Helicopters that are simultaneously moving slowly and descending are subject to a hazardous condition known as \settling with power or vortex ring state. The helicopter sinks into its own previously disturbed air and the result is a dramatic increase in descent rate that cannot be arrested by adding collective pitch and engine power.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Big Island

Under SFAR 73, a Robinson pilot must be signed off by an instructor act as pilot in command of a particular model of Robinson helicopter. Pilots with less experience must have a flight review every year rather than the standard two years. Any flight review must be accomplished in the precise model of Robinson helicopter to be flown. So, for example, a pilot who flew a Robinson R22 for 500 hours then upgraded to a four-seat R44 and flew it for a few years would not be legal to get back in and fly the R22 unless he or she first did a flight review with an instructor. An instructor cannot teach in the Robinson R22 or R44 unless he or she has been specifically signed off for that privilege by an FAA-designated examiner.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Big Island

A separate issue is that the helicopter is reasonably stable when hovering nose-into-the-wind. If, however, the pilot deems it necessary to rotate the helicopter, perhaps to fit into a conventional parking space, the helicopter can be difficult to control. The left crosswind is the worst for an American helicopter such as the Robinson or JetRanger; it blows disturbed air pushed sideways by the tail rotor back into the tail rotor. In a strong enough left crosswind, even the world's best helicopter pilot may not be able to maintain control while hovering.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for East Honolulu

A depressing number of helicopter accidents occur before the helicopter has left the ground. It is difficult to restart a hot jet engine and therefore many times people are loaded or unloaded while the blades are spinning. This can lead to fatal encounters with main and tail rotors.

Aviation Training History and Facts for East Honolulu

Designed as a rich guy's transportation helicopter, the Robinson R22 quickly became instead the world's most popular training helicopter. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous machines in which to train. Why? Much of helicopter training is practicing autorotations, in which the engine is twisted toward idle and the helicopter glides toward the ground. This maneuver requires the student to adjust the collective pitch control to maintain rotor RPM within safe limits.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Ewa Beach

Helicopter Training Facts: Most pilots develop a physical fitness regime during training to help them build the muscle strength required for this role. Maintaining a high degree of personal fitness also reduces the residual physical stress and strain of maintaining a fixed position.

Helicopter Factoid for Ewa Beach

Military Helicopters: There are different types of military helicopters that have different roles to play. We may often come across chopper names such as the SH-60B Seahawk Wood, Comanche RAH66, Chinook CH47, etc.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Ewa Gentry

Under SFAR 73, a Robinson pilot must be signed off by an instructor act as pilot in command of a particular model of Robinson helicopter. Pilots with less experience must have a flight review every year rather than the standard two years. Any flight review must be accomplished in the precise model of Robinson helicopter to be flown. So, for example, a pilot who flew a Robinson R22 for 500 hours then upgraded to a four-seat R44 and flew it for a few years would not be legal to get back in and fly the R22 unless he or she first did a flight review with an instructor. An instructor cannot teach in the Robinson R22 or R44 unless he or she has been specifically signed off for that privilege by an FAA-designated examiner.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Ewa Gentry

The heavier the rotor blades the more stable their speed will be due to inertia. With a low-inertia system, the student will have to react very quickly to a simulated engine failure or the simulated emergency becomes a real emergency. In the R22, the student and instructor have 1.6 seconds to act after a simulated engine failure. If neither lowers the collective and enters an autorotation within that 1.6 seconds, both are likely to die.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Haiku-Pauwela

Helicopter Training Facts: Most pilots develop a physical fitness regime during training to help them build the muscle strength required for this role. Maintaining a high degree of personal fitness also reduces the residual physical stress and strain of maintaining a fixed position.

Helicopter Factoid for Haiku-Pauwela

Military Helicopters: There are different types of military helicopters that have different roles to play. We may often come across chopper names such as the SH-60B Seahawk Wood, Comanche RAH66, Chinook CH47, etc.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Halawa

A depressing number of helicopter accidents occur before the helicopter has left the ground. It is difficult to restart a hot jet engine and therefore many times people are loaded or unloaded while the blades are spinning. This can lead to fatal encounters with main and tail rotors.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Halawa

Designed as a rich guy's transportation helicopter, the Robinson R22 quickly became instead the world's most popular training helicopter. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous machines in which to train. Why? Much of helicopter training is practicing autorotations, in which the engine is twisted toward idle and the helicopter glides toward the ground. This maneuver requires the student to adjust the collective pitch control to maintain rotor RPM within safe limits.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Hawaiian Paradise Park

Military Helicopters: weapons include machine-guns, rockets, guided missiles as well as autocannons. They're used to destroy enemy armor concentrations due to their anti-tank target capability as well as provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Helicopter Factoid for Hawaiian Paradise Park

Two-bladed helicopters, e.g., the Huey, Bell JetRanger, and Robinsons, are subject to a hazard known as mast bumping. Due to gravity, the helicopter hangs from a \teetering rotor system. The pilot flies the rotor system and the helicopter fuselage follows giving the pilot the illusion that he is flying the helicopter. If gravity is no longer acting on the helicopter i.e. if the helicopter is in a low G condition the tail rotor will tend to roll the helicopter to the right. The alarmed pilot will reflexively apply left cyclic which causes the rotor system to tilt but without gravity the helicopter fuselage won't follow. This puts the rotor blades and the mast into an extreme orientation and an inner portion of the blades will smack into (bump) the stationary mast that is holding up the rotor system.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Hilo

How Long Does it Take to Become a Helicopter Pilot: Keep in mind that you will be required to build up to 1,000 flying hours as well. Once you start instructing it will likely take you 12 - 18 months to build up to 1,000 hours.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Hilo

A separate issue is that the helicopter is reasonably stable when hovering nose-into-the-wind. If, however, the pilot deems it necessary to rotate the helicopter, perhaps to fit into a conventional parking space, the helicopter can be difficult to control. The left crosswind is the worst for an American helicopter such as the Robinson or JetRanger; it blows disturbed air pushed sideways by the tail rotor back into the tail rotor. In a strong enough left crosswind, even the world's best helicopter pilot may not be able to maintain control while hovering.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Holualoa

How Long Does it Take to Become a Helicopter Pilot: Keep in mind that you will be required to build up to 1,000 flying hours as well. Once you start instructing it will likely take you 12 - 18 months to build up to 1,000 hours.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Holualoa

In a hover, the stability provided by air flowing over the tail is gone and minor attitude variations lead to alarming translations over the ground. In a strong gusty wind, the helicopter moves in and out of Effective Translational Lift (ETL), becoming dramatically more or less efficient. This requires large collective adjustments to maintain hover height, since the amount of power required to hold a 5' hover without ETL will cause the helicopter to fly away if the wind or a pilot-induced drift causes the helicopter to get into ETL.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Honolulu

Military Helicopters: weapons include machine-guns, rockets, guided missiles as well as autocannons. They're used to destroy enemy armor concentrations due to their anti-tank target capability as well as provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Honolulu

In a hover, the stability provided by air flowing over the tail is gone and minor attitude variations lead to alarming translations over the ground. In a strong gusty wind, the helicopter moves in and out of Effective Translational Lift (ETL), becoming dramatically more or less efficient. This requires large collective adjustments to maintain hover height, since the amount of power required to hold a 5' hover without ETL will cause the helicopter to fly away if the wind or a pilot-induced drift causes the helicopter to get into ETL.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kahului

Insurance companies often impose more stringent requirements, e.g., recurrent training on an annual basis. In order to guarantee the ticket-buying public a higher level of safety, the FAA similarly imposes more stringent requirements on pilots of commercially-operated aircraft, e.g., ground and flight tests every 12 months for charter pilots (FAR 135.293) and proficiency checks every 6 months for airline pilots (FAR 121.441).

Helicopter Factoid for Kahuluis for Kahului

Two-bladed helicopters, e.g., the Huey, Bell JetRanger, and Robinsons, are subject to a hazard known as mast bumping. Due to gravity, the helicopter hangs from a \teetering rotor system. The pilot flies the rotor system and the helicopter fuselage follows giving the pilot the illusion that he is flying the helicopter. If gravity is no longer acting on the helicopter i.e. if the helicopter is in a low G condition the tail rotor will tend to roll the helicopter to the right. The alarmed pilot will reflexively apply left cyclic which causes the rotor system to tilt but without gravity the helicopter fuselage won't follow. This puts the rotor blades and the mast into an extreme orientation and an inner portion of the blades will smack into (bump) the stationary mast that is holding up the rotor system.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Kailua

Helicopter Training Facts: Most pilots develop a physical fitness regime during training to help them build the muscle strength required for this role. Maintaining a high degree of personal fitness also reduces the residual physical stress and strain of maintaining a fixed position.

Helicopter Factoid for Kailuas for Kailua

The Robinson R44 has a potentially lethal design defect: the electronic governor, which is supposed to ensure that rotor speed remains at a safe 100% is not hooked up to the rotor tachometer. It is hooked up to the engine tachometer. To make matters worse the engine tachometer is driven by a set of mechanical points inside one of the ignition magnetos.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Kalaoa

Helicopter Training Facts: Most pilots develop a physical fitness regime during training to help them build the muscle strength required for this role. Maintaining a high degree of personal fitness also reduces the residual physical stress and strain of maintaining a fixed position.

Helicopter Factoid for Kalaoa

Military Helicopters: There are different types of military helicopters that have different roles to play. We may often come across chopper names such as the SH-60B Seahawk Wood, Comanche RAH66, Chinook CH47, etc.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kaneohe

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR but generally FARs) restrict maintenance on certified aircraft to FAA-certificated mechanics and repair stations.

Helicopter Factoid for Kaneohes for Kaneohe

Military Helicopters: There are different types of military helicopters that have different roles to play. We may often come across chopper names such as the SH-60B Seahawk Wood, Comanche RAH66, Chinook CH47, etc.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kaneohe Station

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR but generally FARs) restrict maintenance on certified aircraft to FAA-certificated mechanics and repair stations.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Kaneohe Station

The engineer behind the R22, Frank Robinson, stated repeatedly that he did not design the R22 as a trainer and did not want people using it as a trainer, suggesting that they use the more expensive R44 instead (it has about 4 seconds of rotor inertia instead of 1.6 seconds). However, flight schools using the R44 could generally not compete with those using the R22 (a brand-new student can tell the difference between $200/hour and $400/hour, but he or she probably can't understand the practical consequences of lower rotor inertia). Thus the R22 continues to be used at flight schools around the world and its low-inertia rotor system and lack of power reserve result in frequent accidents during practice autorotations.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kapaa

Insurance companies often impose more stringent requirements, e.g., recurrent training on an annual basis. In order to guarantee the ticket-buying public a higher level of safety, the FAA similarly imposes more stringent requirements on pilots of commercially-operated aircraft, e.g., ground and flight tests every 12 months for charter pilots (FAR 135.293) and proficiency checks every 6 months for airline pilots (FAR 121.441).

Helicopter Factoid for Kapaa

The Robinson R44 has a potentially lethal design defect: the electronic governor, which is supposed to ensure that rotor speed remains at a safe 100% is not hooked up to the rotor tachometer. It is hooked up to the engine tachometer. To make matters worse the engine tachometer is driven by a set of mechanical points inside one of the ignition magnetos.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kapolei

Insurance companies often impose more stringent requirements, e.g., recurrent training on an annual basis. In order to guarantee the ticket-buying public a higher level of safety, the FAA similarly imposes more stringent requirements on pilots of commercially-operated aircraft, e.g., ground and flight tests every 12 months for charter pilots (FAR 135.293) and proficiency checks every 6 months for airline pilots (FAR 121.441).

Helicopter Factoid for Kapolei

The Robinson R44 has a potentially lethal design defect: the electronic governor, which is supposed to ensure that rotor speed remains at a safe 100% is not hooked up to the rotor tachometer. It is hooked up to the engine tachometer. To make matters worse the engine tachometer is driven by a set of mechanical points inside one of the ignition magnetos.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kauai

Insurance companies often impose more stringent requirements, e.g., recurrent training on an annual basis. In order to guarantee the ticket-buying public a higher level of safety, the FAA similarly imposes more stringent requirements on pilots of commercially-operated aircraft, e.g., ground and flight tests every 12 months for charter pilots (FAR 135.293) and proficiency checks every 6 months for airline pilots (FAR 121.441).

Helicopter Factoid for Kauai

The Robinson R44 has a potentially lethal design defect: the electronic governor, which is supposed to ensure that rotor speed remains at a safe 100% is not hooked up to the rotor tachometer. It is hooked up to the engine tachometer. To make matters worse the engine tachometer is driven by a set of mechanical points inside one of the ignition magnetos.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Kihei

A depressing number of helicopter accidents occur before the helicopter has left the ground. It is difficult to restart a hot jet engine and therefore many times people are loaded or unloaded while the blades are spinning. This can lead to fatal encounters with main and tail rotors.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Kihei

The engineer behind the R22, Frank Robinson, stated repeatedly that he did not design the R22 as a trainer and did not want people using it as a trainer, suggesting that they use the more expensive R44 instead (it has about 4 seconds of rotor inertia instead of 1.6 seconds). However, flight schools using the R44 could generally not compete with those using the R22 (a brand-new student can tell the difference between $200/hour and $400/hour, but he or she probably can't understand the practical consequences of lower rotor inertia). Thus the R22 continues to be used at flight schools around the world and its low-inertia rotor system and lack of power reserve result in frequent accidents during practice autorotations.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Lahaina

Under SFAR 73, a Robinson pilot must be signed off by an instructor act as pilot in command of a particular model of Robinson helicopter. Pilots with less experience must have a flight review every year rather than the standard two years. Any flight review must be accomplished in the precise model of Robinson helicopter to be flown. So, for example, a pilot who flew a Robinson R22 for 500 hours then upgraded to a four-seat R44 and flew it for a few years would not be legal to get back in and fly the R22 unless he or she first did a flight review with an instructor. An instructor cannot teach in the Robinson R22 or R44 unless he or she has been specifically signed off for that privilege by an FAA-designated examiner.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Lahaina

A separate issue is that the helicopter is reasonably stable when hovering nose-into-the-wind. If, however, the pilot deems it necessary to rotate the helicopter, perhaps to fit into a conventional parking space, the helicopter can be difficult to control. The left crosswind is the worst for an American helicopter such as the Robinson or JetRanger; it blows disturbed air pushed sideways by the tail rotor back into the tail rotor. In a strong enough left crosswind, even the world's best helicopter pilot may not be able to maintain control while hovering.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Lanai

Helicopter Training Facts: Most pilots develop a physical fitness regime during training to help them build the muscle strength required for this role. Maintaining a high degree of personal fitness also reduces the residual physical stress and strain of maintaining a fixed position.

Helicopter Factoid for Lanai

Military Helicopters: There are different types of military helicopters that have different roles to play. We may often come across chopper names such as the SH-60B Seahawk Wood, Comanche RAH66, Chinook CH47, etc.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Maili

A depressing number of helicopter accidents occur before the helicopter has left the ground. It is difficult to restart a hot jet engine and therefore many times people are loaded or unloaded while the blades are spinning. This can lead to fatal encounters with main and tail rotors.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Maili

Designed as a rich guy's transportation helicopter, the Robinson R22 quickly became instead the world's most popular training helicopter. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous machines in which to train. Why? Much of helicopter training is practicing autorotations, in which the engine is twisted toward idle and the helicopter glides toward the ground. This maneuver requires the student to adjust the collective pitch control to maintain rotor RPM within safe limits.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Makaha

Insurance companies often impose more stringent requirements, e.g., recurrent training on an annual basis. In order to guarantee the ticket-buying public a higher level of safety, the FAA similarly imposes more stringent requirements on pilots of commercially-operated aircraft, e.g., ground and flight tests every 12 months for charter pilots (FAR 135.293) and proficiency checks every 6 months for airline pilots (FAR 121.441).

Helicopter Factoid for Makaha

The Robinson R44 has a potentially lethal design defect: the electronic governor, which is supposed to ensure that rotor speed remains at a safe 100% is not hooked up to the rotor tachometer. It is hooked up to the engine tachometer. To make matters worse the engine tachometer is driven by a set of mechanical points inside one of the ignition magnetos.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Makakilo

Future rotary wing aviators are required to pass the Class 1 Flying Duty Medical Examination. This entails a thorough physical examination, and candidates can be disqualified if they are diagnosed with common physical and mental illnesses and conditions. The Army conducts interviews with potential candidates for rotary wing training after they pass the AFAST.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Makakilo

The heavier the rotor blades the more stable their speed will be due to inertia. With a low-inertia system, the student will have to react very quickly to a simulated engine failure or the simulated emergency becomes a real emergency. In the R22, the student and instructor have 1.6 seconds to act after a simulated engine failure. If neither lowers the collective and enters an autorotation within that 1.6 seconds, both are likely to die.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Makawao

Robinson Helicopters: The Robinson R22 Beta II is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Helicopter Factoid for Makawao

Pilots receive some ground school education on how to recover from a low-G condition, but the prudent way to avoid mast bumping is by avoiding the situations that will tend to cause a low-G condition. Extreme maneuvers by a pilot can result in the helicopter going low-G, but a more common source of reduced G forces in two-bladed helicopters is turbulence. Did the accident flight occur on a day when the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the FAA had issued an AIRMET for turbulence? If so, look into the possibility of mast bumping.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Maui

Military Helicopters: weapons include machine-guns, rockets, guided missiles as well as autocannons. They're used to destroy enemy armor concentrations due to their anti-tank target capability as well as provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Helicopter Factoid for Maui

Two-bladed helicopters, e.g., the Huey, Bell JetRanger, and Robinsons, are subject to a hazard known as mast bumping. Due to gravity, the helicopter hangs from a \teetering rotor system. The pilot flies the rotor system and the helicopter fuselage follows giving the pilot the illusion that he is flying the helicopter. If gravity is no longer acting on the helicopter i.e. if the helicopter is in a low G condition the tail rotor will tend to roll the helicopter to the right. The alarmed pilot will reflexively apply left cyclic which causes the rotor system to tilt but without gravity the helicopter fuselage won't follow. This puts the rotor blades and the mast into an extreme orientation and an inner portion of the blades will smack into (bump) the stationary mast that is holding up the rotor system.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Mililani

For pilots of Robinson helicopters, the FAA imposes an additional range of training and recurrent training requirements via \SFAR 73 to Part 61\ which was written into the law on February 23 1995 after a rash of accidents involving Robinson helicopters and three special certification reviews by the FAA (source: National Transportation Safety Board Special Investigation Report PB96-917003 NTSB/SIR-96/03Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Loss of Main Rotor Control Accidents).

Post World War Pilot Training: At Randolph the course was divided into three stages: H-13, H-19 and H-21 with 30 hours in each aircraft. In January 1958 ATC added a fourth phase, an operational or combat crew-training phase which was conducted at Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada. Stead would allow realistic desert, water, snow, mountainous, and high altitude training as well as collateral training with Air Training Command's survival school.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Mililani

Designed as a rich guy's transportation helicopter, the Robinson R22 quickly became instead the world's most popular training helicopter. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous machines in which to train. Why? Much of helicopter training is practicing autorotations, in which the engine is twisted toward idle and the helicopter glides toward the ground. This maneuver requires the student to adjust the collective pitch control to maintain rotor RPM within safe limits.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Mililani Mauka

Robinson Helicopters: The Robinson R22 Beta II is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Helicopter Factoid for Mililani Mauka

Pilots receive some ground school education on how to recover from a low-G condition, but the prudent way to avoid mast bumping is by avoiding the situations that will tend to cause a low-G condition. Extreme maneuvers by a pilot can result in the helicopter going low-G, but a more common source of reduced G forces in two-bladed helicopters is turbulence. Did the accident flight occur on a day when the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the FAA had issued an AIRMET for turbulence? If so, look into the possibility of mast bumping.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Molokai

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR but generally FARs) restrict maintenance on certified aircraft to FAA-certificated mechanics and repair stations.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Molokai

The engineer behind the R22, Frank Robinson, stated repeatedly that he did not design the R22 as a trainer and did not want people using it as a trainer, suggesting that they use the more expensive R44 instead (it has about 4 seconds of rotor inertia instead of 1.6 seconds). However, flight schools using the R44 could generally not compete with those using the R22 (a brand-new student can tell the difference between $200/hour and $400/hour, but he or she probably can't understand the practical consequences of lower rotor inertia). Thus the R22 continues to be used at flight schools around the world and its low-inertia rotor system and lack of power reserve result in frequent accidents during practice autorotations.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Nanakuli

Future rotary wing aviators are required to pass the Class 1 Flying Duty Medical Examination. This entails a thorough physical examination, and candidates can be disqualified if they are diagnosed with common physical and mental illnesses and conditions. The Army conducts interviews with potential candidates for rotary wing training after they pass the AFAST.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Nanakuli

The heavier the rotor blades the more stable their speed will be due to inertia. With a low-inertia system, the student will have to react very quickly to a simulated engine failure or the simulated emergency becomes a real emergency. In the R22, the student and instructor have 1.6 seconds to act after a simulated engine failure. If neither lowers the collective and enters an autorotation within that 1.6 seconds, both are likely to die.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Napili-Honokowai

For pilots of Robinson helicopters, the FAA imposes an additional range of training and recurrent training requirements via \SFAR 73 to Part 61\ which was written into the law on February 23 1995 after a rash of accidents involving Robinson helicopters and three special certification reviews by the FAA (source: National Transportation Safety Board Special Investigation Report PB96-917003 NTSB/SIR-96/03Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Loss of Main Rotor Control Accidents).

Post World War Pilot Training: At Randolph the course was divided into three stages: H-13, H-19 and H-21 with 30 hours in each aircraft. In January 1958 ATC added a fourth phase, an operational or combat crew-training phase which was conducted at Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada. Stead would allow realistic desert, water, snow, mountainous, and high altitude training as well as collateral training with Air Training Command's survival school.

Helicopter Factoid for Napili-Honokowai

Helicopters that are simultaneously moving slowly and descending are subject to a hazardous condition known as \settling with power or vortex ring state. The helicopter sinks into its own previously disturbed air and the result is a dramatic increase in descent rate that cannot be arrested by adding collective pitch and engine power.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Oahu

How Long Does it Take to Become a Helicopter Pilot: Keep in mind that you will be required to build up to 1,000 flying hours as well. Once you start instructing it will likely take you 12 - 18 months to build up to 1,000 hours.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Oahu

In a hover, the stability provided by air flowing over the tail is gone and minor attitude variations lead to alarming translations over the ground. In a strong gusty wind, the helicopter moves in and out of Effective Translational Lift (ETL), becoming dramatically more or less efficient. This requires large collective adjustments to maintain hover height, since the amount of power required to hold a 5' hover without ETL will cause the helicopter to fly away if the wind or a pilot-induced drift causes the helicopter to get into ETL.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Ocean Pointe

Military Helicopters: weapons include machine-guns, rockets, guided missiles as well as autocannons. They're used to destroy enemy armor concentrations due to their anti-tank target capability as well as provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Helicopter Factoid for Ocean Pointe

Two-bladed helicopters, e.g., the Huey, Bell JetRanger, and Robinsons, are subject to a hazard known as mast bumping. Due to gravity, the helicopter hangs from a \teetering rotor system. The pilot flies the rotor system and the helicopter fuselage follows giving the pilot the illusion that he is flying the helicopter. If gravity is no longer acting on the helicopter i.e. if the helicopter is in a low G condition the tail rotor will tend to roll the helicopter to the right. The alarmed pilot will reflexively apply left cyclic which causes the rotor system to tilt but without gravity the helicopter fuselage won't follow. This puts the rotor blades and the mast into an extreme orientation and an inner portion of the blades will smack into (bump) the stationary mast that is holding up the rotor system.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Pearl City

Robinson Helicopters: The Robinson R22 Beta II is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Helicopter Factoid for Pearl Citys for Pearl City

Helicopters that are simultaneously moving slowly and descending are subject to a hazardous condition known as \settling with power or vortex ring state. The helicopter sinks into its own previously disturbed air and the result is a dramatic increase in descent rate that cannot be arrested by adding collective pitch and engine power.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Pukalani

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR but generally FARs) restrict maintenance on certified aircraft to FAA-certificated mechanics and repair stations.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Pukalani

The engineer behind the R22, Frank Robinson, stated repeatedly that he did not design the R22 as a trainer and did not want people using it as a trainer, suggesting that they use the more expensive R44 instead (it has about 4 seconds of rotor inertia instead of 1.6 seconds). However, flight schools using the R44 could generally not compete with those using the R22 (a brand-new student can tell the difference between $200/hour and $400/hour, but he or she probably can't understand the practical consequences of lower rotor inertia). Thus the R22 continues to be used at flight schools around the world and its low-inertia rotor system and lack of power reserve result in frequent accidents during practice autorotations.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Royal Kunia

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR but generally FARs) restrict maintenance on certified aircraft to FAA-certificated mechanics and repair stations.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Royal Kunia

The engineer behind the R22, Frank Robinson, stated repeatedly that he did not design the R22 as a trainer and did not want people using it as a trainer, suggesting that they use the more expensive R44 instead (it has about 4 seconds of rotor inertia instead of 1.6 seconds). However, flight schools using the R44 could generally not compete with those using the R22 (a brand-new student can tell the difference between $200/hour and $400/hour, but he or she probably can't understand the practical consequences of lower rotor inertia). Thus the R22 continues to be used at flight schools around the world and its low-inertia rotor system and lack of power reserve result in frequent accidents during practice autorotations.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Schofield Barracks

How Long Does it Take to Become a Helicopter Pilot: Keep in mind that you will be required to build up to 1,000 flying hours as well. Once you start instructing it will likely take you 12 - 18 months to build up to 1,000 hours.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Schofield Barracks

In a hover, the stability provided by air flowing over the tail is gone and minor attitude variations lead to alarming translations over the ground. In a strong gusty wind, the helicopter moves in and out of Effective Translational Lift (ETL), becoming dramatically more or less efficient. This requires large collective adjustments to maintain hover height, since the amount of power required to hold a 5' hover without ETL will cause the helicopter to fly away if the wind or a pilot-induced drift causes the helicopter to get into ETL.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Wahiawa

Under SFAR 73, a Robinson pilot must be signed off by an instructor act as pilot in command of a particular model of Robinson helicopter. Pilots with less experience must have a flight review every year rather than the standard two years. Any flight review must be accomplished in the precise model of Robinson helicopter to be flown. So, for example, a pilot who flew a Robinson R22 for 500 hours then upgraded to a four-seat R44 and flew it for a few years would not be legal to get back in and fly the R22 unless he or she first did a flight review with an instructor. An instructor cannot teach in the Robinson R22 or R44 unless he or she has been specifically signed off for that privilege by an FAA-designated examiner.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Wahiawa

A separate issue is that the helicopter is reasonably stable when hovering nose-into-the-wind. If, however, the pilot deems it necessary to rotate the helicopter, perhaps to fit into a conventional parking space, the helicopter can be difficult to control. The left crosswind is the worst for an American helicopter such as the Robinson or JetRanger; it blows disturbed air pushed sideways by the tail rotor back into the tail rotor. In a strong enough left crosswind, even the world's best helicopter pilot may not be able to maintain control while hovering.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Waianae

Robinson Helicopters: The Robinson R22 Beta II is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Helicopter Factoid for Waianae

Pilots receive some ground school education on how to recover from a low-G condition, but the prudent way to avoid mast bumping is by avoiding the situations that will tend to cause a low-G condition. Extreme maneuvers by a pilot can result in the helicopter going low-G, but a more common source of reduced G forces in two-bladed helicopters is turbulence. Did the accident flight occur on a day when the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the FAA had issued an AIRMET for turbulence? If so, look into the possibility of mast bumping.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Waihee-Waiehu

Future rotary wing aviators are required to pass the Class 1 Flying Duty Medical Examination. This entails a thorough physical examination, and candidates can be disqualified if they are diagnosed with common physical and mental illnesses and conditions. The Army conducts interviews with potential candidates for rotary wing training after they pass the AFAST.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Waihee-Waiehu

The heavier the rotor blades the more stable their speed will be due to inertia. With a low-inertia system, the student will have to react very quickly to a simulated engine failure or the simulated emergency becomes a real emergency. In the R22, the student and instructor have 1.6 seconds to act after a simulated engine failure. If neither lowers the collective and enters an autorotation within that 1.6 seconds, both are likely to die.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Waikele

A depressing number of helicopter accidents occur before the helicopter has left the ground. It is difficult to restart a hot jet engine and therefore many times people are loaded or unloaded while the blades are spinning. This can lead to fatal encounters with main and tail rotors.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Waikele

Designed as a rich guy's transportation helicopter, the Robinson R22 quickly became instead the world's most popular training helicopter. It also happens to be one of the most dangerous machines in which to train. Why? Much of helicopter training is practicing autorotations, in which the engine is twisted toward idle and the helicopter glides toward the ground. This maneuver requires the student to adjust the collective pitch control to maintain rotor RPM within safe limits.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Wailuku

Military Helicopters: weapons include machine-guns, rockets, guided missiles as well as autocannons. They're used to destroy enemy armor concentrations due to their anti-tank target capability as well as provide close air support to troops on the ground.

Helicopter Factoid for Wailuku

Two-bladed helicopters, e.g., the Huey, Bell JetRanger, and Robinsons, are subject to a hazard known as mast bumping. Due to gravity, the helicopter hangs from a \teetering rotor system. The pilot flies the rotor system and the helicopter fuselage follows giving the pilot the illusion that he is flying the helicopter. If gravity is no longer acting on the helicopter i.e. if the helicopter is in a low G condition the tail rotor will tend to roll the helicopter to the right. The alarmed pilot will reflexively apply left cyclic which causes the rotor system to tilt but without gravity the helicopter fuselage won't follow. This puts the rotor blades and the mast into an extreme orientation and an inner portion of the blades will smack into (bump) the stationary mast that is holding up the rotor system.


Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Waimalu

For pilots of Robinson helicopters, the FAA imposes an additional range of training and recurrent training requirements via \SFAR 73 to Part 61\ which was written into the law on February 23 1995 after a rash of accidents involving Robinson helicopters and three special certification reviews by the FAA (source: National Transportation Safety Board Special Investigation Report PB96-917003 NTSB/SIR-96/03Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Loss of Main Rotor Control Accidents).

Post World War Pilot Training: At Randolph the course was divided into three stages: H-13, H-19 and H-21 with 30 hours in each aircraft. In January 1958 ATC added a fourth phase, an operational or combat crew-training phase which was conducted at Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada. Stead would allow realistic desert, water, snow, mountainous, and high altitude training as well as collateral training with Air Training Command's survival school.

Helicopter Factoid for Waimalu

Helicopters that are simultaneously moving slowly and descending are subject to a hazardous condition known as \settling with power or vortex ring state. The helicopter sinks into its own previously disturbed air and the result is a dramatic increase in descent rate that cannot be arrested by adding collective pitch and engine power.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Waimea

Robinson Helicopters: The Robinson R22 Beta II is flown throughout the world for many applications, ranging from flight training to livestock mustering to patrolling pipelines, that require dependability, low operating costs, and performance.

Helicopter Factoid for Waimea

Pilots receive some ground school education on how to recover from a low-G condition, but the prudent way to avoid mast bumping is by avoiding the situations that will tend to cause a low-G condition. Extreme maneuvers by a pilot can result in the helicopter going low-G, but a more common source of reduced G forces in two-bladed helicopters is turbulence. Did the accident flight occur on a day when the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the FAA had issued an AIRMET for turbulence? If so, look into the possibility of mast bumping.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Waipahu

Future rotary wing aviators are required to pass the Class 1 Flying Duty Medical Examination. This entails a thorough physical examination, and candidates can be disqualified if they are diagnosed with common physical and mental illnesses and conditions. The Army conducts interviews with potential candidates for rotary wing training after they pass the AFAST.

Helicopter Factoid for Waipahus for Waipahu

Pilots receive some ground school education on how to recover from a low-G condition, but the prudent way to avoid mast bumping is by avoiding the situations that will tend to cause a low-G condition. Extreme maneuvers by a pilot can result in the helicopter going low-G, but a more common source of reduced G forces in two-bladed helicopters is turbulence. Did the accident flight occur on a day when the wind was gusting to 30 knots and the FAA had issued an AIRMET for turbulence? If so, look into the possibility of mast bumping.


Helicopter Fun Facts for Waipio

How Long Does it Take to Become a Helicopter Pilot: Keep in mind that you will be required to build up to 1,000 flying hours as well. Once you start instructing it will likely take you 12 - 18 months to build up to 1,000 hours.

Aviation Training History and Facts for Waipio

In a hover, the stability provided by air flowing over the tail is gone and minor attitude variations lead to alarming translations over the ground. In a strong gusty wind, the helicopter moves in and out of Effective Translational Lift (ETL), becoming dramatically more or less efficient. This requires large collective adjustments to maintain hover height, since the amount of power required to hold a 5' hover without ETL will cause the helicopter to fly away if the wind or a pilot-induced drift causes the helicopter to get into ETL.