Helicopter Flying Handbook

The essential guide for anyone who wants to fly a helicopter or gyroplane newly updated.

An official publication of the Federal Aviation Administration, this is the ultimate technical manual for anyone who flies or wants to learn to fly a helicopter. If you’re preparing for private, commercial, or flight instruction pilot certificates, it’s more than essential reading—it’s the best possible study guide available, and its information can be lifesaving. In authoritative and easy-to-understand language, here are explanations of general aerodynamics and the aerodynamics of flight, navigation, communication, flight controls, flight maneuvers, emergencies, and more. Also included is an extensive glossary of terms ensuring that even the most technical language can be easily understood. Helicopter Flying Handbook is an indispensable text for any pilot who wants to operate a helicopter safely in a range of conditions. Chapters cover a variety of subjects including helicopter components, weight and balance, basic flight maneuvers, advanced flight maneuvers, emergencies and hazards, aeronautical decision making, night operations, and many more. With full-color illustrations detailing every chapter, this is a one-of-a-kind resource for pilots and would-be pilots.

An introduction to helicopter flying techniques, many of which are difficult to master, as well as a discussion of emergency procedure, human factors, advanced operations and even a section on careers.

Compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration, this handbook is the ultimate technical manual for anyone who flies or wants to learn to fly a helicopter. If you’re preparing for private, commercial, or flight instruction pilot certificates, it’s more than essential reading—it’s the best possible study guide available, and its information can be life-saving. In authoritative and easy-to-understand language, here are explanations of general aerodynamics and the aerodynamics of flight, navigation, communication, flight controls, flight maneuvers, emergencies, and more. Also included is an extensive glossary of terms ensuring that even the most technical language can be easily understood. The Helicopter Flying Handbook is an indispensable text for any pilot who wants to operate a helicopter safely in a range of conditions. Chapters cover a variety of subjects including helicopter components, weight and balance, basic flight maneuvers, advanced flight maneuvers, emergencies and hazards, aeronautical decision making, night operations, and many more. With full-color illustrations detailing every chapter, this is a one-of-a-kind resource for pilots and would-be pilots.

One problem with helicoptering is that there are virtually no flying clubs, at least of the sort that exist for fixed wing, so pilots get very little chance to swap stories, unless they meet in a muddy field somewhere, waiting for their passengers. As a result, the same mistakes are being made and the same lessons learnt separately instead of being shared - it's comforting sometimes to know that you're not the only one to inflate the floats by accident! Even when you do get into a school, there are still a couple of things they don't teach you, namely that aviation runs on paperwork, and how to get a job, including interview techniques, etc - flying the aircraft is actually less than a third of the job. Another is that nobody really tells you anything, either about the job you have to do (from the customer) or how to do it (the company) - you will always be up against the other guy who managed to do it last week! Sure, there will be training, but, even in the best companies, this will be relatively minimal. This book is an attempt to correct the above situations by gathering together as much information as possible for helicopter pilots, old and new, professional and otherwise, in an attempt to explain the why, so the how will become easier (you will be so much more useful if you know what the customer is trying to achieve). In short, this is all the stuff nobody taught me - every tip and trick I have learnt has been included.

Trade Paperback + PDF eBook "bundle" version: Trade paperback book comes with code to download the eBook from ASA's website. This comprehensive textbook explains the aerodynamics of helicopter flight as well as helicopter maneuvers, going beyond the strictly "how-to" type of aviation manual. Helicopter pilots need to thoroughly understand the consequences of their actions and base them upon sound technical knowledge; this textbook explains why the helicopter flies and even more importantly, why it sometimes does not. Beginning with aerodynamics, each step of the process is fully illustrated and thoroughly explained--from the physics of advanced operations to helicopter design and performance--providing helicopter pilots with a solid foundation upon which to base their in-flight decisions. Containing discussions on the NOTAR (no tail rotor) system, strakes, principles of airspeed and high-altitude operations, operations on sloping surfaces, and sling operations, this revised edition also includesthe latest procedures Federal Aviation Administration.