yzpilot Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 It seems like many charter operators stay away from the R44 and those that are operating R44s commercially tend to do so Part 91. Even some Robinson dealers have a stable of 206s on their 135 certificate and the R44s in the corner gathering dust. Is there a reason for this trend? Is there something about the R44 that makes it less suitable for 135? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelliBoy Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Its a piston powered aircraft and some organizations have an unfavorable opinion of such machines. Generally, a government or large organization or utility company will require light turbine powered aircraft. Insurance companies also like turbine aircraft because of the power margins. Make no mistake, an R44 is not a JetRanger; it may go as fast and take nearly as many passengers but in terms of power available at MGW there is no comparison. Eventually the good-old-boys who created these requirements will go away and so will their outdated biases. I plan on adding an R44 to my Part 135 Cert in the next year for this very reason. The powerline patrols we typically fly could be done at 1/3 the cost of a JetRanger in an R44 and our customer is beginning to realize that fact. A nearby operator has an R44 with a Single Pilot/Ship 135 Cert and does just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falko Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 .....I plan on adding an R44 to my Part 135 Cert in the next year for this very reason. The powerline patrols we typically fly could be done at 1/3 the cost of a JetRanger in an R44 and our customer is beginning to realize that fact. A nearby operator has an R44 with a Single Pilot/Ship 135 Cert and does just fine.... The thing is just that companies who want you to do power line patrol flights require you to have a turbine helicopter for that kind of job (company & insurance regulation). No question, the 44 is a good aircraft for that job. A 44 is also a goods choice because you won't have the stress of finding Jet -A along your route. Therefore you don't don't have to load up your jet or long ranger with lots of Fuel in remote locations. I know a company in MN that does there power line patrols in a long ranger. When ever I saw them taking off, they loaded like 3 guys from the power company in they Long Ranger....don't ask me why they loaded 3guys. I had 1-2 guys My old company got their 135 mainly for the 206 (DNR-Contract) and added their R44,for what ever job comes up. Falko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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