For those who don't believe helmet's save lives...

[aeroscout]

helonorth made a point about not wearing helmets that was very reasonable. But he didn't try to denigrate those that do. This is the type of comment that should be a template for all comments.

One definition of tact is, Making a point without losing a friend.

[SBuzzkill]

Yeah, but do you ever fly solo? A lot of the people I work with that came from the military have never, ever flown solo. Even their "solo" was with their "stick buddy". Not that I care; having two pilots would almost always be safer. Back to the helmet thing, I do not wear one and couldn't if I wanted to. Only one contract requires it and I'm glad. I do not see the risk/ pain in the ass ratio as making it worth it. My company seems to feel the same way and I don't think it is because of the expense (and it would be expensive!) The insurance companies will tell us when and if we will wear helmets. I hope it isn't any time soon.

 

If the BN commander approves it yes we do. It used to be done all the time for MX flights to give the crew chiefs a chance to get up in the air. Unfortunately there was an accident a few years back and since then it's been harder to get approval for it. But it can and still is done from time to time.

 

Granted a lower time PC probably isn't going to get approval to do it due to the risk assessment.

Edited March 17, 2012 by SBuzzkill

[Oil Pilot]

Blackhawk and Chinook guys don't regularly fly solo, but the scouts and little birds do, right?

 

I agree with you aeroscout that a point can be made without denigrating those that choose differently. You were the one that called those who choose not to wear helmets "unwise" though. You could follow your own advice and choose your words more carefully.

[aeroscout]

Blackhawk and Chinook guys don't regularly fly solo, but the scouts and little birds do, right?

 

I agree with you aeroscout that a point can be made without denigrating those that choose differently. You were the one that called those who choose not to wear helmets "unwise" though. You could follow your own advice and choose your words more carefully.

I think it's unwise, objectively, all other things being equal. But I don't say that one who makes an unwise decision is unwise. Now someone who has a habit of making unwise decisions...

 

If you look at everything I have said in the thread in context, I think you would agree I am not accusing anyone of anything, or by sarcasm or other methods trying to demean anyone.

[Falko]

This is turning into a low IQ "just helicopters"discussion. Can't we just all get along here?

 

 

[Hotdogs]

I'm on the pro-helmet side of the discussion. Our helmets are required to be covered in white reflective tape so it makes us easier for SAR to find us in the water if we splash one in the drink. Add in bird strikes, impacts upon crashing, FOD being tossed around on the flight deck, spinning rotors aboard a ship, jet exhausts, not to mention other threats that shoot back at you. It's a good idea. I also like the idea of flying around in a titanium tub, but that's neither here nor there.

 

Now, if I were flying civilian and the only thing I'm doing is hauling stuff and utility work, yeah, I'd think about it again. However, I'd still lean towards wearing one. Taking a rock into the eyeball or skull because you didn't have a helmet on and visor down would be painful and potentially career ending experience. Especially in busy airports where aircraft are taxing about and there is a pretty active flight line. I can understand the reason some don't invest in them as well, those puppies are expensive.

 

Navy/Marine pilots learn to fly solo (in much faster fixed wing aircraft) before they even jump into a helicopter. It's not hard... Helicopters are reaaaalllly slow...

[Gomer Pylot]

You would really keep your helmet on your head in the water? It would make it easier to find dead bodies, perhaps, but if I'm dead I won't care about being found. I have no objection to anyone wearing a helmet if they want, or if it's mandated by the employer, but saying that everyone must, or even should, wear one is risible, IMO. The military isn't about to change the requirement, but the military is very different. Since I resigned, I've had no instances of anyone firing projectiles at me while I was flying. If they were, I would use all the protection I could find.

[SBuzzkill]

You bet! One of the things we learn when doing HOST training is that helmets are very effective flotation devices.

[Hotdogs]

You bet! One of the things we learn when doing HOST training is that helmets are very effective flotation devices.

 

Bingo. We also add velcro tape as well to put our IR strobe light on top of our head. Makes us that much easier to find. As well as a good device to trap air and body heat.

[Spike]

I knew a pilot who refused to wear a PFD when operating over open water. He said it would probably hinder his escape from a sinking machine. Tragically, a few years ago, he drowned while surfing in Duluth Minnesota…… If I remember correctly, he served in the Navy as well……

 

I kinda miss Butters…..

Edited March 18, 2012 by Spike

[helipilot702]

I myself believe in protecting my head and wear a helmet as well as a Nomex flight suit. It is recommended in Robinson's POH as well. Most of the instructors at my school wear it all as well and some students. Why take any chances!

[Falko]

 

 

he will be back shorty....

[clay]

I knew a pilot who refused to wear a PFD when operating over open water. He said it would probably hinder his escape from a sinking machine. Tragically, a few years ago, he drowned while surfing in Duluth Minnesota…… If I remember correctly, he served in the Navy as well……

 

I kinda miss Butters…..

 

HAHAHA. That's classic.

[avbug]

I'm a believer in wearing a helmet; the worth has been proven to me. To each his own.

[far137oh58c]

On December 6 2007 I was involved in an airplane crash in Soledad, California. I was in an Air Tractor 301 seeding some mountain tops when I entered a boxed canyon. I crashed into a narrow & steep ravine, but I 1st went through some trees that broke open the right side wing fuel tank. Due to the exhaust stack (R-1340) also on the right side, it caught fire while going through the trees. Upon impact with the ravine, I was knocked unconcious for about 30 seconds. When I came to, my right foot & right arm was on fire. I was rolling backwards a little to the bottom of this ravine. Anyway, I am 100% convinced that my helmet saved my life by allowing the impact my head took into the dash panel to be absorbed by the helmet.(Instead of being knocked out for a longer time & burning up) Upon exiting the burning aircraft, the left wing tank went up also. I was about 25 feet away when it just exploded with a muffled thud. Immediatly, the cockpit was engulfed in fire. My shoulder straps streched enough that my head hit the panel. After my rescue & a few days in the burn unit in San Jose, my forehead was VERY SORE & TENDER. Even with the helmet, the impact was severe. I am a firm beliver that when I am working, my helmet is just as important as my lap & shoulder belts. I have since removed the Dual Visor part though, as that latching mechanisim actually hit the panel & put all of the impact force in that one small spot. Like hitting a ball peen hammer on the helmet! Also, this was a quick, 1 load job. I did not wear my usual long sleeve cotton shirt either. So, dont ever think it can't happen. At that time, I had 13,000+ hours, so I knew better. Do I wear a helmet when pleasure flying? No. But that environment is much more forgiving.

Also, my helmet was not damaged, it worked very well. I wear the same one every working day.

I only hope that my experiances can help others.

[THE_COYOTE]

When I read this article the first thing I got from it was why disengage your emergency release? It seems to me that the head trauma is a result and not a cause. I wear a helmet when I can, however I don't use it to do precision long line, it restricts my vision too much. Just like the flight suit argument I think we all have to make our own decisions, NOT MAKE LAWS TO REGULATE WHO MUST WEAR WHAT! Just my opinion.

 

 

Update: Sorry I read a different report on this same accident that said that he disengaged his emergency release.

Edited March 25, 2012 by THE_COYOTE

[RagMan]

It was not my intention at any point of my original post to suggest that pilots should wear helmets ALL of the time. Obviously it would never happen. I simply stated that it's ludicrous for people to think helmet's have no impact on safety.

 

Coyote, I had a buddy come down there to WithRotor a couple weeks back to fly an S61 down to Redding for some frost patrol with you guys. Know the Gagnons?

[THE_COYOTE]

Met him for the first time, good guy. You mean Curt right? That statement was for people out there that think that someone is a cowboy or stupid because he doesn't wear a helmet and that we need to be regulated for our own good. That accident while tragic is being used as a reason for those types of regulations. Bottom line, I know that many of the readers/posters on this site are just starting out in the industry and I think that they should have both sides of the discussion. I love these discussions, they are how we can be civil and yet disagree, right?

[RagMan]

Yeah, good ol' Curtis. We're both fixing to finish up our CFI cert's here pretty quick up here in Bend. Him and his old man run an overhaul facility down there in Redding. Pretty good little operation they have going.

[THE_COYOTE]

They do good work, we use them quite a bit for our Hueys.

[500F]

It was not my intention at any point of my original post to suggest that pilots should wear helmets ALL of the time. Obviously it would never happen. I simply stated that it's ludicrous for people to think helmet's have no impact on safety.

 

Coyote, I had a buddy come down there to WithRotor a couple weeks back to fly an S61 down to Redding for some frost patrol with you guys. Know the Gagnons?

 

No one thinks it has no effect, but in this day of regulators detached from reality things that become a consensus standard are often pushed into deftacto or actual requlatory requirements, or even adopted as policy by companies that think they are doing the right thing. There are times when it makes sense not to wear one. For companies that do almost exclusively percision longline, a lot of sense.

 

 

It should be pilot discretion.

[helonorth]

I don't think there is anyone that believes that you are safer without a helmet. You would also be safer in almost every human activity wearing a helmet. Is it justified? Is it justified to wear one flying in a charter operation? Should all the passengers be wearing them, too? I don't think so.

[THE_COYOTE]

Safer in a crash absolutely, however if the helmet is helping to create a situation where a crash may be more likely don't wear it. Like I said before; precision long line in most cases, I loose too much head clearance/ vision.

[brilliant206pilot]

The also fly multi-pilot in every helo, where civilians don't. They also get to fly ships with mini-guns attached to them, where civilians don't.

that s true 100%

[DS_HMMR]

that s true 100%

 

not necessarily true.