garvey Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Hey Guys , can anyone tell me why or how having the fixed wing time will reduce my flight costs and build my hours. It was mentioned to me at a school out in Louisiana . Also, I was doing the King course because I had some fixed wing time . Is there a similar test for fixed and rotary that I take as a written that would justify me having spent the 600 + dollars on the course . I know radio and basic aerodynamics would be the same , but I know there have to be guys out there who have found themselves in a similar situation . The final question, I promise , is for you experienced guys....what are the (besides oil industry) waterfront helo jobs that exist out there.....its kind of my scene for the last 20+ years . THANKS_ GARVEY ps--- when are we all going to have a kegger...I am in need of a beer!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadstick Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Hey Guys , can anyone tell me why or how having the fixed wing time will reduce my flight costs and build my hours. It was mentioned to me at a school out in Louisiana . Also, I was doing the King course because I had some fixed wing time . Is there a similar test for fixed and rotary that I take as a written that would justify me having spent the 600 + dollars on the course . I know radio and basic aerodynamics would be the same , but I know there have to be guys out there who have found themselves in a similar situation . Rule #1-Don't try to hover the airplane. This does work, however (groundspeed wise), if the head wind is greater than the stall speed. Rule #2-Don't reduce the vis on approaches. What I have found is that some people use the airplane to get the IMC time required for the ATP or if they are applying for a certain job which requires actual IMC time. per 61.161(a)(4) 75 hours of instrument flight time in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions, of which at least 50 hours are obtained in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof. As for total time, I can't seem to find a benefit of the f/w time. I'm a f/w ATP and about 15% of my total time is r/w. I am currently doing the SFAR chekout because R22's are the only way to get more r/w time around here (already r/w CFI). Big picture-wise f/w time is good for general knowledge, situational awareness, regs, wx, etc. I haven't seen that insurance companies or employers give a darn. I can understand that, though. Until full flight directors and FMS's are standard in R22's, you are always flying with a smaller margin for error. Enroute ops is basically the same, but the procedures from start-up to top-of-climb, from top-of-descent to shut down, and the EP's are different. If anybody has other experiences with the f/w-r/w time, chime in. We're all ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtcobra66 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 In regards to insurance, total time (fixed wing or otherwise) matters to some companies who insure helicopters, while other companies consider only total helicopter time. I would say it certainly factors in to insurance costs if you have high airplane time and low helicopter time (you may be able to get coverage when otherwise you could not with just low helicopter time). my 2 cents anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbit Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 My experience has been that fixed-wing time rarely helps as far as rotor-wing insurance goes, but rotor-wing does help where fixed-wing is concerned. As a favor to us, wish svtcobra66 could state specific cases and companies, cause I would be interested as a dual-operator. I have seen that fixed-wing turbine time will help lower rates when flying turbine helicopters. Insofar as flying piston helicopters goes, I have never seen a case where the fixed-wing time helped affect an insurance rate.Insofar as training is concerned, I have given several pilots helicopter add-on ratings. The fixed-wing time will do little to lower your expenditures. For instance... If you read the regs, and consider the learning curve, it still generally takes around 60 hours. ...And 60 hours helicopter time will not get you insured with a commercial helicopter add-on. Based on that, the best way for training for both types is to spend the money on the helicopter first. Then do the fixed-wing add-on. Also, having the helicopter rating first will make the fixed-wing rating cake to accomplish by comparison. Pardon my thread pollution and $.02 as it may be considered... On a personal note... If you are dual-rated, and civilian trained, I would get the instrument rating in the airplane first, and use it to get actual instrument time before the helicopter instrument rating. ...Seems like a very small percentage of instrument helicopter pilots have any significant actual instrument time (by observation, almost none), including the CFII's that give the training for the rating in the civilian training sector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtcobra66 Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Fixed wing time will help in terms of total time, which is what an underwriter asks for along with helicopter time and make and model time. Total time is a factor, though not nearly as important as helicopter time when you are talking about helicopter insurance. That being said, it does factor in. For instance, I had a client recently who has a liability-only policy for an Enstrom (through Aerospace), and while they only had around 60 hours helicopter time, they had over 400 hours total time (fixed wing). Their quote was lower than others I have dealt with who are fresh helicopter private pilots with no other experience. Now helicopter time factors in to a greater extent when you are getting an airplane quote, because underwriters usually quote as if you have 700 hours airplane even if you only have 200 airplane and 500 helicopter. As nbit said, turbine time also is highly transferrable, where 500 hours turbine airplane time will make it easier to get a quote for a pilot who has low time in turbine helicopters. I am aware of situations where underwriters would not insure a turbine helicopter with a pilot who had thousands of hours in turbine airplanes and had over a thousand hours in helicopters, but that has more to do with the insurance company (there are some VERY different quoting characteristics among the companies). Many times it really is about catching an underwriter in a good mood, I have had surprisingly cheap quotes from companies like Phoenix or Aerospace who usually would not quote well with certain aircraft. Anyway I hope this helps clear the fog a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garvey Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm thats interesting guys thanks . Soooooooooooo , the message I think I am reading is just get the helo ratings and then deal with f/w later . I am very low time fixed wing so it is not a big deal to just shoot for one as opposed to the other . As long as I am on the sbject , is there a King helicopter video seies like the fixed wing stuff they have . Just curious about any input anyone might have on that subject !!!!!!!! thanks------Garvey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superman Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 As long as I am on the sbject , is there a King helicopter video seies like the fixed wing stuff they have . Just curious about any input anyone might have on that subject !!!!!!!! thanks------Garvey I've used the King courses, the Helicopter is just a supplement to the fixed wing course. If you have a current course, you can call and get the helicopter add on, usually just one tape / CD. The course book you have should have all the Helicopter questions in it. As far as the fixed wing to rotor wing time, being dual rated, I think the only real benefit has been in the Instrument transition. There is no way to get actual instrument in a training helicopter (legally) and no easy way to build instrument time in the real world either. Fly SafeClark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbit Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thanks for the info svtscobra66... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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