B180
OTHER:
Miscellaneous - Pilot Training
Outside Helicopters
Posting on rec.aviation.rotorcraft; April 29, 2000:
This "report" states that in 1987, the number of active helicopter pilots in the U.S. was 26,766. By 1996 that number was down to 19,239. Most troubling of all is the projection that in the next ten years that second number is expected to decrease by another 30%!
The Sierra Academy mentions that they are offering a two-year Professional Helicopter Pilot Qualification Program that will take a pilot from zero to 1,200 hours and an ATP. Oooh! Sign me up! Gee, that should only cost...what...$25-30,000? Who's going to spring for this? And after these 1,200-hour piston-popper wonders get a job, they'll be making...what...$34,000 to start?
Personally, I don't think there are going to be enough kids with the means to finance their Commercial helicopter ratings. And of the ones who do, will they be employable?
SynchroLite
Some Concerns re Owner/Pilot Training [UltraLight]:
Pilot training: How many hours ; How to do it (re: no 2-seats intermeshing craft)
Maintenance: The helicopter is going to be quite complex. How can it be assured that correct inspection and maintenance will be done?
Consider using a flight simulator like the Microsoft's or X-foil (X-flight?) on home PC. The program would have to be modified for intermeshing configuration.
UniCopter
Some Concerns re Owner/Pilot Training [Sport Plane/Pilot]:
The craft will not be allowed into the Sport Plane/Pilot category because of the complexity of maintenance. If it goes into the Experimental category then the owner must/should have a helicopter license to the level of solo and what qualifications are required to maintain the craft?
Wild Idea re Training:
Assuming that a two seat UniCopter will not be built, then could a Huskie be purchased and used for training. It might be modified to make its characteristics closer to those of the UniCopter.
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Last Revised: April 19, 2003