Helicopter Operations and Safety Procedures

A set of flashcards focused on key vocabulary related to helicopter operations, safety procedures, airworthiness, and meteorological principles.

A1LATE

An acronym for Aircraft Inspections: Annual, 100 Hour Inspection, Life Limited Parts, Airworthiness Directives, Transponder, Emergency Locator Transmitter.

AROW

An acronym for Aircraft Documents: Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, Operators Manual, Weight and Balance.

MEL

Minimum Equipment List; a list that specifies equipment required for flight for a specific aircraft, generated from the Master Minimum Equipment List.

Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)

A device that transmits a signal to assist in finding an aircraft in distress during an emergency.

Transponder

A device that emits a signal in response to ATC requests to assist in locating and tracking aircraft, required to be inspected every 24 calendar months.

Flight Review (FAR 61.56)

A requirement stating that no person may act as PIC of an aircraft unless they've completed a flight review within the previous 24 calendar months.

Hypoxic Hypoxia

A condition resulting from inadequate supply of oxygen for inhalation, often experienced at high altitudes.

Night Operations

Flight operations conducted after sunset which require specific preflight planning, lighting, and pilot currency.

Auto Rotation

A procedure for controlled descent used during engine failure, allowing the rotor blades to continue turning while descending.

Vortex Ring State

A condition that occurs when a helicopter descends vertically at a high rate, causing inefficiency in rotor performance.

Carburetor Icing

The formation of ice in a carburetor, which can restrict airflow and lead to engine failure, typically occurs in certain temperature and humidity conditions.

Dissymmetry of Lift

The unequal lift generated between the advancing and retreating blades of a helicopter's rotor system due to differing airspeed.

Class B Airspace

Airspace from the surface up to 10,000 feet MSL surrounding the nation's busiest airports, requiring ATC clearance for entry.

FAA Flight Plan

A plan filed with the FSS prior to flight containing information about the destination, route, ETA, and other significant details.

Night Myopia

An optical illusion where the pilot's eyes relax and focus on objects too close, making it difficult to see clearly during night flight.

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological information issued to warn pilots of adverse weather conditions, valid for a specified duration.

Transitional Lift

The increased lift experienced by helicopters as they transition from hover to forward flight at speeds between 16 and 24 knots.

Clear Air Turbulence

Turbulence encountered at high altitudes, often caused by air layers sliding over each other, typically unpredictable and occurring in clear skies.

Harmonic Resonance

A condition when a system's natural frequency matches the frequency of an external force, causing large amplitude vibrations.