Author: Randy Sharkey
Safety Check: No Ice, Please
Winter weather has arrived in the Great Lakes region, and at Sweet Helicopters (Enstrom’s sister company in Fort Wayne), our Director of Operations Keith Shivers tells me we’ve already seen our fair share of HAA and VIP flight cancelations due to unexpected icing conditions. It should come as no surprise that helicopters are more susceptible… Read more »
Safety Check: Helicopter Traffic Pattern Etiquette
I recently pulled out an old Sweet Helicopters T-shirt with our old slogan printed across the back. It read, “No runway, no problem!” I wore it proudly, especially around my airplane-obsessed friends who would talk trash about rotorcraft. Not even the biggest helicopter critic can question the exceptional maneuverability of helicopters, which allows us helicopter… Read more »
Safety Check: Dangers of Rotor Downwash
Whenever you transition from a rotorcraft-friendly airport to a more rural environment, you’re bound to experience a few growing pains. A good friend compared the initial presence of a new helicopter as a “bull in a China shop.” The biggest challenge? Managing rotor downwash. Rotor downwash is a byproduct of a rotor disc generating thrust.… Read more »
Safety Check: What’s the Secret to Turbine Time?
Even full-time pilots might find themselves baffled by the catch-22 of logging rotorcraft turbine time. In order to affordably acquire turbine time, you need to have logged hundreds of hours already. Last month at Rotors ‘n Ribs, an experienced pilot, who recently discovered his love for helicopters, asked me if I knew the secret to… Read more »
Safety Check: Hello Dolly
Moving a helicopter after it shuts down can be a cumbersome task, which a helicopter dolly can help simplify, turning it into a one-person job. I frequently utilize an old dolly the Indiana State Police left behind at Goshen Municipal more than 20 years ago. But just because a dolly or moveable platform is available… Read more »
Safety Check: It’s Time for Some Campaigning
This month saw Hoosier voters head to the polls for Indiana’s primary election season. With both parties’ candidates virtually locked in, we can expect the 2024 general election campaigns to shift into high gear, and with that, an increase in temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) across the campaign trail. You’ll remember, that in last month’s newsletter, we… Read more »
Safety Check: Play Ball and Fly Safe
The 2024 Major League Baseball is here! Even if you’re not an avid fan of America’s pastime, if you plan to fly through a major U.S. city, you need to be aware of what are called Sporting Event Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). There are actually eight types of TFRs within the National Airspace System, but… Read more »
Safety Check: The Magic Number for Senior Insurance
It’s always hard for me to see a long-time Enstrom dealer close their business. I recently discovered the reason behind one such closure, and I couldn’t help but wonder, could this have ended differently? The owner had run a successful helicopter operation for many years, maintained a solid relationship with the FAA, and appeared to… Read more »
Safety Check – Surviving an IIMC Event
I recently observed one of my friends, a fellow CFII, helping a pilot perform multiple instrument approaches. For the purposes of this article, I’ll call the pilot “George” and the instructor “Sam.” Sam informed me George had faced a very scary experience the previous week after encountering inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC). George… Read more »
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03/10/2025 — Thu., 03/13/2025Location: Dallas, TX
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04/01/2025 — Sun., 04/06/2025Location: Lakeland, Florida
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