Category: Safety Check

Safety Check: The Danger of Throttle Chops

Menominee, Michigan | March 24, 2025

As the weather warms up, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the impact chopping the throttle can have on your helicopter. A throttle chop occurs when you suddenly and rapidly roll off the throttle. In some circumstances, throttle chops can result in the engine quitting, which can have devastating consequences. Let’s peek… Read more »

Safety Check: No Ice, Please

Menominee, Michigan | December 16, 2024

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: Safety Statistics and Enstrom’s Approach

Menominee, Michigan | November 24, 2024

“Statistically speaking, Brand XYZ is the safest helicopter in history!” How many brands have we heard make that claim before? I understand customers want to know they’re not buying a flying Ford Pinto, but what do assertions like that actually mean? Such absolute and declarative statements always give me pause because, as an academically trained… Read more »

Safety Check: Helicopter Traffic Pattern Etiquette

Menominee, Michigan | October 27, 2024

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

Menominee, Michigan | September 29, 2024

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?

Menominee, Michigan | August 25, 2024

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

Menominee, Michigan | July 22, 2024

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: Behind the Scenes of Enstrom’s D.C. Flyover

Menominee, Michigan | June 23, 2024

It’s summer flying season, and helicopter pilots are frequently called upon to fly for airshows or other aviation events. That might involve giving rides, doing flyovers, demonstrating our aircraft, or just parking our helicopters for static displays. Not only are these a great way to show people the amazing inner workings of helicopters, but they… Read more »

Safety Check: It’s Time for Some Campaigning

Menominee, Michigan | May 23, 2024

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 »