Category: Safety Check
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: Safety Statistics and Enstrom’s Approach
“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
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: Behind the Scenes of Enstrom’s D.C. Flyover
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
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 »
Upcoming Events
VERTICON 2025
03/10/2025 — Thu., 03/13/2025Location: Dallas, TX
Meet us at booth #8211! Network with 15,000 professionals and 600+ exhibitors.
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SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo 2025
04/01/2025 — Sun., 04/06/2025Location: Lakeland, Florida
SUN ‘n FUN, which has become known as “spring break for pilots,” draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to Lakeland, Florida, making it the sunshine state’s largest annual convention of any kind.
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Enstrom Maintenance Course, Piston
06/09/2025 — Fri., 06/13/2025Cost: $1,400 Per Person
Location: Menominee, Michigan, USA
Enstrom offers maintenance courses to educate pilots and ground crew. They are I.A. Renewal Accredited.
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