Flyfunston

by **Gw.** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:18 am

so, anything exciting happened yesterday ?

are helicopters allowed to fly that close ?

Gw.

by **aviatorjames** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:59 am

It's hard to tell how close in the webcam photo.
It's an Air Force H-60, probably out of Moffet.

I'll try and call them and remind them of our flying site.
We are properly marked on the aeronautical charts.
All pilots, civil & military, are responsible for knowing what hazards exist for them as well as what hazards they might pose to others.
...just as we are responsible for knowing the rules & limits of our site.

As a practical matter, I suggest avoiding rotorwash at all costs!
For me, I'd beach land or top land anywhere I could if it meant avoiding a certain encounter with rotorwash.

Think about when you fly through another glider's wake...
...times 50 or 60.

Jim Harris

by **zippidy** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:43 am

It looks closer then it actually was. It was at least a 100-200' west of the surf line and turned further out when it got a bit further south where a glider was flying.

by **aviatorjames** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:00 pm

I didn't answer the question of how close a helicopter can fly to the cliff...

Helicopters may be operated less than the minimum altitudes prescribed (for airplanes) as long as they do not present a hazard to persons or property on the surface.

What about in flight, you ask?

In general, if you see an aircraft, you are responsible to avoid it, regardless of what you're flying (some exceptions for airships, hot-air balloons and gliders -we are not "gliders" in this definition)
However, any aircraft that is being overtaken (that would be us flying at 30mph) has the right-of-way over the overtaking aircraft.

Additionally, helicopter pilots are advised in the AIM that they best know the hazards associated with their own rotorwash and responsible for safe altitudes and airspeeds.

...lot's of legal rope for us professional pilots to hang ourselves with!!

jim harris

by **aviatorjames** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:02 am

I did talk to a Colonel and he was very cool and very professional.
He said he would remind his crews to be vigilant.
I sent him some info about all the bay area sites.

by **diev** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:05 am

I think that might have been the third that came through. I was on the launch when the first two came through and I waved them off with my arms at the same time they went further out (hope they saw the gliders at westlake and turned because of them and not me). When this third flew by Chris was in the air and banked his wings and it went a little further out to sea (did ya get some inflight video?). I did get into a little of the wake of a small plane out at westlake, realized it and bolted out of there real quick like. It was a great day though and glad I started to feel ill at work :wink:

Flyfunston

April 11 helicopter

April 11 helicopter

woow

how close?

3rd chopper

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