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| Screenshot of the Article from the InFlight Pilot Training Website |
Here is a nice Article about the differences in flying Fixed Wing Aircraft (FWA) versus Rotary Wing Aircraft (otherwise known as Helicopters) from a Pilot Training Website. From the Article we can see that it is inherently more difficult to fly a Helicopter than a FWA because of its more complicated control system and Aeronautical considerations.
Helicopters also fly at lower altitudes than FWA, hence there is much less reaction time before they hit the ground if something goes wrong.
‘S-70i Crash’
As of now we don’t know the reason for the recent loss of a brand new S-70i Black Hawk Helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). It could be due to an inherent design or manufacturing problem with the Aircraft, or it could be Pilot Error due to disorientation, etc.
If it turns out to be the latter, then I think we can sort of understand it because of the inherent difficulty and danger of flying Helicopters in general.
‘Transitioning’
The PAF was able to transition successfully from flying UH-1 Huey Helicopters to their other modern Helicopters in the Bell 412 and AW109. They have been flying those for Years now with no reported serious Accidents so far (knock on Wood).
However, I think this was partly due to the 412s being very similar to the Hueys, and partly because the 412 and AW109 are within more or less the same Engine Power range as the Huey at around 800 to 1300 kW.
The S-70i on the other hand is a different beast altogether as it has more than double the Engine Power of the Huey/412/AW109 at 2,900 kW. I think this becomes more apparent when the Aircraft is lightly loaded.
Now if the acquisition of the Mi-171 Hip Helicopters does push thru, it even has a more powerful total Engine Power of 3,600 kW. Also the T129 ATAK Helicopter that seems to be pushing thru is somewhere between the Huey/412/AW109 and S-70i/Mi-171 with a total Engine Power of 2,000 kW.
‘Simulator Acquisition’
Because of this, and given the more difficult nature of flying Helicopters, I think it is important that the Pilots be given the right tools to help them improve their Skills in flying it, and one way to do that would be to acquire Simulators for them.
As far as I know, the PAF doesn't have a Helicopter Simulator yet, although the Government now is in the process of
acquiring Full Motion Flight Simulators (FMFS) for the 412EP and the S-70i.
Hopefully that planned acquisition will be successful as I think it will be a big help with the Pilot Training a lot, especially with the Night Training.
We are supposed to buy 16 of the Mi-171 Helicopters, I wonder if it can be changed to something like 14-15 Helicopters instead and to include at least 1 Simulator. And we may also want to buy a Simulator for the T129 later.
'Foreign Instructors'
One of this Page’s Followers commented before on a Post involving the S-70i crash that having foreign Expert Instructors for the Helicopter Types do the Training and Qualifications for the PAF Pilots to improve Pilot Training, and that seems to be a very good idea.
Again, with the possible incoming Mi-171 and T129 Helicopters, maybe the PAF and the Manufacturers include in the deal a long term plan for the use of Expert Instructors for the Training of the Pilots.
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