Instrument Flying
If you wish to get a night rating or simply improve your overall knowledge, skill and ability as a helicopter pilot you need to do some basic Instrument Flying (I/F).
I/F is interesting, challenging and will improve your ‘feel’ for the helicopter. Further, the ability to get safely out of some bad weather situations may one day save your life!
The R22 has fairly limited flight instruments, but these are enough for you to come to grips with the basics. We have a screen and goggles which more or less cut out most of the visual references.
We start off by considering the senses and the effect on balance. With your eyes open you can see yourself falling off balance, with your eyes closed it’s more difficult as there are no visual clues. That’s exactly what it is like flying into cloud.
Once you have learnt to trust your instruments (which don’t have human weaknesses!) you are well on your way with your I/F. You then progress onto scanning techniques of the panel and learning not to ‘chase’ the instruments. Learning to climb, descend, turn and fly straight and level in the new environment is a challenge indeed. Once you have mastered basic I/F the instructor will put the aircraft into some 'unusual attitudes' for you to take the correct recovery action. Finally we introduce more complex navigation and mental dead reckoning exercises, together with simulated radar 'talkdowns' and VOR approaches to Whenuapai Military Airfield. All this helps to consolidate your knowledge and hone your skills.
The key to Instrument Flying is to relax… be smooth as silk, trust the instruments, plan ahead and enjoy!