Can helicopters fly above the clouds?
Helicopters can fly above the clouds as VFR Over The Top, VFR On Top, and in the clouds under IFR flight rules. When flying VFR above any cloud a pilot needs to exercise caution and ensure there is a hole to descend through at their destination.
Does wind affect helicopters?
Wind can add aerodynamic benefits to a helicopter and improve its performance or it can reduce the performance and lead to some dangerous flight characteristics. Many helicopters have a maximum wind speed for starting the helicopter to prevent the main rotor from contacting the fuselage at low RPM.
What are the odds of getting in a helicopter crash?
Understanding a Helicopter Accident The crash rate for general aircraft is 7.28 crashes per 100,000 hours of flight time. For helicopters, that number is 9.84 per 100,000 hours. That means helicopters have a 35 percent higher risk of crashing compared to airplanes.
Can a helicopter pilot fly in fog?
In an area where fog is common, and flight is necessary, a helicopter would be equipped with the necessary instruments for IFR, Instrument only flight. Learning to fly with a hood blocking your view outside, flying with your instruments only, is part of a pilot being IFR qualified. Every commercial pilot would be IFR qualified.
Does rain affect helicopter performance?
Rain, snow, sleet, and fog may not affect helicopter performance, but they generally obstruct visibility. These conditions may make take-off and landing more difficult and affect a pilot’s ability to see obstacles that are encountered during flight.
What are the most dangerous weather conditions for helicopters?
While weather conditions may be favorable at departure, dangerous conditions at the destination can be equally detrimental to flight safety. Rain, snow, sleet, and fog may not affect helicopter performance, but they generally obstruct visibility.
How do headwinds affect helicopters?
Headwinds and crosswinds flow perpendicular to the flight path and slow the helicopter down. Tailwinds flow in the same direction as the flight path and speed the helicopter up, sometimes making it difficult for pilots to maintain control. In stormy conditions, winds may be stronger than usual or may change course unexpectedly.