Schweizer 300CBi
EXERCISE 18
LOW FLYING
TRAINING OBJECTIVES:
1. Manoeuvre the helicopter safely at low level:
a) At high speed
b) At low speed
2. From straight and level carry out a quickstop
into wind.
-In the low flying area at
70kts/50ft above obstacles
-In the low flying area at
40kts/50ft above obstacles
-Maintaining height & heading
3. From straight and level downwind, carry out a quickstop into wind:
a) By turning and flaring
-Maintaining height
b) By flaring and turning
-Maintaining height
4. From straight and level crosswind, carry out a:
a) Procedure Turn
b) Agricultural Turn
5. Carry out a successful power-off landing, following
a simulated engine failure at low level.
-100ft AGL/70kts into wind
6. Display AIRMANSHIP.
INTRODUCTION:
Low flying training does not give the pilot the right to fly low level whenever he/she
pleases. Flight below 500ft AGL is only permitted when conducting certain types of
airwork (eg: mustering, agricultural spraying etc), and then only if CASA have given the
operator approval to do so. When joining a new company ensure you read and understand
the Company Operations Manual fully, as among other things, this will detail how and
when you may conduct low flying operations. Passengers cannot be carried when
conducting low level training.
Be aware that low level flying there is always an added risk, which is accepted to complete
the task. Once the need for low flight is over, climb to a safe height. A minor failure at
medium level becomes a difficult failure at low level, as you have no height to react.
Radio range will also be reduced, so you may not be able to advise someone if you have a
problem.
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V helicopters Flying School
Exercise 18 Page No. 1
Schweizer 300CBi
HAZARDS:
Hazards involved with low flying include: wires, dead trees, downdraughts, turbulence,
wind effects, birds/Sun (Clean bubble)/False Horizons & Retreating Blade Stall.
Low flying therefore demands:
a) Good Lookout
b) Attention to airspeed and power requirements
c) Anticipation
ENTRY TO AREA (L.F.A)
Prior to low flying:
1. Recce of the Area
a) Boundaries – Pick points when spraying etc
Road to North/River to East etc
b) Wires
c) Population
d) Livestock
2. Risk Management
a) Fly low level only when absolutely necessary,
Look at Ht/Velocity graph.
b) Select a flight path which provides forced landing
areas.
c) Cross power lines at poles.
3. Checks
a) H.A.S.E.L checks.
b) Wind checks.
c) Fuel contents check
1. MANOEUVRE HELICOPTER AT LOW LEVEL
HIGH SPEED:
Controls:
The cyclic controls airspeed
The collective controls height
-70kts
-50ft above obstacles
Variations:
Cyclic to assist with climbs over steep terrain. Reduce speed if visibility is poor.
Steep Turns:
Any turn with an angle of bank greater than 45 o is classified as a steep turn.
Cylic to initiate the turn – airspeed to remain above 40kts.
Collective to maintain height at 50ft AGL.
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Exercise 18 Page No. 2
Schweizer 300CBi
Avoid:
-Approaching hills or ridges at 90 degrees.
-Zero or negative ‘G’ manoeuvres (Mast Bumping)
-Retreating blade stall
-Overspeeds
-Inadvertent speed loss
LOW SPEED:
Controls:
The cyclic controls airspeed
The collective controls height
-less than 40kias
-50ft above obstacles
Beware of loss of ETL!
Wind Effects:
1. Ground speed/Indicated Airspeed Relationship (IAS):
When turning downwind groundspeed increases, IAS decreases, lift reduces.
When turning into wind, groundspeed decreases, IAS increases, lift increases.
2. Wind effects in the turn:
When turning into wind the aircraft experiences an apparent slip.
When turning downwind the aircraft experiences an apparent skid.
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Exercise 18 Page No. 3
Schweizer 300CBi
2. FROM STRAIGHT & LEVEL FLIGHT, CARRY OUT A QUICKSTOP
INTO WIND:
Quickstops are used to rapidly reduce ground speed to zero.
1. Start a progressive flare, from 70kts, 50ft A.G.L., over a clear area, to reduce ground
speed.
2. Simultaneously lower collective to maintain height, selecting a distant feature to use as
a heading reference.
3. Co-ordinate flare and lever to maintain height.
4. Passing 20kts anticipate loss of ETL by raising collective to prevent sink.
5. Select a hover attitude – allow helicopter to vertically descend to a normal hover height.
Beware of Vortex Ring State!
Quickstop Errors:
-Flaring to low.
-Descending in the hover.
-Allowing RPM to raise above safe limits.
Quickstop into wind
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Exercise 18 Page No. 4
Schweizer 300CBi
3. FROM STRAIGHT & LEVEL DOWNWIND, CARRY OUT A QUICKSTOP
INTO WIND:
TURN & FLARE TECHNIQUE:
1. At 70kts/50ft A.G.L. downwind, roll into a level steep turn.
2. Passing through 90 degrees of the turn, flare the helicopter.
3. Roll out of the turn and into wind at 30Kias.
4. Establish the hover – then move forward and down to the normal hover height.
Turn & Flare
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Exercise 18 Page No. 5
Schweizer 300CBi
FLARE & TURN TECHNIQUE:
1. 70kts/50ft A.G.L. downwind initiate a normal quickstop.
2. As speed reduces to 50kias, roll into a level steep turn.
3. Roll out of the turn into wind at 30kias.
4. Establish the hover – then move forward and down to a normal hover height.
Flare & Turn
Note:
-Turn and flare takes you further crosswind.
-Flare and turn takes you further downwind.
Turn & Flare
Flare & Turn
QUICKSTOP ERRORS ARE THE SAME IN THE ABOVE TURNS, ONLY MORE
PRONOUNCED.
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Exercise 18 Page No. 6
Schweizer 300CBi
4. FROM STRAIGHT & LEVEL CROSSWIND CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
TURNS & AGRICULTURAL TURNS
PROCEDURE TURNS: 180 DEGREE LEVEL TURN
1. Select and fly a line feature, preferably crosswind
2. To reverse track:
a) Turn 45 degrees away from the wind
b) Pause
c) Reverse the turn, to roll out on the reciprocal track.
IAS should be maintained during the procedure turn.
60 kts
Procedure Turn
AGRICULTURAL TURNS: DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROCEDURE TURN
1. Make turn (45 degree) away from the wind, simultaneously starting a gentle climb with
cyclic.
2. As speed reduces, the turn is reversed.
3. Allow the nose of the helicopter to fall to regain speed as the helicopter rolls out on a
reciprocal track.
Note:
-Entry and exit speeds should be the same.
-Maintain positive ‘G’ throughout the turn.
-Maintain balance.
-Turns are essentially cyclic turns.
60 kts
Agricultural Turns
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Exercise 18 Page No. 7
Schweizer 300CBi
5. CARRY OUT A SUCCESSFUL POWER-OFF LANDING FOLLOWING A
SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AT LOW LEVEL:
At 50-100ft/70 kts into wind the instructor will lower collective/close the throttle to
simulate an engine failure.
1. Simultaneously lower collective and initiate a flare – aiming to maintain height and
reduce airspeed for a normal engine off landing.
IF SPEED LESS THAN 70 kts:
1. Lower the collective.
2. Select and maintain level attitude.
3. If the speed is above 50kias
If the speed is below 50kias
-carry out a normal Engine Off Landing.
-flare may need to be higher and harder.
-carry out a constant attitude Engine Off Landing
(no flare).
AIRMANSHIP:
1. Never fly low level unless absolutely necessary.
2. Low fly only in approved low flying area.
3. Always recce the area before low flying and plan your route to fly.
4. Continue to monitor the wind velocity and direction.
5. Never fly into areas of known turbulence.
6. Maintain a good LOOKOUT.
7. Observe aircraft limitations.
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Exercise 18 Page No. 8
Schweizer 300CBi
COMPETENCY STANDARD:
The student will be able to manoeuvre the aircraft at low level and conduct patterns into
and out of wind, maintaining a safe altitude and keeping the aircraft in balance throughout.
The student will be able to conduct straight ahead quickstops, flare and turn quickstops, &
turn and flare quickstops. The student will also be able to conduct Procedure Turns and
Agricultural turns.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this flight the student will be able to confidently manoeuvre the aircraft at
low level. The student will gain an appreciation of the difficulties of operating at low
level.
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Exercise 18 Page No. 9