Steve76 Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Well I am off to move a drill this week and having not flown a line (or machine...) for 3 months, I thought a discussion about techniques and tricks for better performance on the line might be worthwhile to get the head in the game. So, for all you guru's out there some questions to illuminate us lesser experienced. How do you judge your load height during the final stages of the approach? What airspeed do you aim to maintain to keep the load flying to the spot? Do you try to leave loads 10% below gross for more flexibility? What other clues and tips do you have for those with less time out there doing this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotorhead Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Well I am off to move a drill this week and having not flown a line (or machine...) for 3 months, I thought a discussion about techniques and tricks for better performance on the line might be worthwhile to get the head in the game. So, for all you guru's out there some questions to illuminate us lesser experienced. How do you judge your load height during the final stages of the approach? What airspeed do you aim to maintain to keep the load flying to the spot? Do you try to leave loads 10% below gross for more flexibility? What other clues and tips do you have for those with less time out there doing this? Most judge the height of the load by how much time it takes your eyes to focus on each. Target - Load - Target - Load, etc... Don't fly airspeed, fly groundspeed closure. A nice walking pace. That just takes practice and experience. Also depends on a hundred other factors. Leave as much of a Tq buffer as you are comfortable with. Take your time until you get comfortable, get better, then get faster. We don't want to be reading about you in the Vortex. Take er easy out there, I wish I were there too. RH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Up Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 How do you judge your load height during the final stages of the approach? Hope the sun is shinning and use the distance between the shadow and the load... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerfectTrack Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 thats an intersting concept. I always thought you watched the guys on the ground, and see if they are running, flailing their arms or covering their eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Up Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 ... or covering their eyes. I always thought that this was because the sun was shinning.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERTICAL X Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 I think the best advise I can give you is when you do your safety briefing, don't try and bull #### the crew. Let them know you may be a bit rusty. There is nothing worse than going in all hi and mighty and pancaking in your first pick. Crews will always give a little slack to someone who doesn't come across as" a god in his own mind". Start of slow and steady and you'll be looking like the pro that you probably already are! VX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve76 Posted January 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 Cheers, I like to add more ideas to the knowledge bank. I also look for the head position of the drillers. Them looking up or down is a good cue to the arrival of the load. Shadowing definately makes the job easier. I find the big issues always is the lack of power due to changing conditions or the ambitions of the drill crew... Oh! for an Astar... Any further clues out there lads? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-rex Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 Simply...Take your time, everyone gets rusty, Don't try to be a hero, at least not on your first day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Moore Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 Unless you do a detailed weight and balance calculation, how can you tell if you are ten percent under gross? If you insist on underloading your machine, you will have problems with the customer. You may be run off the job. I have seen it happen. They will argue that they are paying for 100% and in fact they will not be satisfied unless you give them 110%. To those who determine the weight of their machines with their buttocks, I know of what your brains are made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerfectTrack Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 just to add my point about flying 100% on every load, if the customers want that, have them purchase scales and bring them to the jobsite to ensure they get what they pay for. At the beginning of the day, you do your calculations and give them a number, they can weigh out all their crap to spec. End of problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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