helicopter

  • Helicopter Operations at McMurdo Station

    Helicopter Operations at McMurdo Station

    At McMurdo, helicopters play a vital role in local transportation and logistics. McMurdo has its own helicopter operations hanger and pad, operated by PHI Helicopter, featuring 6 pads, and an indoor enclosed hangar for maintenance. During my month or so living at McMurdo while awaiting transport to field camp, I had the opportunity to watch…

  • A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter Slingloads Fuel at Scott Base, Antarctica

    A Chinese-Operated Kamov KA-32 Helicopter Slingloads Fuel at Scott Base, Antarctica

    On December 30th, 2014, a Russian-made, Chinese-operated Kamov KA-27 Helicopter made a brief stop by New Zealand’s Scott Base, Antarctica. The helicopter is operated by the Polar Research Institute of China, and was flying from its supporting research vessel, the MV Xue Long, China’s only polar research vessel. The helicopter was picking up a slingload…

  • Flying the Robinson R22 Helicopter

    Flying the Robinson R22 Helicopter

    Today I took my first flight lesson and flew the Robinson R22 Beta Helicopter. My flight instructor was Pilot Jefferson Vicente of Heliflights.net. After a bit of ground review of the basics, which I had learned previously from the industry standard text “Principles of Helicopter Flight“, we hopped in the chopper and took off from…