Welcome back Flt Lt Luck : Student Sue’s ground school special edition synopsis

R22 student Sue has sent us a wonderful account of our most recent virtual ground school with special guest Flight Lieutenant Richard Luck.

Its always a pleasure to welcome Richard to Ground School.  His openness, sharing his wealth of flying experiences across the world is insightful & enlightening.  Encompassing the different situations he has encountered from learning to fly to present day across the world, different weather conditions, safety situations, planning and what to do when things don’t go to plan. Learn from everything.

Hearing how different helicopters respond, how carrying low slung loads i.e. under a Chinook or picking up and dropping off troops and all aspects of flight, hovering, effects handling was gripping and fascinating. While many of us will never be in that situation, his experiences are always fun to hear and eye opening.  Certainly the perfect inspiration for those looking at a flight career in the Military.

A highlight for me was listening to Richard’s advice on handling, calculating Centre of Gravity for the helicopter and not being coy about weighing passengers, telling them where they will sit opposed to where they want to sit! Cargo that may be on board, fuel required, are as Richard states; essential to planning and performance for a safe flight.  So don’t skimp on these important aspects of flying. You’re the pilot in command!

Richard always emphasises the importance of not getting complacent about procedures, such as start-up, shutdown, keeping up to date with them all and emergency procedures as you never know when you might need that knowledge. And as he says, “That is not the time to get out the manual!” For me, it was reassuring to know, it’s alright to keep looking at these procedures, keep reading, applying this knowledge in theory and practice; it is not a reflection on my competence or ability, but confirmation that even those flying every day, with hundreds of hours of flight experiences that they too refresh their knowledge.

An important reminder for us all, coming out of pandemic, getting back to flying after a break, no matter how long, get the Pilots Operating Handbook for the helicopter you fly out, look at your notes, plus more, in the safety of you home, classroom or with an instructor prepare, refresh knowledge. So that you continue enjoying flying.

Another brilliant ground school and I for one, hope Richard joins us again in Ground School.

Thank you Sue for this super account. Find out more about our FREE bi-weekly ground school or join our ground school cohort

Missed it or want to watch again link below