Helicopter Pilot Wind Awareness Techniques

Aug 30, 2024

Helicopter Lessons: Understanding Winds (Part 1)

Introduction

  • Importance of wind awareness for helicopter pilots.
    • Takeoff and landing into the wind require less power and offer more controllability.
  • Helicopter pilots are more conscious of wind speed and direction.
    • Operate at lower air speeds and altitudes where wind has a significant influence.
  • Comparison to fixed-wing pilots who mainly consider wind during takeoff and landing.

Key Points on Wind Awareness

Man-Made Indications of Wind

  1. Wind Socks

    • Common at airfields; located near the main runway.
    • Weathervane into the wind at 3 knots of airspeed.
    • Fully extended indicates a 15-knot wind.
    • Part of pre-landing and pre-takeoff checks.

  2. Flags or Banners

    • Useful in areas without wind socks.
    • Common in urban areas and provide similar indications as wind socks.
    • Train to monitor flags while flying.

  3. Automated Weather Service Stations

    • Use services like ASOS, AWOS, ATIS.
    • Provides wind direction and speed.
    • Create situational awareness by tuning into these services and using a VFR sectional.

  4. Smoke and Dust Clouds

    • Campfires or moving vehicles can create plumes indicating wind direction.
    • Smoke’s angle can indicate wind speed:
      • Horizontal plumes = faster winds.
      • Vertical plumes = slower winds.
      • 45-degree angle = roughly 10-15 knots.

Nature-Made Indications of Wind

  1. Trees

    • Leaning tops or visible underside of leaves show wind direction.
    • Silver underside of leaves visible when flying downwind.

  2. Fields of Tall Grass

    • Waves in grass indicate wind; requires 10-15 knots to be visible.

  3. Lakes

    • Waves and whitecaps indicate wind strength:
      • Whitecaps = wind over 15 knots.
      • Smooth water on upwind side, wavy on downwind side.
    • Mooring lines on boats point into the wind.

  4. Birds

    • Birds take off and land into the wind, similar to helicopters.

Conclusion

  • This part covers identifying wind using external visual cues.
  • Next part will discuss cockpit indications and further tips.
  • Stay tuned for Part 2 for more on cockpit-based wind determinations.

This video is provided by Jacob from "Helicopter Lessons in Ten Minutes or Less."