Helicopter

[Nereus]

If its a training helicopter its strange that they don't fly over the sea rather than over residential areas. Not only is the noise maddeningly irritating but its also dangerous given the number of helicopter crashes there have been recently.

There is no IF about it, it is a training helicopter. There are regulations that restrict how far over water that a single engine helicopter is permitted to fly. There are also "exclusion" zones around, and close to the Airport, where NO aircraft is permitted to fly.

Yes, it can become annoying, particular if it is repeatedly flying directly over your house. There are no "fly neighbourly" regulations in this country, and, like motorcycles, the last thing on their mind is that it may be annoying somebody else. However, the people running the School are friendly, reasonable people, and I am sure if you were to go and talk with them, point out where your house is, they would make an effort to vary the flight path slightly away from your house.

Not sure what you mean about the number of recent crashes. But, ironically, the School lost a helicopter, instructor and student in a crash into the ocean a couple of years ago. (the only accident that they have had, as far as I know)

[Norseman]

Yesterday it was an accident with the training helicopter outside the coastine of Hua Hin/Cha Am.
Luckily nobody was killed killed or injured.
The helicopter wasn't that lucky.

[Nereus]

Yesterday it was an accident with the training helicopter outside the coastine of Hua Hin/Cha Am.
Luckily nobody was killed killed or injured.
The helicopter wasn't that lucky.

I am not in Hua Hin at the moment, Norseman. Do you know any more about this accident?

[yabz]

I think we should organize a petition to ask them to stop flying over residential areas. Its way too dangerous.

[pilzecker]

Heard from some thai friends of mine that the helicopter check all the land so its same on the paper as in reality. Many people write their land as rice fields and then build a house on it.

I also see 1-3 times a day a small jet plane taking of from the airfield heading north passing over Palm Hills. Any info on that one?

[ste860]

it was on Thai TV about the heli going down it happened near the beach they tied it to the fencing so it did not sink ,unfortunately it ended up breaking up in the sea,it was only a two seater looking at it

[Nereus]

it was on Thai TV about the heli going down it happened near the beach they tied it to the fencing so it did not sink ,unfortunately it ended up breaking up in the sea,it was only a two seater looking at it

OK, thanks very much.

[Nereus]

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255402070014

Helicopter crashed in Cha-am. Two pilots survived

CHA-UM, 7 February 2011 (NNT)-A helicopter reportedly went down in the ocean off Thailand’s famous beach town of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province where the two pilots came out alive with only minorl injuries and are now recuperating in the hospital.

Hua Hin police reported that the helicopter belonging to Bo Fai Civil Aviation Training Center had crashed into the sea 50 meters off Ban Thalae Samran beach. Local residents who saw the accident rushed to the scene and rescued the two pilots who escaped the crash with minor injuries.

Both of them were taken to Cha-am Hospital for medical treatment while the crashed helicopter is currently being pulled out of the water.

[STEVE G]

Looking at the Thai civil register and including this crash, the Aviation training centre seem to have crashed seven helicopters since 1989. I don't know how that compares with helicopter training in the West but it doesn't sound very good.
When I worked with helicopters in the military we didn't loose very many in that type of basic flying training.

[usual suspect]

Photo in today's BKK Post..write up said it had suffered engine trouble, and had to ditch in the sea.

[Nereus]

I know that I wrote that they had only had one accident. What I should have written, and actually meant, was one accident over water.

Basic training in helicopters is a dangerous activity, especially in the ab initio stages. Military training cannot really be compared with civil operations as the training program is much better structured, and the equipment properly maintained, in the West at least.

The Robinson R22 Helicopter is now pretty much the standard training helicopter in civil operations. It is a well proven design, and reliable if properly maintained.
However, it is very demanding and unforgiving to fly. Most experienced pilots and instructors will tell you that if you can master the R22 you will be able to handle any other types easily.

Thailand has a dismal safety record with all types of aircraft, fixed wing or rotary.
In many cases, especially in the past, accidents are not made public, but if you look into it a bit it is frightening.

And then there is this:

16-Feb-55
Norseman (aircraft make)
Thai AW
HS-SGC
After leaving Loei en route Phitsanulok the pilot diverted to an airfield in Burma to collect a load of opium; damaged on take-off whilst overloaded, and set alight by pilot to destroy evidence.

[Steve M]

Might be quiet over my house for a while then

[yabz]

Unfortunately it looks like they have repaired it already as it is buzzing around again

[Nereus]

Unfortunately it looks like they have repaired it already as it is buzzing around again

They do have more than one aircraft, so it is probably another one, as I doubt that the crashed one has, or will be, repaired.

[Nereus]

Anyone see the big bird this morning? If you didn't see it, you probably heard it!
Maybe we have a visitor in town.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... yal-family