John Toal

Tail Rotor Failures

Different Types of Tail Rotor Failure While training for a JAR PPL(H) licence, you will be told about tail rotor failures. There is no flight exercise for tail rotor failures under the JAR system however I like to demonstrate the different types of tail ... Read >

The Piston Helicopter Engine

The Piston Engine Piston engines are the most common type of engine to be found in modern, light helicopters. Normally there will be 4 or 6 cylinders in a horizontally opposed configuration. Pistons move back and fourth inside the cylinders. Inside e... Read >

The Turboshaft Engine

Helicopter Engines One of the most common helicopter engines used today is the turboshaft engine. A turboshaft engine is effectively a jet engine and normally runs on a kerosene based fuel. There are many variants of turboshaft engines but they all follo... Read >

Different Types of Fog

What is Fog? We all know that fog keeps us on the ground when we want to be flying. But are you aware that there are different kinds of fog? Do you know the conditions that are required for fog to form? Do you know about radiation fog, advection fog, fro... Read >

Air Traffic Control Services in Ireland

Air Traffic Services Air Traffic Services to General Aviation (GA) traffic are provided by the Irish Aviation Authority The different types of Air Traffic Services available in Ireland are as follows: Air Traffic Control Service (ATC) Flight Inf... Read >

The Helicopter Circuit

Why Fly a Helicopter Circuit? Airplanes fly circuits. They fly them a lot and we can understand how this helps the pilots improve their handling of the aircraft. But most helicopters do not normally do their approaches to a runway. We normally approac... Read >

Navigation Diversions in a Helicopter

How to Fly Navigation Diversions A large part of anyone's helicopter flight training is spent on teaching Navigation. Navigation is an acquired skill and takes practice. During your skills test you will have to carry out a navigation diversion. Navigatio... Read >

How to Find Wind Direction

Wind Direction Student pilots can sometimes become bewildered and confused about how to work out where the wind is coming from when approaching to land at an uncontrolled area. Quite often they can feel the helicopter drifting and buffeting due to the wi... Read >

Dynamic Rollover in Helicopters

What is dynamic rollover? Dynamic rollover sounds like a term that might be used by the lottery companies. Every helicopter pilot is aware that dynamic rollover can be a problem when taking off or landing a helicopter. Dynamic rollover is caused when ... Read >

The JAR Night Qualification Course

Appendix 4 to JAR-FCL 2.125 After you get your Private Pilot’s License PPL(H), you will probably want to better your skills and train for a night qualification. You will not be allowed to fly at night without having completed a night qualification cour... Read >

Helicopter Power Checks

When is the last time you had to do a confined area approach or take-off? Do you still know how to do a helicopter power check? If not – you need to read this article. Power Checks There is no point in attempting to do a confined area approach witho... Read >

Radiotelephony For Helicopter Pilots

One of the most intimidating things a student has to do when learning to fly is learning how to talk on the radio. When you first start flying you soon realise that the quality of the sound from the radio is actually very poor. The language is totally dif... Read >

JAR Type Ratings for Helicopters

Why Get a Type Rating? Type Rating You have a PPL(H) and you want to try something different. For most pilots, getting another JAR type rating on their license is one of the first things they will do. Having probably completed their training on a sm... Read >

Navigation Diversions in a Helicopter

Navigation Diversions A big part of helicopter flight training is spent on teaching Navigation. Navigation is an acquired skill and needs practice. During the flight test you will have to carry out a navigation diversion. Navigation diversions can be the... Read >

Helicopter Daily Preflight Check

When you begin learning how to fly a helicopter, one of the first things you are taught is how to do a helicopter daily preflight check. As a helicopter instructor, I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this check. One day, this check could save your ... Read >