LEA Newsletter Mid July
Check out
Learn how to look up Temporary Flight Restrictions(TRFs) on the internet to make sure that you donʼt fly over one during your flight either locally or on a cross country.
1. Google “TFR”
2. Click on the first link
Or click this Link.
3. Sort by state
4. Click “GO” just right of the sort option
If there are TFRs they will be displayed in a list,
If there are not TFR then a warning will come up saying “Data may not be
complete...cal your local Flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF.”
TFRs may be caused by a number of different things, most commonly in Central Oregon there are caused by forest fires, and events. Look for smoke and then look for TFRs, hear of an event and then look for TFRs, or just check before every flight to be safe. It only take a few seconds.
Night Flying
The moon is full on Friday(7/15) and even now is very bright and will be for a few days after Friday. So now is the time to do night flights. In your R22/R44 POH Section 2-7, it says, “VFR operation at night is permitted only when landing, navigation, instrument, and anti-collision lights are operational. Orientation during night flight must be maintained by visual reference to ground objects illuminated solely by lights on the ground or adequate celestial illumination.”
This is a limitation by the Operating Handbook that we must follow. Part 91.9
Civil Twilight start at 9:22pm tonight(7/13) and will slowly be getting earlier.
The Moon rise is at 7:42PM
What is civil twilight?
Civil Twilight
The time period when the sun is no more than 6 degrees below the horizon at either sunrise or sunset. The horizon should be clearly defined and the brightest stars should be visible under good atmospheric conditions (i.e. no moonlight, or other lights). One still should be able to carry on ordinary outdoor activities.
Flying
Summer flying is hot has high density altitudes and these reduce performance greatly of the engine and the rotor blades. Hotter air has the potential to hold more moisture in it, we live in a desert so moisture is not too thick but beware on days with a low temperature/dew point spread, because water vapor is less dense and there is a lot of water vapor in the air, therefore the rotor blades have less air to create lift from. This causes longer take of distances, reduced hover ceilings, slower Velocity never exceed speeds, and reduces off airports you can land at.
The engine’s performance is reduced but cause it also needs air for the combustion process. The fuel/air mixture runs rich of fuel, which causes rougher running engine, colder cylinder head temperature(CHT), and overall reduced performance.
Resources
Copter-Blog
This is a blog for better understanding of helicopter topics, like: aerodynamics, long
specific cross country planning, pre-flights of the Robinson Helicopters.
Blog created and managed by Adam Stockland, LEA instructor.
Here is a Link to copter blog
Company website
For some information about LEA’s flight school, maintenance facility, commercial operations, or aircraft sales, visit the company website.
Here is a Link to FlyBend.com
Facebook
Also Flow Leading Edge on Facebook
Here is a Link to the Facebook page.
NTSB Accident Report
For a search query of reports accidents to the NTSB
Here is a Link to ntsb.gov
Weather Underground
For lots of information on weather, astronomy, Sun set/rise, civil twilight, visit this Link to wunderground.com
