Helicopter Flight Information
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Helicopter Flight Information |
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Bullshit boots that is...Logging Pilot Flight TimeRecently, I had the pleasure of conversation with two pilots who let me know that they had multiple thousands of hours of experience. One had over 54,000 hours, while the other brags of 19,000 hours. Both of these pilots were in their early 50's, and both probably began estimating flight time as opposed to logging flight time some years ago. Even more, they have probably forgotten that some of us can still do math. I was recently observing a newly hired instructor teaching one of my students; I overheard this instructor tell my student that, "My instructor, a 40,000 plus hour pilot said...". I just shook my head and walked away. Lets see, the 54,000 hour pilot has logged at least 100 hours per month for 45 years without fail; NOT LIKELY. In aviation it is a rare occurrence when a pilot logs more than 100 hours per month for an extended period, especially an airline pilot as this pilot stated he had retired from the majors. An exception might be a pilot that spent 45 years in Vietnam in its peak of helicopter operations (oh that's right, Vietnam didn't last that long). My boots are not that tall, and the shit is running over the sides. Maybe this pilot has averaged 40 flight hours per week for 26 years also without a vacation; NOT LIKELY. You will never average 40 hours of flight time per week. The 40,000 hour man would have had to fly for 80 continuous years logging the flight time that the average pilot will log annually; NOT LIKELY. If someone claims 40,000 hours and they are younger than 70 or 80, I call bullshit. What about the pilot with 19,000 hours, now maybe that is true. Lets do the math. Let us assume that he got his first rating when he was 17, and now he is 50. This means that he could have been flying for 33 years. He must have averaged 575 hours per year, without a dry spell. That makes an average of 50 hours per month over that entire period. If this pilot stayed active, this one is probably truthful. The FAA under part 91 does not permit more than 8-hours of flight time in any 24-hour period for flight instruction, however you may fly longer than 8-hours for commercial operations not covered by other FARs such as part 135, 121, etc. Under part FAR § 135.265 (commercial operations), the FAA regulates hours as follows: No pilot may fly in excess of: 8 hours in any consecutive 24-hour period 34 hours in any consecutive 7-day period 120 hours in any calendar month 1200 hours in any calendar year If you brag of such times, be careful of putting it in writing. The only thing that bragging of unusually high numbers of hours accomplishes is sending up red flags. Recently while reviewing a students logbook I found a flight where a previous instructor had signed off a flight in excess of 9 flight hours. This is in clear violation of FAR § 61.195, and the instructor could have his certificate suspended or revoked for such a flight. Keep in mind that some violations can have a long reaching term of possible repercussion, after all, this is aviation.
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