WRCS - June 2004

HELICOPTER BRONZE WINGS
Rotary wing pilots recognised in award process

The WRCS Committee has resolved that the Club rotary wing pilots ought to be recognised for achieving flying standards in line with fixed wing pilots. The high standard of some members in competition flying is a matter of record and the Committee wishes to encourage all Heli pilots, as it does with fixed wing flyers, to attain skills that are in line with National Standards.
An MAAA standard exists, in which a pilot needs to have been tested and accredited to achieve HELICOPTER BRONZE WINGS.
This means that a bronze wings standard is required if a Helicopter is flown without the presence of an experienced pilot in attendance, as is the case with fixed wing pilots.
Whilst testing procedures exist for fixed wing flyers for bronze and gold wing standards, there has not been until now, protocols in place to test and recognise the achievements of Helicopter pilots.
The requirements are set out in MAAA Form No. ‘ MAAA020’, which may be down loaded from the MAAA website. The form is partially reproduced below.
This indicates seven procedures in which a pilot must demonstrate the degree of proficiency in radio control flying of helicopters to satisfy the examiner to award the MAAA BRONZE WINGS. Demonstrate does not necessarily mean a future formal test, but the testing officer may award the appropriate wings according to his knowledge of a member's flying standard/ability.
The Committee wishes to thank George Atkinson, who has agreed to be the testing authority and George is at present formalising his Instructor status.
Potential applicants will be required to contact George and arrange a test. George's contact details are:

Gha@wr.com.au 9907 4812 0414 972 118

Manoeuvres

1. Preflight training. Dexterity with equipment. Theoretical knowledge. Preflight checks.
2. Lift off to eye level, hover for ten seconds and land.
3 Lift off to skid eye level height, brief hover followed by a straight outward flight of ten metres into wind, brief hover then return tail first in straight flight and land.
4. Lift off to skid eye level height and fly sideways (right or left) for ten metres, then sideways in the opposite direction for twenty metres then return to start point and land.
5. Lift off, briefly hover then fly a horizontal figure eight with nose into wind throughout the flight and land.
6. Lift off to skid eye level height and fly a 360 degree tail-in circle.
7. Execute a 45 degree landing pattern from ten metres height and ten metres out.