Vector Online - In category Rotary operations

Read our special 'online' Vector stories here. Some are unique to the website, and some have featured in print issues of Vector.

Note: This archive dates back to 2015. So, the advice in some of the earlier articles may have changed.

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What the hell is ‘anxiety’?

An intense workload cost an owner-operator his medical. With a great support network, which included the CAA medical team, he got it back.

Posted in Rotary operations, Licensing and personnel;

Posted 9 days ago

Latching on to great safety

Winter 2024 was a busy time for 33-year old West Coaster Brad MacLachlan.

Posted in General safety, Rotary operations;

Posted 44 days ago

The dangers of aircraft icing

The polar jet is beginning its northward migration, bringing weather conditions perfect for producing ice on aircraft – both in the air and on the ground.

Posted in Pilot performance flying practice and professionalism, Aircraft owner and aircraft, Preflight and postflight, Rotary operations, Adventure aviation, Agricultural operations;

Posted 7 months ago

Audio story: Know your neighbour

To encourage safe flying at unattended aerodromes, Vector Online asked various users, “What do you want your airspace neighbours to know about the way you fly?” Listen here to what…

Posted in Aerodromes, Pilot performance flying practice and professionalism, Rotary operations, Agricultural operations, Adventure aviation, Audio articles;

Posted 12 months ago

High safety

In 1972, in the first issue of Vector, we reported a fatal aircraft accident in the lee of a mountain range.

Lessons for all pilots from a Fenestron tragedy

Know yourself. Know your aircraft. Know what it’s doing right now.

Posted in Rotary operations, Pilot performance flying practice and professionalism, When things go wrong;

Posted 16 months ago

A black box for GA - explaining the unexplained

FENZ and DOC say aircraft carrying their personnel must now have a cockpit data recorder. Read the articleA black box for GA - explaining the unexplained

Posted in Rotary operations, Technology;

Posted 3 years ago

The damaging effect of torsional loads on cargo hooks

After repeated instances of damage to hooks carrying spreader bars, defect reporting has encouraged the manufacturer to recommend extra checks.

Posted in Engineering and maintenance, Rotary operations;

Posted 3 years ago

Cool decision-making in a crisis

When two jet boat occupants were thrown into a fast-flowing river, ag pilot Heath Bagnall and his crewman Matt Rogatski leapt into lifesaving action.

Posted in Health and human factors, Rotary operations;

Posted 4 years ago

Rotary visibility issues

Fatal helicopter accidents due to poor visibility are second only in number to mast bumping, and the stats are not reducing.

Posted in Rotary operations;

Posted 4 years ago

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