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This document is for pilots of N211SH, a Robinson R22 helicopter on the rental/instruction flight line at East Coast Aero Club.
Our insurance carrier (see below), requires that the left seat controls be removed unless a rated helicopter pilot is occupying that seat. If you are solo, therefore, you must remove the dual controls. (This sounds pointless, but possibly a bag or other item left on the seat or in the footwell could slide forward and become tangled in the pedals?) If you have a non-pilot passenger, obviously the removal of the controls becomes more critical since the insurance company doesn't want anyone manipulating the controls unless they have had the SFAR 73 briefing and are with an instructor.
N211SH's full-fuel payload is about 310 lbs. Here are some legal fuel/payload combinations:
These numbers assume that you don't have any baggage under the seat.
Signature is 130.8 and (781) 274-0010. Please try to leave the helicopter with no less than 11 gallons and no more than 17 gallons of fuel. The optimum is probably 15 gallons.
If Signature doesn't show up and you have to leave the airport, please don't leave the helicopter out on the ramp. Better to push it back in the hangar and let the next pilot call for fuel.
We use Aeroshell 15W-50 ashless dispersant oil. You can find it under the left seat or at the bottom of the 6 storage lockers at the back of the hangar, or by asking a mechanic. Signature and most other FBOs also stock this. N211SH's Lycoming engine tends to burn through 1 quart every 3-4 hours of operation. We have some superstition about it blowing oil out if you fill it much above 4, but probably the oil consumption is steady from 5 quarts (dipstick reading) on down. If the engine is cold and the dipstick reads under "4", add one quart and please note that addition in the book.
The silver key that has a "TCM" (for "Teledyne Continental Motors", a company that has never made an engine for a Robinson helicopter) stamped on it is the ignition key; the other two are for the door locks.
We have a permanently assigned squawk code of 0220 from Boston Tower. If you are going into the Bravo, you should set this on the ground at Hanscom and then Skyways (124.725) will know that you are coming. Remember that you still need an explicit clearance to enter Class B airspace. Also remember to check the Boston Red Sox schedule to make sure that the 3 n.m. TFR around the stadium won't interfere with your plans. With the TFR in place, you will be able to fly in front of downtown over Ft. Point Channel, but that's about it. Note that, depending on the controller, you might be cleared to fly the Fresh Pond Route (right by the stadium). ATC is able to clear people through a stadium TFR for "operational or safety reasons", so this is legal.
If you are going to stay at Hanscom for maneuvers or otherwise remain clear of Class B airspace, use 1200.
We are insured with Pathfinder, Robinson's captive insurance provider in the Bahamas. Pathfinder is very strict about the policy requirements and, if they don't want to pay, they can simply refuse to send a check from the Bahamas.
N211SH has extra Hirosi connectors enabling the direct connection of Dave Clark noise-cancelling headsets. There are two of these $600 headsets that go with the helicopter and you are welcome to use them. If you wish to have your own personal headset, keep in mind that we will probably be installing these connectors on future R44 Raven Is and therefore you an always plug a Dave Clark directly into one of our ships. (The Robinson factory standard is the Bose LEMO connector, but this tends to be much more fragile and Dave Clark won't work with a LEMO connector without a cumbersome adaptor box.)
The ship also has the standard U/174 helicopter headset jacks, so you can plug in a conventional or ANR headset designed for helicopters.
If you need to leave the helicopter on the West Ramp temporarily, we recommend parking in the grass just to the north of the ramp (near the Seminole and Arrow parking). You need to keep the helicopter quite close to the pavement if you want to get fuel from Signature. They will not drive their fuel truck onto the grass.
Another option for temporary West Ramp access is to park at Signature.