Robinson R44 Transition Training

updated March 2009

We offer a two-day Robinson R44 transition training course for pilots with R22 time and a three-day course for high-time pilots with no Robinson experience. At the end of the course, you get an SFAR 73 pilot-in-command signoff for the Robinson R44 and a bill for $369 per flight hour (dual, wet), which makes us the cheapest place in the world to do your R44 transition.

You will do your flying in and around downtown Boston, Massachusetts, one of the world's most beautiful cities when seen from the air. We have a river, a harbor filled with ships, skyscrapers, parks, universities, and impressive bridges. You will get experience with Class B airspace and working cooperatively with some of the busiest and best air traffic controllers in the world.

The School

East Coast Aero Club was established in 1985 and has more than 27 aircraft. About 20 flight instructors are active at the club, and most of us are older high-time guys who enjoy teaching. There are no membership fees associated with the club; you pay only for flight time.

The Instructors

Paul Cantrell has been teaching helicopter flying in the Boston area for more than 20 years. He has more than 3200 hours of experience flying Robinson helicopters and is an instrument-rated pilot for both helicopters and airplanes.

Mike Rhodes has been flying helicopters since 1983. He has more than 2100 hours of total flying experience. He is a CFII for both airplanes and helicopters. Mike is available M-F 11-1 and all day Saturdays.

Philip Greenspun has been teaching in Robinson helicopters since January 2006. He has more than 1000 hours of Robinson time. In addition to his helicopter time, Greenspun is an airplane pilot and CFI/CFII. Greenspun holds instrument, multi-engine, and single-engine seaplane ratings. Greenspun has more than 3000 hours of flying experience, including trips from Boston to Alaska (twice). Greenspun is type-rated in the Canadair Regional Jet. Born in 1963, Greenspun studied engineering at MIT, receiving bachelor's, master's, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from that school. Greenspun has been teaching technical subjects for more than 20 years, mostly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Danny Remillard, a native of Manchester, New Hampshire, is a CFII in helicopters with over 1200 hours of Robinson time in the mountains around Boise, Idaho. He studied engineering in college and worked as a civil engineer before deciding to become a full-time helicopter pilot.

David Smith has over 800 hours in Robinson helicopters. David is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. He did most of his helicopter training amidst the cloudy mountains of Seattle.

The Helicopters

We will be flying one of two 2008 Robinson R44 Raven Is.

The Airport

We will do our training at Hanscom Field (KBED), one of the Northeast U.S.'s busiest airports with a mix of single-engine airplane trainers, business jets, U.S. Air Force planes, helicopter training, and flights from the two medevac helicopters based on the airport. Hanscom is an active U.S. Air Force base, with thousands of researchers and administrators working on the military side of the field, but no based aircraft. The airport has a 7000' main runway, a 5000' crosswind runway, and massive amounts of ramp and taxiway space. Due to the 500 or so airplane operations per day, the controllers prefer that we take off and land directly to the ramp. We are almost always able to get a large area of taxiway or crosswind runway for hover practice or patterns. We could accomplish all of our required training without ever leaving the airport.

If your radio skills are rusty, Hanscom is a great place to practice them. We have separate frequencies for ATIS, clearance, ground, and tower. Each of the two FBOs has its own frequency as well.

What we need to accomplish

According to the terms set forth in SFAR 73, you must have at least 10 hours of Robinson time to be pilot-in-command of a Robinson helicopter. At least 5 hours of those 10 must be in the specific model of Robinson helicopter. Finally, you need a signoff from an instructor that you are qualified to act as pilot-in-command. The official verbiage...

(2) No person may act as pilot in command of a Robinson R-44 unless that
person --

(i) Has had at least 200 flight hours in helicopters, at least 50 flight
hours of which were in the Robinson R-44. The pilot in command may
credit up to 25 flight hours in the Robinson R-22 toward the 50 hour
requirement in the Robinson R-44; or

(ii) Has had at least 10 hours dual instruction in a Robinson
helicopter, at least 5 hours of which must have been accomplished in the
Robinson R-44 helicopter and has received an endorsement from a
certified flight instructor authorized under paragraph (b)(5) of this
section that the individual has been given the training required by this
paragraph and is proficient to act as pilot in command of an
R-44. Beginning 12 calendar months after the date of the endorsement,
the individual may not act as pilot in command unless the individual has
completed a flight review in a Robinson R-44 within the preceding 12
calendar months and obtained an endorsement for that flight review. The
dual instruction must include at least the following abnormal and
emergency procedures flight training --

(A) Enhanced training in autorotation procedures;

(B) Engine rotor RPM control without the use of the governor;

(C) Low rotor RPM recognition and recovery; and

(D) Effects of low G maneuvers and proper recovery procedures.

Schedule

Pre-Arrival

read the R44 Raven I POH (sadly not available online; you have to purchase it from Robinson or a dealer) and memorize the limitations and emergency procedures
print out and study an airport diagram for KBED
fill out the paperwork to open an East Coast Aero Club account and put $1850 on account via check or debit card ($1900 for credit cards; double these amounts if you have no Robinson time and will need 10 hours)
Day 1
Ground instruction and review: 2 hours.
Flight 1: airport familiarization, hover work, normal takeoffs and approaches, max performance takeoffs and steep approaches
lunch break
Flight 2: hover work, normal takeoff and landing, air taxis and quick stops, straight-in autorotations (3)
Ground instruction and review: 1 hour.
Day 2
Flight 3: governor-off operations (hover and pattern), low-rotor RPM recovery, emergency procedures, straight-in auto, 180 autorotations (2)
Flight 4: hydraulics off operation, review of low-G hazards and recovery (discussion, not demonstration!)
signoff and payment for any flight time beyond the minimum 5 hours

How to Schedule

Email philg@mit.edu with the following information:

total hours in fixed wing and rotorcraft
hours in Robinson R22 and R44
when you would like to do your transition training
long-term goals (personal fun, commercial pilot?)

Or call the East Coast Aero Club front desk at +1 (781) 274-6322.

Ground Support

Upon request, we can arrange lodging and transportation. We will be happy to pick you up at Boston's Logan Airport or at the Alewife T station, which is about a 30-minute subway ride from Logan. We can arrange a hotel room either right next to Hanscom Field or in downtown Boston or Cambridge.

Starting from Scratch?

What if you landed on this page, but don't already have a pilot's license or a helicopter rating? We're happy to offer primary training in the R44. We have an R22, which is roughly 30 percent cheaper, and that is what most people choose to train in. Heavier, older, and richer students may decide that the R44 is the right trainer for them and certainly Frank Robinson would agree. He has been trying to get flight schools to switch to the R44 for a long time. The blade inertia is higher, which makes emergency procedures training safer and easier. Budget 40 hours of flight training if you already have an airplane certificate or 55 hours if you have never flown an aircraft of any kind.

More: "Helicopter Training at East Coast Aero Club"

philg@mit.edu