Keeping The Helicopter Warm

[Gary Watson]

Despite the hot hot summer in BC and other parts, winter is approaching . What are some of the techniques you have used to operate in extreme cold weather. The helicopter might live in a nice warm hangar but it still has to fly in that -40 or so temperatures. The OEMs and major suppliers - DART/AA etc have a variety of pre-heat and covers but these are not the only method or items used to ensure the critical parts stay warm when flying in the cold. What are some of the tricks you use?

[Dewey]

Gary,

 

That question brings back memories of the old days working a Bell 47 in the cold environment. The Engineer drained the engine oil, removed the battery at night and stored them under his bed.

That would happen after he cooked dinner and did the dishes for the pilot of course!

[Gary Watson]

I would have thought that the engineer was too busy washing the pilot's clothes to cook.

When we were shutting down in Tuk back in the late 80s and were basically running our own camp , one of the engineers would spend all his spare time baking all manner of fattening goodies for the pilots- he thought it was his own small effort to rid us of some of them

[Elvis]

Janurary on Big Trout Lake, the preheat was done by Herman

 

 

 

 

Maintenance done under the big top

 

 

 

[drkrider]

Tanis Aircraft makes nice preheat kits, they are various sized Alaska pads that get glued to major components and plug into 110 Volts. We have them on several aircraft and they seem to work great.

 

The only problem is they don't preheat the cabin so the pilots usually put a "Little Buddy" car heater inside so the instruments stay warm and the sticks are warm for there sensitive hands

 

 

http://www.tanisaircraft.com/

[Elvis]

110 volts. Whats that? Didn't have a generator in my camp.

[twinstar_ca]

Janurary on Big Trout Lake, the preheat was done by Herman

 

 

was not just about everything warmed by herman back then?? who remembers finding herman smoldering the tent?!?! :shock:

 

[212wrench]

Or finding a little buddy smoking away on the inside of the cabin.

[Elvis]

was not just about everything warmed by herman back then?? who remembers finding herman smoldering the tent?!?! :shock:

 

The only problem with Herman was when moving to a new camp. Herman was far too big to travel with the Bell 47. Herman had to travel in the fixed wing support aircraft. You had to plan it well that Herman was waiting at the new camp when you arrived.

[twinstar_ca]

Herman was a high maintenance partner!!! :lol: