Presentation on how to hover a helicopter.

1. Hovering
Phillip Clonch

2. Lesson Objectives
In this lesson the student will be introduced to hovering flight. We
will discuss the purpose of hovering, identify the use of each flight
control, and explain positive exchange of flight controls.

3. Lesson Outline
Hovering
• Purpose
• Description of
• Pedals
• Collective
• Cyclic
• RPM
• Common Errors

4. References
R44 Training Guide Helicopter Flying Handbook 9-10

5. Hovering
Purpose
To maneuver the helicopter forward, sideward, and rearward.
Hovering is the most basic, difficult, and important aspect of flying a
helicopter.

6. Positive Exchange of Controls
When exchanging controls we must adhere to a process that will ensure
that the aircraft is always controlled and safe.
It will go like this
Instructor- “You have all controls”
Student- “I have all controls”
Instructor- “You have all controls”

7. Clearing the Aircraft
Before every maneuver we must always clear the aircraft for
other aircraft, obstacles, and hazards
“Clear Left, clear center, clear above/below, Clear Right

8. Hovering
Pedals
Pedals are used to maintain our heading and keep us into the wind.
Our feet must be light, but firm on the pedals.

9. Hovering
Collective
Primarily, our Altitude is controlled by our Collective.
We will maintain a 3-5’ Hover at all times.
• Whenever we enter a Collective input, we need to adjust our pedals for heading.
• Raise Collective- Left Pedal
• Lower Collective- Right Pedal

10. Hovering
Collective
On the collective there is a switch and a button
Governor Switch-
Starter Button-

11. Hovering
Cyclic
• This is the most difficult flight control
• Cyclic controls our relative motion over the surface. To be stabilized in a
hover, we must counter our helicopters natural movements with gentle
cyclic inputs.

12. Hovering
Cyclic
On the cyclic there are switches
Comms-
Hydraulics- Starter Button

13. Hovering
RPM
Our helicopter is outfitted with a Governor
Located on the end of the collective, the Governor maintains our
Engine RPM
If governor fails, we can manually continue the flight by adjusting the throttle on
the end of the Collective

14. Hovering
Putting it all together
As we are faced into the wind, we maintain our heading with our pedals,
we hold a 3-5’ hover with our collective, and we will have to correct for our
helicopters natural drift with cyclic. Any little input from us or from the wind
we will have to correct for.

15. Hovering
Common Errors
1. Tenseness and slow reactions to movements of the helicopter
2. Overcontrolling the aircraft
3. Confusing attitude changes for altitude changes, which results in
improper use of controls
4. Hovering too high or hovering too low, causing a hazard

16. Overview
In this lesson we introduced Hovering flight. We discussed the
purpose, implications of each control, and common errors.

17. Questions?