AW139 offshore radar approach, IFR, actual ATC

[@larryalexander4385]

Hi Chris another great lesson in technique on flying IMC. Your comrade and you never removed your eyes of the instrument panel. In the books I read, all students of instruments are taught to trust the instruments and you both do. Your videos make me feel that I am in the cockpit flying with you. Please be safe and have a happy holiday with your family.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@larryalexander4385 thank you very much for your kind words 🤗happy holidays 🤗🙏

[@Burnt2245]

That was amazing. My anxiety level went up as you were flying into that soup. Such professionals. Very nicely done!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Burnt2245 thank you very much for your kind comment 🤗

[@LeeGosling-ue4lj]

One of the best aviation channels on KZbin!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@LeeGosling-ue4lj thank you so much for your kind words and gift 🤗🤗🙏🙏

[@HoverandSoar]

Love the CRM and checklist usage.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@HoverandSoar thanks a lot for your nice comment 🤗🙏

[@madcarew5168]

Looks like a smoother ride than the french helos I've used!!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@madcarew5168 thanks for your comment! We try to make our helicopters as smooth as possible. Regular track and balance.

[@marvinisoares]

Hi Chris! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. I am also an AW139 pilot and I really enjoy your videos! Great work 👍🏻 Have great flights always 😉

[@helichrisPA28]

@marvinisoares hi! Thanks for your nice message!! 🤗🙏. Happy landings! And maybe see you in one of the sims 🤗

[@HampenBraender]

Great video! With any luck I hope to fly for that same compagny some day, hopefully from Esbjerg. Just have a bit of a bonding to stick to first.

[@helichrisPA28]

Thank you very much for your kind comment! Looking forward to seeing you. Hopefully as colleague 😀

[@Hughes500]

Great video. Love the precision and discipline. Thanks.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Hughes500 thanks for your kind comment! 🤗🙏

[@JoniBlz]

Thank you for sharing!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@JoniBlz you’re welcome. Thanks for your comment 🤗

[@moussakalifangadjaga8119]

❤ simply great. Nicely done dears.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@moussakalifangadjaga8119 thank you for your kind comment 🙏

[@AndyRaysWorld]

Awesome job as always Chris , keep up the great work 👍😎

[@helichrisPA28]

@@AndyRaysWorld thanks for your kind comment 🤗🙏

[@UdayaniduWeerasekara]

Beautiful as always :) lots of love from Sri Lanka

[@helichrisPA28]

@@UdayaniduWeerasekara thank you for your kind comment 🤗🙏

[@mickperry5425]

Great vid gents! You made some tough flying look like a normal day at the office.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@mickperry5425 thank you very much for your kind comment. 🤗

[@Blomm11]

Great video! I’m working at the Tampen ATS providing FIS to your colleagues in Norway!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Blomm11 thanks for your comment! Great work!! 🤗💪🙏

[@stephane-paris]

As always, your video is amazing, an absolute pleasure to watch-thank you for this high-quality content! On my side, I went to Den Helder to do some filming, and I have to say, it’s an incredible spot for plane spotting

[@helichrisPA28]

@@stephane-paris thanks for your comment!! 🤗. I’m glad I can share it

[@requin02]

Fantastic thank you

[@helichrisPA28]

@@requin02 thank you for your nice comment 🤗

[@AeroTitanServices]

Little left... and facing to the wind. Nice!.

[@helichrisPA28]

Thanks for your nice comment!

[@raycarter6037]

Great flying in not so good weather! 👏👏👏👏

[@helichrisPA28]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@43963]

Hallo Chris, prachtig beeld en geluid! Ik heb er van genoten. Heel interessant om de AW139 cockpit te zien en hoe jullie daar mee omgaan. Ook omdat ik zo ongeveer de hele offshore ontwikkeling op De Kooy heb meegemaakt vanaf de SK61 tot de AW139, maar dan vanuit de ATC kant. Cheers, Henk.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@43963 Ha Henk! Wat leuk! Hartelijk bedankt voor het bericht 🤗. Leuk. Gr Christian

[@Pilotwisco]

Another great one!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Pilotwisco thank you for your nice comment 🤗🙏

[@mike9347]

I'd swear every Chopper Pilot is an ex Smoker. They just have to fiddle with every button and lever in sight 😂

[@helichrisPA28]

@@mike9347 🤣

[@brianjacobs8839]

My question exactly haha. I see pilots just 'randomly' pressing buttons and toggling levers 😂. Ok I know it ain't random and there is a purpose to it. I'll be doing it in my car from now on.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@brianjacobs8839 yes do it! It’s quite rewarding… I honestly think one of my biggest talents 😬💪

[@Bruno-tm3xo]

Impressive

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Bruno-tm3xo thank you for your kind comment 🤗🙏

[@Bruno-tm3xo]

@ well…..being a fixed wing heavy jet pilot ……hearing 70 kt and seeing this platform,looking as big as a post stamp my touch tightens all of a sudden

[@helichrisPA28]

@ thanks for your comment… I must admit… even after 15 years doing this.. it still feels odd. Flying blind on a weather radar down to a large metal object..

[@paulmcdonnell9734]

Great video as ever .. Co pilot’s drysuit is open a bit ..it would fill in a ditch very quickly

[@helichrisPA28]

@@paulmcdonnell9734 thanks for your comment!! Indeed… very good noticed! 🙏🙏

[@williammahaffy4642]

My greatest life regret is that I didn't pursue this career path. Hope they know how lucky they are. Awesome!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@williammahaffy4642 thank you so much for your kind words 🙏

[@montyswoodworkscrafts2232]

View from the cockpit looked like hows it been with us for the last 3 days, and no flying today due to the fog in Den Helder and with us, fingers crossed for Mandag, when I’m heading home and back to Scotland for a few weeks family time.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@montyswoodworkscrafts2232 it’s been really shit weather… this was filmed 24th. Today we could not fly indeed… I’m scheduled Monday again! Hope you make it home Monday for some well deserved family time… 💪🙏. Thanks for your comment

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Sensacional.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254 thanks for your nice comment 🤗🙏

[@quartieriJQO]

Show! In our offshore operations we always identify the offshore platform before landing...

[@helichrisPA28]

Thanks for your comment! We do the same indeed. in the Danish sector we do actually double confirm, also visual by the HLO... so we identify the deck, and the HLO us. Not all calls and audio is in the videos...

[@earthb67]

That was amazing and so professional. Does the left-seater get time on the controls?

[@helichrisPA28]

Thank you very much for your kind comment! Indeed, we actually swap seats every flight. so we both get to do both tasks.

[@MaxPlankton]

Apart from UK motorway airspeeds and the 'enjoyment' of feeling strapped to a washing machine I will begrudgingly admit that this is slightly cool.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@MaxPlanktonThank you for your comment. And the washing machine part is quite accurate 🤣

[@MaxPlankton]

@ Well as you well know it was a cheeky remark. I haven't been in a helo for 35 years. Looked smooth to me. Bloody excellent machine!

[@surfingsammy33]

Mooi om te zien heren! Als fixed wing collega leuk om te zien hoeveel dingen hetzelfde zijn en hoeveel er abracadabra is. Vraagje, hoe lang zijn jullie werkdagen meestal en hoeveel legs doe je dan? Groetjes van een blauwe embraer collega

[@helichrisPA28]

@@surfingsammy33 hartelijk bedankt voor je bericht! Wat leuk! Ik zit erg vaak in blauwe Embraer 😬 vlieg heel veel naar Milaan LIN of MXP en Helsinki voor Sim werk. We werken 192 dagen per jaar in flex rooster of 182 dagen in 14-14 rooster. (Dan geen vak dagen) we vliegen meestal twee of drie kortere vluchten per dag.. op een dag hebben ochtend diensten of middag/avond. Hartelijke groeten 🤗.

[@surfingsammy33]

@helichrisPA28 is dat beetje te doen? ziet er uit alsof jullie roosters iets meer overzichtelijk zijn dan die van ons. werkdagen van 4 legs en duty uren van 10uur+ zullen ook niet al te veel voor komen dus? kom gerust ff hoi zeggen voorin bij ons! (als we waarschijnlijk weer is een slot hebben)

[@helichrisPA28]

@ ja prima te doen. In de winter door weer soms wel lange diensten om wachten op beter weer 😬. Maar doorgaans zijn dag diensten niet langer dan 5 uur gemiddeld. Super leuk! Ik vlieg dinsdag weer naar LIN 🤗 ga zeker keer hoi zeggen!! Bedankt voor je bericht!

[@surfingsammy33]

@@helichrisPA28 succes nog met je youtube kanaal. het algoritme bracht me hier heen dus je gaat goed komen zo te zien! groetjes!

[@helichrisPA28]

Hartelijk bedankt 🤗

[@TreinMachinist]

Mooi mooi mooi! Die checklist in het begin is wel komisch hoe jij reageerde 😅...mooie video!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@TreinMachinist bedankt voor je bericht! Ja de meeste ken je op gegeven moment uit het hoofd…. Dus als je dat iets anders hoort 😬🤣. Kan gebeuren 😑😬.

[@TreinMachinist]

​@@helichrisPA28 Alvast al het goede voor 2025 toegewenst! Maak er een veilig jaar van🎉🎉

[@helichrisPA28]

@ hartelijk bedankt! U ook de allerbeste wensen 🤗

[@SerzhanTokanov]

Hello, today is the fifth day since we can't leave because the weather is bad, but I'm watching the video and you have almost no visibility, I do not know by what parameters they determine. Departure from Atyrau city (GUW) to Kashagan oil field is about 90 km away. Flight on AW139. can you briefly describe what weather conditions are needed for the flight? Thanks.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@SerzhanTokanov thanks for your comment! I fully understand your question. We can land on shore with 550mtr vis. Offshore 0,75NM. But we also need alternative aerodrome. Often this is a challenge. To find a suitable alternate. There the weather needs to be better. Bad weather for multiple days is really shit. We have the same issue in Holland at the moment… really sorry to hear

[@alfiospuson7165]

Pick me up at 7:30 to Monaco and then back to Luxembourg and then take the day off . See you Monday.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@alfiospuson7165 see you Monday 🤗

[@bobrewer202]

As a fixed wing pilot, I want to know if you can make the landing if you have zero visibility on the deck? If so, does the platform have any ILS guidance? Thanks gentlemen! Be safe

[@helichrisPA28]

@@bobrewer202 thank you very much for your comment. Very good question. No the platform has no landing aids like ILS. We make our own approach into wind and with our weather radar we identify obstacles (ships, other platforms) and we measure the distance with our radar. Most platforms are in uncontrolled airspace so we are ourselves responsible for separation. The last part needs to be visible. Our minima is horizontal 0,75NM and 50ft above the deck (100 at night)

[@bobrewer202]

@ Fascinating. What amazing airmanship!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@bobrewer202 Thank you very much for your kind words! Have a great day! and happy and safe landings

[@Pgd10020]

So is this the RNAV VNAV of helicopters?

[@helichrisPA28]

@@Pgd10020 thanks for your comment! Indeed we are PBN equipped and can fly LPV

[@brianfitzgerald6142]

Hello. What is there a net-like device stretched across the landing pad? This seems to be widely used. What does it do?

[@helichrisPA28]

@@brianfitzgerald6142 thanks for your comment! Indeed this is widely used. It helps to prevent that the helicopter slides.

[@brianfitzgerald6142]

@helichrisPA28 aha. Thanks, Chris. I'm in US. I love NL. Worked in Groningen and Eemshaven. The North Sea looks fierce!

[@helichrisPA28]

@ thanks for your reply! Cool you worked here! Indeed… the North Sea really can be a tricky place…

[@jagrodz]

Hi there! I am curious how you execute these instrument approaches. I heard references to groundspeed and altitude criteria based on distance, and I assume that is a rather standard company procedure. Are you using any charted approach procedure or is it based off the known (lack) of obstacles around the offshore rig? I think I’ve also seen that some rigs will have navigation beacons or gps identifiers, but do you ever need to manually enter one’s location? How does ATC handle your approach? There were a few sectors, but I think I was able to determine that after departing the terminal area, ATC was no longer providing terrain or obstacle avoidance, but rather those were considerations you as PIC had to make Thanks for any insight!

[@helichrisPA28]

@@jagrodz thank you for your great comment! The radar approach is a procedure for offshore helicopters. We need to be trained and the helicopters need certain equipment. We make this approach into wind and determine the path and missed approach path obstacles on our radar. Some platforms have a “no go” sector due to fixed obstacles. The procedure is made in uncontrolled airspace mostly and we are ourselves responsible for traffic separation. We only inform ATC. I’ll make a separate video on it soon.

[@jagrodz]

@@helichrisPA28 Thanks! I enjoy learning about various corners of aviation that I will likely never get to experience in the realworld. One of the other things I'm curious about is how you navigate to the platform in IMC. Is there a database the company has in the FMC, or do platforms have ground-based navaids that you can use?

[@helichrisPA28]

@ thanks for your reply! 🤗🙏

[@helichrisPA28]

@ we have a database indeed of all the fixed platforms. The ships and moveable platforms give their lat longs 🤗

[@halidharis]

Sorry to ask…why helicopter still taxiing to the runway? Why don’t you just fly from the parkin area😊

[@helichrisPA28]

@@halidharis thanks for your comment! Larger helicopters usually taxi on wheels. It requires lot less power and it’s a lot safer for the environment. We produce a lot of wind 🤗

[@msmrepo3271]

​@helichrisPA28 What are you flying here? I don't think people know how much wind a chopper can produce and static electricity. I remember the first time being under a hovering lynx to hook up some thing, some refused to come under 😊. Great landing.

[@helichrisPA28]

@msmrepo3271 thanks for your reply! Indeed it really creates a LOT of downwash. Here I fly the AW139. 6.8 tonnes take off weight

[@beyeti885]

Downwash and danger for parking acft is one Aspekt. The other is that most aprons don’t have the required terrain clearance for departure or landing.

[@msmrepo3271]

@@helichrisPA28 Very Nice.

[@gerarteuben3333]

Welke minimale cloudbase voor landing gebruiken jullie ? Wij gebruiken 400 feet,

[@helichrisPA28]

@@gerarteuben3333 offshore hebben we 0,75NM vis als minimum met 50ft boven deck height en 100 ‘s nachts. Met minimum van 200ft. Op het land 550rvr

[@gerarteuben3333]

@ dat hoort zich veel beter aan dan bij ons 😊 Wij (ten noorden van de Shetlands) gebruiken 400 ft verticaal zo ver ik weet.

[@helichrisPA28]

@ ok! Bedankt voor je bericht!

[@moekiec]

Hahaha ‘wrong check list’ 😂

[@helichrisPA28]

🤣 thanks for your comment

[@aaronallen748]

Pretty sure it’s to do with traffic patterns

[@helichrisPA28]

@@aaronallen748 thanks for your comment

[@handcrafted30]

V1…rotate.

[@helichrisPA28]

@@handcrafted30 kind of indeed

[@ItsBugsy]

Fair play Chris, but absolutely not for me! Any type of weather, my feet stay on ground :D

[@helichrisPA28]

@@ItsBugsy thanks for your comment! 🤗. No prob… I’ll do the flying bit 🤗

[@AhmedLadjali-f3x]

Do you flight with NVG google

[@helichrisPA28]

@ no we do not use NVG’s

[@AhmedLadjali-f3x]

@ thanks

[@coyotetales33]

Thank you for the video. Please, upgrade your camera. Only 720p in 2025 is scary :(

[@helichrisPA28]

@@coyotetales33 thanks for your comment! I film in 1080/30

[@coyotetales33]

@@helichrisPA28 So youtube is guilty. I only can choose 720p as highest resolution.

[@helichrisPA28]

@ hmm ok. Thanks for your reply. I’ll try to see if I can change anything during uploading