Flying a Helicopter into the Clouds - First Time - EC135 - Medevac - IFR / IMC / HEMS

[@Nates707]

Would love to see some videos responding to a scene call and then flying to the hospital. Of course with patient privacy in mind

[@michaelmiller85]

Got a great one already finished....Landing on an interstate...soon to come

[@michaelmiller85]

Non patient leg

[@Mayhem6466]

Thank you guys so much for waving at my little boy right after getting fuel in Luray Airport it means so much

[@BK117Dude]

Hi this is Johannes, I was with your student Marco one of the two Germans in your flight back in 2012 at Rucker, you did my first checkride. Maybe you remember. Been following you for a long time and it’s so nice to see you in the EMS and IFR world. I quit the forces two years ago and fly the H145 for DRF Air Rescue VFR IFR NVIS now. So great seeing you in the same aviation world, really enjoyed this trip!

[@michaelmiller85]

Wow, it has been long time! I remember those days. Glad to hear you are still flying. A lot of my students from Rucker no longer fly. If my memory serves me right you flight parter was Kevin correct?

[@omaarpoiriez]

You have my dream job :p

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

As a career long single engine, VFR scout pilot I salute you guys that can do that. In the 58D we practiced RNAV & GCA approach’s as an emergency procedure. Bravo sir, 👏

[@stealhty1]

Excellent Work ,, these are the kind of Captains Kobi Brian was in need

[@stevebrown5427]

Thank you for sharing such valuable content! I wanted to reach out and let you know that I would be interested in seeing more IFR videos, especially ones that cover point in space helicopter instrument approaches. It would be great to learn more about this aspect of helicopter operations. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to watching more of your videos in the future.

[@patrickyoung8088]

Well, this old retired IP/IE really enjoyed this video and thanks for taking me along for the flight!

[@lyonanddebanderson4418]

I'm an old USAF PJ door gunner on Hueys, This was a great video thank you sir for this, I love the tech in new helos-amazing.

[@lyonanddebanderson4418]

That's some low skies, whew.

[@etarheel1]

Good to see you bro, I was the comm spec you met at duke. Glad to know you are doing well. Stay safe up there!

[@andrewbello983]

Breaking out just above minimums, great job! Gotta love autopilot! Yall were definitely in the soup! Fly safe brother.

[@tundramanq]

Thanks! Answered my question about getting a chopper down in IFR. Act like a fixed wing using glide slope aids and never hover until you are in VFR. Neato!

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Helicopters also use stepped altitudes for certain unpublished (for GA aircraft) approaches, such as specific island helipads and oil platform landings in 0/0 IMC conditions, until they reach minimums. Airplane don’t do those types of approaches. There is no radio aid to navigation on platform landings, but there is RNAV.

[@briansims4365]

Nice day for shooting approaches, great content

[@alan.macrae]

Nice flying, Michael! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

[@ZionCapital-OF]

Hello Michael, congrats for your vídeos. I’m Helicopter pilot brazilian Flying over Amazon forest, 15years experience. Sometimes we have bad constitui a to fly, but without necessary resource it’s better waiting for. Good flights, ever!!!

[@mayanina31]

Absolutely love this channel !!! Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

[@rubenscsn]

Great!!! Beautiful fly!!! I am from Brazil! Show yours videos my students!! 💓

[@oterosocram25]

Beautiful...great video, thanks.

[@wiley0714]

Awesome crew resource management. Using the crew to identify the ground as well as checklist and notes and making a clear and concise decision that you are going to land as opposed to any deviation. Fly safe, but more importantly, fly, smart !

[@ciaranhanvey501]

You guys Rock! Serious concentration required... Kudos!

[@skittnic]

Hi Michael. I am a VFR utility pilot in Canada and i have to say that the flying bit in the white makes me very uneasy... better you than me brother! Hahaha That being said, you make it look fun and almost makes me want to get my IFR ticket...almost. Thanks for Sharing!

[@jjsemperfi]

Very cool. That's was definitely a very soupy flight. Surprised you didn't wait for a layer day where you could pop through a layer and back down. Regardless, you did an amazing job. I've been in the 135 with my company for a year now (doing recurrent at Flight Safety as I type this) and I've been really enjoying it. My company doesn't allow us to film so it's pretty amazing that PHI let you do this. Great to see an actual IFR flight from a HEMS perspective. Not something the public gets to see much of. Fly safe and take care.

[@AviationDirection]

I fly airplanes and not helicopters, but appreciate you providing this perspective of Med Evac ops! Thanks for all you do!

[@ArkHillbilly]

I am amazed that I found this channel. We live in Gainesville, VA. Hello neighbor.

[@blakewheeler6958]

Cool to see my local aircare in action, ill stop and visit next time i see you guys at shd

[@trueinfidel7321]

Interesting, PHI let you record? Very cool, thanks for sharing

[@msnpassjan2004]

Subscribed. Looking forward to more !

[@joebaker4943]

I wish we had this type of video when I was a firefighter! Never realized the stress of landing at the scene from this POV. And I thought that landing a helicopter landing was hard as a firefighter!!

[@tgamron]

I heard a helicopter flying over Winchester in the clouds a few weeks ago.

[@seanm3684]

I remember my first time flying back to base IFR it’s a crazy experience.

[@dubveehabib431]

Dang didnt realize you flew so local to me now! Been watching your stuff for years! Would love to meet u sometime on a flight to grant memorial. Ive gotten lots of rotory wing inspiration from your stuff.

[@michaelmiller85]

Moved around a bit over the years

[@hksp]

beautiful, best weather condition to be in a chopper

[@Scottpulliam]

Thank you for posting!

[@ChaiLatte13]

This is super scary. I just cannot even imagine.

[@23431]

I want to fly in a medevac so bad they are the coolest

[@capt.imanuddinyunusshmh.6549]

Nice... Thanks for sharing

[@bernardanderson3758]

Michael you are doing great and there are two 407s at The KCJR Base and hopefully one day we will meet up

[@407-Driver]

Been watching ur videos since since you were instructing in an R22.

[@jameskivel2982]

Look at all the fancy avionics!

[@dday216]

Everything about this feels wrong!!! Amazing job!!

[@AA5RB]

congratulations

[@LeeShand]

Well that was awesome!

[@KAZA73]

Solo hay un piloto y un tripulante HEMS sin controles, enhorabuena por tu canal y buenos vuelos.

[@MonostripeZebra]

That is pretty cool!

[@AUNZAnon]

These guys handled it like the pros they are. Brings back memories of the tragic Kobe Bryant heli accident in Calabese. Can only imagine the stress, fear and anxiety of the pilot and passengers when they hit IMC.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

The pilot flying Kobe was flying VFR but scud running and at max continuous power most of his flight. He was IFR rated, but not current, nor proficient. His helicopter autopilot was disabled as it didn’t work. Horrible decision making on his part. 100% pilot error and he killed everyone on board. Sad. I’m personally aware of that incident and have inside knowledge of that specific flight.

[@tech5298]

He was an ass for flying that.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@tech5298 Yup. I don’t like bad mouthing the dead generally, however the Kobe case is different. The pilot knew exactly what he was doing was not only Dangerous, but reckless. I believe that he thought he could scud run and push weather, becssue it was “KOBE” on board. The pilot thought, “I can’t say no” to Kobe. Well, due to stupid decision making, he managed to kill everyone on board becssue he wanted to impress, rather than save lives through prevention. He could have told Kobe, “sorry but we can’t continue.”

[@samreilly1484]

@@colt10mmsecurity68 why are you parroting this false narrative?! That's not true! The day started out normally and the LAPD grounding their choppers is irrelevant because visibility was 4 miles with an overcast ceiling of a quarter mile and they all have their own standards. Kobe didn’t pressure the pilot into doing anything and plus he had his daughter Gianna’s and other 13-year-old girls’ lives to consider. The pilot made his own decision to underestimate the fog (which he didn’t even know he’d encounter until about 90 miles into the 100-mile flight and 40 miles northwest of LA) because he’d encountered fog too many times and he didn’t think he’d have to abort until it was too late. But unlike this video, the fog turned out to be just too dense. One of Kobe’s other pilots named Kurt said Kobe never pressured any pilots into doing anything. Any pressure the pilot felt was self-induced. But this was still 100% preventable and would have been prevented if the pilot had aborted the flight immediately instead of underestimating the fog. Doesn’t matter that the helicopter’s first encounter with fog wasn't until 90 miles into the 100-mile flight and 40 miles northwest of LA or how many times the pilot encountered fog or that Kobe had done this fateful helicopter ride every morning since January 2 (his 13-year-old daughter was only with him when she wasn’t in school). Abort means abort!

[@mikeparker6322]

Kudos. Actual IMC in an airplane is difficult but in a helicopter is much more difficult. I have a Commercial Mutl with Instrument Fixe Wing and and a few hours of VFR in a R-22.

[@LowandFast357]

Respectfully disagree. I've done both. And while the helicopter takes more hand-eye-foot coordination, and is a little less forgiving, approaches in IMC are challenging regardless. When compared to some airplanes though (faster larger aircraft) one could argue that a plane is harder. For example, flying an approach at 140 KIAS as compared to rotorcraft that can do this much slower. It means everything is happening incredibly fast. Helicopters have the luxury of slowing down and managing the workload with a lesser forward movement. Airplanes don't always have that luxury (depending on performance of course). Additionally, he's flying coupled approaches and that changes the whole dynamic. If he were hand flying all of these, I would agree that the workload is pretty high and more challenging than a fixed wing with comparable airspeed. But use of the autopilot really mitigates task saturation and helps to reduce the workload a ton.

[@mikeparker6322]

@@LowandFast357 I'm talking about strictly hands on flying without the aid of an autopilot or a flight management system. The physical nature of handling the collective, cyclic and pedals was just exhausting and I could not imagine just looking at the instruments and making a stabilized approach in in IMC in a helicopter.

[@LowandFast357]

@@mikeparker6322 I get that for sure. And I agree that the collective adds a unique touch. Same with anti-torque pedals. But having done and worked with both, I must admit that fixed wing has its own challenges for rotorcraft guys. It's the velocity and how quickly things happen. It's the fact that you're always committed to moving forward. And of course, multiple engines matter, complexities matter, etc. For example, take a helo pilot and put him in a jet, even a small jet like a Citation or Lear. It'll eat his lunch for weeks to come. Eventually they get used it it, yes, but it's the same if you transition an airplane pilot into rotor wing. Admittedly, the learning curve for helicopters is steeper, but my point is that once you have the acumen and experience, it's no different than an being in a fixed wing.

[@mikeparker6322]

@@LowandFast357 Hardest ting for me was to control the cyclic with two fingers. Never really got the handle of smoothly handling the cyclic. The collective and even the pedals were not difficult.

[@SoloRenegade]

CFII in both airplanes and helicopters. Did helicopter IFR first, then airplane. Found them to be about the same. Helicopters are a lot like an airplane when in forward flight. there are some differences, some mentioned above, but overall the procedures and such are all the same. Some regulatory differences.

[@heartlandhawk4513]

Not intimately familiar with the Garmin 430 going IFR? 7:20: No decision height set for the approach?

[@michaelmiller85]

Like it notes, I briefed it but didn't put it in. That was my mistake. I should have had it in there.

[@notar187]

Great video ,very rare to find helicopter ifr

[@chazman4461]

I wish I would have done this.

[@ComdrStew]

Scary stuff. Our Air Evac team died back in 2013 coming into land at their home base, because of fog. They crashed in the Elementary school parking lot across the street from the landing zone. Thank God for you guys. I live in the country and without you guys, a lot of people would never make it to the hospital.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

IFR helicopter is really best with a two pilot crew and autopilot.

[@tyrekegordon2492]

Same with IFR fixed wing can it be done solo no autopilot sure will it be hell oh most definitely

[@Wingstrat28]

Same can be said about VFR. Task offloading is always preferred.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@tyrekegordon2492 Yes but not like IFR in a helicopter certified for it and without autopilot. It’s way more of a bitch than a fixed wing in IMC. I do both.

[@crazyralph6386]

Yep, which is why 2 person crew is mandatory in countries like Canada, UK, Germany etc. Even with a pic/co pilot, it can get very busy in the cockpit when in IFR, especially when flying through densely populated city airspace. A two person crew would’ve kept Kobe Bryant from perishing. Whats nice about EMT flights(rotorcraft or fixed wing), is that ATC will almost always prioritize their routes, altitude and potential conflicting traffic, even over the heavy’s? Another necessity for EMT pilots is NVG goggles, since the large majority of crashes are at night.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@crazyralph6386 EMS (not “EMT”) flights are only prioritized when they are actively carrying a patient on board and include in the call sign the word “lifeguard __________.” Other than that, they’re not going to get priority from IFR flights within the local (“terminal”) area, unless the controller is in a good mood and isn’t overloaded with either IFR departures or arrivals.

[@WhatTheIfYouSeeKay]

Wow! I was s Flight Paramedic a long time ago. And we would have never flown in that soup! Love the technology now! Makes me miss the good old days!

[@micahgreene4573]

Glad I read your reply. I was scratching my head and wondering, I thought rotary wing doesn't do IFR. Need a horizon.

[@EstorilEm]

@@micahgreene4573 Nope, for example the helicopter crash that killed Kobe was performed in a modern helo that was IFR certified, but they weren’t certified to fly IFR ops with it and thus got stuck SVFR info a really bad situation.

[@macmedic892]

@@micahgreene4573 In the Gulf of Mexico, we have plenty of helos that fly IFR when needed. It’s crazy flying inside the ping-pong ball.

[@EternalOvercomer]

Awesome Michael!!! Thanks for sharing! 😎👍

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Can you imagine the autopilot going out on an IFR helicopter flight. We train for it with my employer but autopilot is just so nice. It’s almost mandatory for helicopter IFR. It’s something airplane drivers don’t comprehend with us helo IFR pilots.

[@zakksrage]

IFR is IFR. Autopilot definitely isn’t a mandatory. If you can’t operate the aircraft manually you shouldn’t operate the aircraft.

[@SoloRenegade]

Was IFR rated in helicopters before getting IFR rated in airplanes. Wasn't really any different in practice. In forward flight a helicopter is really just another airplane if you think about it. But it is different in subtle ways that matter. Definitely paying attention more in a helicopter at lower altitudes.

[@HRCISASKNK]

And helicopter pilots are the bastrd stepkids of aviation they are WAY WAY underpaid. Especially these guys who do this IFR. Fly for medivac 20 years and be making $150,000 maybe. Fly for an airlines and be making $350-$400,000.

[@delta7_actual]

Could you explain what you wrote on your chart? Headings? General info? As a student pilot these videos are really great to pick apart and learn some new things. I wont be doing IFR for some time yet though!

[@michaelmiller85]

I wrote the term CRAFT. Clearance. Route/heading. Altitude. Frequency. Transponder squawk code. Wx. Void time if applicable. As I get a new instruction I write it down so I have record of it and also verify as I fly that I am doing what I was told.

[@m118lr]

@@michaelmiller85 …excellent feedback!

[@r0tb3rt]

ok, there is just a single pilot on board? No dual control in case of pilot becomes unable to fly?

[@AbitoFarip]

@michaelmiller85 Awesome videos. Thanks for them. Quick question: do you know if the EC135(s) (and 407) you’re now flying are retrofitted with crash resistant fuel systems/tanks? I very much hope so. Stay safe!

[@WE.Goble1128]

Oh nooo Kobeeeee

[@lewismingledorff6417]

IFR is the safest way to go.

[@bryanguilbeau5636]

I used to teach IFR as a CFII...don't trust your gut; just your instruments! :)

[@baomao7243]

Instruments get two votes. Body gets none.

[@timbeach2409]

Much respect to the pilots and helicopter manufacturers. Wouldn't you love to take this helicopter back in time to the Wright brothers and show them the future.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Cornu, Piasecki and Sikorsky would be rolling in their graves with excitement if the saw todays ultra modern helicopters at work.

[@SoloRenegade]

Orville Wright lived through WW2. He died in 1948, well after the X-1 broke the sound barrier. He witnessed the dawn of the jet age and surely had some sense of what the future might hold. But still, a lot of amazing things have come about since 1948 too. But remotely controlled drones (early autopilot tech) existed and were used successfully in WW2 (read up on the TDR-1 mission against Japan). And helicopters had been used in WW2, and IFR flight was developed prior to WW2. But now were have bigger, more powerful, composites, faster, higher flying, computers, etc. But he'd still recognize most of it.

[@blave549]

Awesome vid. Thanks for sharing!

[@ibtm]

Great flight!!!!!!! Ive got about 1900 fixed and 100 rotary, all my flights I used IFR in order to stay fresh and current---an practice!!!!!!! Loved it!! Now I sit in the back and let Northern Jet Management fly a Citation X!!!

[@jazzman5598]

Great channel! Just subbed. Thanks

[@jaysantos536]

Where's the crash videos?

[@stargazer7644]

Do you have to worry about icing on helicopter rotors in IMC like you do for fixed wing, or does the ice just sling off?

[@michaelmiller85]

Icing is a major concern. Temperature to add or below freezing IMC is not an option

[@rael5469]

In order to fly in IMC isn't an aircraft required to have 3 attitude indicators? If one goes bad you compare it to the other two. The two that agree out-vote the odd man out. How else could you do it safely if one of the systems starts giving bad information?

[@michaelmiller85]

One primary and one standby in case of a failure

[@Dr2Chainz]

Wish you guys coulda flown Kobe...

[@steeltiger5000]

Outstanding work.. thanks for filming !

[@simulationPC]

intereseting, and the helo has WXR or terrain radar?

[@michaelmiller85]

We had the option if live wx radar but also have the htaws and radar altimeter

[@lyonanddebanderson4418]

Is the "N302PH"" on the top dash your call sign? I do not remember seeing any tags like that, just wonderdering.

[@huntfishhover]

Good job on the video. Hey I'm a rotor pilot too.. can you tell me how you're able to record your video with the heli's comms audio (ICS, rx, etc) with it?

[@Jax0319]

Awesome video. Still this helps me fly my ec135 on x-plane sim lol

[@rotorwind177]

Good stuff! I’m going to SPIFR training in few months. Helpful to see it 👍

[@Project_EG2]

Kobe’s pilot could never

[@pretzelhunt]

he had before. he also made fineable [license points?] errors prior as well, if I'm not mistaken.

[@slapshot1343]

BEST VIDEO EVER!!!!!

[@mineallmine5149]

Good job Mike. Hope all is well with you and the family. Rambo.

[@michaelmiller85]

I'll never forget when I learned the definition of DRT while at Wings 2....good times!

[@davidwallace5738]

Very nice sir. Thank you!

[@Mark_The_Mayven]

So would that bird be bright PHI yellow? Cajun Powered?

[@michaelmiller85]

Bright yellow and black

[@maesc2001]

IFR in a helicopter sounds crazy; didn’t even know the had autopilots.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Yes 3 axis auto pilot is what my “company” has but 4-axis is coming in the future! Garmin leading the development for it.

[@LanaaAmor]

@@colt10mmsecurity68 are helicopters fly by wire? What about ec135? Flyby wire is necessary for autopilot right?

[@helicopterdeeznuts]

@@LanaaAmor Most are not & nope. Trim usually is by wire since they commonly use only an electro-mechanical screw-type actuator.

[@squamye5347]

I said once to open an IFR clearance on the ground at KPMP on the ground and got scolded by ATC 😂.

[@bernardanderson3758]

My passed uncle said while flying IMC in Helicopters you need to stay way ahead

[@michaelmiller85]

That is for sure. Sorry to hear about tour uncle.

[@makatkplt]

Just picked up a 145 transition doing some IFR stuff. Excited to get some experience with it and see where it all goes.

[@joeglennaz]

Is all of this done on Autopilot or would you ever hand fly IFR and helicopter? I imagine that would be almost crazy impossible but I could be wrong.

[@tonybeam]

Fabulous content notwithstanding awkward camera angles.

[@daverotors]

IMC in a Heli feels scary! (PPLH pilot / CPL student here) Wouldn't wanna do this without autopilot :D

[@ChrisSteeb]

Well done… good call outs on your errors. Nothing better than IFR in a 135.

[@mikecurtis1111]

That's pretty cool! Will you be getting enough IMC flights to remain proficient? Also, how many hospitals in your area have IFR approaches? Here in NC, I believe Duke Life Flight is the only provider with IFR capability. At least they used to. Not even sure they still have that option.

[@michaelmiller85]

Not sure of all the other companies with ifr approaches to hospitals but I can think of around 10.

[@etarheel1]

Duke, East care, Baptist, med ctr air and momma all IFR Now. Not sure about unc. I’ve been out of the biz about a year now but that was the latest I knew of a year ago. 30 years was enough for me, no employer tells me what to do with my body. Just sayin

[@shep427]

@@etarheel1 and AirLink as well

[@MadDragon75]

Beautiful flight!.. That landing!

[@pandunga]

... the only thing more dagerous that a helicopter ifr is an elevator inside shootout!

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Show 👏 👏

[@Jeronator999]

The copilot doesent have a flight stick ?

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

That’s called a “passenger” and not a co-pilot. 😉

[@michaelmiller85]

That was my flight nurse, not pilot trained

[@islandclub69420]

EPIC!

[@nazimL1011]

Kudos to the single pilot operating a 135 in IMC, but why stretching your limits ? In VMC , no problems. IMC ? You need another crewmen

[@ericsolender416]

Have you ever landed at Shady Grove Hospital or UMD Medical Center in Baltimore?

[@michaelmiller85]

No, not yet. That is one of our other bases territory.

[@jameskivel2982]

Rotor wing IFR ✔️

[@MrCyp200la]

Was the helicopter flying itself?

[@toddd.7924]

Has auto pilot

[@jameskivel2982]

Roll on landing

[@jamielancaster01]

Easy when you have an autopilot👍🏻

[@scottfranco1962]

Did the pilot sprain his hand twisting all them knobs?

[@michaelmiller85]

It was a hand enjury that was wrapped. Didn't effect flying

[@Coralita675]

How good was this POV for a start-up, thumbs up with a collective in the left hand.