Moggy's Tuna Manual
Posted: Thu Jan 31 2019, 14:18
Good day, guys
MTM was always just about providing a discussion document, and helping new guys form their own opinions. Especially after I'd seen some truly tragic accidents. I've seen many nice comments, had many, many super nice 'thank you' emails, and some truly putrid, borderline bizarre, even hate-filled denunciations. I really couldn't be bothered to correct the endless fabrications, that are little more than much repeated fantasy. No, I never crashed a tuna helicopter, (I have never scratched a chopper in my entire career) and the indignant statement that I only flew 'seven months' off a tuna boat, well, good luck with that. Much more important is that we all work towards safety in the tuna helicopter industry. Forget about personality. In this regard:
1) if the approach I describe towards landing on a tuna boat is (quote) 'bull crap', then may I point out that 'bull crap' is the daily flying method adopted in the following places: North Sea (where I flew Super Pumas) and the Gulf of Mexico (where I flew for thirteen years, with never a scratch). So be careful with what you choose to believe.
2) the often promoted 'alternative technique' is described in full in MTM, and the reasons are given why it's potentially dangerous. In essence, people are taught to 'high hover' in with a high power setting, with an almost level approach with maybe a slight descent. There are a bunch of reasons why you can get seriously hurt doing this. If you go to an offshore operator after your tuna flying, and you always come in super flat with (inevitable) high power, you WILL be summarily corrected. We talk about this in the manual.
3) MTM is available on Amazon in either Kindle edition or Printed version. Or Kindle version on 'Smashwords'.
4) Now, note this: I have many times invited the harsh critics to write up their criticisms, and I have said I would be delighted, repeat: DELIGHTED, to include their preferred landing techniques in a revised edition of MTM. If you think MTM is full of 'bullcrap' (we presume you DID read it then?) (or are you repeating gossip & hearsay?) then feel free to write up your concerns, AND I WILL HAPPILY ADD YOUR INPUT TO A REVISED VERSION OF MTM. And let the reader decide for himself.
5) Now get this: over the years I have emailed pilots and Hansen Helicopters repeatedly and personally, and made this offer. I also respectfully ask that the tuna helicopter industry do like EVERY other branch of aviation: PUBLISH your accidents, so we can LEARN from them and SAVE LIVES. Response? Zero. Nada. Not a whimper. Not even the courtesy of a reply. So...??
6) So fly safe, guys. I really don't want to have a slanging match & hate fest here, and it serves no meaningful purpose. If you want to be nasty, have at it, I see no purpose. MTM was a sincere effort to provide a document to help people with the sky high accident rate. Much of the criticism I have always felt came from sources who were more concerned about protecting their profits, than with the safety of their pilots.
7) So again, feel free to email me with proposals for inclusion in MTM. I'm not interested in my personal glory, or my personal justification. I had mates killed out there, and I just wanted, very simply, very naively, very innocently, to help. I never expected to be faced with raw hate for my humble efforts. Believe me, the older we get, the softer we walk through life. The quieter we fly. For friends lie there, buried along the way. Flying is beautiful. But she is a fierce mistress, when disrespected.
Fly safe. Be humble. Be gentle. Moggy... out.
MTM was always just about providing a discussion document, and helping new guys form their own opinions. Especially after I'd seen some truly tragic accidents. I've seen many nice comments, had many, many super nice 'thank you' emails, and some truly putrid, borderline bizarre, even hate-filled denunciations. I really couldn't be bothered to correct the endless fabrications, that are little more than much repeated fantasy. No, I never crashed a tuna helicopter, (I have never scratched a chopper in my entire career) and the indignant statement that I only flew 'seven months' off a tuna boat, well, good luck with that. Much more important is that we all work towards safety in the tuna helicopter industry. Forget about personality. In this regard:
1) if the approach I describe towards landing on a tuna boat is (quote) 'bull crap', then may I point out that 'bull crap' is the daily flying method adopted in the following places: North Sea (where I flew Super Pumas) and the Gulf of Mexico (where I flew for thirteen years, with never a scratch). So be careful with what you choose to believe.
2) the often promoted 'alternative technique' is described in full in MTM, and the reasons are given why it's potentially dangerous. In essence, people are taught to 'high hover' in with a high power setting, with an almost level approach with maybe a slight descent. There are a bunch of reasons why you can get seriously hurt doing this. If you go to an offshore operator after your tuna flying, and you always come in super flat with (inevitable) high power, you WILL be summarily corrected. We talk about this in the manual.
3) MTM is available on Amazon in either Kindle edition or Printed version. Or Kindle version on 'Smashwords'.
4) Now, note this: I have many times invited the harsh critics to write up their criticisms, and I have said I would be delighted, repeat: DELIGHTED, to include their preferred landing techniques in a revised edition of MTM. If you think MTM is full of 'bullcrap' (we presume you DID read it then?) (or are you repeating gossip & hearsay?) then feel free to write up your concerns, AND I WILL HAPPILY ADD YOUR INPUT TO A REVISED VERSION OF MTM. And let the reader decide for himself.
5) Now get this: over the years I have emailed pilots and Hansen Helicopters repeatedly and personally, and made this offer. I also respectfully ask that the tuna helicopter industry do like EVERY other branch of aviation: PUBLISH your accidents, so we can LEARN from them and SAVE LIVES. Response? Zero. Nada. Not a whimper. Not even the courtesy of a reply. So...??
6) So fly safe, guys. I really don't want to have a slanging match & hate fest here, and it serves no meaningful purpose. If you want to be nasty, have at it, I see no purpose. MTM was a sincere effort to provide a document to help people with the sky high accident rate. Much of the criticism I have always felt came from sources who were more concerned about protecting their profits, than with the safety of their pilots.
7) So again, feel free to email me with proposals for inclusion in MTM. I'm not interested in my personal glory, or my personal justification. I had mates killed out there, and I just wanted, very simply, very naively, very innocently, to help. I never expected to be faced with raw hate for my humble efforts. Believe me, the older we get, the softer we walk through life. The quieter we fly. For friends lie there, buried along the way. Flying is beautiful. But she is a fierce mistress, when disrespected.
Fly safe. Be humble. Be gentle. Moggy... out.