Helicopter Question

Ice on helicopters is a problem and they need to be deiced.
The issues are different in detail but not in principle.
The rotor flexes a lot and that can shed ice on some areas,
but rotors have nodes that don't flex. Also inlets,
instruments and such can all ice. Most helicopters are not
certified for icing conditions. Those used by the North Sea
oil companies and the military transports usually are. Each
copter is different.

I had a friend who flew Santa from one town to another for
the mall, they got into ice in a Jet Ranger and made a dozen
stops in fields along the 30 mile route, to stop and knock
the iced off. It probably was not a legal flight, but I
wasn't the pilot or on the bird.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm



"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:a5qjf.582408$x96.381721@attbi_s72...
| As we were flying over to Newton, IA today, we started
discussing icing and
| snow -- something that we must constantly worry about in
these parts for at
| least the next 4 months.
|
| As we were talking, we heard a "Flight for Life" 'copter
on Unicom, which
| got us to wondering how it is that these guys seem to fly
in ANY weather.
|
| Which got us to wondering further: How do helicopters
handle ice? Are the
| main rotor blades heated? Does the centrifugal force on
those huge blades
| prevent ice build up? What about the rest of the
fuselage? How do they
| de-ice themselves?
|
| Thanks!
| --
| Jay Honeck
| Iowa City, IA
| Pathfinder N56993
| www.AlexisParkInn.com
| "Your Aviation Destination"
|
|