You may think you look like Stringfellow Hawke, but actually you look more like Howling Mad Murdock

Far too often, I see pilots lift into a hover and shoot off into the sky without doing any sort of hover checks.

You might think you’re looking like Stringfellow Hawke, but honestly, you’re closer to Howling Mad Murdock (yes, I know I’m showing my age!). One day, this lack of attention WILL catch up with you.

It only takes a couple of seconds to conduct these checks, but they can tell you a lot about your helicopter’s health.

Hover Check: When you lift into the hover (ideally into the wind), ask yourself:

WARNING LIGHTS – Are all warning lights out, or is there an issue waiting to surprise you mid-flight?

RPM – Is it stable and in the green? A steady RPM is essential for reliable power delivery.

POWER – This one’s critical. Is it where you expect it to be? Check the margin between what you’re using and what’s available. This will tell you what performance you have and what you can safely do with the helicopter.

T’s & P’s – Are temperatures and pressures in the green and behaving as expected?

FLIGHT CONTROLS – Do they feel normal, with correct responses? A quick control check can reveal underlying mechanical issues.

VIBRATIONS – Are there any unusual shakes or rattles? Abnormal vibrations can be an early sign of a bigger problem.

If ANY of these parameters are not as they should be – LAND. Do not continue the flight!