My new airfield manager requires helicopters to land in designated areas only on dollies. Then using a tug, transported into the hangar on the dolly. Really strict protocol.

I am renting a dolly that was used previously by the Sheriffs Department’s Bell 407. I have never landed on a dolly before.

Questions:

1) Are there any caveats when landing/departing on a helicopter dolly?

2) OK to operate with no spotters? Solo OK?

File photos, for reference only:

We land solo with out spotters, but an extra set of eyes would never hurt. One consideration is having the wheels of the dolly chocked for when you spool up, I have had a dolly start to spin from the torque, but stopped as soon as power was reduced (although it took another 15 minutes for my knees to stop shaking).
If the dolly is smaller, I like a piece of red duct tape on the pilot side skid tube and a piece on the dolly. Just watch the the skid tube and line up the 2 pieces of tape. On the ag helicopters I fly, most all have a ban of red paint on the skid tube and a ban of paint on the deck of the truck to line up with. It's more critical landing on a truck as the front of the skids will be hanging off.

My biggest advice is learn to land by only looking at the front of the pilot side skid tube, not the horizon in front of the helicopter. Once you can land just looking at a piece of tape on the tube, you can land anywhere within an inch. I learned by practicing with painted lines on a taxiway.

Take care!

If you set down on the dolly and find yourself not completely straight, the temptation will be to get it light on the skids and slide it over a bit. If the surface is slick (such as 2x6 wood), that might work. If the surface is grippy (such as yoga mat material or boards painted with bedliner product), it is better to just pick up and set down again as it will want to jump/hop/roll instead of slide and create the knee shaking I mentioned earlier and if bad enough, discoloration of your fruit of the looms.

Ed4020 —

Thank you. Very good advice in my opinion.

What they said. In Vietnam maintenance had a small simple device that would cam up the skids of a not running loach and roll it into the shop. I don't know how to google them, but we had lots of problems trying unusual stuff like landing on platforms. It was not in the Aircrew Training Manual.

My first landing on a helicopter dolly! I had a spotter which really helped. However, I will graduate to full solo soon I hope.

Thank you for all the comments and advice.

2021.11.29:

Well done. I always chock the dolly. Helps to have a few reference marks on the Dolly so you know when you're lined up and centred. Never used a spotter (and never seen anyone else use one) so can't say if that is helpful or not.

Great advice from Ed4020 on developing your visual skill looking closer in. An essential skill commercially.

Karmutzen wrote:Well done. I always chock the dolly. Helps to have a few reference marks on the Dolly so you know when you're lined up and centred. Never used a spotter (and never seen anyone else use one) so can't say if that is helpful or not.

Great advice from Ed4020 on developing your visual skill looking closer in. An essential skill commercially.

Thank you! I was definitely on an ego trip after touching down. A fantastic milestone for myself!

I always enjoy your input. The spotter helped at my level of competence I believe. Or maybe he was just a “Placebo “. Presently I have a total of about 350 hours rotorcraft. And taking very small steps!

Note: my dolly was chocked with very large commercial aviation rubber chocks, yes paramount

So what do you do with the dolly when you are out flying, just leave it there? Is there room for another helicopter to use the area? I realize the Robinson or Best Tug tugs are spendy but they sure work well.

Kurt

G44 wrote:So what do you do with the dolly when you are out flying, just leave it there? Is there room for another helicopter to use the area? I realize the Robinson or Best Tug tugs are speedy but they sure work well.

Kurt

The airport manager has given me an area in which I can leave the dolly outside until I return with the helicopter. A reserved parking spot on the ramp per se.

However, I will be receiving the RHC cart soon and will use it instead. The RHC cart is much preferred.

This is the best solution in my opinion for my light ship:

I'd rather land on a dolly than miss the R-44 pin and put the towbar through the floor.

GB wrote:I'd rather land on a dolly than miss the R-44 pin and put the towbar through the floor.

Very good analysis. Yes! Very (very) easy to damage the cabin (underneath) if the operator of the hand tug doesn’t lineup the pin and the coupling!

During the pilot safety course, at the RHC factory, the instructor shows the students, pictures of damaged helicopters not properly aligned with the coupling.

I always get down on my knee and verify completely the alignment before lifting! So far, thank God, I haven’t screwed up.

“Look twice, then look again, before lifting the ship”

I’m towing my helicopter support trailer to Arizona. Inside is the RHC cart and enough tools and supplies to complete an annual inspection on the road. I sincerely hope! Will even carry an (8) foot ladder to inspect rotors. My goal is to return the helicopter dolly to the owner and use the RHC cart.