Operational Procedures and Helicopter Flight Techniques
The spray sortie
Agricultural operations follow a cycle: pre-flight briefing, loading, takeoff, transit, application runs, turns, return and shutdown. Each phase has procedures that questions test. The pilot must know the pre-flight inspection of the spray system, the loading procedure with the engine off or at idle as required, and the check of the dump valve. Takeoff may be a max performance or confined-area departure. Application runs require a stabilized height, speed and track. Turns at the end of a run must be planned to avoid obstacles and to keep the rotor clear of the ground and crops.
Concepts to command
Know the standard autorotation entry and the landing from autorotation. Understand confined-area operations, slope landing and takeoff, and the wind limitations. Know the emergency procedures for engine failure, tail rotor failure, hydraulic failure, fire, and spray system malfunction. Understand the risk of dynamic rollover, ground resonance and settling with power. Know the procedures for jettisoning the load and for dealing with a spray boom strike.
Traps
Questions often test the order of actions in an emergency. Another trap: assuming a spray system failure is harmless; a stuck valve can overload the aircraft or dump product on a sensitive area. Watch for the difference between a hovering and a running landing, and for the conditions that cause settling with power (low speed, steep descent, power applied).
Rule of thumb
Fly the aircraft first, then manage the system, then communicate. In any emergency, maintain rotor RPM and control before troubleshooting.
Worked example: During a run, the spray pump fails and product continues to flow. The pilot should first maintain control and climb to a safe height, then use the dump valve to stop the flow, then return to base and report.