flying seat

[Jack Mehoff]

In Helo's which is the traditional flying seat? right or left?

 

[propsarebest]

It depends on the helo, but most are RIGHT seat PIC. The 500 can either be right or left.

Having said that, lots of guys when lifting fly from the left side.

 

[Jack Mehoff]

Why is a fixed wing pic seat the left and the rotorwing the right? Is there some history to it?

 

[propsarebest]

I believe that the right seat is PIC because Larry Bell made the decision. I think the Bell 47 was the first helicopter with the right seat PIC.

When flying in the left seat, it is easier to see under the helicopter.

 

[HueyHerc]

Food for Thought:

Most helicopters (though flown single-pilot) are configured for a pilot and co-pilot in the front two seats, flying with cyclic control in the right hand, collective in the left. Sitting in the right seat gives the PIC easy access to the center console or instrument panel without changing hands on the cyclic.

For longline/vertical reference operations where a single pilot must actually lean outside the aircraft to see the underslung load, the left seat is better since he will not have to reach back across the cockpit to move the collective. From the left seat, he leans over the collective.

HH

 

[skiddriver]

The first helicopters had a single collective control which ran up the middle of the cockpit. Most people are right handed and prefer to have the "stick" [cyclic control] in their right hand. That made the right seat the flying station. After dual collectives were installed it really became a moot point.

 

[GCD]

Single pilot operation is much easier from the right seat to tune radios with the left hand and keep the right hand on the cyclic stick.

 

[propsarebest]

if your a rightie...

 

[NYCPilot]

Hmmmm... always wondered about the seat position myself. nice to hear the history to it.

 

[Andy Neill]

if your a rightie...

Actually, I found being a leftie to be an advantage in instrument flight (or any operation that required some quick note taking on a kneeboard).