Comments on: Drying Cherries with the Big Fan http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:42:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mlanger (Maria Langer) http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/#comment-124506 mlanger (Maria Langer) Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:27:06 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/?p=340#comment-124506 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://twitter.com/flymaine">@flymaine</a> This should explain it: http://tinyurl.com/6qf7ax @flymaine This should explain it: http://tinyurl.com/6qf7ax

]]> By: What I Want in a Summer Job « Heligal http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/#comment-104625 What I Want in a Summer Job « Heligal Sun, 04 May 2008 00:13:29 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/?p=340#comment-104625 [...] contact with another Robinson operator based in Washington State. He introduced me to the world of cherry drying, which looked like a good opportunity. Although he said he might have enough work for both of us, [...] [...] contact with another Robinson operator based in Washington State. He introduced me to the world of cherry drying, which looked like a good opportunity. Although he said he might have enough work for both of us, [...]

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/#comment-4137 Maria Langer Sun, 11 Jun 2006 14:13:54 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/?p=340#comment-4137 Another quick note here. The guy who called me about cherry drying, Erik, thanked me for the above comment where I discourage low-time pilots from doing cherry drying work. He says -- and I agree -- that any accidents in this kind of work reflect on all of us. He also sent me a link to an NTSB report that any low-time pilot interested in this work should take a look at: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21333&key=1 At this point, it doesn't look like I'll be drying cherries this year. But I hope get my foot in the door next year. We'll see. Another quick note here. The guy who called me about cherry drying, Erik, thanked me for the above comment where I discourage low-time pilots from doing cherry drying work. He says — and I agree — that any accidents in this kind of work reflect on all of us. He also sent me a link to an NTSB report that any low-time pilot interested in this work should take a look at: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21333&key=1

At this point, it doesn’t look like I’ll be drying cherries this year. But I hope get my foot in the door next year. We’ll see.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/#comment-2706 Maria Langer Wed, 24 May 2006 12:28:28 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/?p=340#comment-2706 I don't think drying cherries is a good job for a low-time pilot. It's actually dangerous work. Every year, several helicopters crash after getting tangled up in wires -- the biggest danger since the fields are usually surrounded by wires. Small helicopters like R22s can't get enough downwash to do the job cost effectively, so they use bigger helicopters like Long Rangers and R44s. The tail rotor is way back there, right where it can get into trouble if you forget about it. I built my hours the expensive way -- by buying an R22 and flying the paint off of it (so to speak). Most folks go the CFI route, which tends to make them more marketable. Good luck with whatever you do. I don’t think drying cherries is a good job for a low-time pilot. It’s actually dangerous work. Every year, several helicopters crash after getting tangled up in wires — the biggest danger since the fields are usually surrounded by wires. Small helicopters like R22s can’t get enough downwash to do the job cost effectively, so they use bigger helicopters like Long Rangers and R44s. The tail rotor is way back there, right where it can get into trouble if you forget about it.

I built my hours the expensive way — by buying an R22 and flying the paint off of it (so to speak). Most folks go the CFI route, which tends to make them more marketable.

Good luck with whatever you do.

]]> By: Maggie West http://www.marialanger.com/2006/03/11/drying-cherries-with-the-big-fan/#comment-2401 Maggie West Mon, 22 May 2006 21:58:57 +0000 http://www.marialanger.com/?p=340#comment-2401 Hi there Maria, thanks for your blog on Cherry drying. I am a brand new commercial Helicopter pilot looking for my first low-time job. Thats how I came across a cherry drying ad - after reading your information and also some other websites I applied - hope they call me back. I am trying to build hours - do you relate? did you start that way too? Well, thanks again for your info, Blue Skies, Maggie West Hi there Maria, thanks for your blog on Cherry drying. I am a brand new commercial Helicopter pilot looking for my first low-time job. Thats how I came across a cherry drying ad – after reading your information and also some other websites I applied – hope they call me back. I am trying to build hours – do you relate? did you start that way too?
Well, thanks again for your info,
Blue Skies,
Maggie West

]]>