Comments on: Finding a Legal Landing Zone

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:50:56 +0000

Landing a helicopter inside a volcano is not exactly on my list of things to do before I die.

By: Julian Olivas

Julian Olivas — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:32:20 +0000

Hey Maria
Hope you can get to Umnak someday and land anywhere
even inside a volcano

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:24:27 +0000

Mike: Thank YOU for helping me recognize that it was a topic worth writing about.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:02:35 +0000

Good information. The superb shots of your heli “out there” make it even better. Thank you for putting this together.

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:09:12 +0000

I own a helicopter charter business. I am not “super rich.”

By: Paul U

Paul U — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:43:54 +0000

You must have been super rich if you own your own helicopter.

By: matthew_parente (matthew_parente)

matthew_parente (matthew_parente) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:31:37 +0000

@jenniferwhitley thanks for sharing the helicopter landing article … I thought it was very interesting! http://tinyurl.com/b96kkx

By: jenniferwhitley (Jennifer Whitley)

jenniferwhitley (Jennifer Whitley) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:11:51 +0000

Pilots: Fascinating post by @mlanger about helicopter landing zones: http://tinyurl.com/b96kkx Such a different world than the one I fly in!

By: Maria Langer

Maria Langer — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:49:10 +0000

Thanks very much for the kind words.

As far as “emergency stories,” isn’t that what chip lights are really for?

Seriously, though, I agree with your final comment: “when in doubt, don’t do it.” That’s definitely my rule of thumb, too. But I’m lucky out here in the desert. There are so many places — including more than a few remote restaurants and off-the-beaten-path motels — where I can land without serious doubts. Still, I’d much rather land with permission than without it.

By: Keith Gill

Keith Gill — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:34:54 +0000

Maria, that was both accurate and well written,good job. I fly in a lot of foreign countries and the "rules" for off airport landings are sometimes difficult to define.We sometimes use the limited protection of being part of a particular countries emergency relief efforts for firefighting.That won't always protect you if something goes wrong. In Italy we are almost always covered by Protection Civile but in Greece when you chose to land off airport you are on your own. If a private citizen or local agency complains you had better be prepared to concoct an "emergency story". For that reason and others I try hard not to make a landing at an unapproved heliport or airport in Greece. I miss the days of landing in back of the Motel and now even private property landings at B&B's are subject to complaint and violation. Ahh, the good old days.My rule of thumb now is,when in doubt don't do it. Keith GillÂ´s last blog post: Frosty Reception