Last Week's Poll Results: Keep Helicopters Separate

[system]

Most agree the two types of aircraft should keep their distance, at least in some circumstances.

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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/features/last-weeks-poll-results-keep-helicopters-separate

[Steve_Miller]

This question kind of confuses two issues.

1. General operation of helicopters. In this case, AIM 4-3 (2, 3, and 17) provides lots of guidance on avoiding the flow of traffic. Fixed wing traffic should know that we helicopters are trying hard to avoid everyone else while simultaneously being clear where we are. Opposite patterns are encouraged, for example. Helicopters do not need additional rules for separation, we’re already in total agreement.

2. Operation of helicopters on designated helicopter routes while in controlled airspace. In this, I couldn’t agree more with the results of this poll. Why the FAA stuck a designated helicopter route right in the middle of an approach path, and then cleared two aircraft to cross at the same point at the same time is beyond me. This isn’t a helicopter problem per se, however, this is an ATC or route planning problem. This would be no different than if the crash occurred when two planes on crossing instrument approaches hit each other–they’re both where they’re supposed to be, doing what they’re supposed to do, while “guarded” by ATC.