Fly without leaving the ground
Local helicopter pilots are using a safe, economical way to train
By LEE WILLIAMS / The News Journal
06/01/2005

The News Journal/BOB HERBERT
Elliot Rivera, 22, gets some flying experience last week on a simulator at Horizon Helicopter Inc., near Newark. The Flyit Professional Helicopter Simulator that Horizon bought is one of 50 in existence and cost about as much as a helicopter.

The engine of Elliot Rivera's Enstrom 280FX helicopter quit without warning 1,300 feet over New Castle County Airport -- a total engine failure. He fought the controls, transitioning into a perilous descent toward the grassy field rushing up at the 22-year-old pilot at an alarming rate.

"Watch your air speed," flight instructor Harold Lanfear calmly stated. "Get ready to flair."

The small aircraft hit hard, but nothing bent. There was no fire.

Not satisfied with the emergency landing, Rivera tried it a couple more times.

Minutes later he was taking off from an aircraft carrier moored in Hawaii, speeding by the sheer walls of the Grand Canyon, rocketing straight up from the 50-yard line of the Vet, and landing on top of a skyscraper in downtown Philadelphia.

The Flyit Professional Helicopter Simulator that Rivera was flying is the newest addition to the fleet at Horizon Helicopter Inc., located just south of Newark.

The $100,000 simulator is worth as much as one of Horizon's real helicopters, though it's infinitely easier to maintain. The ground crew only needs to change the filter on the air conditioner once every six months, and vacuum the carpet.

Horizon purchased the device for two reasons -- economics and safety.

It will offer a lot to local pilots and flight students.

"Flying is not like riding a bicycle. You have to practice," said Lanfear, an instructor pilot who has been flying for more than 30 years. "With the simulator, you can practice without fear. You can do things that are dangerous. You can fly in all kinds of conditions: rain, wind, no visibility, limited visibility or snow."

Rivera, who is working toward a commercial pilot's license, estimates the simulator saves him $220 an hour, but the savings don't factor into the convenience.

"I can come in when I want to fly, even if it's raining or storming," he said. "The simulator is very close to a real aircraft. It's more sensitive than the helicopter I usually fly, so it helps me fine-tune my skills."

Horizon's Flyit simulator is one of 50 in existence and the only one in Delaware.

Pilots can use some of their simulator time toward their private or commercial license requirements or instrument ratings.

Horizon plans to make the simulator available to police and medevac pilots -- those who must fly in adverse conditions.

Talks are under way with the Delaware State Police, said Capt. Jeff Evans, commander of the aviation section.

"The simulator would offer us the opportunity to have better, more local training with regards to instrument flying," Evans said.

His 12 pilots are all instrument rated, though they try to avoid having to fly in poor weather, Evans said.

The simulator's two-seat cockpit looks like a real helicopter, complete with seatbelts and headsets. The machine is portable, housed in its own trailer.

Dual controls and pedals resemble those in a helicopter. Instrumentation is displayed on a monitor, and with a click of the mouse, the instructor can change the instrument panel into one of seven different types of aircraft. None of them is armed.

"It's not a toy," Lanfear cautioned.

The software allows students to take off from nearly any airport in the world, and includes all navigation aids.

"It's not gonna replace flying in a real helicopter, but it will supplement it," Lanfear said. "It's all about safety. You can learn in bad weather, but you can't make a mistake. Actually ... you can only make one mistake."

Contact investigative reporter Lee Williams at 324-2362 or lwilliams@delawareonline.com.