A helicopter dolly is a wooden, sometimes metal, platform with wheels that a helicopter can land on. Once the helicopter is on the dolly it can be towed with a tractor or tug. Landing on a dolly can be hazardous and there are some pilots that do not think it’s worth the risk. The danger comes from the difficulty of seeing the skid gear while having to precisely set the helicopter on the platform. Some dollies do not have a lot of extra room so even a little drift at the last minute can cause one skid to miss the platform and the helicopter to roll over. Even if the pilot realizes this and attempts to abort there is the possibility that the skid will get caught on the edge, also causing a rollover. These types of accidents have all happened. There was even a case where the pilot did a nice dolly landing, rolled the engine to idle and then realized the dolly wheels were not chocked. The dolly started rolling and stopped when the helicopter’s nose hit a parked tug.
Always remember that every trailer or dolly is not suitable for landing the helicopter on them. Similarly, the trailer or dolly suitable for 1 helicopter may not be suitable for yours.
So, here are some points to keep in mind while getting the right helicopter dolly for yourself –
- Size, particularly width:
The dolly should be large enough for the skids to fit on it with a bit of room to spare. The platform size is related to the helicopter skid width to determine how much space you have for error The more it is, the better it is. - Weight Capacity:
Is the platform able to support the helicopter’s weight as well as move it? You wouldn’t want to land on something that can’t hold the weight It is important to keep in mind that you may occasionally have a harder landing. - Existence of the rails:
There might be trouble if your platform has rails or raised edges. The best way to get into the dynamic rollover is to drift into one of the rails. Don’t land on the surface with raised edges or rails. - Surface seamlessness:
It is quite significant for having a smooth surface to land on to avoid (or reduce at least) the chances of a dynamic rollover in case you seem to drift while settling down. Make sure to not put anything on the platform’s surface which includes tie-down loops, in case you are not required to. In case it is the trailer for the helicopter’s transportation, try to install the tie-down hardware after the helicopter is safely on the deck. - Capability to secure:
Locking brakes or wheels are the best features. Utilize chocks in case you can’t lock the wheels of the platform. - Height:
More often, low is a lot better than high. The lower platform will provide you with a lower center of gravity once you have landed on it. Also, lower heights of the dolly prevent mishaps with personnel climbing up the dolly.
Helicopter dollies are majorly established for ease of movement and maximum safety through minimal staffing. This is the major reason why you should make it a point to keep the above-mentioned points in mind while getting the helicopter dolly so that you make a smart buying decision.
Never forget that as far as choosing the right helicopter dolly is concerned, it all comes down to your personal preference and experience. The pilots who support the idea of dolly landing mention that with an appropriate approach and mindset, dolly landings are secure. For instance, take your time with the setdown, don’t be nervous, and follow proper instructions. Along with this, the dolly must be into the wind and sufficiently large for accommodating the helicopter while giving some room for error. Also, beware of those dollies designed for some other purposes and altered for helicopter usage. Ensure the fact that the chosen dolly is suitable before you land on it.
Also, look for a dolly that has been time-tested and with multiple customers. Creative Custom Products has been producing helicopter dollies for multiple customers for a number of years.
Click here to know more about Helicopter Dollies.
